Bubble free resin without a pressure pot- Tips for dice makers
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- When I started making dice, I couldn’t afford a pressure pot (still can’t!). Bubbles and voids plagued my resin castings. Through months of trials and adjustments, I finally have a method down and tips and tricks that I want to pass along to other aspiring dice makers. I hope you find this video helpful in your dice making journey.
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Products used:
-Rockstar resins 4-star 1:1 formula
-Let’s Resin silicone mixing spatula
-TRex inks clear blender
-Jamberry mini heater (any small heater or heat gun will work as long as it’s gentle heat. A warm water bath would also work)
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Hey y’all! I see lots of comments asking for more videos and I have a few in mind. Which would you like to see next??? A) mold making, B) sanding, C) inking, D) review of the 5 or so resins I’ve tried. Reply to this comment to let me know!
Is there an, E) yes to all, option? For the first one, I'd like to see mold making
@@NeoReloaded226 I can definitely do all at some point but I have to start somewhere lol!
All of them? Tho if I had to pick an order I'd start with D)
Yah all sound great, but the molds you have are awesome.
I would say D, A, B, C in that order. kind of dice making 101 series in the order of things you would need to do in order for people would make the dice. Maybe add a 5th video about mold material selection if you have worked with multiple silicone molding materials
I learned something important! Can't imagine why I didn't think of it before. I'm a woodworker and I know wood has trapped air. And yet, I still use popsicle sticks to stir. Good grief! I already knew wood holds air, which is why I coat all of the wood that will touch epoxy with a UV cure epoxy to be sure the wood doesn't off-gas. Now, I feel stupid ... but that's a great thing! It means I learned something today and that is the best thing ever. Thanks so much for pointing that out. Appreciate it, even as someone who's been using epoxy for decades. However, just because you've been doing something for decades doesn't mean you can't learn.
Also, besides using the blender, you could by a coffee cup warmer. That ends up being the best temp (I've found) for heating the epoxy to bring up the bubbles without making it too hot.
Thanks, I've really been struggling with surface bubbles that make one side completely unreadable rather than bubbles inside so this is really helpful
Same here and though this video is helpful I did not eliminate all the tiny bubbles on the top surface. I'll search second-hand stores for a pressure cooker to convert to a pressure pot.
@@JaymeVanAuken this probably come way too late, but leave this for anyone else having the same problem: I've seen many use a lighter or a heat gun to heat the top side before closing the mold! It should pop the bubbles on top.
Get 3.5 gal plastic pickle pail. Put a tire value in it. Use a tire pump to pump up to 20 psi and most of not all bubbles be gone. This is from a man on you tube. My husband and I are going to try to turn a pressure cooker into a pressure box.
How do you put the tire valve in?
@@Foux2right? 😂 just hoping the op sees our comments after 2 years because i have a tire pump
Yes I agree 🙂
Rah
@@Foux2my best guess is to drill a hole in the lid, but I'm not sure?
Thank goodness for videos like these. I've wanted to start making dice for a long time and now that I'm writing up a possible campaign I decided i want to make my own sets of GM only dice. Plus I can make dice that thematically match my players characters that I could present to them during a story beat or something to make it a practical gift but also a more memorable moment maybe.
This is so cool! I have always been interested in resin art and dice making. Struggling to figure out a good way to get into it though. Not wanting to commit a crazy amount of money to dice making right out of the gate but would love to give it a try!
Best wishes on your journey! The cheapest way to start is to invest in a decent set of premade molds. There are many good makers selling molds on Etsy!
@@KaitlinPierce correct me if i’m wrong but if you’re planning on selling your resin creations make sure when you buy those premise molds you buy ones that give permission to sell. some people i believe sell mold used for personal use but you might run into legal issues if you start selling
Correct. Most makers specify if they are able to be commercially used
Cheers! I will try this soon, since I have been wanting to try my hand in dice making but not wanting to invest in pressure pot if I end up abandoning this hobby too, and knowing me there is a high chance of that happening :D
Oh gosh that’s me too! I used these techniques to make enough dice to sell to pay for a pressure pot just recently since I want to do this more professionally long term. But I spent several months without one and still worked successfully!
Beautiful narration. Easy to follow and understand. Well done.
Those red ones at the end were just gorgeous.
Nice. I recently started making dice and have no pressure pot. That set looks nice.
This was so helpful!! I’m still new to making dice, and I can’t get a pressure pot right now, so bubbles are a huge problem for me 😭
Thank you so much for your videos!
I have been making dice for 3 months and thanks to your videos, I have learned to solve problems and why.
Eternally grateful! I follow you!!
Thank you so much for the kind words ❤️
Omg. I used to sell Jamberry too and never thought to use that heater! It’s perfect and you’re a genius.
I know right??
The product list in your description is so helpful! This seems like the perfect way to get into dice making; I have been holding off because the pressure pot scares me. Where did you get those molds? Did you make it or buy it??
Hello fellow dice goblin! Quick thought, when you drop ink on the top like your d20, go over it real quick with a lighter right before you cap it, I find that helps with those pesky surface bubbles that the ink brings up.
Thank you for the comment. I do use a lighter now if I have significant bubbles at the surface.
I'm mildly ashamed that when you pulled out the heater, I immediately went "oh a jamberry heater!" Thanks for giving me something to do with that now that I don't really use those much anymore!
😂 I’m the same way. I never could get Jamberry to work well for me despite many attempts. It works great for low steady heat for resin though!
@@KaitlinPierce it makes total sense! They worked alright for me but I just never bought more after my initial tries. But I'm a craft hoarder app I kept the heater 😂
This is a great video! Thank you!
The Let's Resin 3:1 is absolutely fantastic. I haven't encountered a single bubble in any finished piece I've made, and I have probably 100 pieces I've made in the past with different resins that I'll never do anything with because they always had the teeny microbubbles that almost look like dust. I can finally make clear pieces with no pigments! The only downside to that resin is it is a small amount for $23 on amazon. 360mL/120mL resin/hardener. (Measured by weight, too!) But it really is incredible. Dries really hard and super clear. I wouldn't recommend for doming because it is so thin. And for anyone that cares, alcohol inks aren't meant to be mixed in with resin, and you may get a different color depending on what resin you use, they make pieces more brittle, and the color will fade relatively quickly. Look for resin dyes or use mica powder if you're worried about those things.
I have tried the let’s resin 3:1. It’s in my top three resins to use, but I have found that micas sink in it due to the long cure and depending on temperature fluctuations in my workspace, it sometimes shrinks on me. Still not a bad resin at all and fairly easy to get ahold of! I’ll be posting a review shortly of the first 5 resins I have tried both by price and performance
Agreed. I used alcohol ink and my project never cured. It was one drop. Happened more than once.
Thanks. I've been thinking about making resin dice for a while and this has pushed me to try and start
The alcohol blender method is incredible, they look like they hardly need sanding!!
Omg! I would love to see how you did your molds without the pressure pot!
Sounds like that will be my next video based on everyone’s responses!
@@KaitlinPierce seriously, we'd love to see it!
Working on a new mold now so video is coming soon!
I am so thankful for your videos! I just ordered the basics (ironically, the day before I found your channel) and am planning to make dice for wedding favors for my wedding this summer! I don't want to overinvest in the hobby yet, so I really appreciate your tips on how to make dice without the fancy machinery. Looking forward to the polishing video too! My friend has a rock polisher I may steal if that works.
Been very curious about trying out making some dice for fun, and without putting in too much money since I don't have space nor the money for pressure pots and all that. This was very helpful and educational, and has made me even more excited about trying it!
I literally just used the clear blending solution last night. Didn’t work as well for me because I was doing a really deep pour, but it seems to work well for smaller molds.
So sad you don't do videos anymore :< Please come back!
Another resin tip I deeply needed! Thank you!! I can’t wait to try this out!
As soon as the video started...That is a Jamberry heater! Yep I used to sell as well. Never could get mine to stay on without using the TrueShine clear gel on top. Too much work! Great tips for dice making though! :)
Excellent video! I tried making dice once and obviously couldn't afford a pressure pot for a small experiment. :D Nice to see that it is possible to do a great job without one! And thanks for explaining everything in such great detail. Helps out a lot. I think, after this I might try making some dice again. :)
I’m so glad I could encourage you!
THANK YOU!! i needed this! pressure pots are too expensive
Thanks Kaitlin. You can get paint sprayers for $70 and these are convertible to pressure pots for resin, silicone etc.
Do you have a link or brand you sujest?
Just seen this, i have the jamberry heater too... now ive found a new use for it thank you :)
The blue ones look like waves, the black ones look like marble, and the red ones look like cosmic horror.
All of them look very nice!
Thank you!
I have bought a mold on etsy. Just waiting to arrive. Until then i try to make my own mold aswell
I love your explanations. Thank you!!
Thank you, it really helps!
this is wonderful just recently decided to get into making dice
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! you save my life
I saw you take the stir stick out of the resin then put it back in I heard someone say if you make sure to keep it in it won't add any. But I don't know if that's true your dice turned out great anyways.
Thanks for this insightful lesson 😊
I think I’ll use some of this advice. I’m thinking about making some dice for my 3 backgammon sets and have been watching a lot of these videos to get tips. Thank you 👍🏻
What’s the heater? Where’d you get it?
Great! Make some more videos! I'd love to see more.
Don't know if this was said in the video, but how to you get the seal so clean? I can see you peeling the excess resin away, but how did you get it to separate from the actual dice without needing to cut it away?
I've always been scared to try making dice of my own because it seems like a big upfront investment in equipment in order to getnice results, but maybe I'll try it some time! What are the molds that you use? They look like they work really well
I make my own molds actually. I’m editing that video right now. In all honesty, you can get started with some molding silicone, a set of dice to use and masters to make the mold, resin, and some dyes or pigments.
Just to add on top to what she said Amazon has pre-made molds I just bought everything for this including molds uv resin might be your best bet its easy to cure just need a uv light or lamp the ink and whatever else you need I think I picked up my stuff for about 100 between the everything
When I hav extra resin I will sometimes pour them in dots and make myself colored confetti to use in other things.
Me too! I thought I was the only one 😁. I’m thinking my horse or resin dots will go into a d20 maybe 🤔
@@KaitlinPierce horse?
Ugh sorry. I meant “horde”
Great video!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.... where can I get these molds they came out flawless 😍😍😍
Video on making them coming soon 😉
As soon as the video started...That is a Jamberry heater! Yep I used to sell as well. Never could get mine to stay on without using the TrueShine clear gel on top. Too much work!
I have super domed nails so I always had wrinkles 😅
wouldn't tapping the cup full of resin also release bubbles like clearing bubbles from a cake or is it too small to really be of any help?
Hey, so I've been following a ton of random videos, I'm just trying to get literally zero bubbles, but maybe I'm just trying too hard?
There's always a liiiiittle bit of bubbles in the top half of all of my dice. I've gotten as good as "most of the bubbles are close to the lid", but ultimately when I do the salt-water dice balance test... they are very obviously weighted.
Do you test your dice? They look amazing
Great video, very helpful. If using mica powder, is it still better using a blender or is that only for alcohol inks?
i literally can see all the surface bubbles as you took them out.
Hi thanks for sharing. One question, why not use a low viscosity resin to start with instead of thinning it down with alcohol ? There are so many out there that are ultra low viscosity with excellent results. I use it to make crystals, I can't afford a pressure pot either 🌞
I’ve tried two different low viscosity resins and the problem i had was, with the 3 dimensional nature of dice, things like mica powder sink unevenly and even things like a petri effect sink too much and blur. The goal of the alcohol isn’t so much to thin out the resin as it is to help reduce the surface tension of the bubbles to help them pop. I’m about to record a review of the 5 or so resins I’ve tried and what worked well and didn’t work well about them as well.
Would low Viscosity UV Resin mixed with some blender work well? Or should I use a medium uv Resin instead
Just used your code thank you!
Happy dice making!
I've seen other resin makers, not making dice, that use a flame to remove the bubbles. It makes me wonder if a tiny torch (lighter) could be used. What do you think?
I'm not that experienced yet but I have found it helps with bubbles on the surface, but you can't really get the deeper ones since the flame will burn the top of the resin if you hold it on there for too long!
Great video! What kind of mold did you use, I see it's not in your product list. Do you use the same mold style currently today, or have you switched?
Hi Kaitlin! I'm trying out your mold from Etsy and I'm conveniently getting a large bubble popping right on one of the corners of the standard D4. I'm also getting most of my bubbles on the top of the mold. Should I be waiting awhile between pouring and capping? Does this help prevent the bubbles from getting trapped? Many thanks!
Ive been trying to get these techniques down, but I seem to end up with bubbles on my numbers. Any tips or tricks for countering those pesky bubbles that appear during the pour into the mold?
The best you can do is know which numbers are the problem and focus on those one of a few ways. One, by pouring to the side of that number and slowly letting the resin fill over it; the slower the pour, the less air is caught. Two, if you’re willing to put extra time and effort, in theory you can cover the numbers with resin before doing the main pour.
I am having trouble releasing the Bubbles. Even with all theses tips I am having trouble. ( I’m using all the equipment you mentioned) any further advice?
?
Great vid, thanks. I very rarely get bubbles in my main dice now, because i use a heat pad to force them up. I do however get loooots of bubbles just in the cap surface. Any any why? There are no bubbles at all when I put the lid on...
Hi Dan. There are probably micro bubbles in the resin that float to the top after you put your lid on. Do you wait at all before putting the lid on? I try to leave the molds open as long as possible, then pop the bubbles one more time at the surface right before putting the lid down with either alcohol or a lighter.
@@KaitlinPierce I do, but probably not long enough! I'll try leaving it a bit longer, thanks!
You almost end up playing chicken with the end of your resins work time!
I had no idea wood could contribute to bubbles!
I tried to find the TRex inks but looks like they are sold out. Also you may want to see if you can add an amazon link to things like your mixing spatula. Great video and I hope to try your suggestions soon!
I asked and TRex inks said they should be back to selling things in a week
Thanks for the suggestion!
I know this was posted 2 years ago but where can I get these dice molds and do they come in a slightly larger side I'm making custom dice for a friend with a 1inch pokemon inside of it my first attempt failed really bad because of the molds I got any advice would be really helpful
Terrific. Do you pour outside (where fumes are better) or inside (where it's warmer)?
Thank you for this great and usefull video! Where can we get clear blender? Can't seem to find any on amazon:o (from someone in Canada)
You can order directly from their website I think. I have a link tree in the description. Otherwise, I believe Ranger inks actually makes one as well.
@@KaitlinPierce Thank you very much!*_*
Just found you and thanks for all the details! I have a quick question. Where did you get those molds?
Where do u get this mold set from thank you love the dice
Hi Erica, I make these molds myself. I have a video on the topic that may help. I am considering a small sale of molds in the near future. I will announce that on my Instagram as a preorder
Im.sorry if you already answered this question but how long do you have to wait to de-mold dice? I think it's 24 hours but I wanted to make sure. I'm not a dice maker yet btw but I am interested in trying
Hi! It depends entirely on the resin you are using. I have one that I can demold between 6 and 8 hours, and another that takes up to two days. They also come everywhere in between. I usually check the leftovers in my pouring cup to see when the resin hardens.
Have you tried transforming a pressure cooker into a pressure pot?
Also, very nice video
Where did you get those dice moulds from I've been looking all over the internet and haven't managed to find them anywhere I have checked out some American sites as well but no joy. If anyone could help that would be amazing
Probably late with this, but I think she made them herself! There's a video up on the channel that shows how.
I noticed you ddnt put any resin on your cap? Is there a reason for that?
Hey, thak you so much. Just started doing resin and i'm realy curious about how you do your sanding after
I personally use Zona Papers, you apply a little bit of water to them then sand each side for about 20 seconds then up in grit, hope this helps!!
I could absolutely do a sanding video if it would help you! This method gets rid of a lot of bubbles on the surface but not all so sanding is very important
Where did you get your molds or (if you made them yourself) do you sell them?
I do make them myself and I have a video on that process. I am gearing up to be able to sell them but I don’t currently. I can, however, highly recommend nanolabmaker or werpydice as good mold sellers in the meantime.
What molds do you use? I would love to use those molds when moving to college soon so that I don’t have to use my current molds and pressure pot!
How do you fix the raised surface on the ones and smooth the edges?
Very careful sanding before I polish. Honestly it can’t always be completely fixed because you can’t sand too far or you’ll lose the numbers!
That’s what I was worried about, thanks for the advice an wonderful video
this certainly still doesnt work for me. can you give a time frame from how long you wait for bubbles to rise before putting in the alcohol? i have rockstar resins but even with heat. the bubbles dont rise up on their own.
How do you get the dice out so easily? I ended up tearing mine on the 3rd try 😞 I also tried using baby oil to make it a bit easier to take out but I think it had torn before then
Where did you get this dice mold
There is an affordable way to get a pressure pot for around 150. Harbor freight sales a pressure pot for painting. There are videos on how to convert it to one for resin casting. I did it and love it. So handy! BUT, you will need an air compressor and those can get fairly expensive quick. Especially if you are going to want one thats quite enough to run inside your home. Happy Making Everyone!
I just got a pressure pot and it sucked all the resin out of the molds :( idk how to prevent this
Pressure pot, or vacuum chamber? A vacuum chamber will do that.
I assuming you make those molds if you didn't where did you get those
I do make my own molds. I have a video on my no-pressure pot process, but I probably owe an update of the things I have learned
Do you suppose a hair dryer would work instead of a mini heater?
My biggest issue is bubbles on the faces of the cap of the mold, I assume it's caused by putting the lid on
Yes most likely. It’s also a matter of putting the lid on at the last possible moment and popping the bubbles at the surface right before with a lighter or a spritz of alcohol
Maybe this could be prevented by slowly pouring a bit of resin onto the cap before you put the lid on?
How long do you let your resin cure? I have the Rockstar resin, it says up to 2 days, but I am impatient!!
If it is the 3:1 resin, that is unfortunately correct. You can speed it up by gently heating. If it’s the 1:1, look at the dry time. I usually demold the 1:1 in 12-16 hours depending on my house temps!
@@KaitlinPierce it’s the 1:1. I pretty much used everything you did! I don’t have a pressure pot, so I found your videos to be the most helpful!! Thank you!
No problem! So I double checked just to be sure, and with the resin you’re using the company says that it’s a 6 Hour Dry time and 36 hour full cure time. I can (most of the time) pull from the molds somewhere between those two. You can always pour something small (I have a tiny rose mold I use) at the same time with leftovers and check that so you know when your dice should be done!
Awesome dice but where o where did you get those molds
I make my own! I’m working on editing a video for that process as well
Kaitlin, please let me know where you got your dice molds, i cant find any like those anywhere!
I make them! I just uploaded a video on the process.
How long do they usually take to cure and do you just leave them alone or put them in a sunny area?
It depends on the resin I use. I usually check whatever is left in my mixing cups to see when the dice are done and ready to demold
Okay call me crazy… but wouldn’t rubbing alcohol work to pop the bubbles as well and be cheaper?
Cheaper than the clear blender? Certainly. The blender just evaporates more slowly than plain alcohol and remains a bit longer. In either case, adding too much is a concern so the dropper bottle is also nice for me
so a warm bath and letting it sit in will help with the bubbles? since mine got really liquid when i left it in a warm bath do u need the clear blending ? since im not sure i can find any
Warming and sitting will help some. You can also use just a drop or two of plain alcohol since the goal is to break the surface tension of the bubbles. Just be careful not to over warm depending on your resin because the warming also speeds up the curing!
So I’m brand new to this... what are the moles called that you use in this video and where do you get them? Thanks!
They are called cap molds, and I make them myself. I have a video on the process!
What silicone did you use for your molds??
I came across a UA-camr yesterday who uses pure alcohol in a spray bottle. Is it basically the same or is the blender slightly better?
So the blender has some stabilizers in it and other “proprietary chemicals” (www.trexinks.com/products/clear-blender-jurassic-sized-120ml). I found out how well it worked by accident experimenting. Regular alcohol will work also, it will just evaporate faster is all. I use the blender because I have it and know it works well. I have used pure alcohol to pop just surface bubbles in place of using a lighter or torch though!
Are there any other resins you've found to work well? They don't ship their products to Canada unfortunately
The let’s resin worked reasonably well. I have also heard very good reviews of KS resin though I haven’t had the chance to try it myself yet with budget constraints and a good sized container of rockstar to work through. You can also ask on the Great Library of Dicecraft Facebook page. I know there are several Canadian makers that are part of that group!
@@KaitlinPierce thank you!
Are the molds available
did you make your own mold or did you buy them? cuase yours came out so nice i would like some like that too.
I make them! I did a video on the process I use.
@@KaitlinPierce oh ok. ill go watch it today. maybe i can make some too.
if i may ask, where did you get your dice molds, or did you make them yourself?
Thanks for asking. I make them myself! I have a video on that process as well.
Great advice!
Also what molds are you using?
I am using ones that I make from my own masters. I have a video on the process if you are interested.
@@KaitlinPierce I am very interested in the molds!!!!!
@@KaitlinPierce do you sell these molds?? They're the best I've seen and I've been looooooking.
Where did you get your molds?
I make them! I just posted a new video on that process as well.
I meant for the first set of dice. Also where did you find the silicone pens with the long wooden handles?
For the silicone stirrers, probably Amazon or Etsy. I have bought many random tools. For the initial dice, I purchased masters from a 3D printer
Yes. Mine are from the artist “ArcanaCast” on Etsy
Where do you get your molds?
I am having a lot of trouble finding molds like this.. do you remember where you got yours?
Hi Jessica! I actually make mine. I posted a video about it on the channel if you’re interested in making your own!
@@KaitlinPierce lol I just saw your video for making them right after I left that comment. Thanks for posting that!
Happy to!
Where can I find that scale you're using? It's really nifty.
I got it on Amazon as part of a starter kit of resin tools: 170 Pcs Resin Tool Starter Kit, Shynek Epoxy Resin Tools Supplies with Silicone Sheet, Resin Drill, Sandpapers, Digital Pocket Scale, Silicone Mixing Cups for Resin Casting smile.amazon.com/dp/B08GFMW7JZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_TME2FXBRR7PWQJZWKRA8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
@@KaitlinPierce
Thanks! My friend showed me one of these dice resin kits and I didn't even know it was a thing, but now I'm jumping down that rabbit hole.
Welcome! It becomes a wonderful obsession 😉