Using Resin
Using clear acrylic sheets to make a dam for a resin pour
To create a dam for a resin pour using clear acrylic sheets, follow these steps to ensure a smooth and effective setup:
Materials You’ll Need:
- Clear acrylic sheets (thickness around 1/8” to 1/4” works well)
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Utility knife or acrylic cutter
- Heat gun (optional for shaping the acrylic)
- Hot glue gun or silicone caulk (clear and waterproof)
- Clamps or heavy weights
- Level (to ensure your work surface is flat)
- Release agent (like wax or a mold release spray)
By using clear acrylic sheets, you can observe the resin as it cures and quickly detect any potential leaks, which makes it a practical option for creating clean resin pieces with a controlled pour area.
Process
Measure and Cut the Acrylic Sheets:
- Measure the area around your resin piece to determine the height and length of each dam side.
- Cut the acrylic sheets with an acrylic cutter or utility knife. Score the acrylic several times along a straight edge, then apply pressure to break along the scored line.
- If your design has curved edges, you may need to use a heat gun to soften the acrylic slightly before bending.
Assemble the Dam:
- Place the acrylic sheets around the area where you’ll pour the resin. Make sure each sheet fits snugly with the neighboring sheet.
- Secure the joints between each sheet with hot glue or silicone caulk. Make sure there are no gaps where resin could leak through. Silicone caulk provides a strong, waterproof bond, but hot glue can also work for smaller projects.
- If possible, use clamps or weights to press the sheets together while the adhesive dries to create a secure, tight seal.
Seal the Base:
- Run a line of hot glue or silicone caulk around the base where the acrylic sheets meet the work surface to prevent resin from leaking out the bottom.
- Note: hot glue will fail if the resin generates too much heat. Either use a more secure fixative, or limit the resin pour to keep heat under control
Apply a Release Agent:
- Coat the inner side of the acrylic with a release agent like wax or mold release spray. This will make it easier to remove the acrylic once the resin has cured without risking damage to your piece.
- Note:
- release agent is not absolutely necessary if using clean acrylic sheets
- Silicone molds don’t often strictly need a mold release. If you do use mold release, make sure to avoid silicone-based release agents, as silicone bonds to silicone and what you’ll have is glue instead of a release agent. Ease-release 200 or 205 is great for silicone molds
- See also:
Check the Level:
- Ensure your surface is completely level to prevent the resin from pooling on one side. Adjust as needed using a level and spacers.
Pour the Resin:
- Pour the resin within the dammed area. If using a deep pour, pour in layers according to the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent overheating and cracking.
- Note: Put the project in an aluminium foil containers (e.g. BBQ tray) for the pour. They are excellent for containing a resin pour, and stopping disasters from leaking all over the work-bench!
Cure and Remove:
- Once the resin has cured fully, gently remove the acrylic sheets by pulling or prying them away from the resin, aided by the release agent you applied.