How to Make Polyester Resin

When you make polyester resin, take safety precautions.

Polyester resin is used in craft projects as well as in the manufacture of toys, jewelry and decorative and household items. Some crafters even create faux jewels with polyester resin. Making your own polyester resin is necessary to create some items. Even though making polyester resin is a simple task, a few precautions must be followed because the chemical reaction has the potential to harm your skin, eyes and lungs.

Things You'll Need

• Face mask
• Safety glasses
• Latex gloves
• Liquid Plastic Casting Resin
• TAP MEKP Liquid Catalyst
• TAP Surface Curing Agent
• Chemco Transparent Dye (if you want your polyester resin to have color)
• Plastic bucket
• Wooden paint stick for mixing

Instructions

How to Make Polyester Resin

1. Put on your face mask, safety glasses and latex gloves. Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated room. Set whatever molds you'll be using on a sturdy table that can withstand heat. The curing process creates heat, so don't work on a flimsy or plastic surface.

2. Use a small plastic bowl or bucket and pour in the casting resin and the catalyst, using a 10 to 1 parts ratio. Add the curing agent (isophoronediamine) according to the manufacturer's directions, because it varies depending on exactly what you're making. Add a few drops of dye (if using).

3. Stir the materials together using the wooden paint stick. Pour into molds for paperweights, jewelry or whatever you are creating.

4. Vacate the area where you have poured the molds, because the chemicals will produce a toxic fume during the curing process. The processing of the halogen, antimony trioxide and phosphorus-based formulations (the chemical make up of the products used) does create some toxicity.

5. Wait 5 to 6 hours for the hardening process to take place. Remove the polyester resin from the molds. Store all the chemicals in cool, dry place, safely from the reach of pets and small children.

Tips & Warnings

• Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated room.

References

• TAP Plastics for Supplies

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Making Polyester Resin