7 Reasons Why Resin Is Sticking To Your Mold - Resin Obsession (2024)

7 Reasons Why Resin Is Sticking To Your Mold - Resin Obsession (11)

Using resin molds is fun to make resin crafts and jewelry. You can make everything from man cave coasters to boho earrings. I can’t think of a better day than that.Until it isn’t that amazing day.Because sometimes epoxy sticks to your mold and won’t release.Which then makes you google, ‘Why is resin sticking to my mold?’

Hi. 👋 I’m Katherine, and I’m going to help you get out of this mess.

Here are reasons why resin is sticking to your mold:

Reason 1: Your silicone mold is at the end of its useful life.

Unlike TSA check-in lines, resin molds don’t last forever. They will dry out, get brittle, and tear with use. It would be great if they lasted indefinitely, but they don’t.

⭐️ BONUS: Here’s what you can do to care for your silicone molds to make them last longer.

Reason 2: You didn’t use a mold release.

Mold release helps resin castings pop out easily and prolongs the life of your mold.

But really, do I need to do that?

⭐️ BONUS: Here are three reasons why I always use resin mold release.

Reason 3: Under-mixed resin stuck to the mold.

Be sure to scrape your mixing utensil and the sides of your mixing cup several times while mixing. This ensures your resin is thoroughly mixed before pouring into the mold.

⭐️ BONUS: Learn how to mix resin in 5 easy steps.

Reason 4: You’re using a torch to remove bubbles.

Using fire to pop bubbles is all fun and games until your mold gets hurt.

💡 Pro tip: Don’t use a blow torch for snow removal either.

Excessive heat will melt your mold and cause the resin to stick in places. Use a heat tool instead.

⭐️ BONUS: Learn how to use a heat gun with resin.

Reason 5: You’re using molds that aren’t meant for resin.

Candy molds? Candle molds? Concrete molds?

Yeah. They might not work for resin. I know because I’ve tried.

⭐️ BONUS: Here’s what happens when you use resin in a soap mold.

Reason 6: Your resin is too hot.

It’s normal for resin to get hot when mixing. But, too much heat can melt the mold, sticking your resin to it.

⭐️ BONUS: Here’s another reason why you don’t want your resin to overheat.

Reason 7: Your silicone mold isn’t fully cured.

If your mold has spots of uncured silicone, the resin will stick in those places and tear when demolding. This most commonly happens with tin-cure silicone molds.

⭐️ BONUS: Learn how to use silicone putty to DIY resin molds.

Frustrated with your results when creating with epoxy resin?

It’s why I wrote the ebook Resin Fundamentals. I’ve condensed my 17 years of resin experience into an easy-to-read PDF book. Go from confused to confident with resin in only a couple of hours. Buy a copy now, and a PDF download link arrives in your email inbox in minutes.

Unpublished Blog Posts of Resin Obsession, LLC © 2023 Resin Obsession, LLC

7 Reasons Why Resin Is Sticking To Your Mold - Resin Obsession (2024)

FAQs

7 Reasons Why Resin Is Sticking To Your Mold - Resin Obsession? ›

Prevent Adhesion to Your Mold

Cover all of your mold cavity surfaces with EcoPoxy's Epoxy Mold Release Tape (or any other sheathing tape). This will help prevent the epoxy from sticking to the mold and allows for easy removal of your project once the resin has cured.

How to make resin not stick to mold? ›

Prevent Adhesion to Your Mold

Cover all of your mold cavity surfaces with EcoPoxy's Epoxy Mold Release Tape (or any other sheathing tape). This will help prevent the epoxy from sticking to the mold and allows for easy removal of your project once the resin has cured.

How to unstick resin from mold? ›

Trick 2: Put the mold in the freezer.

If the resin is partially cured, put it in your freezer for 10 to 30 minutes. Then, remove the mold and try demolding again. You can also slap the mold on a hard surface to break the bond between the mold and the resin. With any luck, your resin will pop out.

Does Vaseline stop resin from sticking? ›

To release the resin from its mold, use Vaseline. Apply it over the mold before adding the epoxy resin. This mold release for epoxy prevents the resin from sticking to the mold. However, remember that it is not very good material.

What material does epoxy resin not stick to mold? ›

Epoxy will not stick to:

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Teflon. Polyethylene. Polypropylene.

What is the best release agent for epoxy resin? ›

Top 5 Epoxy Resin Release Agents
  • Mitreapel Silicone Mold Release- Get it Here.
  • CRC- High Temp and Food Grade- Get it Here.
  • MG 8329-350G- For NON Silicone Molds- Get it Here.
  • Smooth-On Universal Mold Release- Get it Here.
  • Sprayway SW946- Get it Here.
Feb 17, 2023

What causes resin to stick to silicone? ›

If you notice some spots of uncured silicone, there is a possible sign of project disaster. The resin that has not cured will stick in all those areas and tear the mold once you try demolding it.

Will sticky resin eventually harden? ›

As a general rule of thumb, your epoxy resin should feel well-cured after 24 hours. However, a complete cure and maximum hardness can take anywhere between 7-10 days, depending on the resin type. The most common reason for a tacky, under-cured project is inaccurately measuring your resin.

Is vaseline a good release agent? ›

Petroleum Jelly works as a sealer/release agent either straight or thinned with mineral spirits. Thinning with mineral spirits allows for a very thin layer to be applied to surfaces, helping to retain surface detail. even, and there are no clumps of Petroleum Jelly on model or mold surface. release agent.

Why is my resin still sticky after 2 days? ›

Soft or sticky epoxy resin can be caused by a variety of issues, including improper mixing, high humidity, and high temperatures. Once passed the curing time, if you observe that your resin remains sticky, it is very likely that you did not follow strictly the ratio or mixing process indicated.

What happens if you put too much hardener in resin? ›

If you add too much hardener to an epoxy resin system, it will decelerate the curing process, leading to an improperly hardened and non-functioning product. This makes it crucial to have the right ratio of resin to hardener if you want to create an epoxy system that truly works.

Why is my resin soft and bendy? ›

Bendy resin is an indication that the resin hasn't entirely cured, either because it is too early in the curing process, the temperature was too low while curing, or because the epoxy was not prepared according to the label instructions.

How long should resin cure before removing from mold? ›

It may be necessary to wait up to 3-7 days or longer for the resin to cure, depending on the specific resin being used and the ambient conditions.

How to stop fiberglass sticking to mold? ›

Yes, there is a method to avoid the chance of sticking on mold initialization. In a word…PVA. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a parting film which forms a physical barrier between the mold and the part. PVA has been around since the beginning of the fiberglass industry and certainly is not considered new technology.

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