Rulers and bookmarks don’t have to be just boring tools. With a bit of epoxy resin and decoration, you can create beautiful, unique items. We guarantee that you won’t stop at just one cast. Once people around you see them, they’ll want you to make some for them too. We speak from personal experience!
What you will need for production
Silicone molds for rulers and bookmarks
Epoxy resin
Color or metallic powder for resin
Decorative material
Consumables
Scale
Production process
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Prepare the molds on a flat, covered surface and use tape to remove any dust and dirt. Level the surface ideally with a spirit level. If the surface is not perfectly level, the resin will flow to one side.
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Mix the required amount of resin and hardener. Depending on the size of the molds, you generally need about 20 grams of mixed resin for one bookmark or ruler. For these items, we most often use Fluid, iCrystal, or Start resin.
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Always mix the resin according to the mixing ratio indicated on the package and weigh both components on a digital scale with gram precision. Remember to protect your skin, eyes, and respiratory system from contact with the resin or its fumes during work. Mix both components thoroughly from the bottom and scrape the sides of the cup (about 3-4 minutes), then pour the mixed resin into a new cup and repeat the mixing. This eliminates poorly mixed spots that may not cure properly.
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Divide the resin into several cups according to your needs and color it or add glitter. Don’t delay processing - the resin is in the cup at a higher level than the recommended maximum pouring height, so it works faster and could cure quickly in the cup.
Use only a few drops of color, and powder colors in approximately the amount of two peas. Add and mix colors gradually until you achieve the desired shade.
A large amount of color could negatively affect the properties of the resin; the maximum recommended amount of color in mixed resin is about 2%. -
Pour the mixed and colored resin into the molds. There are many possibilities for application, and it depends on your imagination. For example, you can leave part of the resin uncolored and color part of it and mix in glitter. Then pour both colored and uncolored resin from both sides of the mold. The colors won’t fully blend and will create an interesting effect. You can place decorations or dried flowers into the transparent part.
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After pouring into the mold, remove surface bubbles with a lighter. Never hold the flame over the resin for too long; just pass it over the bubbles. If you hold the flame on the surface of the mold for too long, the resin could burn onto the mold, damaging both the mold and the product.
Remove bubbles at the bottom of the mold, for example with a toothpick. Also, be careful in the corners of the molds where bubbles may collect. -
Cover the products to prevent dust from settling on them and let them cure. You can cover the molds with a plastic box, or place cups around the mold and put cardboard on top.
VIDEO: Ruler tutorial
VIDEO: Bookmark tutorial
Need help or want to learn more about working with resin?
Visit our Tips and Tricks section, where you will find everything you need to know about working with resin!