resin rage (relevant to chelseacandy)
(and possibly also relevant to anyone who's gotten anything resin-based from me in the past)
It's time I came clean on something. The type of resin I've used in the past to make some of the items I sell here is of the variety called "polyester resin." The particular properties of polyester resins that are favorable to this hobby is that it's inexpensive - compared to other clear-curing resins, anyway; has a long shelf life; is very forgiving when it comes to measuring (1:1 mix ratio FTW!); and that it doesn't take too long to cure - again, compared to many other clear resins.
Unfortunately, there's a whopper of a negative when it comes to polyester resin. Fumes. They're bad and they're nasty. So bad, in fact, that they continue to come forth from the casted object even after the curing process is complete. If someone - like, oh...say me? - is exposed to them in high on a regular basis, it causes brain damage. Migraines. Seizures. That's been the story of my life for the past 2 or 3 months. Remember when I wouldn't drive to the post office? That's why. I was afraid I'd have a seizure. And it wasn't until a friend pointed out to me the risks of polyester resin that I understood why, when I opened up my big box of resin gems that that awful resin smell would fill my lungs and give me a migraine 10 minutes later. I want to stress here that unless you have the amount of exposure that I do, it is not likely that you're at risk. I have been put on medications to control my migraines, which also doubles as an anti-seizure mediation and I've been able to find a measure of control in that department. I have moved my big box of resin gems into the basement where I don't have to go near it unless someone pays for some. And then I can hold my breath and take the plunge, so to speak.
So I've been searching for a replacement for polyester resin. The main requirement has been that it cures clear so I can continue to provide those super duper shiny brooches and odango shields that everyone loves so much. ^_~ There's a local store that carries a brand of urethane resin which, today, I purchased. Tonight I sat down at my craft table, with all my molds and measuring cups and various other supplies out and ready to go. But just to be safe, I whipped out all 4 pages of the safety manual just to make sure I knew what this new kind of resin entailed. And it was a good thing I did, too.
Problem #1: Even if I were only going to use 2 oz of the stuff (which is probably about right, actually, in this case) the rest of my 32 oz can? Useless in 20 minutes. The shelf life is that bad. It actually had a chart! Shelf life: 20 minutes!
Problem #2: Versatility - It haz nun! The particular brand that I got has several types of urethane resin. The kind that I got can only do certain thicknesses. The range in that can was 1/2" - 3". That works for generic round and heart brooches and odango shields, but that's about it, folks. That's all I could have used it for! No eternal brooches. No earrings of any kind. The polyurethane resin could do 3 little bitty drops for basic pierce earrings for Venus, all the way up to a belt for Twilight Princess Zelda without even breaking a sweat (consider my horn tooted).
Problem #3: Terrible mix ratio. 10:9 by weight. I tell you what, folks. I've done stuff by weight before with certain mold makers and with the way my postage scale works, I have to tap the scale every few seconds or it turns off. I only have 2 arms and that's not something I want to do with resin, too. Two thumbs way, WAAAAAY down.
Problem #4: I forget. I'm just mad in general that I have to return the stuff. *punt*
So unless I can find yet another kind of resin that did all the things that the polyester resin could (minus the brain death, of course - I'm surprised that stuff is still legal!) I'm probably going to resign myself to going back to it and just being extra careful around it. *sigh*
And once again, let me restate that unless you crack open the little craft bags that I ship your goodies in and start whiffing like some crackhead, there should be no danger. But if you experience severe migraines, memory loss (as in, gaps of time gone), confusion, disorientation, or just in general unfun brain-related stuff, seclude yourself from the resin item and talk to your doctor immediately.
Now, as for chelseacandy, I will be returning to the craft store tomorrow to return this resin. I'm just REALLY hoping they don't give me an issue or so help me God... because all I did was open the box and read the darn pamphlet and grumble a lot! I will exchange it for the old polyester resin I used to use. I can already tell you that since this resin takes less time to cure, your odango shields will be done 3 or 4 days sooner than previously estimated. Also, when I ship your package to you, I will be including a partial refund (because I don't want paypal eating that!) to make up the difference in resin costs, since I'm going back to the original brand, which was a good bit cheaper.
It's time I came clean on something. The type of resin I've used in the past to make some of the items I sell here is of the variety called "polyester resin." The particular properties of polyester resins that are favorable to this hobby is that it's inexpensive - compared to other clear-curing resins, anyway; has a long shelf life; is very forgiving when it comes to measuring (1:1 mix ratio FTW!); and that it doesn't take too long to cure - again, compared to many other clear resins.
Unfortunately, there's a whopper of a negative when it comes to polyester resin. Fumes. They're bad and they're nasty. So bad, in fact, that they continue to come forth from the casted object even after the curing process is complete. If someone - like, oh...say me? - is exposed to them in high on a regular basis, it causes brain damage. Migraines. Seizures. That's been the story of my life for the past 2 or 3 months. Remember when I wouldn't drive to the post office? That's why. I was afraid I'd have a seizure. And it wasn't until a friend pointed out to me the risks of polyester resin that I understood why, when I opened up my big box of resin gems that that awful resin smell would fill my lungs and give me a migraine 10 minutes later. I want to stress here that unless you have the amount of exposure that I do, it is not likely that you're at risk. I have been put on medications to control my migraines, which also doubles as an anti-seizure mediation and I've been able to find a measure of control in that department. I have moved my big box of resin gems into the basement where I don't have to go near it unless someone pays for some. And then I can hold my breath and take the plunge, so to speak.
So I've been searching for a replacement for polyester resin. The main requirement has been that it cures clear so I can continue to provide those super duper shiny brooches and odango shields that everyone loves so much. ^_~ There's a local store that carries a brand of urethane resin which, today, I purchased. Tonight I sat down at my craft table, with all my molds and measuring cups and various other supplies out and ready to go. But just to be safe, I whipped out all 4 pages of the safety manual just to make sure I knew what this new kind of resin entailed. And it was a good thing I did, too.
Problem #1: Even if I were only going to use 2 oz of the stuff (which is probably about right, actually, in this case) the rest of my 32 oz can? Useless in 20 minutes. The shelf life is that bad. It actually had a chart! Shelf life: 20 minutes!
Problem #2: Versatility - It haz nun! The particular brand that I got has several types of urethane resin. The kind that I got can only do certain thicknesses. The range in that can was 1/2" - 3". That works for generic round and heart brooches and odango shields, but that's about it, folks. That's all I could have used it for! No eternal brooches. No earrings of any kind. The polyurethane resin could do 3 little bitty drops for basic pierce earrings for Venus, all the way up to a belt for Twilight Princess Zelda without even breaking a sweat (consider my horn tooted).
Problem #3: Terrible mix ratio. 10:9 by weight. I tell you what, folks. I've done stuff by weight before with certain mold makers and with the way my postage scale works, I have to tap the scale every few seconds or it turns off. I only have 2 arms and that's not something I want to do with resin, too. Two thumbs way, WAAAAAY down.
Problem #4: I forget. I'm just mad in general that I have to return the stuff. *punt*
So unless I can find yet another kind of resin that did all the things that the polyester resin could (minus the brain death, of course - I'm surprised that stuff is still legal!) I'm probably going to resign myself to going back to it and just being extra careful around it. *sigh*
And once again, let me restate that unless you crack open the little craft bags that I ship your goodies in and start whiffing like some crackhead, there should be no danger. But if you experience severe migraines, memory loss (as in, gaps of time gone), confusion, disorientation, or just in general unfun brain-related stuff, seclude yourself from the resin item and talk to your doctor immediately.
Now, as for chelseacandy, I will be returning to the craft store tomorrow to return this resin. I'm just REALLY hoping they don't give me an issue or so help me God... because all I did was open the box and read the darn pamphlet and grumble a lot! I will exchange it for the old polyester resin I used to use. I can already tell you that since this resin takes less time to cure, your odango shields will be done 3 or 4 days sooner than previously estimated. Also, when I ship your package to you, I will be including a partial refund (because I don't want paypal eating that!) to make up the difference in resin costs, since I'm going back to the original brand, which was a good bit cheaper.