I have been experimenting with resin molds and casts for some time. While I have tried a few epoxy resins, most of my work has been limited to polyurethane resin casts (materials sourced from https://www.artmolds.com/).
Polyurethane resin is easy to use and the casts turn out durable. But the cost factor made me consider switching to polyester resin for my casts.
And truth is that polyester resin does have a lot going for it as a casting material. It is cheap, flexible and comes in a variety of colors. The casts turn out non-porous, tough and are resistant to heat, fire and chemicals as well. And to top it, it is very easy to work with and cures quickly.
I was ready to put up with certain issues like rapid shrinking, reinforcing with fiberglass and inherent brittleness. And I was sure that I can safely combat the strong fumes by using a respirator and exhaust fan.
But I was quite surprised that my main supplier, EnvironMolds did not carry any form of polyester resins at all. I perused the entire website and my curiosity finally drove me to inquire directly from the company.
And boy, I drew one long, shaky breath when I realized that polyester resin may be cheap, but is also quite dangerous to work with. The fumes are toxic and gloves and goggles will not provide adequate protection at all. And respirators manage limited functionality as the odorless gases linger in the air for long periods.
I immediately decided to stick to the safer polyurethane resins itself. It may be expensive, but EnvironMolds ensures that I get the best prices always. Apart from the materials and supplies, I also order name plates engraved for my casts on the same website.
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