Solid Solutions Resin(0)

Create with Solid Solutions resin

Pouring your first set of coasters this weekend? Preserving a bouquet from a big day? Planning a river table for the lounge room? Resin turns everyday materials into pieces you'll actually want on display. Solid Solutions is a dedicated epoxy resin range built for Australian makers, covering the three formats crafters reach for most: clear casting, deep pour and doming.

You might begin with small pieces such as pendants and earrings, then move into thicker blocks, embedded florals or self-levelling top coats. The Solid Solutions range covers that progression while remaining approachable for a first pour and dependable enough for larger builds.

Solid Solutions sits alongside our wider resin craft range, so you can pair your resin with the moulds, pigments and tools that match your project.

Choosing the right resin for your project

Matching the resin to the job gives you a much better chance of a clean cure. A shallow decorative piece behaves very differently from a 40mm river table pour, and choosing correctly at the start saves wasted resin. If you want to compare brands, browse our full casting resin options.

Clear casting resin is your all-rounder for coasters, jewellery blanks, small art pieces and shallow moulds. Deep pour resin is formulated to cure slowly and cool, so you can pour thicker layers without the resin overheating and yellowing. Doming resin is thicker and self-levels beautifully across pendants, badges, bottle caps and finished artwork.

Project type. Coasters, jewellery and shallow moulds suit clear casting. Thick blocks and river tables need deep pour.

Pour depth. The deeper the single layer, the more heat builds up. Match resin to layer thickness.

Mixing ratio and skill level. 1:1 by volume formulas are the easiest to measure and mix, which makes them ideal for beginners.

Finish and UV resistance. Pieces displayed in bright rooms or outdoors need a resin formulated to resist yellowing.

Solid Solutions resin at a glance

Format	Typical mix ratio	Max pour depth (per layer)	Working time / cure	Best-suited projects
Clear casting	1:1 by volume	Up to ~15mm	~30 min / 24-48 hr	Coasters, jewellery, small art, shallow moulds
Deep pour	2:1 by volume	Up to ~50mm	Several hours / 48-72 hr	River tables, thick blocks, flower preservation
Doming	1:1 by volume	Self-levelling top coat	~40 min / 24 hr	Pendants, badges, bottle caps, finished art

Figures are a general guide. Always check the specific product label for exact ratios, depths and cure times before pouring.

Getting a clean, clear pour

Mixing, pouring and curing

Most first-time resin problems come from three things. Inaccurate measuring, pouring too deep in one go, and dust or bubbles in the cure. Measure resin and hardener by volume using graduated cups, and stir slowly for a full 3 minutes, scraping the sides and base so nothing goes unmixed. Rushing this step is the number one cause of sticky or cloudy cures.

Pour depth matters just as much. Stay within the recommended layer thickness for your format. If you need to go deeper, pour in stages. Once poured, run a heat gun or small torch briefly across the surface to release trapped bubbles. Cure at a stable room temperature (around 20-25°C), covered from dust. Our mixing cups, stirrers and heat tools make the process much cleaner.

Colour, embed and finish

Colour and embedded details are where the piece starts to feel personal. Alcohol ink creates translucent swirls, while mica powder adds a pearlescent shimmer. For solid colour, use an opaque pigment paste. Explore our resin pigments and dyes to find the right finish.

You can also preserve dried flowers or small keepsakes inside the resin. Once cured, the surface can be sanded and polished to tidy the edges, remove scratches and restore its gloss.

Working safely with epoxy resin

Epoxy resin is straightforward to work with when you take a few sensible steps. Work in a well-ventilated space, and wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses to avoid skin and eye contact. If resin touches your skin, wash with soap and water rather than solvents.

Keep resin and hardener in their original bottles with lids firmly closed, and store them somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Unopened epoxy resin commonly has a shelf life of around 12 months, although storage requirements vary. The product label will also tell you whether the cured resin is approved for food contact.

Solid Solutions resin FAQs

Q1: What is the mixing ratio for Solid Solutions epoxy resin?

Clear casting and doming resins typically mix at 1:1 by volume, while deep pour resin usually uses a 2:1 resin-to-hardener ratio. Check your bottle before mixing, as formulas can vary. Stir slowly for 3 minutes and scrape the sides and base of the cup to avoid an uneven or sticky cure.

Q2: How long does resin take to cure?

Most Solid Solutions resins are touch-dry in about 24 hours and fully cured in 48 to 72 hours. Pot life is usually 30 to 45 minutes for clear casting and doming resin, but several hours for deep pour. Keep the room around 20-25°C and avoid moving the piece during the first 24 hours.

Q3: What's the maximum pour depth I can do in one layer?

Clear casting resin should generally stay below 15mm per layer, while doming resin is intended as a thin self-levelling coat. Deep pour resin can usually handle up to 50mm, depending on the product. For thicker projects, pour in stages and let each layer reach a soft-gel stage before continuing. Confirm the exact limit on the label.

Q4: Which Solid Solutions resin is best for beginners, coasters or jewellery?

For beginners, coasters and jewellery, clear casting resin with a 1:1 mix ratio is the easiest starting point. It measures simply, mixes cleanly and cures at a depth that suits most small moulds. Pair it with silicone resin moulds, a set of graduated mixing cups, wooden stirrers and a heat gun for bubble removal. Once you're confident with clear casting, deep pour opens up thicker blocks and floral preservation, and doming resin is perfect for finishing pendants and badges.

Q5: Is Solid Solutions resin food contact safe or UV resistant?

Always check the current product label for food contact and UV information, as this varies by SKU. Many epoxy resins are considered inert once fully cured, but that isn't the same as being certified food safe. We recommend treating resin coasters and tableware as decorative surfaces unless the label specifically confirms otherwise. For pieces displayed in bright rooms or outdoors, choose a resin formulated with UV inhibitors to reduce yellowing over time.

Q6: What moulds and tools do I need to get started?

A basic beginner kit includes silicone moulds in the shape you want to cast, graduated mixing cups, wooden or silicone stirrers, nitrile gloves, a small heat gun or torch for bubbles, and a level surface protected with a plastic sheet. Add pigments or dyes if you'd like colour. Browse the resin moulds collection for coasters, jewellery, trays and more, and grab everything else from our resin tools and accessories range in one order.

Why makers choose Riot

We've been supplying Australian makers for more than 40 years, and resin is one of the categories we know best. You'll find the full resin ecosystem in one place. Solid Solutions and our own Urban Crafter resin range, plus moulds, pigments, dyes, mixing tools and finishing supplies. No hunting across five different sites to plan a project.

Every product is chosen with makers in mind, and our team is happy to help you match resin format to project if you're not sure where to start. Order online for Australia-wide shipping.

Keep exploring resin craft

Once you've picked your resin, round out your kit with the pieces that make each pour easier. Browse our resin moulds collection for coasters, jewellery, trays and geometric shapes, or add colour and shimmer from our pigments, dyes and varnishes range. Stock up on essentials like mixing cups, stirrers and heat tools in resin tools and accessories, and explore the full resin craft category for more project inspiration.