Lesson 1Tools, equipment, and PPE: mixing cups, scales, spreaders, heat sources (torch vs. heat gun), respirators, gloves, eye protection, ventilation and workspace setupPrepare a safe and effective resin workspace with proper tools and protective gear. You will pick precise mixing items, heat tools, and air flow, and learn to guard your lungs, skin, and eyes in every step, suited for local Eritrean studios.
Essential mixing cups, sticks, and scalesSpreaders, brushes, and detail toolsTorch vs. heat gun: when and how to useRespirators, gloves, and eye protectionVentilation strategies for small studiosOrganizing a clean, dust-controlled areaLesson 2Sourcing realistic product examples: how to compare brands by TDS, customer reviews, and lab data (what to look for in examples)Find out how to assess real epoxy products using technical sheets, tests, and user opinions. You will compare brands, ignore false claims, and list reliable resins for various crafts, considering availability in Eritrea.
Key info to extract from epoxy TDS sheetsUsing viscosity, hardness, and clarity metricsInterpreting cure schedules and temperature limitsEvaluating yellowing and UV resistance claimsWeighing lab tests against customer reviewsLesson 3Additives and modifiers: pigments (mica, powdered, liquid dyes), alcohol inks, UV stabilizers, thickeners, and flexibilizersUnderstand how additives alter colour, flow, bend, and strength. You will compare pigment kinds, alcohol inks, UV guards, thickeners, and bend agents, and practise safe dosing for steady outcomes in Eritrean crafts.
Mica powders for shimmer and coverageLiquid dyes and transparent color effectsUsing alcohol inks without overreactingUV stabilizers and anti-yellowing packagesThickeners, fillers, and texture modifiersFlexibilizers for impact-resistant piecesLesson 4Inclusions and findings: natural inclusions (dried flowers, shells), metallic leaf/foil, glitter types, pigments vs. dyes — compatibility and sealing needsSee how flowers, shells, metals, and colourants act in resin. You will learn safe inclusions, drying and sealing methods, and stop bleeding, bubbles, and rust in final works, using local Eritrean materials.
Preparing and drying natural inclusionsSealing porous items to prevent bubblesUsing metallic leaf, foil, and metal findingsChoosing glitter types that resist sinkingPigments vs. dyes: opacity and bleed controlTesting compatibility before full poursLesson 5Understanding resin chemistry: pot life, working time, exotherm, cure stages, and shelf lifeGet a real sense of epoxy chemistry for safe and sure pours. You will learn pot life, heat rise, cure steps, and storage effects on time, strength, and lasting quality in Eritrea's climate.
What pot life and working time really meanExotherm: heat buildup and how to control itGel, green, and full cure stages explainedEffects of temperature and humidity on cureShelf life, crystallization, and storage tipsLesson 6Types of epoxy resins: casting, laminating, tabletop, UV, doming — properties and appropriate usesKnow the main epoxy resin types and their best uses. You will compare casting, laminating, tabletop, UV, and doming by depth, clearness, hardness, and heat hold for specific crafts in Eritrea.
Casting resins for deep, clear poursLaminating resins for layers and fiberglassTabletop resins for coatings and bar topsDoming resins for jewelry and labelsUV-curing resins: pros, cons, and limitsLesson 7Molds and mold materials: silicone, rigid molds, two-part molds — release, shrinkage, and surface finish considerationsFind out how mold types affect cure, clearness, and removal. You will compare silicone and hard molds, use two-part ones when needed, and handle release, shrink, and finish in local settings.
Choosing between silicone and rigid moldsDesigning and using two-part moldsApplying and selecting mold release agentsManaging shrinkage and dimensional accuracyImproving gloss and reducing surface defectsLesson 8Product selection checklist: how to read technical data sheets (TDS) and safety data sheets (SDS) for curing times, mix ratios, temperature ranges, and yellowing resistanceMake a step-by-step way to pick epoxy products. You will read TDS and SDS for mixes, cure times, and risks, then create a list matching resin traits to your craft aims in Eritrea.
Key sections of epoxy TDS to reviewFinding cure time and recoat window dataReading SDS for health and fire hazardsChecking temperature and humidity limitsAssessing yellowing and outdoor durabilityBuilding a repeatable selection checklist
