Hi, I've often been asked to list my favourite tools for resin art.

Don't worry, not all of them are expensive. In fact, none of them are expensive at all, and some of them are even completely free, but they're things that I wouldn't do without.

Links to everything mentioned are at the end of the article.

Cardboard Box

My first one is the good old cardboard box.

You want one with high sides and large enough to cover your projects without touching them.

I would suggest you tape all around the edges and try and keep it clean.

It’s ideal for when you're leaving things to cure overnight, you can lay that over the top, whether it's a picture or a mould, to stop dust and things settling on the resin.

This happens all the time, and it can spoil a fantastic project.

This is a brilliant “tool” and costs nothing.

Micro Brushes

My second favourite tool is micro brushes.

Now, anybody who watched my videos knows I use these all the time, and you get hundreds of them for next to nothing, too.

These come in different sizes, and they work really well for removing little bit from your resin. You can also use them for lots of different things. I use them quite a lot for putting detail into moulds with micro-powder and other media.

Jewellery Tools

The next one is a good set of jewellery tools.

I used to have some cheaper ones, but they kept breaking, bending, or marking. So, I invested that little bit of extra money into a new set, and I love them.

The quality of your tools makes a big difference when trying to assemble your jewellery. They cut your work time down tremendously. They also make your hands much more comfortable.

So, you must have a good set of jewellery tools.

Lighter/Blowtorch

image of long necked lighters and blow torch

These items are really important, and they do very different jobs.

You need both, but you want to make sure you use the right one for the right job so you don't damage your mould and/or project.

I use a long neck lighter if I'm popping bubbles on my moulds because this doesn't get to a temperature that is going to burn the moulds.

I use a blowtorch when I've made a picture pour or something that has no silicon in it.

Never use a blowtorch on a silicon mould, or you may ruin it.

Again, these cost hardly anything.

Silicon Jugs

You definitely need something to use to mix up your resin and colours, and measuring out your resin accurately is really important.

I don't use the plastic throwaway ones with the measurements on the side as I find the measurement markers aren't accurate, and you end up using more of part A than part B or vice versa and then your resin doesn't cure up very well. You also get left with a load of surplus resin or insufficient for the project.

I use silicon jugs in a variety of sizes.

These clean out so easily, and you can use them over and over again.

Mixing Utensils

Another thing you can’t do without is the mixing utensils. I use them all the time.

If you buy resin either from Teexpert or JDiction, you get one included free with the resin. They mix beautifully, they scrape the sides for your colours and resin, and you can also get to the bottom of the jug with them. They don't introduce a lot of bubbles, which is what you want, and they clean up beautifully.

The other thing I use is a variety of wooden sticks, coffee stirrers, or popsicle sticks, and if you've got a family that eats a lot of popsicles, keep the sticks and put them in the dishwasher. I use these for adding resin, moving things around in moulds, and many other things.

Silicone Mats

The next really important consideration is ensuring that you cover up your work surface.

You don't want to be picking up dirt or dust from your work surface, and you also want to be able to keep the surface clean.

I use silicone mats. In fact, I use two at a time, a smaller one for the actual project and, under that, a really large one for protecting the work surface.

It keeps everything clean and tidy because you know how messy we crafters are.

Well, this crafter especially 😂.

Wipes

I wouldn't be without wipes. They clean up resin so well. They also clean up your silicone mats really well. Ensure you get the all-natural ones that don’t have any alcohol in them, as I wouldn’t suggest putting alcohol on your mats.

I always have a good supply of these. Couldn't be without them, use them all the time, every day.

Heat gun

A heat gun is so useful.

I bought this heat gun. What I love about this one is that it you can control the temperature when using it. It goes from 50℃ (122℉) right up to 650℃ (1202℉). This is great if you're doing artwork, pours, picture pours with resin, and things like that.

If you don't want to keep heating your resin up and you just want to move it around, you can turn it right down, and it'll move the resin around, as well as get rid of all the bubbles.

These are so inexpensive nowadays and well worth having.

Levelling Table

My ultimate must-have tool that's low cost is a levelling table.

I've got several of these, and they are brilliant. If your work surface is not level when your resin is curing, you'll get thick parts and thin parts, and you won't get a nice smooth finish.

Levelling tables with adjustable legs and movable feet with lovely grips make a huge difference, and whenever I'm curing anything flat, I use one of these.

Treat yourself to one.