You can make a personalized tumbler using epoxy resin. So, depending on your preferences, you can customize the epoxy tumbler by adding colors, glitter, and other materials. However, when making the epoxy tumbler, careful measuring and thorough mixing of the epoxy resin and hardener are crucial for curing the epoxy properly. Therefore, whether you apply the epoxy resin mixture as a coating, casting, or wet-out fiberglass, this guide will help you learn how to measure epoxy for tumblers.
Methods on How to Measure Epoxy for Tumblers
Method 1: Measure by volume (with mixing cups)
1. Determine the amount of mixed material required for the application. If you need more epoxy resin, you can always make another batch to finish the job.
2. Start by pouring the epoxy resin amount required for your mixture into the mixing cup or graduated measuring cup. When pouring, ensure the bottom of the curved liquid surface (the meniscus) touches the line you are pouring to. Warmer epoxy will lay flat, so allow it to settle before calculating the amount of hardener needed.
3. Pour in the right hardener to complete the mixture. Most Entropy's ambient cure wet lay-up epoxy solutions have a ratio of 2:1 by volume; therefore, we'll be pouring two parts epoxy to one part hardener. Besides, always use the manufacturer's directions written on the bottle to double-check.
Method 2: Measure by weight
1. To start, turn on your digital scale and select your unit of measurement. Most scales are calibrated in grams or ounces. Ensure you've selected a unit of measurement that can help you calculate 0.1 ounces or grams. It won't be easy to obtain consistent mixes if the quantity is too little for the scale to measure accurately. A minimum of 1.47 ounces of the mixture is recommended (1-ounce resin to .47 ounces of hardener).
2. Place your mixing cup on the scale and push the Tare or Zero Scale button to reset the scale to zero.
3. Pour your epoxy resin and note how much you poured. (For instance, 10 oz.)
4. Determine the hardener required depending on the amount of epoxy resin poured. (For instance, 10 ounces of epoxy requires 4.7 ounces of hardener, for a total combined weight of 14.7 ounces of mixed materials).
5. Pour the hardener directly from the bottle into your mixtures. If your scale resets due to inactivity before completing the mixture, you will only need to measure out the hardener. Epoxy resins and hardeners usually have different densities, meaning that epoxy weighs more than the hardener. Therefore, we recommend keeping a chart for quick reference to ensure that you make accurate mixtures.
6. If you pour slightly more than your target weight, worry less because as long as you stay within the 5% maximum error margin given for this epoxy resin system, you will be fine.
Steps on How to Make Epoxy Tumblers
Requirements for DIY glitter tumbler
- Insulated tumbler
- Tumbler turner/ cup turner
- Mixing cup
- Sir sticks
- Resin Obsession resin pigments in the colors you like
- Resin Obsession Crystal Doming Resin
- Painters tape
- Acrylic glitter paint
- Cardboard or protective paper towels
- Paintbrush
- Craft paint
- Gloves and other protective gear
Step 1: Prime with white paint
Begin by painting your tumbler if necessary. Some tumblers are already powder coated. If you're using a stainless steel tumbler, you can paint it with a thin epoxy layer of white spray paint before beginning. You can use the tumbler turner for both painting and pouring. Then allow the paint to dry between casting and coating applications as well as when you are done before adding casting resin.
Step 2: Cover your workspace.
When you're ready to pour your epoxy for tumblers, properly cover your work surface since resin will leak from the tumbler. You can use spare cardboard that you can recycle after the resin has dried.
Step 3: Cover the tumbler with tape
Use the painter's tape to cover the bottom of the tumbler. It will help in preventing resin drips. You can then peel it off afterward. This step in the process of making glitter tumblers is critical! Next, apply painter's tape to the interior of the tumbler to collect any resin that may leak or drip.
Step 4: Mix the resin
In a large mixing container, combine equal portions of the resin components and stir well. Then, split this into as many smaller containers as there are colors in total. Remember, when dealing with resin, you need to use protective equipment.
Step 5: Color the resin
Add some drops of pigment to each of your smaller cups. You can mix and combine the colors to create different hues of the original. Mix each of these well.
Step 6: Turn on the rotating motor and add the resin.
Turn the tumbler turner to low and spin your tumbler. If required, straighten the cup so that it spins properly. Then, pour your resin onto the surface of your cup.
Drip each color at random while the cup rotates, getting each color all over the cup. When you are done applying all colored resin to your epoxy resin tumbler, wait and see the results. If you need extra epoxy resin for tumblers, measure and mix some more pure resin, then pour as much as you need into your tumbler.
Using a stir stick, push the resin around on the cup surface. Ensure you touch the tip to the surface to ensure that the components distribute evenly and do not overmix. At this point in making epoxy tumblers, you may be wondering how to bring the colors together. In addition to your stick, you may blend the colors using a gloved finger.
Step 7: Allow the epoxy cup to spin while the resin cures
When you're satisfied with your marbling, burst any bubbles while your epoxy cup is still spinning. Then, keep the cup spinning for 4 hours to allow the resin to be fully cured. Before turning off the cup turner, you can put a small amount of resin in a cup beside your piece so you can check on the cure. Then, when the resin is thick enough not to flow, switch off the cup turner but keep the cup in place for the duration of the cure. You can leave it for around 18 hours before removing the turner.
Step 8: Finish
This epoxy tumbler is nearly finished! Before using it, remove the tape from both ends and wash it with dish soap. It would be best never to wash tumblers coated with resin in the dishwasher; however, they can withstand thorough handwashing.
