Resin craft manufacturers are not the only ones who can make glow-in-the-dark pieces. You can also make them at home and the process is very easy. Today, we will provide a complete guide on how to tint craft resin to glow in the dark so you can bring all your resin DIY projects to life!

Supplies to Tint Craft Resin to Glow in the Dark

Before we get into the guide, you need to make sure you have all the necessary supplies. You’ll need the following:

 ● Craft Resin

● Glow-in-the-dark powder, such as this one

● Plastic measuring cups

● Mixing cups

● Craft sticks for mixing

● Molds of your choice

● Waterproof sandpaper

● Protective equipment, such as gloves, goggles, etc.

How to Tint Craft Resin to Glow in the Dark

Once you gather all your supplies and organize your workspace, you can get started. Follow these steps:

1. Prepare the resin

The first thing you need to do is prepare the resin, so mix the amount you need to fill your mold. Make sure to follow instructions and measure everything correctly. Once you have the resin ready, split it evenly if you want to make different colors. If not, you can keep all the resin in one cup.

2. Measure the resin and glow-in-the-dark powder

Whether you’re making different colors of glow-in-the-dark resin, the process will be the same. You just have to weigh the resin in the cup and determine the grams. This will help you determine how much glow-in-the-dark powder to add.

Usually, the ratio is 1 part glow-in-the-dark powder to 4 parts resin. The easiest way to figure out how much powder to use is to multiply 5 by the grams of resin and divide by 20. So, if you have 10 grams of resin, the formula would be 5x10g/20, which equals 2.5 grams of glow-in-the-dark powder.

If you’re using volume (milliliters) instead of weight, the formula would be the same. More or less glow-in-the-dark powder won’t ruin things, but using this simple formula will ensure a vibrant color. Plus, you won’t waste more powder than necessary. 

3. Mix things up

Once you know how much glow-in-the-dark powder you have to use, you just have to add it to the resin and mix well. Stir the powder in slowly using a craft stick and be thorough with this.

Make sure you don’t use too much speed because that will create bubbles, which are difficult to manage later on. You want the resin mix to be homogeneous. So, take your time and stir well. Repeat this process with each portion of resin if you’re making several colors.

4. Pour the resin into the mold

When your glow-in-the-dark resin is ready, you can fill your mold. You may notice that the resin will become a little thick. That’s a good thing because it will keep the glow-in-the-dark pigment from sinking.

Make sure to fill the mold to the top, but avoid overflowing it so you don’t waste any product. Then, let it dry for 10 or 15 minutes. This will allow you to go in with a toothpick or a pointed tool to pop any bubbles that rise to the surface before the resin hardens.

If you have a heat gun, you can use that instead. Just make sure you hold it 6 to 8 inches above the resin to avoid burning it. Use sweeping motions as well, this will help you cover the entire surface and remove bubbles more effectively.

5. Cover and let it cure

When you’re done with removing the bubbles, cover your piece to avoid it catching any dust, pet fur, or debris of any kind. Then, just let it cure. Make sure to check the product information to verify the curing time. Usually, epoxy resin will harden in 24 hours and cure completely in 72 hours.

6. Sand your resin piece

Once your piece is fully cured, you just have to make the finishing touches. This usually requires a bit of sanding, so take a piece of your waterproof sandpaper and rub the piece with it until it’s nice and smooth.

The rule of thumb with sandpaper is to start with 80 grit and then work your way up as needed. If you need to remove sharp edges, a finer grit will do the job. Overall, make sure you apply even pressure when sanding the piece to avoid creating raised or lowered spots.

Final Words

As you can see, tinting craft resin so it can glow in the dark is not a difficult process. You don’t have to be one of the best resin craft manufacturers to do it! Just make sure you use high-quality glow-in-the-dark powder and measure everything well.

If you’re looking for new resin pieces to add to your collection, check out Ennas Gift to find interesting options!