The Difference between Artist Resin and Casting Resin

Have you found yourself with the perfect tumbler design or jewelry sketch in mind but get stuck deciding which resin to use? Unsure if you should use artist resin or casting resin to bring your ideal creation to life? We are here to help you determine which resin is just right for you. Then you can watch your vision come to fruition!

One of the questions we get asked the most is “What is the difference between artist resin and casting resin (Culture Cast)?” There are a few differences between the two resins. Once you understand them you’ll be able to decide which one is best to use for your project. 

Sometimes deciding between artist resin and casting resin has to do with personal preference. However, more often it has to do with which one is best suited to the project you have in mind. Both resins are FDA compliant and VOC free but you’ll need to keep in mind the thickness of the pour you are planning. Also think about the durability of your final product when choosing which resin to use. 

Artist Resin

Artist Resin is made for pours that are less than ¼” thick and is ideal for projects such as resin art, countertops, serving trays, geodes, glitter tumblers, and marble paint tumblers. The possibilities are nearly endless but remember to think thin when you are using Artist Resin. Artist Resin is also very hard and durable which makes it perfect for items that will see much use.

It is heat resistant up to 500 degrees F and is also highly UV resistant. The durability and shininess of Artist Resin also makes it an excellent top coat for projects that are thicker and will need to be done using casting resin. Artist Resin will produce a crystal-clear, glass-like finish that enhances and protects your artwork! If you are looking for more information on working with Artist Resin, we have a whole post on the best way to shape it!

Casting Resin

Casting Resin (Culture Cast) is designed for thicker pours from ¼” to 2” thick. You can add pigments, metallic, ink, and other media to the resin to create your project and make it unique. Culture Cast is what you’ll want for petri dish molds, river tables, and jewelry making.

Where Artist Resin is hard, casting resin is softer. We suggest that if you are using casting resin to make things that need to be more durable, such as coasters or a usable surface, that you simply add a topcoat of our Artist Resin to make sure the items will be tough enough to withstand use. 

Another durability option would be to use our Hard Cast Casting Resin which is specifically developed for casting artists who want an extra hard, durable resin in projects that are thicker than ¼”. 

No matter the project you want to tackle be assured that we have the perfect resin product available for you. Armed with the right information you will be able to decide between Artist Resin and Culture Cast.  That will let you can create your ideal project every time. If you’re looking for more tips on how to make your resin project a success we have a blog post for that too!

And, know that if you still have questions, we are always here to help! If you don’t find the answers to your questions in the FAQs on our website, you can contact us there or join our Facebook group Counter Culture DIY Artist Support where we, and other artists, answer questions and support each other!