Items, Chemicals and Equipment for Resin Casting

Items needed:

• sample container with living specimens
• tweezers
• pipette to count drops of catalyst
• disposable wooden stir stick
• cups for mixing
• molds for casting, e.g. made of polypropylene, latex, natural rubber, flexible vinyl plastic, e.g.reusable molds (Note: Some mold types require the use of a mold release to keep the casting from sticking to the molds)
• or acrylic box with magnifier cover - large 1.5” x 1.5” x 1.5” or small - 1” x 1” x 0.75” as permanent
• preservation boxes instead of reusable molds, from which you remove the casting after it has cured

Chemicals:

• casting resin and catalyst, e.g. Clear Polyester Casting Resin with catalyst or Easy Cast Clear Casting Epoxy
• mold release/conditioner to clean and condition molds for longer use
• ethanol 95 %
• acetone or rubbing alcohol for clean up instruments

Equipment:

• fume hood or other well-ventilated area! (resin causes strong styrene vapor during curing)
• level working surface, covered with layers of wax paper
• Gloves
• Newspaper or plastic bags (for work surface)
• Goggles

Grit May and Joe Courneya. 2008. Lesson Plan: Creating a classroom collection of Macroinvertebrates. CWE Project Specialist. NDSU Extension Educational Design Specialist.