Why is my resin hot and smoking?

A lot of people ask me how to fix their resin, and I think the best thing to do is break down your concerns into smaller pieces. We’ll start with the big picture: why did my resin get hot and smoke?

Then we’ll go into some specific cases. If you’re not sure which section applies to your particular situation, don’t worry! Keep reading until you find an answer that works for you.

Why did my resin get hot and smoke?

So, you’ve got a lovely batch of resin that’s been sitting out on the counter to cure. You pick it up and see that it’s hot—not just warm, but actually hot. Why would this happen?

• Your resin is not at the right temperature

The first possible reason for this is that your resin wasn’t heated up enough before you poured it into your mold. Most resins require a heat range between 300 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit (149-177 Celsius) in order to achieve maximum strength in crystallization and curing time.

If your resin isn’t cured properly, it can warp or bend on its own due to internal stresses caused by improper curing temperatures or under-mixing during mixing procedures; thus causing an uneven surface finish when applied onto surfaces like wood or glassware

Is it normal for resin to get hot?

Yes. Resin will get hot during the curing process, which is a chemical reaction between the resin and the catalyst. How hot it gets depends on a number of factors: how many catalysts you use, how much resin you use, how often you turn on your lamp during curing (i.e., how long it’s exposed to heat), etc.

If your resin is smoking excessively and/or getting too hot while curing, there are a few things you can do:

• Use less catalyst than recommended by the manufacturer
• Use more cure time than recommended by the manufacturer (if this is possible)
• Try using a slower-curing type of resin

How do you fix an overheating resin?

If your resin is smoking and hot to the touch, there are a few ways you can fix the problem.

• Use a heat gun to cool down the resin. This method works well for small molds, but if your mold is larger than about 10 inches (25 cm), use a fan instead of a heat gun so that it doesn’t take hours to cool down.
• Put your mold in an ice bath until it’s room temperature or just warm enough not to burn yourself when you touch it. If this isn’t possible, consider using chemical ice packs or cold packs instead of water (see image).
• If all else fails, try using another material such as silicone rubber or plaster instead of epoxy resin.

Why is my resin on fire?

• Propane torch
• Heat gun

For example, you can use a propane torch to heat resin. You’ll want to keep the flame no closer than an inch or two from your work surface. Heat guns are also great for this and may be preferable if you’re working in an enclosed space (think garage).

However, heat guns do have the added benefit of being able to dry out resin quickly, which is helpful if you’re trying to speed up curing time or remove tackiness before handling.

Why is epoxy smoking?

When curing epoxy, it’s normal to see a little bit of smoke. This is because the smoke is simply a by-product of the curing process and isn’t harmful to you or your project.

• Smoke can be caused by too much catalyst: While we don’t recommend using an excessive amount of catalyst for any product, this type of smoking can be particularly problematic with epoxy and requires immediate attention. If you notice your resin smoking as it cures, keep an eye on it and make sure that there aren’t any small flames or sparks coming from the pot. If there are flames present inside of your resin container, remove them immediately; never attempt to extinguish burning resin with water because this could cause an explosion!
• Poorly ventilated workspace: If you’re working in a poorly ventilated area (such as outdoors) and notice that your epoxy is smoking while it cures, try moving into a more open space where ventilation will be better achieved until your project has finished curing completely before returning indoors again.* Poorly mixed epoxy: There are many ways that one might incorrectly mix their resin/hardener combination – this includes using incorrect ratios between each component (1A:1B), adding too much hardener without compensating by adding sufficient amounts back into A

What happens if you put too much catalyst in resin?

• If you add too much catalyst to your resin, it will bubble and smoke.
• You can use a brush to remove the bubbles. If the resin is still smoking, you can add more resin and stir it. If the resin is still smoking after adding more resin, you can add more catalyst.

Why is my resin melting?

The temperature of your resin is one of the most important factors in making sure that you have a successful print. If the resin is too cold, it will not cure properly and potentially ruin the entire batch.

If the resin is too hot, then it can cause deformities in your prints and could even harm your printer.

• Use a thermometer to check temperature: The easiest way to make sure that you keep an eye on your resin’s temperature is by using an infrared or laser thermometer like this one from Amazon. This type of thermometer has multiple modes that allow for easy reading in different conditions (i.e., room temperatures vs hot environments). They’re also very affordable so there’s no reason not to buy one!
• Turn on fans: If you’re trying to get rid of fumes while printing with ABS plastic or PC-ABS cement, turn on some fans around your workspace—it should help clear out any unwanted smells while also cooling down everything so it doesn’t get too hot during printing!

How do you fix a burnt epoxy?

• Heat gun
• Hair dryer
• Heat lamp
• Heat blanket

Conclusion

This is a bad situation, but it’s not the end of the world. All you really need to do is scrape off the resin and start over again.

If you want to make sure that this doesn’t happen again, then make sure you don’t use too much catalyst! We hope these tips helped and feel free to reach out if there are any questions left unanswered after reading through them all