What is Acrylic Resin? An Australian Maker's Guide
- 28 minutes ago
- 5 min read
If you've been looking for a casting compound that isn't epoxy, isn't concrete, and doesn't come with a chemistry degree's worth of safety warnings — you've probably come across the term "acrylic resin."
But what actually is it? And is it the same thing as eco resin, casting resin, or that stuff your friend found on Instagram?
Here's the plain-language version from someone who actually makes the stuff.
What is Acrylic Resin?
Acrylic resin is a two-part casting system made from a mineral powder base and a water-based acrylic polymer liquid. You mix the two together, pour into a mould, and it cures to a hard, stone-like finish.
Unlike epoxy resin (which is a chemical reaction between two synthetic compounds), acrylic resin is water-based. That means no toxic fumes, no VOCs, low odour, and you clean up with water. It's safe for home use without industrial ventilation.
The finished result looks and feels like stone or ceramic — an opaque, matte finish that can be sanded, drilled, painted, and sealed. It's not clear like epoxy. If you want a transparent pour, acrylic resin isn't for that. If you want something that looks like concrete, terrazzo, marble, or ceramic — that's exactly what it does.
How is Acrylic Resin Different From Other Casting Materials?
There are a few main types of casting materials makers use, and they all do different things:
Acrylic resin (eco resin) — Water-based, non-toxic, matte stone-like finish. Safe for home use. Fast demould (30-50 minutes). No fumes. Ecrylimer by Bramblier is Australia's acrylic resin casting compound, manufactured in Tasmania.
Epoxy resin — Two-part chemical system that cures clear and glossy. Great for jewellery, river tables, and anything where you want transparency. But it produces fumes (VOCs), requires ventilation, and can cause permanent skin sensitisation — meaning your body develops an allergy that doesn't go away. About one-third of epoxy sensitisation cases happen in craft and hobby settings, not factories.
Gypsum and cement compounds — Cheap and widely available. Mix with water. But many contain crystalline silica, which is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the IARC — the same category as asbestos. The risk comes from dust during mixing and sanding.
Polyester resin — Strong but extremely toxic fumes. Dissolves polystyrene foam on contact. Requires full respiratory protection and ventilation. Common in industrial fibreglass work but not suitable for home use.
Jesmonite — A UK-made acrylic casting compound. Similar concept to Ecrylimer but imported, often out
of stock in Australia, and more expensive due to shipping. Ecrylimer was developed as the Australian-made alternative — smoother pour, fewer bubbles, always in stock.
What Can You Make With Acrylic Resin?
The short answer: almost anything you'd make with concrete or plaster, but a little lighter than concrete, stronger than plaster, and without the health risks.
Common projects include coasters, trays, candle vessels, plant pots, trinket dishes, soap dishes, jewellery components, terrazzo pieces, wall art, and decorative homewares. Makers sell these at markets, online shops, and through stockists.
At larger scale, acrylic resin is used for theatrical props and set building, dimensional signage, architectural details, sculptural installations, and skinning polystyrene foam for events and displays. Ecrylimer has been used for installations at the National Film and Sound Archive and large-scale event fabrication.
It bonds directly to polystyrene foam (EPS and XPS) without dissolving it — unlike polyester resin which melts foam on contact. That makes it particularly useful for lightweight set construction and large-scale sculptural work.
How Do You Mix and Pour Acrylic Resin?
The process is straightforward:
Mix ratio: Typically 1 part liquid to 2.5 parts powder (by weight). This can vary slightly depending on the formula — always check the instructions for your specific product.
Mixing: Hand mix for 1 minute, or use a mechanical mixer (drill attachment) for about 30 seconds on high. Mechanical mixing gives better pigment dispersion and fewer bubbles. Tap the container on the table to bring any bubbles to the surface.
Pouring: Pour into your silicone mould. Working time is usually 5-10 minutes for standard formulas, or 15-20 minutes for formulas designed with longer working time.
Demoulding: Most acrylic resin pieces can be demoulded in 30-50 minutes. Full cure strength takes 48-72 hours.
Pigments: Use liquid pigments at no more than 2% of the total mix. You can also add mica powder, glass chips, sand, glitter, or terrazzo chips for different effects.
What is the Recommended Curing Temperature for Acrylic Resin?
Acrylic resin cures best at room temperature — around 18-28°C. You don't need a kiln, UV light, or any special equipment. It's an ambient cure.
Very cold conditions (below 10°C) can slow curing time. Very hot conditions can speed it up, which reduces your working time. A normal indoor environment is ideal.
Full cure to maximum strength takes 48-72 hours at room temperature. You can demould much earlier (30-50 minutes), but avoid sealing (unless using our Matte Sealer which can be done from one hour after demolding) or heavy handling until fully cured.
How to Achieve a High-Gloss Finish on Acrylic Resin Castings
Acrylic resin naturally cures to a matte, stone-like finish — which is what most makers want. But if you want gloss, you've got options:
Gloss glaze sealer — Applied after full cure, a gloss glaze gives a shiny, sealed surface. Some glazes are food-contact safe with proper application, which is important for serving ware. Bramblier's Gloss Glaze includes colour-lock technology to prevent fading.
Clear resin topcoat — A thin layer of clear casting resin over the cured piece gives a glass-like, fully waterproof finish. This is the most durable gloss option and can achieve dry food-contact safe surfaces. We recommend using our colour lock satin sealer before resin.
Polishing — With very fine-grit wet sanding and a polishing compound, you can achieve a mirror-polish finish on acrylic resin within 24-48 hours of casting. This takes more effort but gives a beautiful result without any coating.
Is Acrylic Resin Food Safe?
Acrylic resin is porous straight from the mould, so it's not food safe. With proper sealing — using a food-contact safe glaze or clear resin topcoat — you can create surfaces suitable for dry or cold food contact. For more details read - Sealing Ecrylimer: A Guide to Our 6 Sealer Options That work for Jesmonite, Concrete and other Eco Resins
If you're making candle vessels, sealing is essential (inside and out) to prevent wax seepage - the matte sealer is perfect for thi
For serving ware, bowls, or anything that will have direct food contact, you need a food-safe sealer or resin topcoat, properly applied and fully cured.
Where to Buy Acrylic Resin in Australia
Ecrylimer by Bramblier is Australia's acrylic resin casting compound. It's manufactured in, Tasmania — not imported — which means consistent stock, no customs delays, and support from the people who actually make it.
It's available in several formulas depending on what you're making:
Ecrylimer Pro — The premium formula. Virtually bubble-free, buttery smooth pour, fast demould. Best for detailed work and professional results. Available from 1.75kg starter packs up to 42kg.
Ecrylimer Creator — The budget-friendly option. 25% less expensive than comparable products. Same quality, slightly thicker pour. Best for production runs, candle vessels, and volume work.
Ecrylimer Bold (and Bold+) — More working time (15-20 minutes vs 10). More forgiving for beginners. Exceptional for highly pigmented colours.
Starter kits are available with moulds, pigments, and tools — good entry point if you're trying acrylic resin for the first time.
For commercial and trade supply (35kg to 1 tonne+), Bramblier offers trade pricing for film, events, architecture, and commercial fabrication. Visit bramblier.co or contact us directly.
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