Equipment

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There's a lot of hobby equipment out there and it can be tempting to want to buy a lot of it. I don't necessarily believe in the tools making the maker, but I can't deny that certain products perform better than others. If you're frustrated by your tools, curious, or would like to start out with tools that I prefer, look no further. Here is my comprehensive list of dicemaking and hobby tools that I use very frequently.

All the amazon links "[X]" in this article are affiliate links and I'll earn a commission when you purchase using these links at no extra cost to you. Links to other sites I make nothing and are not affiliate links. It's just stuff I like. There are no partnerships/ ads/ or sponsorships in this list. (If by some strange reason a company I already use wants to give me money I will make sure to yell it from the rooftops and make sure it's painfully obvious to y'all, like in all red caps and underlined. But alas, I'm doing this solo)

Safety Equipment

Respirator WEAR THIS. MAKE SURE THE CARTRIGAES ARE VOC SAFE. Resin produces fumes. Even VOC Safe/"free" Resins will always produce fumes when mixed, plus if you're using super fine glitter/ pigments they will go in your nose/ mouth/ lungs, wear your mask. Protect your lungs. It WILL make you sick otherwise, migraines, wheezing cough, vomiting etc.

Nitrile Gloves |[X] Don't get resin on your skin. It's hard to get off skin, it's toxic. It heats up while it cures, over 300 f degrees. I had a hole in my glove and still have the chemical burn scars. WEAR YOUR GLOVES.

Eye Protection: Did you not just read what dangers resin/ pigments/ glitter can have? Wear eye protection. Don't go blind.

Apron: I recommend dedicating an apron for your resin work. Make sure it hits your knees. It will save your clothes. Learn from my mistakes.

"Spray Booth" | [X] I use this mostly for air brush painting, but if you are working in a space it could help with fume extraction. Spray booths can be very helpful. This is just one I use, it's not a necessary thing but depending on your situation it could help.

Air Purifier (Big Airpurifier) [X] (Smaller Purifier) [X] | If you have a difficult to ventilate area, you're going to need someway to keep the air quality from becoming harmful to you and those around you. VOCs are the main problem so make sure the filters are for VOCs. My work area is harder to ventilate so I rely on air purifiers and air quality sensors heavily. The ideal situation has it so you have immediate access/ connection to outdoors/ fresh air, but I make due.

Air Quality Monitoring System [X] | Again if you're doing this in like a garage, or work shed or porch. You should be fine. If you have a well ventilated area, you should be fine. I'm working in a essentially a cave and do this as a career and I don't want to die. So I have a monitor system. (warning it also let me know I had a radon problem. I was geared up for VOCs, and instead the only thing was radon. so the purifier works. It goes off even if I dust in the OTHER room. so yeah. )

General Set Up

Silicone Mat [X] | It will get messy, protect your work space. (Parchment paper is also decent)

Craft Tweezers | [X] I ain't fighting my molds to get mylar/ leaf/ threads/ etc. in them anymore. I just got tweezers. Keeps the gold leaf from sticking to me.

Silicone Mixing Cups | [X] You're going to need them. Measure, mix, pour and you can reuse them the next time. 10/10

Squeeze Bottles for Resin: [X] Easier than manhandling the bigger bottles and they fit into the baby bottle warmer.

Resin Warmer (Baby Bottle Warmer) [X] | Not a real necessity, but I work in a basement and it's cold. Resin curing is a chemical reaction that relies on thermodynamics and temperature. Temperature typically needs to be around 70f -ish degrees. Oddly enough baby bottle warmers work well for warming resin. Meaning I don't have to stress with boiling water and temperatures.

Pressure Pot | WoodCraft This bad boy is probably the last pressure pot you'll ever need. It's heavy. But safe.

Air Compressor | You'll need this to use the pressure pot. Otherwise... it's not going to be able to do much.

Heating Mat for Pressure Pot [X] | Again, not a necessity, but I work in a cold area and this little mat under my pressure pot (which is in a big storage bin with packing peanuts surrounding it to insulate it further) keeps my pot at the right temperature during the cold months. Doesn't get super hot so I don't have to worry.

Dehumidifier : [X] Humidity can ruin dice making. Too high and it won't cure right. If you live in a humid area... you're going to need to watch and manage your humidity levels. I wish it wasn't the case but humidity is not your friend with resin.

Mold Making

If you go nuts and decide to get custom Master Dice you're going to need to make your own molds. There are a few people who make molds for others, but I make my own so here we go.

Master Dice: These could cost you typically anywhere from $100-$300+ USD. Prices can vary if you have them polished for you, custom logos, font costs, sizes, shapes, etc. Two I recommend are Revel Broker and Clerics Components. Although there are many fantastic master dicemakers out there.

Silicone: | [X] Good, Stretchy, Durable, Cost Efficient, Very Runny. There are many kinds, this is just the one I like.

Transfer Paper [X] this is what I stick my master dice to and then put the mold form on. I do have to seal it with hot glue because the silicone I use is very runny.

Mold Housing/ forms:

This is what gives my molds their shape and what I pour my resin into.

Cleric Components Mold Housings: (My newest and current mold housings)

Let's Resin [X] (Modular)

Dice Making

Resin: Platinum Epoxies 360+ | There are a lot of brands out there for resin. Make sure you're using a UV stable one or it will yellow over time. I've never had a bad pour with this resin. Good hardness. Excellent clarity. There are many other good resin brands and it's really up to you to decide which one fits your needs.

Glitter/ Pigments/ Other Shiny Things

You can get glitter/ pigments in a LOT of different places. Here are some of mine.

Didspade , Pearl Pleasures , Solar Color Dust , Chromatic Castle

Ooak Artist Emporium, DecoPopShop

MadMicas , Myspring Micas [X] , Eyecandy Micas [X]

Colorants/ Dyes

Alumilite [X], Just Resin , Let's Resin [X], Resin Obsession

Other

Pigment Storage Jars: [X]
Spice Containers for Glitter (Has shakers) | [X]
Lazy Susans for Glitter/ Pigment Storage [X]

Sanding & Polishing

I have really simplified my process over the years. Like Zona Polishing Papers [X] are still great! Don't get me wrong. I used them when I started, they're perfectly fine and many great dice makers still use them they are very beginner friendly too. But I cut the steps down and take more risks. Be careful working on dice, I've lost my finger tips from how I used to polish back in the day.... never got my fingerprints back... but here's what I do now. I do use a full sized pottery wheel to sand my dice.... but really you don't need one. It just keeps my hands in better shape since I do this for a living.

"Rough Sanding"

Step 1: Box cutter to scrape the edges to get excess flashing off.

Step 2: 2500 Grit Wet Sandpaper: | [X]

Step 3: 3000 Grit Wet Sandpaper | [X] This has a velcro backing as I use this on a pottery wheel I modified. 3000 Grit wet sandpaper without the backing works fine too.

Polishing Pastes/ Compounds I Use

(I mix. Main ones are 3m # 2, and CG V36 and Headlight)

3m #2:[X]

3m #3 [X]

Chemical Guys V36 2000-2500grit [X]

Chemical Guys Headlight Restore and Protect [X]

Chemical Guys V38 2500-3000grit [X]

Car Polish Bonnet Applicator Pads [X] I put these on my pottery wheel with some of the polish and that also polishes my dice. After inking I usually do a quick hit on the "polish bonnet via pottery wheel" with the dice just to clean off any residue.

Polishing

Vibratory Tumbler | [X] This guy is kinda loud, like a dehumidifier level loud. But he's one of the cheapest on works the best I've found.

Silicone Boba Straws [X] Weird I know. But the tumbler has a threaded metal rod in the middle of it and if you don't want your dice scratched.... I found putting one of these over the threaded rod and having a washer and nut secure it in place at the top to be the most effective.

Tumbler Medium | Ceramic 3mm Non Abrasive:[X] This is the medium I use as the medium that comes with the tumbler above is not effective for dice.

I add the ceramic medium, the polishing pastes, a few drops of dawn dish soap, and like 2-4 tablespoons-ish of water, throw in your rough sanded dice. Turn the tumbler on and let that sit for like 12-ish hours running. Boom. Glass finish. Rinse in sink with a spray hose faucet attachment thing. At least that's what I do.

Inking

Needle Nose Bottles: [X] I put my ink in needle nose bottles because it's easier to control for application.

Gold, Brass, and Silver Alcohol Inks [Cheap Joes, Dick Blick, Jerry's Artarama] I use Pinata brand Metallic Alcohol inks. You can get them from amazon.. but they are very small. I use a lot of ink so I get the bigger bottles for less. The stores linked are some of the best priced for the inks.

Copper (and other metallic colors) Acrylic Paint [X] I don't use the copper metallic ink because it has a different formula than the others and doesn't sit right. So I use this paint which is the easiest of the metallic paints to clean up. Metallic paints are harder than solid colors, or alcohol based inks to clean up. Takes more elbow grease but with some isopropyl and a shop towel it's possible. This brand is the easiest of the metallic acrylic paints to clean up I've found.

Other Matte Colors | Folk Art [X], Apple Barrel [X] These are SUPER easy to clean with rubbing alcohol. Almost too easy.

Isopropyl Alcohol 97-99% [X] My "Clean up Solution" for when I clean away excess ink/ paint. Honestly you can get it at target/ walgreens/ your local grocery store for wayyyyy cheaper than Amazon. But idk y'alls shopping availability. Careful of the fumes!

Blue Shop Towel [X] [X] you can probably find them for maybe less at your local hardware/ autoshop stores. But these types of cloths are what I use to put the rubbing alcohol on and clean my dice with.

Misc

Silica For Drying Flowers/ Plants |[X] I use this to preserve flowers/ plants/ for dice and for terrain building.
Split Cup for "Dirty Pours" :  [X]
Just a good hot glue gun:  [X] it's cordless. I got real tired of getting wrapped up in the cables.
Phone Stand for Overhead" Filming:  [X]

Mini Painting

Mini Paint Rotating: Storage Solution: [X] Holds 64 standard mini paint bottles. It is a lipstick holder. But it rotates.

Vortex Mixer [X] I use it to mix up paints/ inks. Especially those that have been sitting around for a while.

Terrain

Proxxon Hot Wire Cutter for XPS Foam | [X]

Miiliput [X]

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