I know, it’s easy to try and start off cheap, try alternatives to this, alternatives to that, to try to save some cash.

I did this. I probably spent thousands on molds (tbf, the Let’s Resin Dice Molds are excellent if used properly in a pressure pot. I have a tonne of these, and have actually some really great results. But without a pressure pot? Not the greatest, but that’s the same from a $12 mold to a $180 mold.

Pressure pot. Huge investment. Takes up a lot of room, requires an air compressor, can be dangerous. A lot of cheap pressure pots require modifications (as they’re used for spray paint) and that can be a huge pain in the ass, and cause concern over potential problems. However, there are pressure pots for resin casting. I’ll get into them in another post. I spent about $450 on mine because I didn’t need to buy an air compressor, I already have one, along with quick connects, no modifications necessary, and it has good reviews. I’m Canadian, and if I were to buy a $200 USD pressure pot, well, I’d get nailed by US exchange, duties at Customs, and shipping costs. It’s cheaper to buy the more expensive pressure pot from Canada and not have to worry about shipping, Customs, and US exchange.

I made dice for months without a pressure pot.

Most of them are in my “discarded dice” or “critical fumble” drawer. I have hundreds. Only a few are worth selling. I’ve been drilling, wrapping with wire, and more, to discarded dice to try and make them into cool jewellery or necklaces as well as keychains or throwing them in a huge molds and making a dice made out of dice. (Note that I can’t get my current one out because I’m an idiot and got the top piece stuck inside, so I need to buy a new one)

After my first perfect pull (my first ever pull) from my pressure pot.. holy shit. I spent hundreds trying to avoid getting the pressure pot. I got heating mats, expensive “bubble free resin”, a 2 hour curing machine, etc. I returned the curing machine. Still bubbles, imperfections, warping, no side was smooth and easy to ink, like the dice I make in the same molds, same techniques, in my pressure pot.

Markers. I bought shitty markers for inking. I use paint markers, usually acrylic or oil based. I saw Posca as the industry standard, but they’re expensive. So I bought a few no name brands and wrecked dice. After spending $100 on shitty markers, I bought Posca markers and am not looking back. Plus the Let’s Resin Chrome Markers are amazing as well.

So, for a few main things that you need, and try to avoid getting, save the money and frustrating, plus the work you put in, it’s much cheaper to start with proper equipment than spend time, money, and get the right stuff from the start. Don’t be me.