How to Make a Resin Tray with Handles
Ready to learn how to make a resin tray with handles? Check this out and when you’re done, try these resin letter keychains too. This post contains affiliate links.
Today, I’m excited to be teaching you a really fun resin craft that is fabulous for those of you who have already made a craft or two with resin: How to make a resin tray – with or without handles.
In this post, I’ll be addressing important things to remember, and tips for getting the results you want. I’ll be sharing how I like to attach my handles (I know that’s a biggie for many of you here). And I’ll share all about getting creative with your fill-ins – because with trays you have that much more surface area.
The resin tray is the DIY epoxy resin coaster’s second cousin but so much more fun, if you ask me! Not only do you have so much surface area to explore and fill in, but you’re only making one, not a set, making it much less… boring?
Tips for making a DIY resin tray
There are two main types of resin trays that I’ll be crafting with you but first… let’s offer some general tips that are critical to the success of learning how to make a resin tray.
Critical tips for making resin trays
Level your surface
Yes, I made this mistake. Since the tray is a larger item, variations in surface – that is, a slight tilt – will make a MUCH bigger difference.
You WILL want to level your surface first. While this might not have been an issue with smaller crafts like DIY resin earrings or pendants, you might have a very shaky tray that’s spilling out of the mold on one end and only half full on the other if you neglect this step.
To do this, work on a wood board of sorts instead of directly on your surface. This should be a scrap board that you don’t mind ruining, as if resin gets on and cures, you’ll need to sand it off to remove it.
Place a bubble level on the surface. Use notebooks or old magazines (again, those you don’t mind ruining) to prop your surface on either side as needed to make it level.
Mix your resin slowly and take your time with air bubbles.
Especially when it comes to trays with a bit more of a rim, you really need to take your time with it to avoid air bubbles. While smaller crafts can be zapped with a heat gun (and you’ll do the same with this one) you’ll find that there is so much surface area to go over, you’ll want to be careful from the get go.
First of all, mix slowly. Second, pour slowly. The more you do, the more you’ll need to correct. Third, take time to go over it slowly with a heat gun. And fourth, if there’s a rim, first fill the rim, remove heat bubbles from there, then fill the rest and zap bubbles again.
Protect your project
More surface space means more space for lint and other debris to get in. Protect your project while curing – just sticking an empty and totally clean storage container over it while curing can work.
Two types of DIY resin trays
Resin trays can come in all sorts of forms and shapes, however for the sake of this post I’m going to make focus on two main types:
- A rimmed tray – This is typically a small oval, and great as a trinket dish or small tray to corral cosmetics.
- With handles – This is normally a larger rectangular tray, and is very popular with irregular edges for a “geode” look.
In this tutorial, we’ll focus less on the exact design you choose and more on getting this design right.
How to make a resin tray with a rim
When you have a rim, even if it’s a low one, think of it as another layer to your project. If you’d like to do it as a separate color, you can, allowing it to cure or partially cure before adding your main base layer.
You also need to make sure your resin reaches all the corners of this rim – the deeper the corners in a mold, the more likely you are to trap air bubbles, and your rimmed resin tray mold has corners all around…
And finally, as I mentioned, you’ll need to make sure to pop air bubbles in the rim before proceeding to pour the rest of your project, just to make sure they don’t get too deep and embedded.
How to make a resin tray with handles
There are three ways to add handles to a resin tray:
- Fixing them in place on the mold and pouring around them.
- Inserting them when the resin is partially cured.
- Drilling holes and screwing them in after the resin has cured.
Each one has its advantages. Inserting handles as part of the process allows you to have less of a job finishing it up. The first way means you’ll have the metal part of the handles showing on the bottom. It’s also another step of the process to work in and you’ll need to work around it with your design.
The second, partially curing and then adding, allows you to skip the hardware, but you’ll need to get to know your resin well to see when the ideal time is to do this. It’s ideal for a totally fluid design, not one with fixed elements.
Drilling holes and adding the handles after feels the most professional to me, which is why I did it. You need to make sure you don’t add anything difficult to drill in the spots where you’ll be doing that, but you can totally work around your existing design other than that. You’ll also need to make sure to get your placement right. It’s a bit more work, but looks so good.
How to Make a Resin Tray
Ready for the step by step tutorial? Just a reminder: this will vary based on what your specific project is! I’ll share based on what I did.
What you Need
Materials
- Epoxy resin
- White or black resin dye
- OR glitter
- For resin tray with handles: Rectangular tray mold
- Two cabinet or resin tray handles – many tray molds come with handles included. However, if you’re making this with a mold you already have or want a different style, you’ll want to get this separately.
- For resin tray with rimmed: rimmed oval resin tray mold
- Mix-ins and decorations if doing a fixed design tray. Ideas: dried flowers, sprinkles, etc.
- Disposable gloves
- Felt sliders or regular adhesive felt for tray with handles
- Optional: raw rice (to measure how much resin you need – can be eaten after)
Tools & Equipment
- Respirator mask
- Heat gun
- Measuring cup
- Mixing jug
- Sticks for stirring
- Drill
- Screwdriver
Crafting the Tray Itself
Rimmed tray
On this one we’ll be showing a more fluid design with glitter and pigment.
1. Optional: to gauge how much resin you’ll need, you can add rice to your mold and then measure how much it takes to fill it. Keep in mind, you’ll need to clean your mold after.
2. Mix up your resin. Stir it slowly to avoid air bubbles. Mix according to package instructions.
3. Slowly mix in any glitters or pigments you plan to use.
4. Fill your base layer and pop air bubbles using a heat gun. Note: I HIGHLY recommend first filling the rim, popping those bubbles, and then filling the base.
5. I allowed my transparent glitter layer to cure overnight and then added a layer with black pigment.
6. When fully cured, demold.
Note: my sample has LOTS of air bubbles because I did not follow the above advice on this tray. The next one was much better….
Flat Tray
On this one, I’ll be using a fixed design.
1. Measure and mix up your resin. Spread a thin layer on the bottom of your tray, zap air bubbles, and allow it to get tacky (timing will vary based on resin.
2. Place your design on your tacky surface. I used Hanukkah candles to make a Menorah tray. You’re doing it when your first layer is tacky so that it stays fixed in place.
3. Allow it to cure and pour your next layer. If you want it to be fully clear around the design, first do a clear layer and then a backing layer. I did a translucent white backing layer, then swirled in small amounts of straight white pigment with a toothpick to add a subtle marbled effect.
When it’s totally cured, demold it and we’ll then add handles…
Adding Handles to a Resin Tray
1. Mark the location of your holes. Note: using masking tape to make a template on your hardware and applying it to your resin tray might help.
2. Drill your holes.
3. Partially screw in your screws from back to front so that they just hit the surface of the front of the resin.
4. Place your handle where it belongs and holding it in place with your weak hand, screw the screws into the hardware.
5. Add felt sliders to cover the screws and serve as “legs” for your tray.
You’ve learned how to make a resin tray with handles or a rim! Which do you prefer and what will you be using yours for? Comment below!
DIY Resin Vanity Tray Tutorials
Learn how to make DIY resin vanity tray in two styles - with handles or with a rim! Either way it's a fun, easy resin craft for beginners to try.
Materials
- Epoxy resin
- White or black resin dye
- OR glitter
- For resin tray with handles: Rectangular tray mold
- Two cabinet or resin tray handles – many tray molds come with handles included. However, if you’re making this with a mold you already have or want a different style, you’ll want to get this separately.
- For resin tray with rimmed: rimmed oval resin tray mold
- Mix-ins and decorations if doing a fixed design tray. Ideas: dried flowers, sprinkles, etc.
- Disposable gloves
- Felt sliders or regular adhesive felt for tray with handles
- Optional: raw rice (to measure how much resin you need – can be eaten after)
Tools
- Respirator mask
- Heat gun
- Measuring cup
- Mixing jug
- Sticks for stirring
- Drill
- Screwdriver
Instructions
Rimmed tray
1. Optional: to gauge how much resin you'll need, you can add rice to your mold and then measure how much it takes to fill it. Keep in mind, you'll need to clean your mold after.
2. Mix up your resin. Stir it slowly to avoid air bubbles. Mix according to package instructions.
3. Slowly mix in any glitters or pigments you plan to use.
4. Fill your base layer and pop air bubbles using a heat gun. Note: I HIGHLY recommend first filling the rim, popping those bubbles, and then filling the base.
5. I allowed my transparent glitter layer to cure overnight and then added a layer with black pigment.
6. When fully cured, demold.
Flat Tray
1. Measure and mix up your resin. Spread a thin layer on the bottom of your tray, zap air bubbles, and allow it to get tacky (timing will vary based on resin.
2. Place your design on your tacky surface. I used Hanukkah candles to make a Menorah tray. You're doing it when your first layer is tacky so that it stays fixed in place.
3. Allow it to cure and pour your next layer. If you want it to be fully clear around the design, first do a clear layer and then a backing layer. I did a translucent white backing layer, then swirled in small amounts of straight white pigment with a toothpick to add a subtle marbled effect.
When it's totally cured, demold it and we'll then add handles...
Adding Handles
1. Mark the location of your holes. Note: using masking tape to make a template on your hardware and applying it to your resin tray might help.
2. Drill your holes.
3. Partially screw in your screws from back to front so that they just hit the surface of the front of the resin.
4. Place your handle where it belongs and holding it in place with your weak hand, screw the screws into the hardware.
5. Add felt sliders to cover the screws and serve as "legs" for your tray.
Notes
Critical tips for making resin trays
- Level your surface
- Mix your resin slowly and take your time with air bubbles
- Protect your surface
