What should resin crafts creators offer on Patreon?

Resin crafts creators offer three categories of exclusive content that Instagram and YouTube cannot efficiently host: (1) Epoxy resin process documentation — ratio accuracy at the brand-specific level (each two-part epoxy has a specific mix ratio by volume or weight, and the ratio is critical; off-ratio mixes remain tacky, develop soft spots, or yellow prematurely — document the specific ratio used, whether by volume or weight, and whether a digital scale or graduated cups were used for measurement), pot time documentation (the working window from mixing to the point where the resin becomes too viscous to pour or manipulate — affected by ambient temperature, mass, and specific resin brand), exothermic warning signs (mixing large quantities in small containers accelerates the exothermic reaction; the resin heats rapidly and can crack the mold, yellow, or smoke — document the maximum safe pour volume for the molds being used), degassing protocol (vacuum chamber at -29 inHg for 2–5 minutes removes micro-bubbles; heat gun at a low pass from 4 inches removes surface bubbles without adding thermal mass to the curing piece), and pour temperature effects (cold resin and cold molds generate more surface bubbles; warming the resin to 75–80°F before mixing reduces bubble formation in clear pours). (2) UV resin technique documentation — cure depth limitations by pigment type (clear UV resin cures to full depth in layers up to approximately 6–8mm under a 36W LED lamp; opaque or heavily pigmented UV resin blocks UV light and cures only to the depth the light penetrates, often 1–2mm — layers deeper than this remain liquid under a cured surface; document maximum cure depth for each pigment type used), wavelength requirements (UV lamps range from 365nm to 405nm; most UV resins are formulated for 365–395nm; verify compatibility between lamp wavelength and resin formulation), and layer documentation (for builds requiring depth, document each layer's pigment type, thickness, and cure time). (3) Mold making documentation — silicone Shore A hardness selection (Shore 15–20 is very soft and flexible, appropriate for molds with deep undercuts and complex geometry where mold flexibility is required for demolding; Shore 25–35 is the standard range for most craft molds — firm enough to hold detail but flexible enough to release cast pieces without tearing; Shore 40–50 is firm and appropriate for flat or low-undercut molds where dimensional precision matters more than flexibility), catalyst ratio documentation (standard platinum silicone uses a 10:1 or 1:1 base-to-catalyst ratio by weight; off-ratio mixes inhibit cure or remain partially liquid; document scale accuracy and mixing method), and demolding timing (allow the silicone to fully cure at room temperature — typically 4–8 hours at 70°F for most platinum silicones — before attempting to demold; premature demolding tears the mold at thin areas).

How does the Apple Tax affect resin crafts creator Patreons?

Resin crafts creator iOS rates vary by platform. YouTube resin process and technique tutorials: 55–65% iOS — resin pour videos are highly visual and attract mobile discovery viewers as well as desktop active learners. Instagram resin art accounts: 70–80% iOS — the aesthetic quality of resin finished pieces and the visual appeal of the pour process makes Instagram-primary content mobile-dominant. TikTok resin content: 80–90% iOS — satisfying pour and demolding content is among the highest iOS-rate categories on TikTok. A resin crafts creator at $400/month with 65% iOS faces approximately $78/month ($936/year) in Apple fees beginning November 1, 2026. At $600/month with 70% iOS: approximately $126/month ($1,512/year). Enable Patreon's web-only billing toggle before October 31, 2026. Update all Instagram bio links, YouTube channel page links, and TikTok bio links to point to the Patreon web URL rather than the iOS app link.

What epoxy resin documentation is most valuable on Patreon?

The most valuable epoxy resin documentation on Patreon covers the brand-specific variables that generic tutorials do not address: the specific mix ratio and measurement method for the exact resin brand being used, the pot time at the ambient temperature of the creator's studio, and the behavior of that specific resin with the specific pigments and inclusions used in the session. Mix ratio documentation is more important than most creators assume. A 2:1 ratio by volume is not the same as a 2:1 ratio by weight for most resins, because resin components have different densities. If the product manual specifies by volume and the patron measures by weight, the actual ratio is off, and the cured piece may have sticky spots, yellowing, or incomplete cure. Document whether the ratio is by volume or weight, and recommend that patrons use a digital scale for accuracy over graduated cups. Pot time documentation is batch-specific and temperature-specific. The same resin brand has a shorter pot time at 80°F than at 65°F, and a smaller pot time variation between these temperatures for different formulations (some resins are temperature-insensitive by design; others vary significantly). If the session was in summer heat, document the temperature and the observed pot time — a patron following the tutorial in winter will have more working time and needs to know this to avoid waiting unnecessarily for the resin to self-level. Inclusion documentation covers any non-resin material added to the pour: alcohol inks, mica powder, glitter, dried botanicals, metallic pigments, and others. Each inclusion type affects pot time (some accelerate the cure; some inhibit it), final clarity (some alcohol inks make the resin hazy; some pigments produce muddy color at high concentrations), and the distribution of the inclusion within the cured piece (denser inclusions sink; lighter inclusions float — and the speed of this differentiation depends on the resin viscosity and pot time).

How should mold-making creators document silicone selection and process for Patreon patrons?

Mold making documentation for Patreon patrons requires specification at the Shore A hardness level, the catalyst ratio level, and the demolding timing level — generic 'use silicone' instructions produce unpredictable results because silicone properties vary widely by formulation. Shore A hardness selection documentation: for molds with pronounced undercuts — designs with negative geometry where the cast piece cannot be pulled straight out without the mold flexing — Shore 15–20 silicone provides the flex needed to peel the mold away from the cast piece without tearing the mold or the piece. The trade-off is dimensional stability: very soft silicone molds distort slightly under the weight of the poured resin, producing cast pieces that are slightly different in dimension from the original model. For flat or low-relief molds where undercuts are minimal, Shore 30–40 provides better dimensional accuracy and longer mold life — the harder silicone resists distortion and tolerates more cast cycles before surface degradation. Document the specific Shore A of the silicone used and the reason for that selection: 'Shore 25 Smooth-On Mold Star 25T — chosen for this design because the mushroom cap overhang creates a 15mm undercut that requires mold flex for demolding; a harder silicone would require cutting the mold open for demolding rather than peeling.' Catalyst ratio and cure time documentation: platinum-catalyzed silicones are inhibited by sulfur-containing materials (many two-part clays, natural latex, and some plasticine contain sulfur that prevents the platinum catalyst from working, leaving the silicone permanently liquid at the surface contact). Document whether the master model material is platinum-safe, and if uncertain, describe the cure test protocol (apply a small drop of mixed silicone to the master material surface and allow to cure — if it cures fully in the specified time, the material is platinum-safe; if it remains tacky or liquid after 24 hours, the master material contains an inhibitor). Demolding timing documentation: the silicone package states a demold time, but this is at the specified temperature. At lower ambient temperature, cure is slower. Document the ambient temperature at the time of the pour and the observed full-cure time, not just the package specification.

Explainers · 2026-06-25 · ~1,200 words

Patreon for resin crafts creators: tiers, epoxy resin documentation, UV resin technique, mold making mechanics, iOS rates, and the Apple Tax in 2026

Resin crafts creator Patreons retain when they deliver the process documentation that pour videos cannot carry: the brand-specific ratio accuracy and pot time data that makes epoxy results reproducible, the cure depth limitations by pigment type that make UV resin layering predictable, and the Shore A hardness and demolding timing documentation that gives mold making patrons a working framework rather than a guess. The resin crafts audience is Instagram and TikTok-primary with above-average iOS rates — Apple Tax exposure is significant beginning November 1, 2026.

Creator types and tier structure

Epoxy resin artists and educators

Tier structure: Pour Fan ($5–8/month, process posts, completed piece documentation, Discord), Resin Notes ($12–20/month, monthly documentation post covering specific resin brand, mix ratio method, pot time at session temperature, exothermic observations, degassing protocol, and inclusion behavior notes for each piece created), Technique Access ($25–45/month, patron-exclusive video documentation of complete pours with all process variables documented and post-cure observations including any failures and their cause).

Epoxy resin documentation is valuable because the failure modes are expensive in both materials and time, and they are almost always caused by variables that generic tutorials do not specify: off-ratio mixing, incorrect pot time estimation, insufficient degassing, or inclusion-resin incompatibility. A patron who follows a resin creator's monthly notes learns the specific combination of resin brand, mixing method, temperature conditions, and inclusion types that produced the documented result — not as principles to intuit, but as a calibrated workflow at the specific-product level.

UV resin and small-scale resin creators

Tier structure: UV Fan ($6–10/month, pattern and template releases for UV resin projects, Discord), Cure Notes ($12–18/month, documentation covering cure lamp specifications, cure time per layer by pigment and thickness, layer sequencing for dimensional builds, mold release agents used), Tutorial Library ($20–35/month, access to patron-exclusive tutorial archive covering the complete UV resin workflow for each project type released).

UV resin cure depth documentation is the highest-value exclusive for UV resin educators because it is not derivable from watching the tutorial. Opaque or heavily pigmented UV resin blocks the UV wavelength and cures only to the depth the light penetrates — a cured surface over liquid resin underneath is a common failure mode that appears to be complete until the piece is demolded and the soft interior is discovered. Document the maximum safe cure depth for each pigment type used, and the lamp specification (wattage, wavelength, source distance) that produced the documented cure.

Mold making creators

Tier structure: Mold Access ($8–12/month, digital mold design files or physical mold purchasing access, Discord), Mold Notes ($15–25/month, documentation covering silicone type and Shore A, catalyst ratio, master model preparation, pour and cure protocol, demolding observations, and mold lifespan notes), Workshop ($35–60/month, patron-exclusive mold making sessions documenting a complete mold from master model to finished mold with all decision points explained).

Mold making documentation requires specificity at the Shore A level because the hardness determines whether a patron can demold their cast pieces without destroying either the mold or the piece. A patron who follows general "use silicone" advice and chooses Shore 40 for a design with deep undercuts will tear the mold or the piece at demolding; a patron who chooses Shore 15 for a flat, high-precision coin mold will find the mold distorts under resin weight and produces cast pieces that are slightly warped. Shore A selection documentation matched to the specific geometry of the design is the highest-value technical content mold making creators can provide.

Apple Tax for resin crafts creator audiences

Resin crafts iOS rates by platform: YouTube tutorials, 55–65% iOS. Instagram, 70–80% iOS — the aesthetic quality of finished resin pieces is visually compelling on mobile. TikTok, 80–90% iOS — satisfying pour, demolding, and casting content is among the highest-iOS-rate categories on the platform. A creator at $400/month with 65% iOS faces approximately $78/month ($936/year) in Apple fees beginning November 1, 2026. At $600/month with 70% iOS: approximately $126/month ($1,512/year).

Enable Patreon's web-only billing toggle before October 31, 2026. Update all Instagram bio and TikTok bio links to point to the Patreon web URL rather than the iOS app link. Patrons who subscribe via the Patreon website on an iPhone do not generate iOS-billed subscriptions. Verify the full subscription flow from an iOS device before November 1.

KeepTier is a self-hosted membership page for creators who want 100% of their tier revenue and zero Apple tax. Plans start at $9/month.