Dice Making Supplies: Essential Tools & Safety Gear for Beginners

Okay, so you're diving into dice making, but you're staring at a mountain of supplies and feeling totally overwhelmed?

I've been there! You're definitely not alone.

This guide is going to break down the essentials - the tools you need versus the tools you might want.

First up though, let's talk real talk: safety is non-negotiable.

NanoLabMaker takes chemical warnings seriously. So, listen up:

READ YOUR MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)!

I know, I know, it's tempting to toss them aside. Maybe you already did. If you can't find the MSDS for a chemical you're using, shoot me a message, and I'll point you in the right direction.

Seriously if you can't find it please reach out -  it's not a 'silly sheet'; it's how you keep yourself and everyone around you including those furry friends safe. 

Now, onto the fun stuff: the tools!

REQUIREMENTS (The Bare Necessities):

• Ventilated Area for Casting: Seriously, don't skip this, it also needs to be temperature regulated.
  
  
• Dice Molds: You know I've got you covered here at NanoLabMaker, but there are other options out there.
  
  
• Safety Gear (THESE ARE NON-NEGOTIABLES, stay safe out there!): Nitrile gloves (no latex or vinyl), a respirator rated for organic vapors (these filter out fumes you can't necessarily see or smell), and eye protection. 
  
  
• Resin: I personally swear by Unicone Resin. It cures beautifully in about 24 hours, polishes to a dream in 72, and their gallon kits with pump bottles? Game-changer for easy measuring. You need a low viscosity resin to reduce bubbles.
  
  
• Scale: Follow the resin manufacturer's instructions for measuring, weight or volume. If you need weight, you need a scale.
  
  
• Cups (Silicone or Disposable): This is a personal choice. I lean towards disposables because cleaning silicone cups is a pain and you end up using as much plastic tape to clean them as you would a disposable cup, but you do you.
  
  
• Stir Sticks: Skip the popsicle sticks. Silicone or metal drink stirrers are where it's at.
  
  
• Colorant: Mica powders, resin pigments, pigment pastes—take your pick! I'm a big fan of Eye Candy Pigments and Solar Color Dust, but explore! Alcohol inks can fade over time, so I tend to avoid them.
  
  
• Acrylic Paint & Brushes: For inking those numbers!

ADVANCED TOOLS (Leveling Up Your Dice):

• Warm Water Bath:  Helps reduce resin viscosity and minimize bubbles.
  
  
• 1000 Grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper: To get rid of those pesky flash marks and lines.
  
  
• Zona Polishing Papers: To bring back that shine.
  
  
• Small Bowl/Cup: For your water when sanding and polishing.
  
  
• Pressure Pot: Ready-made or converted from Harbor Freight - YouTube has tons of tutorials.
  
  
• Air Compressor: To pressurize that pot.
  
  
• Ultrasonic Cleaner: To clean all the sanding debris out of the numbers on those beauties after you've got them sanded and polished. 
  
  
• Pipettes or Syringes:  For precise application of resin and colorants.
  
  

• Heat Gun:  Helps remove bubbles from the top without heating the mold up a lot like a lighter would. 

• Pottery Wheel: Standard or tabletop, both work great.

• Jeweler's Tools:  Small drills and files for intricate detailing or repairs.

• UV Resin and UV Light:  For quick repairs of small imperfections.

I've tried to pack this guide with everything you need, but hey, nobody's perfect!

If you're a dice maker and have any suggestions, additions, or tweaks, please let me know - I'm always open to improving things, especially as dice making keeps evolving. Let's keep the creativity flowing! Happy dice making!