How to swirl resin colors properly?

[mikepet]

I am getting a bit better at resin, but still having some issues.

Lets say that I have 3 cups, with 3 colors of resin. I add the MEKP and let them sit for a while, stirring.

In theory, I figure they will start hardening a bit, becoming more solidified...a thicker syrup.
Once sufficiently thick, I will pour into the mold, mixing the 3 colors via pouring. That way, they won't just dissolve into each other and I can get a nice swirl.

In practice, they sit there seeming unchanged. Until, all the sudden, one of them turns into a gel. I try to pour and it comes out as a giant slug. I wind up mixing the other 2 colors around the slug to get them somewhat mixed.


How do you do it such that a color does not become a slug, but does not dissolve into the other colors?

 

[EBorraga]

Take lots of notes as you go. If using PR, it's about the 16 minute mark for me on a mid 90's degree day. 16 minutes and it turns to gel. I've found that some blues turn quicker and some reds take 20 minutes.

I keep a detailed list as I go. What the temp, humidity, time, amount of resin, amount of pigment, color of pigment, and drops of mekp all on a sheet. I also keep track of gel time.

I typically swirl my resins around the 15 minute mark with Silmar 41

 

[mikepet]

Ok, thank you. I was hoping there was some way to tell when stirring or something. It just seemed to go from the same to POOF...gel.

 

[EBorraga]

i use small popsicle sticks to stir. You can tell as it starts to get syrupy. That's when you want to pour it