FAMOWOOD VS. CC7000: Epoxy Resin Comparison (personal account!)
I thought it was a good idea for me to finally make a comparitive post, not only for those who have purchased from me last year, before I resumed resin crafting post-Winter this year, or who purchase one of my older cases or cabochon grab bags in my shop. There is NOTHING WRONG with Famowood, I'd just like to get that out of the way, I just personally really do not like it now that I have tried other options. There are plenty of crafters who still use Famowood, and again, this is just a personal account. Nothing against them! I used Famowood from the start, until I got CC7000 for the first time for my tanks. I tested some of it on cabs, and decided that once I ran out of my gallon of Famowood, I would switch, and I did. Here are the observations I've made, and why my resin pieces are now sturdier, more durable, and less likely to cause problems in the long run than before: *FAMOWOOD* PROS: Less likely to be bubbly, easy to work with, kind of goopy so it was easier for me to feel I wouldn't splash it all over the place, glitter didn't sink straight to the bottom, very forgiving with tiny indescrepancies in measurement, can use Wilton Candy Colors to color them, which are super vibrant and don't really fade in resin. Very inexpensive. CONS: Bends a LOT in prolonged heat. Does not do AS well for prolonged use as I'd like. I know resin is plastic, but it makes me uncomfortable how bendy famowood gets just from body heat. Gets noticeably yellow (in clear pieces) over time. I always, ALWAYS wear a gas mask, so this isn't really an issue for me, but the VOCs smell much worse for Famowood imo than CC. Not than silicone, though. If you use famowood pieces on your case that you use EVERY day, for months, you will notice it gets kind of...scruffy? over time, mainly for the more 3D and not flat (paws are pretty flat) pieces. I have noticed this from pieces on cases from others, not just myself. I don't hold it against anyone, it's just the resin! *CC7000* PROS: Takes much more prolonged heat to bend it and even then still doesn't give much, does not get "gummy" ever after holding its pieces for long periods of time, it's incredibly clear, and takes much longer to yellow at all. Very inexpensive, even cheaper than Famowood at certain volumes. CONS: CC7000 is so hard that I have cut myself demolding pieces many times. It definitely hurts. No Wilton Candy Colors for me anymore... more prone to bubbles, and the glitter prefers to sink straight to the bottom. Fussier with acrylic paints. The measurements need to be REALLY precise. It's not always the best for doming. The chemists keep changing the formula very slightly, which is incredibly annoying. Because of this, if I suddenly have an issue with my pieces, it can be very frustrating and time consuming figuring out what it is. Because of this switch, though I am still working on creating more vibrant colors with my CC7000 pieces, I am much more confident that what I am offering on cases will last a much longer time. Especially for people who tend to use 1 case more than others, maybe every day.
