HUGE DragonFly/Resin Experiment ..''I Couldn't Believe what happened'' !! 

Nick's funeral: "it would be a shame to let him waste away, so we preserved him in resin."

The reason you lost the colour is that insects colours are not a “dye” in the skin ( such as melamine is to skin) but because the colour is due to light refraction and reflection off the chitin microscopic structure. When you cast in resin, the resin fills in the microscopic structure and changes the reflection and refraction angles so that the light is no longer bounced off the structure in the same way. Changing the type of resin you use may change the way light moves through the medium.

I love the way you show what can happen. Most people make it look like everything comes out perfect every time when it really doesn’t.

Nick, next time seal the subject with 2 to 3 coats of spray lacquer. I have found this helps tremendously!!!

The soul of the dragonfly escaped, that's what happened.

I'm not sure how long this guy was laying around exactly, but as they dry they become basically just hollow shells. He looked flexible enough that he probably needed more drying time (you can speed this up in an oven on very low temps, again can be looked up). There are ways to preserve most bugs so that they can be encased in resin well (I collect them), just have to find out what each type of bug might need (very hard shelled beetles can handle more than something like a delicate spider). It can also depend on what type of resin you use, I believe some work better than others depending on how hot they get/etc. It is also the best to use as little resin as possible for bugs, so thin layers vs a big thick chunk. Possibly for what you wanted to do doing many very thin layers over time? But generally bug pieces are either flat thin slabs or jewelry pendents, I'm not sure that it can be scaled up without first encasing the dragonfly in a very thin resin layer. If you ever feel like incorporating bugs again there's a lot of tips you can look into! Whenever I've looked into doing my own bugs in resin, I believe they avoid vacuum/pressure pots entirely, as the bugs are very delicate already and a few little bubbles are expected when casting something like that.

Hi, Nick. First of all: I love your work. And for this particular proyect, do you know kintsugi? Is the japanese art of repairing things with gold. If you fill that crack with gold colored resin and turn it into a sphere, you will transform you failure into a weird (and funky) piece of art. Then you can turn a wooden base for it with the "never surrender" moto. It would be awesome.

No disappointment at all! As a craft project it was instructional. As a science experiment it was amazing - really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

maybe spray the next dragonfly with clear coat first? to keep the resin from getting into the dragonfly and ruining the color?

Matey if I never uploaded fails I wouldn’t have a channel 🤦🏻‍♂️. It’s refreshing to see even the master can have some fails 😁

I found a dead butterfly in one of the cracks in my driveway. I kept him in a bag. I named him Joe. In October he'll be three. And butterflies don't decompose the same way as other life. So he's color is just as bright as the day I found him. I love Joe. He's a great friend. Also either this year I got to hold a dragonfly as it had rained and his wings got wet and was stuck on the ground. that was Really cool too.

I like how you show us your failures too. Like you said life isn't always sunshine and roses

Nick you know what would make a perfect project for you to try. Try to Preserve a freshly opened Rose in resin.

The dragonfly project isn't a complete waste.... Could always turn the halves into a set of bookends =)

*Nick:* this dragonfly is really beautiful. maybe we can preserve him and admire his beauty and memory forever. *Dragonfly:* Hell no!!!! My soul will never stay in your prison and f your resin project too!

This was still pretty neat to see. You tried preserving a beautiful life. Most people would’ve swept up poor Steve and thrown him away

When casting butterflies a few years ago I learned that,,, 1) to preserve the colors you need to spray them ALL over with several coats of acrylic clear coat. 2) cast the base first and allow to cure out,,, do your color idea in this layer only. 3) AVOID a pressure pot to keep from blowing the guts out of the critter. 4) LIMIT the volume of resin in topping pours and allow near 100% cure to avoid cooking the critter.

The colour of the dragonfly body is caused by iridescence (the microscopic structure of the surface) so the resin is probably interfering with it.

This video adds character to the entire channel. Some days it's puddles, bent artificial tulips, and tire tracks.

I was with my granny when she set a dragonfly in resin, it's been 40 yrs but I think she treated it first and the resin she used didn't get hot that I remembered. I still have it.

I’m Glad you did show this project, it goes to prove that not only the beginners and amateurs the professionals have things go bad on them.

I'm guessing you boiled the liquid in the dragon fly and the pressure blew it open?

Thank you for trying to give Steve a second life, it's kind of sweet... 💚

I almost started crying....ok, I did. They are my connection to my Grandmother. She taught me that they have a very important place in the chain of life. I was not to ever be afraid of them. They have very very important jobs to do to keep our ecosystem in check and balanced correctly. When she passed, it was a time of year that was far too early for Dragonfly’s. When we were at the Cemetery for the internment I told her how much I loved her and how much I’d miss her every day and that no one would ever teach me as much as she did about being the best person I could be. She was truly the Deity of the family. At the graveyard I was truly inconsolable. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a huge Dragonfly landed on my shoulder. It was almost as if she was there, saying “It’s ok, I’ve got you.”. When we got home later that day, the side of my house was COVERED in Dragonfly’s. No one else in the neighbourhood had a single one. That year I had so many all around my house. That was over a decade ago and to this day, when I have a struggle or a query for my life and I make the RIGHT decision, a Dragonfly appears. Could be one flying by or, if it’s winter, somehow one appears..... on an envelope in a stamp....a sticker on a car that passes me. The list is never ending and it’s beautiful. I’m sad this didn’t work out for you but another one will appear for you when your ready and have figured out exactly what to do differently so it’s perfect.♥️ I love your channel. You are VERY talented and have an amazing spirit. You make us laugh (today I cried but it was happy tears). Keep up the amazing work (is it REALLY work when you love what you do?) as we love being a tiny part of your creations and watching them unfold. Please stay away from coconuts. They don’t deserve that. 😉

As several have already mentioned the Dragonfly wasn't dry enough and the heat from the resin curing process expanded the water that blew out of the Dragonfly cracking the resin. You should apparently soak especialy larger insects in denatured ethanol for several days so that the water gets replaced and then let it dry on a paper towel so that the ethanol evaporates. Just air drying it will cause it to shrink and maybe even break apart. You should also use a polyester resin that just needs a few drops of a catalyst instead of mixing equal parts of resin and hardener since you don't have to mix the resin as intense and don't create as much bubbles. Using a pressure-pot might also be a bad idea since it will risk collapsing the very fragile insect. That's why polyester resins are better since they release the bubbles better and goes clear without the need for a pressure-pot. You can also use other long cure time resins that also will realese their bubbles without the need for a pressure-pot. You should also do the pour in at least three layers and letting it harden a little between each. First one in the bottom, then a small layer that you place the insect in then finally a top layer that covers it.

Steve tried to escape n break out the pressure cooker like some kind of hulk dragonfly 😂😂😂

Thank you for showing a "failed" project. We learn so much from failures, even the failures of others. I have a pair of black-faced hornets that followed my husband inside (after he accidentally mowed over their nest in our yard). I'd like to dip them in resin or something like that and make a pair of earrings. I've never worked with resin at all, so I don't know how to go about this. Watching this video and reading some comments gave me some ideas of what not to do.

I know this is an old video, but I'm glad you show the projects that failed. For someone like myself just getting started using resin, you watch all these cool people on RU-vid doing amazing things, then when you try it, it turns out like crap. It's easy to get discouraged if all you see is success after success. I'm always glad to see people I follow post their failures because it reminds me that they screw things up too, so keep trying and you'll get there eventually.

If bug bodies are like humans when they die it probably started releasing gases while it was decomposing in the resin. The gas build up in the pot probably caused the crack

Your resin simply got too hot as it’s curing. I’ve had the same thing happen. Too much exotherm causes stresses inside the curing resin and cracks it, and melts things. A lot of comments think that the moisture or gases in the dragonfly caused the crack but that could not be possible seeing as it’s in the pressure pot at probably well over 40 psi. That would mean the dragonfly would have to have produced well over that amount of pressure. That’s some fart!! It’s too much exothermic heat. Have you switched to a new resin? Or got your ratio wrong? Or simply too big a pour?

Good to show human side once in a while.

Can't be disappointed, you improved my crappy day. Thank you, muchly!!!

Damn this reminds me of the time I found a dead dragonfly and decided to put it in a lunchbox to bring it to Kindergarten with me, because it was so interesting and pretty. We kids were having a blast looking at this cool dragonfly, because normally we weren't able to get so close to one. Also our teacher told us all really cool facts about these dudes. But I forgot about my lunchbox and the dragonfly pretty quickly ( You know kids get distracted very easily). After about a week my teacher finally reminded me to take home my box. I did not know decomposition existed at this age so I opened the box to take a last glimpse at this beautiful dragonfly. The smell was horrific. I puked. Anyway I enjoyed the video.

I had the same thing happen when i tried to put an orchid flower in resin. It actually looked like it COOKED the flower.

The buzzing sound in the beginning made my Golden Retriever jump off my couch and leave the living room. I had to watch this alone! LOL

I'm fascinated by dragonfly. How beautiful.

Bruh this mans just blew up we have to get a camera watching the pressure pot at all times

The dragonfly tried to resurrect in the resin. You cant contain the dragon.

I grew up around lots of Dragonflies, I Loved Them, so much so I got a tattoo on my arm of one !! I've got quite alot of great comments, Likes ! I live in the state of Washington, but got the tattoo wen I was in No. Carolina, now I think I want to get one of a Firefly, see how it goes ! Wish I had that Dragonfly that you found in ur home tho !! 😔🙄💞

This was not a complete failure. Perhaps as a decorative object, but you did learn something from it. Now you have to figure out how to keep it from happening again. Carry on, Nick!

They lay legs in the pond and the babies live as larvae for 4 years before emerging as dragon flies at this point they have short lives as dragon flies and live for a few week from emergence.

Always remember the greatest teacher in life is our failures. same thing happened to me when i cast a carnation 2nd time i did in small layers letting each layer cure

I watched a dragonfly in my back yard for about half an hour as it hunted a wasp. Never got to see if he got his meal, the wasp was crawling in and out of the grass as I was leaving. People often forget that these beautiful bugs are predators! Seriously, tied with the praying mantis family these are my favorite insects!

Failures are an important part of any crafting process. I’m glad you uploaded it, it gives a reality to being a maker.

Hiya Nick!! Maybe try a plastic dragonfly? The idea was a great one. Wish it did turn out, would've been awesome to see. Love the videos.

Dragon flies are just beautiful

This was just the pure essence of the dragonfly escaping it's body.

good for you Nick for showing warts and all, lessons learnt for all of us.

Reminds me of the Jurassic Park cane casting.

Dessication; put old Steve's friends & relatives in Silica gel

i have been on various channels watching turning and resin work and i must say yours is definitely one I keep coming back to i like the new version of you not the start of your program I like crazy shows and yours is the best entertainment I have had love your videos

We often learn more from our failures then our successes. keep on learning dude.

Great effort, they don't all come out perfect. Next time try sealing it first after letting it sit on a shelf for a couple weeks to make sure it's dried up 👍🙋😎 until the next one 💖

Certainly happens Nick. It just happened to me on my latest project but I think I will post it anyway because the process is cool 👌

Dragonflies and Butterflies are the only 2 insects aloud to fly around me and live. Butterflies are Beautiful. Dragonflies are beautiful and Majestic.

Honestly it is good to see I'm not the only one with goof ups lol. Thank you

Could you fill the crack with resin to repair it? Awesome project though. I don't have a pressure machine so could it have just been shear volume and pressure?

What a fitting video butterflies and dragonflies symbolize peace and calm to me when things start going hectic with my daily life (bipolar brain, I feel crazy sometimes) if I ever see a butterfly or dragonfly I know everything will be ok!! So thanks Nick... now I know I will get past this!!🤗🤗🤗 even if 'Steve ' didn't turn out the way you wanted... but hey....book ends!!

45 years ago, I got a kit for Christmas with resin and amongst others a dead/dried sea horse to put in resin. Very cool. I also put an antique silver family crest found on the inside of an old coat, but that was a bad idea, it turned all black inside...

I have a theory and a suggestion after talking to friends at work - Theory: It's possible that the crack happened because the dragonfly has an exoskeleton, perhaps the sudden release of the contained air/pressure all at once caused the crack. Suggestion: Apparently you can preserve dragonfly colour by spraying them with ammonia (I've not tried this, but am told it works) this is apparently the method used when pinning them.

Most resins I’ve used generate heat while setting (hence the saying “let it cook” while curing). With such a large amount of resin and not a lot of material in it to absorb the heat, maybe you literally “cooked” the dragonfly. And the crack was due to thermal issues during cooling.

Love ur honesty nick and doesn’t matter succeed or fail it’s all learning 🙌🏾🙌🏾🌸🌸 respect

Thank you for sharing even the failures. It is always nice to see people willing to experiment even things don't always work out.

Nick: oh he’s quite fragile too Me: -vividly remembering the time my cat knocked over the box my regal darner (aka a species very similar to this one) was in and I had to preform a surgery (a toothpick up the tail and glue for all the other parts and then a pinning to keep his parts in place)-

What a beautiful dragonfly! I love dragonflies, they're lovely as well as helping to keep the mosquito population down. I reckon maybe the resin cracked because his little free spirit wasn't going to be trapped inside. : ) Maybe you can use one of the pictures you took to create a resin, Steve? I enjoyed the video anyway. ♥ Also, welcome back home, I enjoyed your holiday pictures on Instagram.

Happy Funky Friday!! That Dragonfly is beautiful and the project was a great idea. Hope you enjoyed Spain, turns out I was in the same area while you were on holiday!!

Poor Steve rest in peaces...you will be missed.

I've said it before, I'm glad when you show the projects that don't quite work out. I think it's important for up and coming makers to see that not everything works and not only is that okay but that is how you learn. When all you see are creators successes it can make you feel like a failure when something you do doesn't work.

Nick, I am sure Steve is looking down on you from 'bug' heaven and glad his earthly shell helped you on your journey of discovery...:) What a beautiful dragonfly Steve was...:) 'In memory of Steve... RIP little buddy!'

As Bob Ross says “there are no mistakes only happy accidents” love that you shared.

Sorry the dragonfly project didn't fly.. it would of been funky for sure. Well keep waffling on good sir and thanks for showing not every project goes the way you plan. But you still have to pick yourself up and keep going. It's just like life. Thank you for showing us it's not "all sunshine and roses" have a blessed day.

I had a piece that broke the same exact way. The problem is you used a resin that was not made to be used in large quantities. When the larger quantity of resin starts curing, it produces too much heat and cures too fast. When it cures too fast, it's not an even curing so it breaks from the stress. Try pouring in layers, waiting 45 minutes in between each layer. It's time consuming but it works really well

Dragonflies are awesome. They eat mosquitoes, moths, flying ants & other flying insects. Thanks for the close up. As a fly fisherman, I tie my own flies. Im going to attempt to copy your dragonfly.

F in chat for the dragon fly

For anyone wondering what went wrong - sure I cannot tell exactly - but as someone who has some experience on taxidermizing bugs in resin I think I have an idea. So usually before you can safely put a critter into resin you need to 'sanitize' them from any potential bacteria or parasite that could've caused death and furthermore decompose the body. Usually this is done with isopropanol or other alcoholic solutions that are used in sanitizing. Then you usually pin your soft wet specimen into the pose you later want it to be and let it dry out for a few days to weeks. Only then it is "clean" to put in resin. Furthermore a lot of people usually put them in resin in layers and upside down to prevent air bubbles under wings or the legs :)

You need to show more like this. It really helps!

The dragonfly had air in him mate, next time coat him with resin and block all the ways the air could escape its body =)

too much resin at once, exothermic reaction

Thanks for allowing me to learn from what did not work.😎🤟

He exploded the dragon fly from the pressurized container 😂😂😂 I shouldn’t laugh but I was waiting for this lol.

Moisture in the dragonfly body caused rotting produced gases, & pressure cracking epoxy. Drying it out might have prevented this.

I would have thought that the pressure crushed steve leaving a cavity hence the cracking. Just a thought. Disclaimer: No actual facts were presented in this explanation just the incoherent mind fart of a man who just woke up. Thanks Nick.

Thanks for showing this. It's good to know that even you face failures.

I'm SO glad that you show your 'mistakes' - it makes my own project mishaps not seem so dismal!!

The good, the bad, the ugly. Sometimes thing's go bad

Balls of steel, I'd never be able to hold one like the way you did Also First

Always remember you learn more from your failures and mistakes than from your successes, I was just happy to see a new video from you.

I too feel it is good to show failures. Thanks for sharing.

Maybe Steve still had some moisture inside, which caused the resin crack

It looks like the dragonfly spirit escaped through the resin. That's why it split in half.

Yep, "Steve" got his goose cooked !! Another way might have been to have him "under glass" so to speak, then do the resin ?? Even a clear coat might not work, the heat might still affect it. By the way your wife is gorgeous! The perfect couple :)

7:27 haha that transition from overexcitement to"..oh.."

It was a good idea and thank u for still posting the video.

Thank you for actually showing that not every project goes to plan! Makes me feel more normal. RIP Steve lol 💖

This is what I love about your channel. Your not afraid to show when things go wrong and usually you figure out how to roll with it this was certainly one of those times when it just wasn’t meant to be, but good on you for posting it anyways

They are so beautiful! I love dragon flies!

I greatly appreciate this video and the fact that you are not contributing to unrealistic expectations. Keep being awesome.

Others have mentioned the volume + heat + moisture issue; and although definitely not an expert, I agree. I, too, have tried a dragonfly in resin. My issue wasn’t moisture (I pinned and dried the specimen for weeks first - my nerdy entomology Master’s at work!), but after removing from the pressure pot, I found significant, unsightly air bubbles emerging from the dragonfly’s head. So, yeah, gotta pre-fill(?) cavities with resin (per other RU-vid vids, too). Live and learn! Nick, thank you for your awesome channel and for showing your successes and failures! I think that honesty is the sign of a true master in his/her field!

I'm sure someone already said this but I would guess this... #1: color- may have to spray with a clear coat to prevent interference with the hair like structures which give the color but that too could cause a problem. When I was a kid we used a very light spray of hairspray. #2: crack- when you placed in pot for pressure the insect was not 'dry' which possibly caused a gaseous reaction similar to decomposition? Just a guess. Maybe dry insect out completely or dont put in pot. Still very interesting to see what happens. Thank you for all your cool videos!!

Yeah, but you are so entertaining! The intro is worth the price of a ticket!