The Secrets That No One Told You About When Using Resin
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
- Hi Everyone. if you are new to using resin or in need of a refresher on some areas then this is the video for you. I demonstrate 15 secrets that no one told you about using resin that I wish I had known before I started using resin. These will not only save you time, but also money and failed projects.
🎥 Videos referred to in this video to watch next:
Resin Health and Safety: • Stop Making Yourself I...
Polish Dull Resin: • How to Polish Resin to...
Taking Care of Silicone Moulds: • How to Take Care of Yo...
Which Resin To use: • Avoid These Resin Mist...
Fresh flowers in resin: • Never Do This With Flo...
📖 Colouring books available here: stevemcdonaldcrafts.com/
📹 Check out my other Crafting TH-cam Channel: / @stevemcdonaldcrafting
📬 If you would like to post something to me, please use:
PO Box 277, Newmarket, CB8 1GY, United Kingdom
👕 Steve McDonald Arts and Crafts merchandise is finally here. / @stevemcdonaldartsandc...
😍 CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP Check out the perks by clicking the JOIN button on the link below. / @stevemcdonaldartsandc...
☕ TO BUY ME A COFFEE. Every contribution is very much appreciated and allows me to keep making regular videos. www.paypal.com/paypalme/SMcDo...
✍ My WEBSITE, available here: stevemcdonaldcrafts.com/
💻 As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
(USA👍) Here is my amazon store for the USA: www.amazon.com/shop/stevemcdo...
(UK✊) Here is my Amazon Store for the UK: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/stevemc...
Or see the individual links below for the items used in this video:
LINKS FOR MATERIALS USED FOR THE (USA👍), (UK✊), (Canada👋) and (Australia 🙌) ARE BELOW:
⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇
LINKS FOR USA (USA👍Only)
(USA👍) Resin: jdiction.online/?ref=w6l74mbw04
(USA👍) Resin Tool Kit: amzn.to/2ZEqOih
(USA👍) Scales: amzn.to/3loHemp
(USA👍) Full Face Mask: amzn.to/3D2ISQM
(USA👍) Nitrile Gloves: amzn.to/3xCLtQa
(USA👍) Food Covers: amzn.to/3p8NsrI
LINKS FOR UK (UK✊ Only)
(UK✊) Resin: jdiction.online/?ref=w6l74mbw04
(UK✊) Resin Tool Kit: amzn.to/3rnoRST
(UK✊) Scales: amzn.to/3IbpoNM
(UK✊) Full Face Mask: amzn.to/3xEFVof
(UK✊) Nitrile Gloves: amzn.to/3p8NQqa
(UK✊) Food Covers: amzn.to/3G1OjkN
LINKS FOR CANADA ONLY (Ca👋 Only)
(Ca👋) Resin: jdiction.online/?ref=w6l74mbw04
(Ca👋) Resin Tool Kit 1: amzn.to/3D86N1d
(Ca👋) Resin Tool Kit 2: amzn.to/319FEO5
(Ca👋) Scales: amzn.to/3d7qewB
(Ca👋) Full Face Mask: amzn.to/3xMxwzq
(Ca👋) Nitrile Gloves: amzn.to/3d3suES
(Ca👋) Food Covers: amzn.to/3xEdnLA
LINKS FOR AUSTRALIA ONLY (Au🙌 Only)
(Au 🙌) Resin: amzn.to/3d19V4t
(Au 🙌) Resin Tool Kit 1: amzn.to/3xEfNtH
(Au 🙌) Resin Tool Kit 2: amzn.to/31fsu2u
(Au 🙌) Scales: amzn.to/3xB5qqI
(Au 🙌) Full Face Mask: amzn.to/3Iax42v
(Au 🙌) Nitrile Gloves: amzn.to/3FY1aEH
(Au 🙌) Food Covers: amzn.to/3EbH09B
The Secrets That No One Told You About When Using Resin
Warning: Important Health and Safety Notice:
Resin is an industrial chemical and as such should always be treated with respect and the manufacturers safety advice taken. Here is a video I have made on how I keep myself safe: • Stop Making Yourself I... - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Fun Tip: If you use a big silicon mat like the one Steve showed, you can make "resin sprinkles" with leftover resin from your pours. Just scrape out your pot of tinted resin (or put a little pinch of mica to color clear resin). Then make tiny drops of resin or even lines of resin directly on your resin mat. Let it cure then pop it off with tweezers or just a fingernail. Store your "sprinkles" in a little pot to use in future resin projects. If you have enough leftover resin, you can even use a pipette to write letters, symbols, or just doodles on the silicon mat... let it cure and pick it off when it's hard enough.
Very cool
Wow that’s a great idea, I never would have thought of doing the letters with a pipette thanks for that tip Amy 👍🏼
I have a mold of tiny letters that I got from the craft store that I always keep next to me when resining. I pipe left over resin into it and store all the letters in a cup . They’re great for personalizing resin gifts. I just glue them down with e6000 or epoxy cement glue.
I love this idea so much, thank you for sharing!!!!!!
Yeah, I've been thinking about doing this myself. Why waste it? Might as well create extra stuff to toss into the next project.
Hi,
I have a few more suggestions:
When it’s rather cold I warm up the 2 bottles first, either in warm water or on the radiator. This helps to minimize the micro bubbles.
If you do it in water make sure to dry the bottles very well so you don’t end up getting water into your resin.
After mixing I leave the resin stand for about 5min to allow the bubbles to rise to try to get rid of the majority before I start pouring.
Personally I prefer my heat gun to pop the micro bubbles & I even use the heat gun while mixing depending on how cold it is, by having it blow on my mixing cup. Just make sure to use tge low setting & to not letting it get too hot or it will cure too quickly.
I also try to pour slowly to minimize the risk of micro bubbles.
Also if you are like me you end up with sticky fingers no matter what.
Fair enough the gloves will protect my hands.
But what about the phone since I use it to time when I mix the resin as well as waiting for the bubbles to rise.
Plus I use it also for music while I work on my projects.
To make sure my phone doesn’t end up as sticky as my fingers [& god knows it happened more often then I’d like to admit] every time before I start a project I use cling film to cover the phone very well.
Make sure it’s tight and smooth on the screen then you have no problems using the phone while working with the resin.
And if you want to listen to music or need to charge ensure that you leave those openings uncovered.
You also should always use Purple as there is no colour more awesome … EVER 💜
And Glitter … lots and lots of Glitter ... Because everything is better with Glitter❣️
I learned very quickly that Alexa can be your best friend when it comes to anything craft related 🤣 I have an Echo Spot in the room that I work in (I like having a screen so I can see the timer/videos, ect. and the Spot takes much less space than some of the other screened devices), so I can have my music playing, set timers, handle any calls or texts I may get, and watch youtube, all without the worry of my phone getting destroyed (again) 🤣
Umm 🙋♀️🙋♀️ sticky fingers all day also I have gloves and God know why I end up either starting without or w.e happens when i do wear em boom there off n ever u thing is sticky but this phone trick girrrrrllll yesss lol thank u
@@toniahuffman7022 💕
Purple is absolutely best! And thanks for the phone tip!
I always put my phone in a zip lock bag to protect it if I'm concerned about getting it dirty. The touch screen still works just fine too. I like this method because I can re-use the same zip lock bag over & over again so there's less plastic waste. There is so much waste from doing arts & crafts so I'll do anything I can to reduce it. Every little bit helps!
I appreciate you & your channel, thank you!
Some tips from my current 2023 set-up:
1. I use a lint roller to clean my silicone mat work area, it rolls quickly. Glitter cannot escape its sticky awesomeness.
One thing that really helps me get rid of bubbles before I even start to pour is sitting the resin tub in hot water for 5 or ten minutes!
Never hot water but warm!
One tip I found important is to invest in some bullseye levels to check that your work surface is level before you start.
I just want to say thank you for an educational video! As a complete beginner, I found this video the most helpful so far out of all of the videos I've watched here on TH-cam with this subject. I even found myself taking notes! Thank you for all the helpful tips! I'm going to go binge watch the rest of your videos now. 😅
Me too!! 😂😂😂 Am having trouble which one to watch first - they all look great 👍 Bang goes everything on my list for doing today! 🫣🤭🤭🤭🤭 Thanks a million for such a good video 🫶
Hello Steve, you can resurface your "Flat" molds, nothing with texture. All you have to do is mix a small amount of 2 part silicone, spread it evenly on the bottom of the mold. Make sure the mold is level, the silicone will self level. Let it cure. As we know silicone will stick to silicone so it works very well.
Thank you for the tips! 💙🐰💙
I came here to say the same thing. Just a beginner myself but wrote that tip down from Julie Cutts (Pouring Your Heart Out)
I saw 19 minutes 35 seconds and almost didn't watch this. I AM SO GLAD I DID! You sir, are a delight to watch! You got stuck into the info straight away, always to the point & there is sooooo much here to take away. Thank you for your time & for sharing 🥰🥰
Another tip for resinwork: Get an adjustable heat gun: one that you can turn the fan speed up and down and the temperature up and down. It's a lifesaver for getting bubbles out. Also if bubbles are a major concern, the slower the cure the less likely you are to have bubbles (generally). This is a great video and should be required viewing before getting into resin work!
or a buckets of a warm water, its cheaper 😁
Or just a regular lighter will work wonders for bubbles just don’t burn the silicone molds lol!
Alcohol sprayed on the bubbles works great to get rid of them
@@SharoninKentucky 91% isopropyl alcohol? Or technical grade, 99%?
Do you have one you can recommend?
With the silicone cups I didn’t like marking them on the side because sometimes I would do three or four pours one after the other rather than pouring a lot at a time because then that would give me more work time with each individual pour. What I would do is I would set a flashlight (a little mini flashlight) next to the silicone cup and then pour the resin into the cup. If you aim the light slightly behind the raised labeling on the cup, the light will highlight it very well to make it easier to read and see.
What I discovered about mica powders is that there are two kinds. There’s the one that we use for resin but apparently there’s another one that they use for soaps and it is made with oil which, if you mix it with a resin, will never ever ever ever ever let your resin cure. It makes quite a mess when you try and clean it up.
Great tips thanks so much. Take care and stay safe!
What type mica powder did you use that wouldn’t let it cure? Because I’ve bought so many different powders including stuff used for soap/candles and they work just as well as other’s. I also stopped mixing the color into the resin instead I paint the silicone molds with mica powder how I want it then pour resin and bam it’s colored. But all mica I’ve used have always cured no matter which on i use
@@stephi586 It said it was oil based. That’s all I know.
Was lead to believe some mica powdered leave a residue but I’m just learning an never had that problem ( yet ) but I do stir for longer as waching hundreds TH-cam vids say if they dint cure it’s because u have done something wrong like not mixed enough or using a dirty stirrer. Bowl or sticks etc
@@chriscrosscrafter I don't know what you used but I make soap, makeup etc and mica is never oil based . It is always just a powder.
@@kelleyspartiatis5323 haha right? Mica is made of muscovite, a naturally-occurring mineral. If a mica product indicates that it has oil(s) in it, it’s not simply mica. It’s some kind of mixture product and should not be used interchangeably for “normal”powdered mica.
I used resin for the first time recently and didn’t wear gloves. Needless to say my hands were full of resin. I tried everything to try and get it off to no avail. I finally found out that I should use vinegar. It worked perfectly. Phew.
I’ve used Isopropyl alcohol/ rubbing alcohol
1) storage
2) which resin
3) mixing resin
4) after mixing
5) storing moulds
6) personal safety
7) using powders
8) pot life
9) silicone mats
10) using a torch
11) pouring in layers
12) fresh flowers
13) gloss finish
14) cover curing resin
15) alcohol on resin
You rock - thanks!
Thank you for your help and kindness with those of us who are in the middle of using resin.
I just surprised my fiancé by sitting through an entire instructional video for the first time ever. Thank you for the great advice, now I need to watch your other videos
I saw a tip to revive silicone mold shininess. (for the flat surface on the bottom.) Just put a tiny bit of silicone for mold making in the bottom of your tired mold to cover the entire bottom. The mold will stick to the new silicone and you have a new shiny surface!
Thank you Steve. The advice about putting a fan BEHIND you pointing to a window makes perfect sense🤗
I'm a safety nut, yet, I never thought to do that💖 Truly appreciate the tip!
I stumbled on your channel by accident and boy am I so happy that I did as I'm about to start delving into using epoxy resin.
You have supplied me with sooooooooo much fantastic information and great tips. I'm so very grateful to you and your experiments are so worthwhile. PLUS!...I discovered your other channel too which is also awesome and valuable to me. You're amazing!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! X
Love your videos, needed the refresher. My tips :
-I place wax paper on top of a cling wrapped table to keep the integrity of my table. I learned quickly that resin on table is a no no.
-When measuring tap the silicone measuring cup so it is leveled before adding the other mixing part to ensure more accurate mixing.
-Use a silicone popsicle stick when mixing the epoxy and hardener to reduce bubbles and it does mix a bit better. They're easy to keep clean!
Thank you everyone who contributed, I did edit my comment to reflect the change! I appreciate the tip on silicone mixing sticks!
Never use popsicles sticks. Only silicon. The wood creates air pockets cause it can soak into the wood... and it creates fog because those sticks are treated with chemicals that highly effect the resin.
@@marikiemarie7622 Really? Thanks for the tip. I have yet to encounter any issues with popsicle sticks for the passed year but I'll try silicone and see what the difference is.
K(kkk(
@@anastaciaflores8645 you may notice a much clearer resin and far less micro bubbles. Some sticks aren't as bad and I'll use the stick if I'm coloring the resin or practicing... but never on a pricey piece or with very clear items.
I get too many bubbles with the pop stick. Love the silicone sticks. Just clean with alcohol right after done
thanks :) I just wanted to say you never stop learning or picking up good tips from other makers. I've been working with resin for 15 years and I'd never say I know everything, I definitely learn from other makers all the time 👍
Very informative video! Clear and detailed with very good reasons why you do your list of things. I do not work with resin, I just love to watch and learn. Resin art can be very very beautiful. Thank you!
I'm here for the first time! And in less than 2 minutes and have learned I can't buy just resin for my project!! Thank you so much for your intelligence 🎉
Thank you so much Steve for your VERY informative videos. I am just starting out with resin and can’t begin to tell you how much I already have learned from you. Thank you!
Steve, you are utterly charming and personable. This should be required for anyone thinking about or starting to work with resin. If I had found your exceptionally excellent video before I started working with resin, I would have saved time, mondy, and worked far more safely. Instead, it took me a lot of research and a few expensive mistakes to learn. You also taught me several things today that I still did not know, so thank you!
I love that you are so real and straight forward. You are unquenchable exuberance ! Thank-you for all the information for a newby like me!
Thank you for taking the time to explain all details on the do's and don'ts
Thank u for ur video! I just started resin about 4 months ago & have watched SO many videos! Urs was BY FAR the best & most informative!! Thank YOU
Is it weird that I'm jealous of your work studio!? 🤣🤣 Seriously, though, I loved your video...far more informative than most I've listened to, and I look forward to listening to more! Thanks, Steve!
Thanks! 🙂 I appreciate the ideas and education 🙂I'm just getting started with this stuff and it's a bit overwhelming and too expensive to be making easily fixable mistakes. I''m sure I will be binge watching your videos in order to learn more
1) Don't use a vacuum chamber with resin already in a silicon mold. Your mold will expand and break down. Instead, vacuum prior, then pour.
2) Don't stand and/or have a crowded table while working on time sensitive casts. You might trip yourself or the buckets much more easily. Instead, sit tight and have all and only what you need in arms reach.
3) Don't wear clothes for which their pristine state matters to you. You might get an unforgiving stain should something slip. Instead, don worn out clothes for that occasion.
4) Don't prepare food at the same time if you do it in an area with two purposes. One may get in the other and both options are big no-nos. Instead, do one, then clean, then the other, then clean.
5) Don't allow yourself to make the same mistakes. Keep lists of where you effed up.
I just starting resin, I rely on your videos to learn. Thank you for sharing your knowledge
Steve, you are a true treasure to the TH-cam crafting community! Today I’m going back and rewatching your videos that I’ve saved for future reference! I’ve saved so many that I’m picking out what I need right now! Stay strong and healthy!
You’ve got a friend in me! Thank you sooo much!
You have been such an inspiration to me. This is another great video. Thank you for sharing so much with us ❤
Thank you very thoughtful of you to help others. Much appreciated
I really appreciate the details you share in your videos.
I did not know that molds dry out. Thank you.
I didn't know that either.
Thank you Steve, I am very new to using Resin. Your videos are a very big help for me! 😘
Hi Steve, I came across your channel as I am really interested in starting to craft with resin. Your channel is great to watch and educational. I never knew about different kinds of resin for projects. I just thought resin was resin. I am learning so much from your channel. I cant thank you enough. You have a new sub.
Thank you hun for updating this
Omgggg so helpful!! I’ve been working with resin for about a year now and this answered many of my questions! Also I will definitely bulk up my PPE!! Thank you soooooo much!!!
I’ve been watching you for almost 2 years 😮, and I do not remember this well needed video. I do believe, so many of us get caught up in how to do all this fabulous projects, yet are not following the very necessary steps to start. 🙌🏻….
Thanks for your tips. I am experimenting with silicone molds and resin casting and learned something today.
Excellent introduction for the novice. Thank you Steve.
I completely relate. I feel I become a novice with every new creation… YES, to getting info on resins!
Thank you. I've been itching to buy the materials and tools but your video made me to learn about it more from many people. Thank you really.
Thanks so much! I appreciate your teaching us. I had no idea about the molds!
Hi Steve, I don’t know if you’ll see this comment, but I wanted to say thank you.
I’m an author, and I’m making swag to go with my books. I’m new to resin, and your tips are invaluable. Thank you for going so in-depth with these tips and tricks. I’ve just subscribed to your channel, and will be watching more videos in the future.
I’ve watched some other tutorials, but your personality is what makes me enjoy your video. Sometimes, people can go on a little bit, sometimes they aren’t quite as in-depth too. So having a bubbly personality like you makes me sit up and pay attention more. No shade to anyone else, I just learn better when I feel as though the person teaching really cares, and has that personality that makes me want to listen.
I have been doing resin for years.. I found your tips really helpful!
I'm so glad I watched your channel today. Recently I've had a problem with my eyes swelling up and itching terribly. Now I know why. They look exactly like yours! I had never associated it with using resin. I've been using the same brand since the mid 90's and this has just recently become a problem. Thank you so much for showing me what the issue is. I'm getting one of those masks today.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
You are so thorough and that has helped me more than anything I've seen
Love your videos. I particularly like that you constantly, in many videos, drive home the importance of PPE.
I’m so excited to start making stuff with resin. Your videos are soooo helpful. Thank you! ♥️
I love all your tips. Thank you for sharing.
I was very impressed with your knowledge of resins and molds. I learn a lot from this video.
This really is a great video on using resin - thanks! I love that you go on about personal safety; most of my acquaintances that do epoxy laugh at me for using nitril gloves, a respirator and goggles. But it is so, so important!
Two little tips:
1. If you don´t have baby wipes, pour some nail oil on toilet paper or this little wipes from doing gel nails.
2. If you don´t want to use a burner or lighter to get out bubbles, then spray the surface lightly with alcohol or hand disinfectant. Same effect.
Thanks you so much. I had a play with resin and really didn't get on with it. After watching a few of your videos I feel confident enough to try again.
Thank you Steve!!! I always think you're really smart, knowing all those things (the molds storage for example) and letting us know! Blessings from Italy
Terrific tips!! Thank you for putting this together for us ❤️🌵✌🏻
I'm planning to get into resin and your video's are very helpful thank you. I didn't realize moulds dry out, so thank you for that, all your tips and video's are so helpful.
Thank you so much for the video. Very helpful and your wonderful sense of humor makes it even more interesting.
Thankyou so much for these tips.. you are so generous with your info!
I’ve been following you for quite some time now and I just love all the tips you’re giving .Thanks 👍👍👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you , Steve!❤
I've just started playing around with small resin things. There r lots of things n ur video I found really helpful! Thank u!
❤️thank you for being so detailed
Much needed video! Thank you!!
Thanks for the refresher!
Thank you for sharing Steve , they are really good tips
Thank you so much for all those tips. Very helpful as I have only been doing resin for a short time. Those layering lines you were talking about are called "witness lines". Where it came from I don't know but I heard it on woodturning videos. They all use the term, those who use resin of course. 💕😊💕🇺🇸
Being a brand new newbie, thanks for the tips! I went and moved things out of direct sunlight as soon as you said that.. so thanks for the tip!
Wow, this video is brilliant!
So many useful tips!
Thank you! ⚘
Thanks for sharing your secrets Steve!
Thankx for all of the tips. I have asthma, so your safety tips are really helpful, for I really want to work with resin.
Thank you so much, I learned a lot!
Every time I look up resin tips I come across your videos. I have finally subscribed since you seem to be the go to person for resin stuff. Thank you!!!
Thank you so much for this video!
Steve, thank you so much for this video. I’ve watched a lot of videos and none of them talked about everything that you spoke about. I was quite ticked when I watched a video last night and a young woman spoke about about what she suffered while she was making epoxy cups. She said that she was a beginner and went to a class in a hotel where there was 40 students and there wasn’t any ventilation. I haven’t started using resin yet because I want to get as much information as I can before starting. As I mentioned before; I have watched many videos and none of them talked about PPE like you have in this video. Thank you Steve for going into depth what should and shouldn’t be done while using resin and how to properly store your resins and how to take care of your silicone molds and mats. ☕️ Here’s a cup of Joe for you Steve and have a lovely day.
Very informative. Thank you so much. So many tips that I didn't know but that are so helpful
Thank you so much for the information video. I am so happy to see someone giving us a heads up on what is needed to use resin safely and effectively, I feel that this is soooo important, especially for those who are considering getting into resin crafts such as myself again I want to thank you for the information. I have shared for others information.
Watching your videos is giving me some courage to try resin crafts for the first time
Thank you for the information I have been making pop cap key chains for about 5 years and now I just watched a few of your videos and learned a lot more thank you for your information you share
This is really helpful for a beginner like me; I haven't tried Epoxy resin yet, but this is still very helpful as I do plan on using epoxy later down the road since I would love to make dice later on (and many other things). But overall, this video is really helpful with a lot of information that help beginners like me! Thank you for this video!
Making picture tile coasters for Christmas gifts. Your videos are so helpful. Thanks
Hi, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. It’s been very helpful. 😊
Very Informative . Thank you
-very new resin worker, didn't know molds dry out- you are probably saving me a lot of money, thank you
Such a great and informative video!! Thanks so much fo sharing your knowledge!
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the tips and I am really enjoying the education Steve.😊
Enjoyed the video and learning more about resin and the ins and outs to using it. Especially the dangerous and safety precautions. Not that I use it but have grandkids who might want to.
I learn so much from your videos. Thank you.
Im new to resin art and this was so very helpful to me. Thank you
Thanks Steve great tips.
I enjoy your videos on resin, saves me a lot of money, making sure I get the right resin for the project I am working on.
I am thinking of using resin in jewellery making and have watched quite a few videos before I start. Yours is by far the best I have found. You explain everything very clearly so even someone with no experience using resin like me, can understand. I do have one big disadvantage in that I am connected up to oxygen 24/7 so I cannot work with naked flame. So it was great to see someone in the chat say they use a heat gun to get rid of the bubbles.
I used resin for the first time in a community class. They taught us to gently stir to mix not whip it fast. We never got bubbles that way.
She also said you can use a hair dryer after you pour to get bubbles out of you do get some. How that's helpful. I'm loving this new medium
Good tips. Thank you!
Thank you for the tip very appreciated
Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve never used resin. It’s a bit intimidating. But now is the time to try it. 😊👍🏻❤️
It's easy enough once you get the hang of it.
I love to play with alcohol ink because it creates those spores and smokey wisps which are wuite awesome. So i suggest of course to try it out. Have a look around for videos where they use alcohol ink so you know how to do it. But its easy.
Basically you drip white ink on drops of coloured. They then start to react.
You will of course only see how it turned out after the resin cured and you de-mold your project. But usually the results are awesome
Also mica powder is nice to use to colour the resin.
Of course i always seem to end up with using purple 💜
Great info thank you
Thanks for all the info
Tyfs! Always Great Info ❤😁👏🏾👏🏾
Thank you! This was really good!