There are many different resins with all their specificities. Today we will focus on 3 main types of resins used in hobby. The casting resin, the glazing resin and the UV LED and UV resin. The choice of the resin to use will depend on your project, but also on the surface to cover and your budget. To guide you, we have listed the properties, advantages and disadvantages of UV and UV LED resins compared to epoxy resins.
What is UV or UV LED resin? Its advantages, its disadvantages? What is the bi-component resin? What are the applications, the different projects that can be created with either UV resin or epoxy resin?
What is epoxy resin?Epoxy resin is also called bi-component resin. Two liquids are mixed together: The resin itself and the hardener which will create a chemical reaction. This will make the resin harden. It is said that the resin catalyzes. The quantities of each liquid to be mixed are generally indicated on the packaging or the instructions of your resin. Very often, you need to make two doses of resin for one dose of hardener, mix well with a stick and then change the container to make sure the resin is homogeneous. Wait until there are no more bubbles before using it.
There are two main types of epoxy resin: Casting resin and glazing resin.
Epoxy resin can take 24 to 72 hours to cure depending on the type of resin, the ambient temperature and the thickness of the resin. The optimum temperature is usually between 20 and 25° C in a dry place. However, even though it is hard to the touch, the resin still "works" for up to 15 days after mixing. During these 15 days, it can still undergo transformations due to the outside environment. For example, if exposed to sunlight the resin may yellow slightly. Sudden temperature changes can also have an influence. Another example, in the case of a coaster that you have covered with resin: wait at least 15 days before putting a glass on it, otherwise the glass may make marks.
This is why it is important to protect epoxy resins from UV rays and dust, temperature shocks and humidity during the curing process.
There are a large number of these resins, they can be fully transparent, opaque colored or translucent tinted.
The viscosity of epoxy resins changes according to their specificity:
The resins CResins are used for the inclusion of elements in molds, spheres or beads containing flowers for example are liquid. It is often used for decoration, but can also be used for jewelry.
Epoxy glazing resins, also called topping resins, are viscous. Glazing resin is used to protect a flat surface such as a photo or sheet. It is not used in great thickness, but because it is more viscous than casting resin, it stops at the edge of the surface to be resinated and does not need to be contained in a mold, at least, as long as the part is flat and level. Some glazing resins allow to keep the flexibility of a resinated element. This is the case with Flex resin. Other glazing resins can also be used or create relief on a painting for example.
| THE ADVANTAGES | THE DISADVANTAGES |
- It has a crystalline, transparent finish that is unequalled. - It can be molded in any silicone mold. - It can be colored with resin dyes, inks, pigments, acrylic paints, micas powders. - It can be used for pourring on canvas and give great effects. - It is less expensive than UV resin. - It is very resistant, harder than UV resin. - It can be sanded and polished, although this is difficult and should be avoided. - It can be used in large molds. - Epoxy glazing resin shrinks very little. | - It requires precise dosing or it will not harden. Use a scale or measuring cup. - There is often a loss of product. You can freeze the remaining resin mixture once. - It requires patience, because it takes a long time to harden (catalyze). Even more so if your creation requires several layers. Ex: Inclusion of dried flowers. - The creations must be protected from UV rays otherwise they will turn yellow. Tip: when creating your resin pieces, leave them for 15 days in a dark place. - As the hardening is long, some elements put in inclusion can rub off like some flowers and dried leaves. |
Geode imitation coaster made with epoxy crystal resin:
Polymer clay creations protected with epoxy glaze resin:
Feel free to take a tour in the tutorial space reserved for the resin. You will be able to create a lot of costume jewelry, trendy accessories and DIY decorative objects.
Unlike epoxy resin, UV or UV LED resin is a single liquid that cures under UV light. The UV and UV Led resins we are talking about are from the Japanese brand Padico. Very easy to use, it is ready to use, protected in a opaque bottle equipped with a nozzle for precise use.
It can harden with the sun's rays in about ten minutes if the weather is very nice. Again, this curing time may depend on the temperature and the resin itself. To go faster, you can also use a UV or UV LED lamp. UV resin will take longer to cure than UV LED resin. The lamps are the same as those used for semi-permanent nail polish. So if you already have this lamp at home, you will only have to buy the resin! Be careful, your lamp must have a minimum power of 36 W if it is UV and 6 to 10 W if it is UV LED.
UV LED resin is very practical and allows you to have a quick result. UV LED resin cures under the rays of UV LED lamp in less than 2 minutes. However, it has some drawbacks: it is much more expensive than epoxy resin and can only be used on small surfaces, such as jewelry lockets. If you use it on large surfaces or thicknesses, it will not harden inside and other defects may appear, such as ripples on the surface due to the difference in catalytic speed of the different parts of the piece.
| Light / Resin | Padico UV Resin | Padico Star Drop LED UV Resin (hard) | Padico Sun Drop UV LED Resin (hard) |
| UV LED lamp 6 to 10 watts | Not suitable - random result | 30 to 90 sec | 30 sec to 2 minutes (each side) |
| UV Lamp 36 watts | 2 to 10 minutes | 2 to 4 minutes | 2 to 4 minutes (each side) |
| sunlight in very good weather | 10 to 30 minutes | 30 to 90 sec | 30 sec to 2 minutes (each side) |
| sun rays with overcast sky | 30 to 60 minutes | 3 to 10 minutes | 3 to 10 minutes (each side) |
How to use the UV resin ?It can be used in transparent silicone molds or directly on a silicone mat as in the case of this braceletwhere a spacer is filled. In all cases, it is necessary that the light can access the resin. UV resins are transparent and do not exist in colored version. But you can tint them with dyes, pigments, glitter or mica powder. Theconsistency of UV resins resembles that of a gel.
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
- It is easy to use. - Cures very quickly. - EIt has a long shelf life. - It can be applied on a curved surface thanks to its gel aspect. | - It is more expensive than other two-component resins. - It can only be used in thin layers of 3 mm or on small molded creations. - It has a high shrinkage rate. - It has a less crystalline finish than epoxy resins. - After one year, it tends to be a little more cloudy. - The molds used must be transparent to let the UV light pass. - It can only be colored with the same brand of UV or UV LED dyes. Do not use epoxy dyes. Opaque creations cannot be made because the light must be allowed to pass through. - It requires the purchase of a UV or UV LED lamp. - It is difficult to polish. It is easier to re-cast a thin film on the surface. |
Now that you know the main differences between these 3 resins, choosing the right resin for your project normally becomes clearer:
To make a shaker, i.e. a resin shape with water and glitter inclusion: Special Shaker molds and UV LED resin should be used preferably, because the different parts of the Shaker will have to be glued and sealed quickly.
Be careful, aqueous and oily liquids are not compatible with the resin in its liquid state. These will prevent the resin from catalyzing. Therefore, if you ever want to trap a liquid in a resin form, you must create a resin shell that will enclose the liquid.
Similarly, if you want to resin plants, they must be completely dry or they will rot inside and prevent the resin from catalyzing properly.
To color the resin, you cannot use just any dye or paint. I invite you to have a look at our data sheets onincluding dried flowers in the resin and on coloring resin.
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