Things You Need To Know About UV Resin Art
What is UV Resin?
UV resins belong to the group of synthetic resins and cures from the energy of the sun or UV devices. UV resins cure completely within a few minutes and can be used for sealing, bonding and coating materials.
For jewellery making and craft projects, synthetic resins are used which act like a natural plant resin, as they are sticky and thick liquids which can harden permanently.
UV resin is great for beginners because it doesn’t need to be mixed with a hardener and is great for casting thin layers.
Some common synthetic resins you may have heard about include:
- Epoxy resin
- Polyurethane resin
- Acrylic resin
- Silicone resin
Where To Buy UV Resin
Are you starting a new arts and crafts project and need to buy some UV resin? You can purchase UV resin from specialist art or craft suppliers, such as Arbee . We stock all our supplies online so you don’t even need to leave the house.
You may have also heard of epoxy resin. If you’re wondering what the difference is, we’ll explain everything in this article.
What are the advantages of using UV resin?
- Quick cure time (a few minutes)
- No mixing needed
- Great for small projects like resin jewellery
- Great for beginners to use
- No time stress during processing, as it won’t cure without UV light
What is epoxy resin?
To make things more confusing there is epoxy resin, which is its own type of compound made up of resin and hardener. When these two components are mixed, a chemical reaction happens where the liquid resin gradually hardens to a solid plastic.
This results in a glossy, clear surface. Epoxy resin can be used in art, boat building, jewellery making, sculptures and much more.
Is there a difference between UV resin and epoxy resin?
Resin and epoxy are both adhesives, which are used to bond together plastics, glass and metals. However, the properties that make up each type are different.
When you buy epoxy resin, it’s going to come with two parts (A & B). One part is the actual epoxy resin and the other part is the hardener. Part A & B must be mixed together with a 1:1 ratio as this creates the chemical reaction that allows the person to use the epoxy resin.
The cure time does require some patience with epoxy resin. At minimum it can take 5-6 hours but many people prefer to leave it at least 12 hours before using.
UV resin on the other hand, doesn’t require any mixing. In order to cure, UV resin requires UV light from the sun. Compared to epoxy resin, UV resin cures in a matter of minutes, so your projects won’t take a lot of time.
Here are the main differences between resin glue and epoxy adhesive:
- Epoxy resin requires mixing, UV resin doesn’t
- Epoxy resin is cheaper, but you need to buy both parts
- UV resin requires UV light to cure
- UV resin cures very quickly, epoxy resin cures very slowly
Getting rid of bubbles
UV resin is a thicker resin then Epoxy and is more prone to bubbles particularly in thin layers.
However here is some tips to getting rid of bubbles
- Use resin in a warm room, ensure surface you are using is not cold.
- Warm some water in a bowl in the microwave (avoid boiling water) and place in the resin bottle to warm slightly before use.
- Use a heat gun or hair dryer on low heat over your project – the bubbles should rise to the top and burst. A lighter can also work but make sure you work quickly to avoid burning yourself or the project.
- Be careful if mixing the resin – mixing can aerate the resin
- Avoid moving the project once poured
What kind of resin should beginners use?
UV resin is better for beginners because it has less fumes and it isn’t necessary to wear a ventilator mask. It is recommended to work in a well ventilated area, as with any strong smelling glue. If the smell is too strong for you, wear a mask.
What can you make with UV resin?
People experimenting with resin in art have really taken off in the USA, Canada and Australia with people creating really vibrant pieces by adding colour pigments or other additives to the UV resin. If you like experimenting, you should try incorporating UV resin into art by choosing the painting ground, the colours, the additives and the type of casting to create something one-of-a-kind.
UV resin is very popular in jewellery-making and other projects where you’re working with shallow, clear moulds.
Tips and tricks for using UV resin
- Only pour thin layers of resin at a time because this prevents air bubbles forming. If you do see air bubbles starting to appear, remove them with a hot air blow dryer
- Move the hairdryer quickly over the resin to remove air bubbles. Remember to wear safety goggles, gloves and face mask. Make sure the room is also well ventilated
- Keep an eye on the embedded objects. Any object that is added to the resin can cause air bubbles to form. Try to set down the embedded object as flat as possible and press down firmly into the uncured resin.
Cleaning up UV resin
- If you need to clean up a spill on a surface, cleaning up can be done with acetone (depending on the surface it is on) or eucalyptus oil, but this needs to be done while the resin is still tacky. Testing surfaces with the cleaner of your choice is paramount.
- Once fully cured resin cannot be dissolved but it can be sanded back with sandpaper.
UV Resin art supplies
Planning your next art project and want to use UV resin? You’ll probably need to pick up some other products that’ll make your life a bit easier and the project more successful. Here are a few things we recommend that you try out for your next UV resin art project:
- Silicone moulds for casting
- Coloured UV resin
- Bezels
- Beads
- Glitter
- Embedded items (to use in the UV)