Making your own jewelry, either just to wear it yourself or to start a jewelry business, is gaining popularity recently. Using the best resin is key to making your own jewelry.
It is a fun and interesting way to create pieces that will not only look beautiful but also last forever.
You can easily customize each aspect of the jewelry findings and fashion it exactly how you envisioned it in your mind.
To be honest, it is a cheaper alternative to traditional metal jewelry, it is long-lasting, and everyone can easily make it. Plus it is more sustainable than plastic.
So what are the best resins for jewelry making on the market that will help you create pieces that will last forever?
Epoxy Resin
This is the easiest choice for beginners and the fastest way to cure resin since it is the easiest to get used to and obtain thin layers of resin.
It is comparatively more durable than other resins and will stay in shape for a long time so you don’t have to worry about damaging it since once it is cured, it is waterproof.
PuDuo is a great choice and the fastest way for a resin cure and the best epoxy resin for epoxy resin jewelry since it is great with incorporating pigments and extracting thin layers of resin which means that it can be used with glow in the dark and color-changing pigments.
It retails for about 11.99 dollars and comes with gloves, mixing cups, and wooden sticks.
Art Resin is a great option for creating jewelry pieces such as beautiful resin pendants.
It is very easy to work with and you have to mix equal parts of resin and hardener to get the resin ready for pouring.
When fully cured, it is completely crystal clear and shiny. It can be used with silicone molds, wood, and is even used in free-form jewelry making. A 16oz bottle of Art resin costs about 50.47 dollars.
If you are planning to buy the best epoxy resin in bulk then Totalboat Thickset Deep Pour is an excellent choice. It is a bit different from other epoxy resins since the ratio of mixing it is 3 parts resin and 1 part hardener.
It barely has a smell and takes about 72 hours to fully cure but once it has set, it is very durable and waterproof.
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Polyester Resin
Polyester resin is usually used for beginner project ideas such as boat building but it can also be used in jewelry making since it has a similar application to epoxy resin.
Unlike epoxy resin, the curing time of polyester resin can be cut short using different variations of the hardener.
Also, the mixing ratio differs for each brand of polyester resin so make sure to read the instructions.
The problem is that this has a strong odor and it stays until the resin is fully cured so it is better to do the project with polyester resin in a well-ventilated area or outside.
You might also need to sand the piece since it can sometimes leave a sticky film on the resin. The best polyester resin is casting clear polyester resin and a 30oz bottle retails about 66.65 dollars.
UV resin
UV resin is very similar to epoxy resin but it has very different handling and curing process.
Unlike epoxy resin, UV resin comes in a bottle pre-mixed which means that you don’t need any supplies for mixing it and you won’t mess up during that process.
It does cure on its own which means that you have unlimited time to work on your resin craft and when you are satisfied.
You will then use a UV light to cure it which also means that it will be cured in minutes. The only drawbacks are that UV resin can be pretty pricey when compared to other types of resin and it has a shorter shelf life of about 6 months.
Even with this drawback, UV resin is still one of the best types of resin to use for jewelry making especially since it doesn’t have a strong smell.
The best UV resin for beginners is Limino UV resin because it has a clear glossy finish and cures quickly. It has a bit of a smell but it goes away pretty quickly.
The resin does shrink a bit while curing but overall, this product is great for beginners. A 200-gram bottle of this stuff retails about 35.99 dollars.
Another option for UV resin is Princess 7 castle resin, which costs about 35.56 dollars for a 200-gram bottle. It comes with a small precision tip and it is completely crystal clear and has a hard but glossy finish.
Epoxy Clay
This type of epoxy resin is quite different from other types of resin because when it is mixed, instead of creating a liquid resin in a liquid form, it creates a clay-like substance that can be then shaped however you like.
It can also be used as glue to permanently attach pieces. This resin can be colored using dyes and pigments alike. It can be painted and sculpted so you can do just about anything with this.
This is also great for creating items for cosplaying since you can sculpt different objects.
One of the best epoxy clay brands on the market is Crystal clay and a 50-gram pack of this costs about 33.00.
Polyurethane Resin
This type of resin is great for resin casting intricate molds because it can capture every last detail of the mold.
It has a faster curing time than epoxy resin so while you won’t get a lot of time to work it, you only need enough time to pour it into the mold and release any air bubbles.
Smooth-cast 320 is a great recommendation since it cures quickly and is designed for detailed and intricate molds.
The resin has an off-white color when it is fully cured and you can find colorants that suit this resin. This retails for 47.71 dollars on eBay.
Doming Resin
This type of resin is much thicker in consistency and is used to give your projects and project ideas a raised or domed look.
It can be used on a bezel cup which is often used to create jewelry pieces such as an exquisite pendant. This is not well suited for a mold because the resin is too thick and traps air bubbles that can be hard to get out if the surface isn’t visible.
Adhesive Resin
While this type of resin isn’t necessarily used to make the jewelry itself, it is used in the jewelry-making process and lost-wax jewelry casting, where wax paper is used.
It is used for gluing small items together such as pins or the backing of an earring so it can come in handy if you plan on making your jewelry.
Glazing Resin
This is another type of epoxy resin but it is specifically used as a clear topcoat and can add a stunning glossy look.
The resin is transparent and some types of glazing resin can also be used as doming resin since they are much thicker in their consistency.
The best way for glazing different resins I have come across is the Pebeo Gedeo Glazing Resin.
It barely has an odor and is very easy to work with. It cures in a shorter period and even if the mixture has a lot of bubbles during or after pouring, by the time it cures, it will remove all the bubbles on its own.
Also, It maintains its color, remains clear for a long time, and is environmentally friendly because it is created using plant-based materials. It retails for 26.33 dollars on Amazon.
Casting Resin
This is also a type of epoxy resin but unlike the traditional kinds of different resin, it is very watery and has a lower viscosity which makes it ideal for pouring into molds.
The only drawback is that because it is more watery than different types of resins, it takes much longer to dry so it is not suitable if you are in a rush.
You can also use casting resin to fill holes in wood and different types of resin materials because the low level of viscosity allows the resin to fill the gap.
Polycarbonate (PC)
You can use this kind of resin in jewelry making but only if you are using a 3D printer. It cannot be used in molds or free form and is specifically created to be used with a 3D printer
Phenolic Resins
This is a thermosetting resin that is strong, heat-resistant and is also highly resistant to chemical corrosion.
It can be used to make jewelry molds but sadly, this is an industrial resin which means you cannot use it for DIY crafts and project ideas nor create your own resin jewelry making with it.
Alkyd Resin
Alkyd resin has great electrical properties as well as thermal properties.
They have a low cost and can be used for insulation, paints, and electronic components.
These too cannot be used in any resin crafts.
Polyamide Resin
These different types of resin are usually used in packaging, fibers, tires, and bottles.
You cannot create your own resin jewelry making from these types of resins.
Silicone Resin
Believe it or not, silicone is also a type of resin and is usually used to create silicone molds, defoamers, and also has a variety of water-resistant applications.
Acrylic Resins
This resin is UV lights and impact-resistant and can be used to create decorative panels, is used for coatings, and even as translucent tiles.
What resin supplies will you need?
Aside from resin, you will need tons of other materials for resin jewelry making or diy projects such as resin molds and colorants so let’s discuss those.
Molds
The first thing is of course your resin molds.
If you are planning to use epoxy or other types of resin that comes in two parts, you should know that one you combine part A and B, you will have limited working time which means that you will need a resin mold to pour the resin into.
Whatever mold you are looking for can be easily found either on Amazon or Etsy and if not you can always create your own.
Polymer Clay and Silicone
If you are planning on making custom jewelry pieces and you want to create a resin mold that can be used multiple times and create the same product, you create it using polymer clay.
You will use the clay to create a base from which the mold will be created.
This part needs to be smooth and as perfect as possible because if you make any mistakes with the polymer clay, it will end up on the final piece.
Now bake the polymer clay according to instructions and once it has fully hardened, you are ready to create the resin mold.
Mix a batch of silicone and pour it on top of the polymer clay piece. Once the silicone has been set, you can take out the polymer clay piece and your customer mold will be ready.
Mixing Cups
If you are using two-part best epoxy resin, you will need mixing cups to fully integrate both A and B parts to create the resin.
It is better if the mixing cups you get have measurements written on the side so it becomes easier for you to mix equal parts which will also minimize problems caused by unequal parts of A and B.
Pigments and Colorants
This is an important part if you plan on making jewelry resin since most resins are completely crystal clear or cure off-white and white.
It is better to use colors and pigments that are designed to be used with resin because if the colorant contains water, it might not fully integrate with the resin and the resin will not cure.
So to avoid any disasters, make sure to use materials that are suited for resin. You can also use UV lamps here for better resin curing.
Respirator
This is important because some types of resin can give off a very strong smell and this is not good for your health.
If you cannot get your hands on a respirator or it is too expensive to buy, you could try using the resin in a well-ventilated area or it is even better if you use it outside.
Dropcloth and Apron
The fact is that working with resin can get pretty messy pretty quickly.
You will stain your working station and clothes so it is always better to be safe and stock up on drop cloths and wear an apron, especially if you are a beginner.
Wooden Sticks and Disposable Gropes
Some types of resins produce a lot of heat when they are mixed and while they are curing, so you should protect yourself and always wear gloves.
A wooden stick can help you mix the resin and you need to fully incorporate both parts before use or it will not cure properly.
Sandpaper
Sometimes you may over-pour the resin which means that when it comes out of the mold, it may have uneven or extra cured resin hanging off the piece.
You can simply cut the bigger pieces off with a wire cutter and then use sandpaper to smooth down the sharp edges so they don’t poke out and hurt someone.
Conclusion
Overall, choosing the resin that works for you depends on whether you plan to stick with the resin craft for a long time or if you just want to test it out to see if it works for you or not.
The easiest and great choice is of course the UV resin but if you want to make a lot of handmade resin jewelry.
It is better to invest in a big bottle of the best epoxy resin or polymer resin because it is not only cheaper but it is the best choice to make beautiful jewelry.
In addition, please make sure when you are indulging in resin craft, you have the right resin kits, resin molds, and accessories.