What You Need To Know About UV Resin
UV resin is a type of resin that cures when exposed to UV light. It is great for creating detailed, small or intricate pieces because it hardens quickly and has low viscosity so it can be poured easily. It starts hardening within minutes when exposed to UV light from a lamp or sunlight, making it a great choice for quick projects that require quicker turnaround times. UV resin is a single part product, so mixing or ratio errors are not necessary, so you can achieve results in no time. A downside is that the UV rays must penetrate the entire layer of material in order to ensure complete curing; this can be hard due to high pigment and opacity loading. Another drawback of using this type of resin is that it doesn’t have as much flexibility once cured than epoxy resins do. Epoxy resins are more popular among artists due to their greater range of uses and flexibility options when curing.
Pro Tips when using UV-Resin
If the surface feels greasy after curing with a UV torch, continue curing. Depending on the depth and opacity of the layers, we recommend semi-curing with a UV torch and allowing it to fully cure in the direct sun for up to 30 minutes. When building up layers, allowing them to cure longer between each layer will increase their hardness, glossiness, and adhesion. If you are applying opaque layers, we recommend using very thin coats and allowing adequate curing time between layers.
What is UV resin?
One of the more advanced active mixtures we offer at Just Resin is UV resin. Unlike clear epoxy resins, which use hardeners and/or thinner solutions in their composition, UV resins rely only on ultraviolet rays that are emitted by flashlights and lamps to create their final product.
Here are a few simple instructions for using UV resin kits to learn more about this special material:
To make crafting easier, prepare your resin accessories ahead of time. Keep items like the mould, UV resin mixture, and UV light near you at all times.
Place the mould on a sturdy table in a well-ventilated room. We recommend working on a placemat or paper towel to make cleaning easier and to prevent the mould from slipping.
To prevent bubbles from forming, carefully squeeze and push the UV resin mixture into the mould. Mix in the colour slowly and work in layers.
By moving the heat gun or butane torch in a circular motion across the mixture, bubbles stuck in the middle will rise up and pop before curing begins.
The mixture must be exposed with UV light until it becomes hard. This may take a few tries your first time around, so don't give up.
You can create UV resin jewellery and décor in just a few steps! Practice often and keep stock on hand by buying from Just Resin!
The difference between UV resin and epoxy
The product characteristics and purposes of UV resin and epoxy resin vary greatly. Epoxy Resin provides 2-part epoxy resin, which is composed of a resin and an activator (hardener) component. In comparison, UV resin is a single part solution that is immediately usable. Epoxy resin hardens without any additional help; however, UV resin only cures when exposed to ultraviolet light. Whereas the maximum layer thickness for UV is 1mm when opaque, epoxy permits thicker layers, making it suitable for larger surfaces. Moreover, a UV lamp must always be used for curing UV resin, which renders it suitable only for smaller areas.
Epoxy resin is the better choice for those looking for long-term durability and visual appeal since it is both heat and scratch resistant. On the other hand, UV resin can be a more suitable option if you require a quick result; however, it may not remain aesthetically pleasing for very long as its durability is limited.
Are UV Resins better than Epoxy?
If you need a resin that will harden quickly, UV resin is the way to go, but epoxy is more durable in the long run. UV resin cures quickly when exposed to UV light, but epoxy cures with time, heat, or catalysts.
There are pros and cons to each type of resin, so it really depends on what your needs are.
Epoxy requires mixing two separate parts before it can be used, which can be messy and time-consuming. UV resin is easier to work with because it does not require mixing. UV resin is more brittle and tends to break or crack over time. Epoxy, in contrast, is much more flexible and can endure more wear and tear. Depending on what it's being used for, UV resin may be a better solution due to its speedy curing time which takes between 1-5 minutes (based on the thickness of the layer). It has no pot life and can be used indefinitely compared to epoxy resin. The durability of a surface with UV resin coating varies and used as a coating cannot be considered permanent. Additionally, it only allows casting depths of 1mm or less- going any deeper will result in bubbles and voids. Even after curing, this kind of resin is very sensitive to heat and can deform or blister in the sun. On the other hand epoxy has a longer shelf life compared to UV resin, UV resin can harden even when stored in an airtight container.
Is UV Resin better for resin art crafting?
When it comes to crafting resin art projects, it really depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you need a quick set time and a hard, glossy finish, UV resin is ideal. It is well suited for jewellery building or ornamental projects because of its properties. In contrast to UV resin, epoxy resin is more suited to larger projects, such as table tops or coasters, due to its flexibility and ability to fill gaps. Additionally, epoxy resin is more resistant to heat and chemicals than UV resin.
If you’re trying to decide between UV resin or epoxy resin for your project, it’s important to understand the differences between the two. You should choose the resin based on the needs of your project. If you need a durable, fast-curing resin, UV resin is the way to go. If you need a resin that is more flexible and has a longer curing time, epoxy resin is the way to go.
When should you use UV resin?
It depends on the project! UV resin cures more quickly than 2-part resin, but it requires multiple thin layers to be applied, and each layer must be cured before being applied. In order to fill shallow bezels, we recommend it. Although 2-part epoxy requires up to seven days to fully cure, it can be poured into deeper bezels or moulds, and can also be tinted with pigments and inks.
Jewellery Made of UV Resin
UV resin is often used to create small pieces of jewellery, where the product properties come into play. The small dimensions of jewellery make curing under a UV lamp easier. UV resin allows you to create filigree patterns for a considerable amount of time before the resin actually cures. We recommend sealing the UV resin with an epoxy resin coating once more to ensure long-term durability.
UV resin has what advantages?
Artists and designers choose UV resin for a variety of reasons. Here are some advantages of UV resin for arts and crafts.
Unlike other resin variants, UV resin is highly resistant to water, allowing you to add small trinkets or items to your mould and have them remain encapsulated and protected from outside moisture.
Due to the fact that this resin only cures when exposed to direct UV light, there would be fewer accidental cures. It no longer becomes a race against time as you can simply shine the light whenever you're ready.
In addition to more control over when your project hardens, UV resin also offers less waiting time. Instead of waiting for a couple of days to fully cure, you can even use your UV resin products the same day they're made.
What is the drying time for UV resin?
UV resin cures faster than its traditional epoxy resin counterpart. This means that you can spend less time waiting for the results and more time enjoying your masterpiece. There are still multiple factors that could affect the quality and speed of the curing process. However, it generally takes between 15 and 20 minutes for a small UV resin piece to cure completely. If you're not careful with the UV light, it can cause the project to harden faster, but you can also cause over curing. If you're working on a larger project, it is recommended that you cure the mixture-filled mould piece by piece under the UV light.
How To Choose UV Resin for art
The following factors should be considered when choosing UV resin:
A resin should always be selected with the project in mind. Not all resins work for all projects. For example, if you are making jewellery, you need a resin that cures quickly and leaves a glossy finish. Since UV resin checks all the boxes, it makes the perfect resin.
For any project, you need a resin that forms fewer air bubbles, as air bubbles ruin the overall appearance. Choose a UV resin that makes little to no air bubbles, so the project looks flawless.
The curing time of UV resin should be considered when selecting it. Most UV resins cure under UV light in minutes but may leave a greasy feel. A good quality UV resin with a high quality UV torch shouldn't take longer than 10mins with a nice dry feel. Since UV resin is primarily used in decorative projects and as final layers, it must be transparent and clear. If it doesn’t give a clear look, it certainly isn’t a good quality UV resin. You can also purchase pigments to colour UV resins if your project requires coloured UV resin.
Ultimately, it's important to select the right kind of UV resin based on your specific needs in order to achieve optimal results from your project!
