Resin has become a popular medium over the past few years among artists, DIYers, and creative small business owners who’ve learned to use it in so many different ways. From unique keychains to wood and resin river tables and other home decor, there are so many project ideas you can bring to life. But if you’re new to resin, the first challenge isn’t deciding what to make–it’s choosing the right type of resin.
Two common resin types are epoxy resin and UV resin, and while they may seem similar at first glance, there are significant differences between the two including how to use them, durability, curing time–even cost.
In this guide, I’ll break down the key differences between epoxy resin and UV resin to help you make the best decision for your craft goals. Let’s get into it and explore which resin is best fit for your future project ideas.
What is Epoxy Resin?
According to Wiki, epoxy resin, or polyepoxides, are a class of reactive polymers which contain epoxide groups. In short, it’s a two-part compound (resin and hardener) that when mixed together creates a thermo-reaction (gets really hot) and begins to solidify the longer it sits, known as the curing process.
It’s a great choice if you have a project that matches one of the following categories: large, dense, or wide surface area. For example creating or restoring table tops, pouring into thick molds like a crystal ball, or making serving trays.
Epoxy Pros & Cons
While epoxy might seem like quick answer for best resin, let’s get into the pros and cons of epoxy resin to help you narrow it down a bit more.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Durable | ❌ Pricey |
| ✅ Small and large projects | ❌ Longer cure time |
| ✅ Deep pour projects | ❌ Shorter work time |
| ✅ Clear & shiny finish | ❌ Messier clean up |
| ✅ No additional tools needed | ❌ Requires proper & thorough mixing |
What is UV Resin?
UV resin, or ultraviolet resin, is a photopolymer that hardens when exposed to light. Unlike epoxy resin, UV resin does not require the mixing of two parts. It comes in a single bottle that can be poured directly onto a surface or built up in thin layers and hardened with a UV light.
The best projects for UV resin are those that are smaller or thinner in size, such as a set of resin earrings or charms. It’s also useful for projects that just need a quick-set adhesive, as an alternative to superglue. For example, positioning or laying down items in a miniature set or scene.
UV Resin Pros & Cons
Below is a breakdown of pros and cons for UV resin as well, to compare.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Faster cure time | ❌ Less durable |
| ✅ Longer working time | ❌ Smaller projects |
| ✅ Cheaper | ❌ No deep pour projects |
| ✅ More forgiving | ❌ Tends to surface more bubbles |
| ✅ Good for touch-ups | ❌ Requires UV Light or Lamp |
Epoxy vs. UV Resin: Key Differences
Cure Time
While it fully depends on the size of your project, on average epoxy resin can set between 2-6 hours with a full cure between 24-72 hours.
On the other hand, UV resin begins to set immediately upon exposure from a UV lamp, UV flashlight, and even the sun. Depending on the brand, you can expect a full cure between 2-8 minutes of exposure.
Durability
When you’re looking for a project to stand the test of time with more wear, epoxy resin is your best choice. The properties in epoxy resin bond much tighter resulting in a more durable piece. This makes for a project that is more scratch-resistant, has a higher resistance to flexing or warping, and less likely to yellow overtime compared to UV resin.
Uses
I would recommend UV resin as a starter resin for small projects such as jewelry, keychains, charms, miniatures, games dice, or bookmarks–to name a few.
If you’re interested in creating projects that require a bit more durability such as coffee tables, coasters, sculptures, countertops, and other furniture, epoxy resin will be the way to go.
Cost Comparison
As to be expected with a resin that is much more durable and versatile, epoxy resin is a bit higher in price. On average, you can purchase a gallon of epoxy resin in the $40-$80 price range, with some known brands in the $90-$150 price range.
Not only does UV resin get a thumbs up for it’s usability, but it has a low-barrier to entry when looking to experiment with resin for the first time. You can find UV resin on Amazon sold in smaller quantities for around $12-$20. However, you would also need to factor in the cost of a UV light or lamp if you don’t already have one, which can range from around $20 to $50, depending on the wattage.
Which Resin is Best for Beginners?
Although one could argue that the best resin choice depends entirely on the project, I believe that, when comparing the two, UV resin is the better option for beginners for several reasons.
My recommendation for starting with UV resin comes primarily from its ease of use. I typically find that UV resins have a higher viscosity, making them less tricky to apply or pour. With this resin type, you have much more time to adjust or realign items in your project, such as flowers or trinkets, as long as they haven’t been exposed to UV light.
Plus, not only can you try this resin at a fraction of the cost, but when you’re just starting out, mistakes are more common, and errors are far less costly with UV resin.
Recap
To quickly recap what we’ve covered, while epoxy resin can be used for all project types, big or small, UV resin is solely best for small projects. Epoxy resin wins when it comes to durability, larger projects, and deeper pours, but loses when it comes to price point and ease-of-use.
This makes UV resin the best choice for beginners as it’s more forgiving, ideal for smaller starter projects, and can have a much faster turnaround thanks to it’s speedy curing time.
