Epoxy resin is a popular choice for a variety of projects due to its durability and non-porous nature. From sealing floors and countertops to creating jewelry and art, epoxy resin is a great option for many applications. While it comes in a wide range of colors, you can't pick and choose which ones you want, so you may end up with some pigments that you don't like. However, this mixture is designed to be crystal clear.
Dr. Crafty's offer is great, but if you don't need a whole gallon of epoxy resin, there's a smaller package that will still give you plenty of uses. This kit contains 14 oz bottles for a total of 32 oz. You'll also get stir sticks, mixing cups, and a straightener to help you get an even surface on your flat sealing projects.
If you need something that's impact-resistant, Resin Obsession Super Clear Epoxy Resin or Alumilite Amazing Casting Polyurethane Resin are good options. Make sure your mold is made with a shiny template so that your mold will come out shiny as well. Pro Marine Proart is also a great choice for artistic applications and epoxy jewelry. It has a good price-performance ratio and good color separation, making it ideal for beginners.
The kit includes epoxy, instructions, and project ideas. If you're looking for something that's food-safe, Alumilite Amazing Casting Polyurethane Resin complies with FDA 21 CFR 175.300 and can be used for food castings once fully cured after seven days. Keep in mind that this doesn't make your artwork dishwasher, microwave or oven safe. Alumilite also produces dyes, alcohol-based inks and other non-water-based dyes so you have plenty of pigments to choose from that are compatible with resin.
Polyurethane (PU) resin is one of the most versatile substrates in virtually every industry on the planet. You can find it molded into production facilities, packaging machinery, skateboard wheels, shopping cart wheels, and children's toys. It's not usually used in the consumer sector since its synthesis requires some technical knowledge and knowledge of the properties required for a given application. Silicone resin works similarly to epoxy resin; all you need to do is mix the silicone resin with its catalyst in the recommended proportion, mix it well and apply it to the object you want to replicate.
Marine resin (also known as polyester resin) has been used in marine vessel construction and insulation for years and can be used for occasional exposure to water but not bathing or swimming. This type of casting requires a deep pour resin because it has a thinner consistency which allows it to pour more without compromising the ability of the resin to cure properly. Pro Marine ProArt was developed with the aim of creating an easy-to-handle resin without toxic substances. It also limits its carbon footprint by using only solvents and other substances that are completely VOC-free. UV resin relies on UV light (either sunlight or a UV bulb) to act as a catalyst for the resin to harden instead of the resin and hardener reacting with each other to cure the resin to its hardened state.
You can buy this resin in two-bottle packages which include clear coating and casting resins so you can mix them together to create castings. To make the most of the advantages of different casting resins for your particular product, always follow the manufacturer's instructions on the mixing ratio as closely as possible. With all these options available, there's no reason why you can't make your own jewelry with epoxy resin.
