Epoxy v’s UV Resin pros and cons and what would suit your business better. When I first started, I didn’t know about UV resin so I worked exclusively with epoxy resin for almost a year and got very ill. Hopefully this blog will explain why I only use UV resin these days and still would even if I weren’t allergic to epoxy. We sell both kinds here at Keepsaker Supplies, Little Windows Epoxy Resin and UV Resin.

Epoxy v’s UV Resin

Both epoxy and UV resin can be used for keepsake jewellery making. Both work whether you’re doing a direct pour (filled setting) or making pieces in a mould. For more info on the pros and cons of filled v’s rubover cabochons see my blog here. You can use either to build up layers in a setting or mould, although you’ll need a water-clear mould like ours here for UV resin.

Here’s an example of how to use UV resin to make a cabochon with cremation ashes in minutes:

Epoxy v’s UV Resin Pros and Cons

Here’s a little table showing the pros and cons of epoxy v’s UV resin. Please note, both kinds of resin can overheat if poured too thick but with epoxy that’s usually a thicker depth. However, if you want to add another layer to UV resin you only have to wait 20 to 99 seconds for it to cure then a couple of minutes for it to cool before you can do another layer. Pro tip: put the pieces on an old tile to cool them faster!

 

	Epoxy Resin	UV Resin
pros	Use any mould, opaque, translucent or water clear	You can make a cabochon and check your client’s happy with the colour, if not you can make another one and check again quickly
pros	May be less prone to yellowing	Use exactly what you need with no wastage, making it more eco friendly
pros	You will usually get a perfectly shiny, unsticky finish	Pieces ready in minutes, perfect if you’re working on urgent pieces or correcting mistakes
pros	Inexpensive for volume but can work out pricier with wastage	The perfect consistency, which helps avoid ashes etc sinking
pros	–	Fewer recorded cases of allergic reactions and breathing issues but please still wear PPE
pros	–	No need to weigh and mix, ready instantly
pros	–	No time limit to use before the resin cures. Avoid UV light and it stays liquid until you’re ready to cure
cons	Usually wasteful even if you mix up small amounts, worse for the environment	You need to use a water-clear mould so the light can penetrate
cons	Pieces can take days and even weeks to cure, bad if you’re working to a deadline or an urgent piece	May be more prone to yellowing if the resin care instructions aren’t followed
cons	Can be tricky to get the right consistency so elements like ashes tend to sink in the mould. Setting an alarm to go back when the resin is Marmite consistency can help	More prone to stickiness if the curing instructions aren’t followed, it’s not allowed to cool or it’s not cured long enough
cons	More difficult to dome, if you leave it the resin may leak over the edge	A little pricier than epoxy, although you use less so can work out cheaper. We sell wholesale volume bottles of 200g here to refill smaller bottles
cons	Can cause awful reactions, contact dermatitis and breathing issues	–
cons	Time consuming to mix then resin must be used before it cures	–
cons	Resin must be used before it starts to cure or it’s too thick to pour, time window varies depending on brand and temperature	–

In conclusion, although there are benefits to both, I much prefer using UV resin with the added bonus that it doesn’t give me horrific side effects! I make and sell moulds suitable for both epoxy and UV resin, and compatible settings, and I’m working on more all the time. Epoxy v’s UV Resin is a topic that comes up in our breastmilk and memorial jewellery group regularly! Let me know in the comments below which one you prefer.

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Spellings – this blog is written in the United Kingdom so my spelling is in English. I’ll try to add alternatives after but our spelling of jewellery is correct here.  Mould (UK) mold (US).

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Epoxy v’s UV Resin for making keepsake, memorial and breastmilk jewellery. You can read my blog series on making breastmilk jewellery here, making cremation ashes jewellery here and making lock of hair and fur jewellery. Working with ashes is similar to working with sand, or dried crushed umbilical cord or placenta so the advice is pretty much the same for those.