Making Resin Art? Everything you need to know about RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy

RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy! This epoxy is available in our webshop. RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy is specially developed for creative Resin Art artists. In this article, you will find all the information about this epoxy that you can use to create the most creative works of art. What are the advantages? Which variant do you need for your project? And how do you use Resin Art Epoxy? Read it in this article!

What is resin?

Resin consists of crushed stone which is usually mixed with liquid synthetic resin. This mixing gives you a castable mixture. Ideal for pouring into a mould to make fun art. Exactly which resin you need depends on what you want to make. So take a good look at the properties to decide which resin to choose. In doubt? No problem, our specialists will help you quickly! Also check out the Resin  Resin Art starter pack, ideal for beginners.

What are the advantages of RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy?

Resin Art Epoxy has a number of advantages over other RESION epoxy resins, making it even easier to work with epoxy! For example, this casting resin has the following properties:

• Simple 2:1 mixing ratio.
• Highly UV-resistant.
• Highly transparent.
• Odourless.
• Adheres to almost all substrates (such as wood, concrete and plastics).
• Available in different types of viscosity.

What is the difference between Resin Art Epoxy and UV Epoxy Resin?

You might be wondering what the difference is between RESION Resin Art Epoxy and RESION UV Epoxy Resin, after all, the two epoxy resins are similar. In fact, both resins are transparent and very UV-stable, so you don't need a UV stabiliser for either epoxy. The main difference is in the mixing ratio. Resin Art Epoxy has a simple mixing ratio of 2:1, as opposed to the 100:60 mixing ratio of UV Epoxy Resin. This makes mixing even easier. In addition, Resin Art Epoxy is available in 3 different types of viscosity (low, medium and high), you can read more about this in the next section.

The table below shows the main properties of both epoxy resins:

What are the differences between epoxies (what are the differences in viscosity)?

RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy is available in three mates of viscosity: Low viscosity, Medium viscosity and High viscosity. Viscosity refers to the degree of viscosity (fluidity). So the lower the viscosity, the thinner the epoxy is and the higher the viscosity, the thicker the epoxy resin is. Note that epoxy with higher viscosity develops air bubbles faster.

Because of the difference in viscosity, each Resin Art Epoxy variant is suitable for a different application. In the video below, Leen explains the differences between the mates of viscosity. Below that, we briefly explain which epoxy to use for jewellery, paintings, geodes, orgonites and similar Resin Art applications.

RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy LV (Low Viscosity)

This is the epoxy with the lowest viscosity (of the three Resin Art epoxies) and is similar to RESION UV Epoxy in terms of fluidity. Due to its low viscosity, this casting resin is universally applicable and very suitable for casting in small moulds, such as moulds for jewellery and homemade moulds. You can also use this resin to make beautiful paintings and coasters! You just have to keep in mind that with lower-viscosity epoxy resins, pigments will blend together faster compared to higher-viscosity epoxy resins.

Applications:

• Jewellery
• Orgonites
• Paintings
• Coasters
• Homemade moulds

RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy MV (Medium Viscosity)

This epoxy has a thick fluidity similar to MasterCast. Due to its medium viscosity, it flows quite thickly, which makes this epoxy very suitable for casting paintings. Due to the thickness of the casting resin, pigments do not sink into the epoxy as easily and do not flow together as quickly. Resin Art Epoxy MV is therefore also very suitable when working with alcohol inks (such as Piñata). You can use a hair dryer or 'heat gun' to influence the placement of the pigments. Moreover, the medium-viscous epoxy is ideal for pouring over artworks such as paintings and canvas artworks.

Applications:

• Paintings
• Medium to large moulds

RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy HV (High Viscosity)

This last variant of RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy is the resin with the highest viscosity. This very thick resin is comparable in viscosity to food-grade epoxy (you can compare its viscosity to hair gel, for example). The very thick efflorescence makes this resin extremely suitable for making geodes, for example. The high viscosity allows you to place the epoxy very easily and the epoxy stays well where you apply it, so you can easily divide your artwork into different 'zones'. The high-viscosity epoxy, due to its thick fluidity, is a bit trickier to mix compared to other resins, though.

Applications:

• Geodes
• Finishing coat over other Resin Art

How do you use RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy?

Like the other RESION epoxy casting resins, this Resin Art Epoxy is also very easy to use. Due to the difference in viscosity, the applications may be different but the basic instructions are the same for all three variants. In doing so, follow the following steps:

Step 1. Check the packaging

Before you start weighing and mixing, check that you have received the right products. It is important that you have always received an A and a B component. Pay close attention to the codes on the bottles (see table below).

Step 2. Weighing out the epoxy

Once you have checked the packaging, you can proceed to weigh out the correct quantities. A big advantage of RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy is that it has a very simple 2:1 mixing ratio. This means that for every 100 grams of epoxy resin, you need to add 50 grams of hardener. Make sure that you always measure out by weight. To achieve a good end result, it is very important that you weigh the epoxy carefully. Too much or too little hardener can result in the epoxy not curing or partially curing (see also the video in this article). We therefore recommend always using a scale. This way, you can easily weigh out the right quantities in a mixing cup and proceed to the next step!

Step 3. Mixing using the 2-cup mixing method

You have now carefully weighed out the Resin Art Epoxy and you can now move on to mixing. Mixing is another important process when it comes to epoxy. If you don't mix the epoxy well enough, it can result in a poorly cured final result. This is why we recommend always using the 2-cup mixing method:

• Mix the components gently for 2 minutes with a mixing spatula (for large quantities of epoxy, we recommend using a spiral mixer).
• While mixing, scrape well along the edges and bottom of the cup.
• After mixing, pour the epoxy into a new mixing cup and then mix well again for at least 1 minute.

In the video below, Arne explains all about mixing epoxy and shows how the epoxy cures if weighed or mixed incorrectly. 

Step 4. Processing the epoxy

After all the epoxy has been properly weighed and mixed, you can add pigment (if necessary) and start processing the epoxy for your application. At a temperature of about 20°C, you will have a processing time of about 30 to 60 minutes.

Step 5. Let the epoxy cure

After processing the RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy, you need to let it cure for about 12 to 18 hours before it is manageable. After about 3 to 5 days, the epoxy is fully cured!

More information about epoxy?

In the article above, you were able to read about the differences between the RESION UV Resin Art epoxy resins and we explained how to properly process the epoxy. You can easily order the RESION UV Resin Art epoxies at Polyestershoppen.com. Is the product in stock and do you order before 5 PM Dutch time? Then the epoxy casting resin will be shipped the same day! 

Do you still have questions about RESION UV Resin Art Epoxy (or other products) after reading this article? If so, feel free to contact our customer service team. Our specialists will be happy to provide tips and advice for your project. You can get in touch by calling +31850220090, sending an e-mail to support@polyestershoppen.com or using our live chat.