What is Resin?
Posted by Leah on Jan 22, 2007
If you’ve clicked through the gallery section of my website, you’ve seen some samples of my resin jewelry. Before I started working with resin, I didn’t really know what it was, so I’m guessing there are lots of people out there who are also wondering.
Most of the resin products used in jewelry making are two-part epoxy resins. In plain english, two tubes of somewhat thick, gooey liquids that are mixed together (following the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully). After a while (24-48 hours for the product I use, but it will vary by brand), the mixed resin becomes a hard, durable plastic.
There are many two-part resin products on the market, and they all have slightly different characteristics. Some will dry clear; others come in just about any color you can imagine, both transparent and opaque. The mixing ratios also vary, so while one resin requires mixing an equal amount of both parts, others will require a lot of one and as little as a drop or two of the other. Some are designed to be cast in molds, and others to be applied to surfaces as decoration or to cover and protect an image.
Resin is a fun thing to use in jewelry making because it allows the designer to embed all kinds of found objects, including delicate materials like paper. However, fumes from resin can be toxic, so it’s important to use good ventilation and ideally wear a respirator when working with resin. Some resin products can be harmful to skin in their liquid state, so gloves should be worn when working with them. The manufacturer’s instructions should include any necessary safety precautions.
Jewelry made with resin is fairly durable and easy to repair. Some resins will yellow slightly over time, but many products available today will stay crystal-clear.
