In this blog post, we take a look at a few of the fun and creative ways to get the most out of epoxy resin, for projects of any size.
But first: What is epoxy?
Epoxy resin is a clear, protective coating that can be applied to hard surfaces to safeguard them from scratches, dents, and environmental damage caused by sudden temperature shifts or high humidity.
Examples of this include large things like countertops, tables, and trays, as well as smaller items such as tumblers, coasters, and fine art or jewelry.
It's often distributed and sold as a two-part formula with two clear liquid components. When measured accurately and mixed together, these components merge and begin to harden through a heat producing chemical reaction, which is then poured onto an appropriate surface or container.
With proper attention, the curing process will complete over the course of 24 to 72 hours, resulting in a long-lasting, durable finish that's as clear as glass.
8 Creative Ways to Utilize Clear Epoxy Resin
Creative Way #1: Use epoxy to protect your furniture.
Epoxy resin is perfect for protecting wooden or metal furniture from natural elements along with the wear and tear of heavy usage. A clear coat of epoxy resin can seal your favorite wooden table from water stains or other liquids such as juice, wine, and soda. It will also preserve it from high humidity which can otherwise seep into wooden surfaces and cause them to warp or decay over time.
Additionally, epoxy resin is incredibly durable, making it difficult to scratch and allowing it to withstand high pressure impacts from dropped items like heavy glass dishes, making it an excellent choice for kitchen countertops and tables.
Aesthetically, epoxy will give any material it coats a glasslike sheen, embellishing the natural colors of the protected materials. It's also easy to clean—grime, residues, and spills are all easily wiped away using basic household supplies.
A smooth layer of epoxy resin can keep your furniture looking brand new for many years!
Creative Way #2: Create a customized vase.
With a little effort, you can customize a flower vase using clear epoxy resin. Because epoxy is naturally transparent, you'll be able to showcase any beautiful designs or attractive patterns present on a vase while enhancing its artistic features.
UltraClear Epoxy Resin is also waterproof, making it great for sealing a flower vase, even over a long period of time.
Not content with simply applying a clear layer to your vase? We've got you covered! Choose from a stunning array of premium epoxy pigments by Pigmently, then mix that choice into your resin batch to infuse your epoxy with vibrant, shimmering patterns.
Creative Way #3: Make resin jewelry.
The art of crafting resin jewelry has caught on big in the last 10 years. Use epoxy to make beautiful bracelets, resin bead necklaces, pendants, rings, and more.
This fun activity is a great way to explore the possibilities with epoxy resin. Many users then choose to sell their creations or gift them to friends and family as an expression of appreciation.
With resin jewelry, you can embed small items into clear epoxy such as glitter, dried pressed flowers, etc., or you can use mica powder colorants to make the epoxy itself the main attraction.
Because epoxy is so resilient, with resistance to impact, corrosion, and moisture, resin jewelry is an eye-catching conversation piece for many years.
Creative Way #4: Build an outdoor table.
Though epoxy can be used to bolster furniture that already exists, making your own epoxy table top can be an exciting venture as well.
Resin enthusiasts will often use our UltraClear Deep Pour Epoxy to build large table top epoxy pieces. Because our Deep Pour Epoxy can support singular 2-inch layers, which is a perfect size for a typical table. For extra protection, you can even give it a final topcoat of Table Top Epoxy.
After the resin table top piece has finished curing, you can set it into a table frame of your choice or simply attach suitable legs to complete the job.
Epoxy resin will brush off inclement weather like rain and hail, making it far easier to maintain than an outdoor wooden or metal table.
Creative Way #5: Design and make resin keychains.
With a small amount of epoxy and some silicone molds, you can make little resin keychains. Affix them to your car keys or a backpack for others can see when you're out and about!
Silicone molds are easy to clean and reuse, too, so keychains can be a great starter project to become familiar with epoxy resin.
You can also make multiple keychains and give them to people you care about. Personalize them with tokens of shared memories and past experiences to make a heartfelt gifts that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Creative Way #6: Craft your own unique holiday ornaments.
Not only can silicone molds make keychains, they can also make holiday ornaments!
With clear epoxy resin and some acrylic paints or resin dyes, you can design your own unique ornaments to decorate your home.
Bring joy to those around you with a spirited display of your own making!
Learn more about resin dyes in our epoxy colorants guide, then take a look at the Premium Resin Dyes by Pigmently that we offer in our store.
Creative Way #7: Decorate a tumbler.
Did you know that clear epoxy resin is great for decorating insulated metal tumblers?
Many DIY resin hobbyists use Mod Podge and glitter to give their metal tumblers a sparkling facade, then coat it with a thin layer of epoxy resin with the aid of a tumbler cup turner for seal it in.
With a little extra effort, you can also apply vinyl decals after a thin first layer, then seal those in, too, with a second epoxy layer.
Creative Way #8: Make one-of-a-kind epoxy coasters.
Resin coasters are perhaps one of the most beginner-friendly options available for newcomers to resin art. With adult supervision, they're an excellent way to introduce the concept to younger artists.
Epoxy resin coasters are typically made using silicone molds. They're easy to color using dyes or pigments, and easy to remove once the resin has cured.
With the right tools, more ambitious creators can make their own free form coasters with irregular shapes that can be fine-tuned and modified using resin sanding techniques.
Don't let your creativity be compromised.
When applied with proper care, epoxy resin should provide a strong, clear finish for the user—yet, many brands simply don't live up to these standards.
The reality is that many resin manufacturers produce subpar epoxy products by cutting corners on both quality and safety to provide a lower upfront cost. Rather than being honest about this, these dealers often employ deceptive advertising to present their products as something they're not.
Our free ebook, The Ugly Truth About Epoxy Resin: What Companies Don't Want You to Know, examines a number of the shady but common practices in the epoxy industry. Reading it can teach you what to look for and how to avoid false advertising.
Additional Resources
We hope you found some of these ideas interesting. Below we've included a few related resources that you may find of use.
- Epoxy: Proper storage, shelf life, and preventing "yellowing" - Our article on storing epoxy resin, whether sealed or opened.
- How to wash away resin and epoxy on your hands and skin - Our primer for staying safe by keeping your skin and hands clean and free of resin.
- Epoxy for beginners: Basic project tools and supplies - A guide we wrote explaining many of the things used in typical epoxy projects.
Have questions? Want advice? Contact us!
At UltraClear Epoxy, our #1 goal is to see you satisfied. If you have any questions or concerns regarding epoxy resin and related topics, please reach out to us—Our epoxy experts are ready to assist!
You can contact us via phone or email here. During business hours, you can also text chat online with a resin specialist by clicking the Help button at the bottom right of your screen.
