Making your own epoxy resin can be a difficult task. But it’s also a bit of a gamble, especially since many of the products used in DIY epoxy resin are highly toxic.
If you want to avoid the less safe options out there, or if you just don’t have the time to mix up your own batch, then you might want to consider using one of these two options instead:
- Polyester Resin: This type of resin is used most frequently in home and craft projects. It comes in two main forms: liquid and powder. The liquid form is generally considered safer than the powdered version because it creates fewer fumes when applied outdoors or indoors.
- Acrylic Resin: Acrylic resins are another common alternative for home and craft projects. They come as either a water-based solution that can be sprayed on or wiped away with absorbent cloth; or an oil-based solution that must be rubbed away with plastic wrap before painting over top of it (if needed).
What can be used instead of epoxy resin?
While not a direct substitute for epoxy resin, polyester resin is another type of resin that you can use. This type of resin takes much longer to dry; it dries completely in 3 days or less, while epoxy resin takes up to 24 hours or more.
Polyester resins are generally cheaper than epoxy resins and are great for making models, jewelry, and sculptures.
Other alternatives include acrylic resin, polyurethane resins, wood glue (as long as it is compatible with your application), polyurethane foam, clear nail polish, and epoxy paint.
PVA glue can be used for most applications as well. If you want to fill in gaps between pieces of wood without using any color then the best option would be to use regular wood filler for the job.
Table of Contents
- What can be used instead of epoxy resin?
- What can I use instead of epoxy resin on tumblers?
- What can I use instead of clear resin?
- Can you use clear glue as resin?
- How do you seal cups without epoxy?
- Can you use Modge podge as resin?
- Can I use clear nail polish instead of resin?
- Can you use hot glue as a resin mold?
- Can you use Elmer’s glue as resin?
What can I use instead of epoxy resin on tumblers?
If you are a DIY enthusiast, you would have surely come across the term epoxy resin while browsing projects to try out.
Epoxy resin is a type of plastic that forms a hard durable and crystal clear layer when it dries up. This makes it an ideal material for making jewelry, decorating tumblers, and even creating tables!
However, not everyone likes working with epoxy as they find it hard to measure and pour in the correct amounts. So, what can be used instead of epoxy resin? Here is a list I have compiled for you:
1 Use a Glue Gun
2 Use Mod Podge
3 Use Nail Polish
4 Use Superglue
5 Use Clear Nail Polish or Topcoat
6 Use Hot Glue
7 Use Epoxy Glue or Contact Cement
8 Try Gorilla Glue or Silicone Sealant instead of Epoxy Resin
9 Clear Epoxies are the best if you want to avoid using Epoxies
10 Clear School Glues
What can I use instead of clear resin?
There is not really any material that can fully replace epoxy resin.
If you do a little bit of research on the internet you will find different materials that are described as “resin substitutes”, but they are more like alternatives to epoxy resin.
The reason for this is that most people assume that the term “resin” refers to a very specific type of material, namely Epoxy Resin (Epoxide Resin), which is used primarily in the production of coatings and laminates (see Wikipedia).
This misconception arises because epoxy resin was the first synthetic resin to be used industrially and has been well known since the early 20th century. For this reason, different resins were given their own names:
Polyester Resin, which is usually used for casting or for repairs on polyester boats etc., is also often referred to as “Resin” – but it should actually be called polyester.
In layman’s terms, however, polyester resin can often just be called “resin”. No one knows what you mean when you say things like “epoxidized bisphenol A oligomer”.
For example, when buying a new surfboard at your local surf shop or having your old surfboard repaired by a shaper, he will rarely ask if you want an epoxy board or a rigid polyurethane board – he simply asks if you want an “epoxy board” or a “PU board”.
Can you use clear glue as resin?
If you’re wondering if clear glue can be used as resin, the quick answer is yes. In fact, you could even use Elmer’s glue to achieve a similar effect.
That being said, there are pros and cons to using clear glue instead of resin. For starters, clear glue might yellow over time and give a cloudy appearance to your pieces.
Glue is also less durable than resin, so the pieces will likely not last as long. Additionally, if you plan on selling your work, it’s important to note that most people would not consider a product created with glue as genuine resin jewelry since it’s not “true” epoxy resin (the chemical compound).
If you’re just looking for a cheaper alternative to resin or are just starting off in this hobby and want something fun to experiment with without making too big of investment yet — go for it! To get started use clear glue in place of epoxy resin first make sure that your piece is compatible with the adhesive (i.e., made from plastic or wood).
You should also use sealant paint along with your clear glue (in other words don’t use both at once) and make sure the surface is smooth before applying anything on top of it. And then have fun!
How do you seal cups without epoxy?
To seal cups without epoxy, you can use:
- Mod Podge
- An acrylic sealer
- Nail polish
- Spray varnish
- A clear coat
- Enamel paint
Can you use Modge podge as resin?
Mod Podge and epoxy resin are not the same. However, you can use Mod Podge to seal the bottom of your cup so that it doesn’t leak. If you don’t have Mod Podge, you can use hairspray instead.
Hairspray does a pretty good job of sealing the bottom for a short amount of time.
It’s not as strong as epoxy but it works. The biggest problem with using hairspray is that it will yellow over time if exposed to sunlight.
Can I use clear nail polish instead of resin?
Do yourself a favor and toss out the idea of using clear nail polish as a substitute for resin. Unfortunately, it’s neither the right kind of adhesive nor is it the perfect medium to coat your creation with.
Clear nail polish isn’t waterproof, so while it may work well if you live in a dry climate, it’s not ideal for coastal homes or places with more than one cup of coffee spilled on your tabletop per year.
It also doesn’t hold up well to heat and sunlight, so if you’re going to put your project near windows or in direct sunlight, that’s also a no-go.
Even if you plan on keeping your piece inside or somewhere shaded, there are other issues with clear nail polish that make it less than ideal for resin projects:
- Clear nail polish isn’t completely clear—it has an unnatural yellowish hue that makes anything you cover with it look like something from a trashy ’90s sitcom.
- It takes forever to dry. It stays wet for many hours before drying completely, which means holding still until the project is finished (or putting off eating) unless you want to ruin everything with one wrong move.
- Clear nail polish has a strong chemical smell which can be very unpleasant in small spaces—so much so that I don’t let my children near me when I’m using it!
Can you use hot glue as a resin mold?
In short, hot glue is not a good material to use as a mold for resin. Here’s why: It doesn’t have the same properties as other mold making materials.
This is because it has an extremely high melting point and is generally difficult to remove from the resin once set.
The reason why hot glue isn’t a good mold for resin jewelry crafting is that it has an extremely high melting point (well over 400 degrees).
In addition to that, when you’re trying to remove your cast item from its mold, any heat you produce will cause the hot glue to melt and possibly even burn.
Can you use Elmer’s glue as resin?
The short answer is no. Elmer’s glue is not a good substitute for resin. There are many reasons why this is the case, but the most important one is that epoxy resin has different chemical properties than Elmer’s glue, making it a far superior craft material.
It’s also toxic and emits fumes as it cures which can be harmful to your health. In addition, it dries weak and soft, so it isn’t waterproof or durable in any way.
It also leaves cloudy residue on your project, which means you can’t add pretty effects like glitter or color with the same level of opaqueness as epoxy resin would provide.
And lastly, it doesn’t cure correctly and may remain sticky rather than fully harden like epoxy resin does when left to cure at room temperature.
Conclusion
That is how you can replace your epoxy resin with a different product.
Your idea of the best replacement for epoxy resin may be different from mine, but that’s great. There are many factors to consider when deciding which replacement product is best for you, including cost, longevity, and the environment.
Hopefully, this article helped you decide what to use instead of epoxy resin and gave you an understanding of why each works as a replacement.
Know someone else who needs help choosing an alternative to their epoxy resin? Let them know about this blog post.
