UV RESINCRAFT TROUBLESHOOTING 101

MY UV RESIN PIECE IS NOT CURING: 

• Items that are very darkly-tinted may not cure properly. If you’ve added a lot of opaque tint or other inclusions like glitter that are completely blocking the UV rays from reaching all parts of the piece, it will not cure.
• If you don’t have any parts blocking the light, perhaps try curing this in direct sunlight.
• In future pieces, try layering opaque or dark colors in thin layers and curing in between each layer.
• Do not use UV Resin in opaque silicone molds (like candy molds). UV Resin works in CLEAR silicone molds – dark molds will interfere with the cure and block the light.

MY UV RESIN PIECE REMAINS TACKY ON THE OUTSIDE:

• This is common, depending on the humidity, weather, cure times and curing methods. The best solution we have found is to cure for a few minutes in direct sunlight. This seems to remove any remaining surface tackiness.

I OVERFILLED MY MOLD OR BEZEL:

• Clean up excess UV Resin with a damp paper towel. Use a wood stick to scoop out excess UV Resin while it is still wet.

I UNDER-FILLED MY MOLD OR BEZEL:

• This is actually a good thing – UV Resin works best when it is layered. Add another layer to the top of your piece to fill out the shape.

MY PIECE HAS ROUGH EDGES:

• There are several ways to correct this. First, remove any excess Resin or “flash” by snapping it off. You can also use a tool like side nippers / wire cutters to snip off the excess cured Resin. In many cases this will fix the problem.
• Alternately, use a WET emery board / nail file or sandpaper that has been dampened to sand off any sharp edges. Sanding wet is important as it will cut down on the dust.
• Finally, if there are still rough spots or cloudy spots, add more UV Resin on top and cure again to fill in low areas and restore the shine.

HOW DO I CREATE A HOLE ON MY UV RESIN PIECE:

• Use a hand drill or pin vise drill to drill out hole wherever you want them in your piece.

I HAVE A HOLE IN MY UV RESIN PIECE- HOW DO I GET RID OF IT:

• This can happen when you are using a silicone mold for a charm or pendant that has a hole at the top, but you don’t want a hole. Simply fill the hole with more UV Resin, or place an inclusion (a bead, small charm, or piece of confetti) strategically over the unwanted hole.

HOW DO I CORRECT CLOUDINESS ON THE OUTSIDE?

• The best way to create a glossy top coat is to use more UV Resin on the outside of your piece.

I GOT RESIN ON MY... (CLOTHES, WORK STATION, FINGERS, ETC)

• The best way to clean this up is to wipe it away BEFORE it is exposed to UV light! Clean up spills with a damp paper towel or baby wipe. Spills on porous surfaces like fabric or clothing will become permanent if cured onto the fabric. After cleaning up the spill, remove any excess residue with some rubbing alcohol or alcohol spray.