# Best UV resin for coating polymer clay and air dry clay Source: https://resinandmold.com/best/best-uv-resin-for-polymer-clay Publisher: Resin and Mold. Picks are chosen from what each Amazon listing states, not from hands-on tests. Method: https://resinandmold.com/how-we-pick A coat of UV resin gives baked polymer clay or fully dry air dry clay a glossy, hard surface in minutes, but the bottles differ more than their labels suggest. Viscosity decides how the resin behaves: thicker resin stays put and domes on a flat charm, thinner resin brushes out and runs into texture. The listings here state figures from 500 to 2000 cps, and several state none. Bottle size matters too, because a coat on earrings uses very little and UV resin is sold by weight, from 10 g brush bottles to 300 g bottles. This guide compares seven resins by what their listings state: weight, hard type, viscosity, cure time and any tack-free or yellowing claims. Nobody here tested them. The method is the same for all: wipe the finished piece with isopropyl alcohol, apply a thin coat, cure under a 365 to 405 nm lamp, and wipe off any tacky film with alcohol after the last layer. ## Picks ### 1. KISREL UV Resin 300g, Hard Type UV Resin Kit for Craft Jewelry Making Weight: 300 g; Type: Hard; Viscosity: not stated; Cure time: 1-3 min with 36 W lamp A 300 g bottle of hard type UV resin sold for jewelry making. The listing states a 1 to 3 minute cure under a 36W UV lamp and a hard, non-stick surface after curing. What the listing offers: - Names the lamp and the time: 1 to 3 minutes of curing under a 36W UV lamp. - The listing states the cured piece is hard, non-stick and crystal clear, with a reduced odor formula. - Described as self-leveling, and the listing says mica powder, colorants, glitter and sequins can be mixed in. Limits to know: - No viscosity or hardness figure is given, so there is no number to compare with the 2000 cps resins. - The listing advises not touching a piece right after curing, until it has cooled, to avoid leaving fingerprints. ### 2. Coating UV Resin Gloss Set with Brush Weight: 2 x 10 g (10 ml each); Type: Coating, gloss + matte; Viscosity: 1800 cP and 500 cP; Cure time: not stated A brush-cap coating set: one gloss and one matte bottle of UV craft resin, 10 g each. The only listing in this guide that names clay, so it suits glazing a few clay charms rather than casting. What the listing offers: - Each 10 ml (10 g) bottle has a brush cap, so the resin goes on like a glaze without a separate brush. - The listing names clay among its surfaces, along with tumblers, jewelry, wood, paper, glass and dried flowers. - Figures are stated: viscosity 1800 cP with hardness 83 +/- 3D and shrinkage under 3 percent, and 500 cP with hardness 70 +/- 3D. Limits to know: - Two 10 g bottles is a very small amount, the smallest pack in this guide by a wide margin. - No cure time or lamp wattage is stated, and the listing does not say clearly which figures belong to the matte bottle. ### 3. Bsrezn 100g UV Resin Hard, Crystal Clear Premixed Resin for Jewelry Making and Crafting (100g) Weight: 100 g (3.5 oz); Type: Hard; Viscosity: 2000 cps; Cure time: not stated A 100 g bottle of premixed hard UV resin. The listing names protective coating as a use and states 2000 cps viscosity and 85D hardness, a modest size for a first try on clay. What the listing offers: - The listing names protective coating and small jewelry such as earrings and pendants among its uses. - States a shrinkage rate under 2 percent and a hardness rating of 85D, with a yellow-resistant finish. - Viscosity is stated as 2000 cps, described as low and self-degassing for thin, even layers. Limits to know: - No cure time or lamp wattage is stated in the listing. - No brush applicator is mentioned, and clay is not named among the uses. ### 4. LET'S RESIN UV Resin, 300g Hard Resin Kit for Craft, Casting, Silicone Mold Weight: 300 g; Type: Hard; Viscosity: 2000 cps; Cure time: Minutes (lamp not stated) A 300 g hard UV resin for casting and silicone molds. The listing states a low viscosity of 2000 cps, shrinkage under 2 percent and curing with UV light in minutes, without naming a lamp. What the listing offers: - Viscosity is stated at 2000 cps, and the listing says it flows smoothly into tiny molds. - Less than 2 percent shrinkage is stated, and resin earrings are named among the uses. - The listing describes a low odor formula with enhanced anti-yellowing properties, as the maker's claim. Limits to know: - Cure time is given only as minutes, and no lamp wattage or wavelength is named. - High hardness is claimed without a Shore figure, unlike the two 85D listings in this guide. ### 5. Resiners UV Resin 100g, Low Viscosity Crystal Clear for Crafts & Molds Weight: 100 g; Type: not stated; Viscosity: 1500 cps at 25 C; Cure time: not stated A 100 g bottle of thin UV resin with a stated viscosity of 1500 cps at 25 C, the lowest figure among the full-size bottles in this guide. A thin resin for a brushed coat on textured clay. What the listing offers: - Viscosity is stated as 1500 cps at 25 C, and the listing compares it with thicker 2000 cps resins. - States less than 2 percent shrinkage during curing, and scratch resistance. - States a low-odor formula with UV stabilizers for yellowing resistance. Limits to know: - The listing does not say hard or soft type, and gives no cure time or lamp wattage. - It is written for molds and small casts: clay and coating are not mentioned. ### 6. OSBANG Crystal Clear Hard UV Resin,100 g Fast Curing Formula Weight: 100 g; Type: Hard; Viscosity: not stated; Cure time: Minutes with 36 W lamp A 100 g bottle of hard UV resin. The listing says the formula was improved to reduce sticky and tacky surfaces and names coating as a use, the two points a clay coater looks for. What the listing offers: - The listing says the formula was improved to reduce sticky and tacky issues, with low shrinkage and yellowing resistance. - Names coating among its uses, next to jewelry making, casting and craft decorations. - States a cure in minutes with a 36 W UV lamp or sunlight, and notes that a darker added color means a longer cure. Limits to know: - No viscosity figure is stated, so it is unclear whether it domes or brushes out thin. - Cure time is given only as minutes with a 36 W lamp, without a number. ### 7. YIEHO 300g UV Resin Glue Crystal Clear, Hard UV Epoxy Resin for Crafting Weight: 300 g; Type: Hard; Viscosity: Low (no figure); Cure time: not stated A 300 g bottle of hard type UV resin. The listing names its ingredients, mentions a Safety Data Sheet and REACH requirements and describes low viscosity, but gives no cure time or lamp. What the listing offers: - The listing names the resin chemistry: bisphenol A epoxy acrylate, polyurethane acrylate and epoxy acrylate. - States that a Safety Data Sheet is available and that the ingredients meet REACH requirements. - Comes with a detailed instruction manual covering how to avoid bubbles and improve curing, per the listing. Limits to know: - No cure time, lamp wattage or wavelength is stated in the listing bullets. - Low viscosity and super hard are claimed with no cps or Shore figure to compare. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.