What to Do When Your Resin Jewelry Won’t Cure

What happens when your resin won’t cure? Julie Sanford is here to help. As many jewelers have discovered, it doesn’t work to let sticky resin cure longer or to put it on a hot plate. The only thing that can cure uncurable epoxy resin is to start over. Following Julie’s advice, you might be able to rescue your project and use it again.

Julie shares some tips for using resin with stone chips and other inclusions, including the most common culprit for why your resin won’t cure. Be sure to wear safety glasses and take safety precautions such as working in a well-ventilated room.

Check out Julie’s tip in this quick video that’s a sneak peek at what you will learn in her new Artful Metalsmithing video workshop collection.

Aren’t those great tips? You’ll learn so much more in the full video about stone chip inlay, as well as in the complete workshop series.

Rescuing Resin that Won’t Cure

If your uncured epoxy resin is sticky like caramel, you can use a wooden tool such as an orange stick to dig out the resin and stone chips or other inclusions. This makes it possible to reuse your metal pendant. If the resin is sticky but too hard to remove, you can put it on a hot plate and let it get a little softer. To clean it up once you’ve removed the epoxy, use rubbing alcohol.

Troubleshooting Resin Jewelry Making

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The most common reason resin won’t cure is that you didn’t mix equal parts thoroughly. Take care to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and mix the parts completely. Many resin jewelry makers recommend working on a silicone mat or in a small disposable cup.

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Stir the resin and hardener thoroughly but gently to combine it. Use a slow, steady stirring motion to minimize the introduction of air bubbles. If you do get bubbles, warm the surface with a heat gun to bring them to the surface.

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Resin curing can be influenced by temperature and humidity. Follow the recommended temperature and humidity range provided by the resin manufacturer. Extremely cold or humid conditions can affect the curing process.

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Some resin has limitations on the thickness of layers that will cure properly. Consider pouring layers in multiple stages, allowing each layer to cure before adding more. This is the best method for working with very deep bezels or transparent jewelry with botanical inclusions.

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Resin curing times varies depending on the type of resin and other factors. Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s instructions and obey the expiration date. Old resin might be yellow, not cure properly, or be affected by moisture.

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Some jewelers recommend covering the resin as it cures to prevent dust and debris from becoming part of your resin jewelry. Allow the resin ample time to cure fully before handling the final piece.

Be patient, and take notes when you find a process that works!