First steps... part 3
Coating polymer clay with UV resin
Once everything was baked, I wanted to give my pieces a nice, glossy finish. But as a complete newbie to the world of polymer clay, I wasn’t fully stocked up on all the proper supplies just yet.
So, I decided to try using UV nail polish to cover my pendants.
Let’s just say… that turned out to be a mistake.
Although everything looked really nice at first, after a couple of days I noticed the UV nail polish coat started to flake off. It was so frustrating!
In the end, I had to remove the entire layer. Whatever wouldn’t peel off, I carefully sanded down until the surface was clean again. Not exactly the fun finishing touch I had in mind.
My very next purchase was UV resin—and I have to say, it’s brilliant! It gave my pieces that smooth, glassy finish I was aiming for. But, like with everything new, I learned a few things along the way.
Even though it’s called “UV resin” (which makes it sound like it only cures under a UV lamp), it will still start to harden if left out in daylight. I learned this the hard way when I used a small brush to apply it to my clay pieces. I left the brush sitting out for maybe 30 minutes, and the resin on it had already started to set.
That’s why I’ve since switched to using a wooden stick to apply the resin instead of a brush. It’s much easier to control, and I don’t have to worry about accidentally ruining a brush if I forget to clean it right away.
Another reason I ditched the brush? It was leaving tiny air bubbles in the resin as I applied it, which wasn’t the look I was going for. The wooden stick gives me more precision and a smoother finish—plus it’s disposable, so no stress if the resin starts to set on it.
I’m really happy with how well the UV resin worked out. For larger projects, I think epoxy resin might be a better (and more cost-effective) option. But for smaller pieces—like a few pendants or earrings—UV resin is perfect, especially when you’re working on one piece at a time and want a quick cure.
And just like that… my polymer clay pendants and earrings are ready!
