Want to make your own ring to wear but don’t want to invest in expensive metal. No worries. I’m going to teach you how to make resin rings! (And once you learn how to make the first one, you will be eager to make more unique resin rings!)
Why make resin rings?
So, we already know why rings are fun to make. It’s one of the few pieces of jewelry you can wear and admire at the same time. But you may be wondering, what’s so unique about making resin rings?
A rainbow of colors at your fingertips
You can choose to color your resin anything you want! Whether you want an opaque resin ring or a transparent colored resin ring, you can make them all! Resin rings also look great when made with glitters, micas, flowers, and – well – most anything can color them!
Resin is affordable
For less than $100, you can get a beginner resin kit, a resin ring mold, and resin colors to make your ring. Try doing that by buying gold or silver metal plus the equipment you need to make it!
They are non-traditional
If you’re anything like me and shy away from the ‘mall jewelry store’ for something more adventurous, then you will love resin! Resin ring molds come in various shapes and sizes, which you can easily personalize however you want.
What supplies do you need to make resin rings?
Resin ring molds
Casting resin (if you’re using a mold)
Jewelry ring blanks
Doming resin (if you’re using a metal ring blank)
Mixing cups
Stirring utensils
Safety gloves
As a part of how to make a resin ring, you need a good resin crafting area. Your table needs to rest level (you don’t want your resin rings to be lopsided) and stay undisturbed the entire resin curing time. That means if you’re using the dinner table, it’s an excuse to go out! Plus, you want to cover your table with wax paper or freezer paper to protect it from resin spills.
What specific resin should you use for a project on how to make a resin ring?
You’re going to need one of two formulas, depending on what you are going to make.
If you’re using a mold, you want to use a hard-curing casting resin. Casting resins are specially formulated to release bubbles quickly, plus they won’t soften with body heat.
Best resin for ring molds
Resin Obsession super clear resin
Mix between ½ ounce and 3 ounces at once
25-minute working time
Cured to demold in 8 to 12 hours
If you’re using a resin jewelry blank to make your rings, you likely want to pour in layers and may want a raised finish. In that case, you want to use a doming resin. These produce a beautiful, raised dome on jewelry but shouldn’t be poured deeper than 1/8 inch at once.
Best resin for ring blanks
Resin Obsession crystal doming resin
Mix between 1 ounce and 1 gallon at once
Thirty to fifty-minute open time
Professional grade UV protectants
Now that you know what supplies you need, here’s how to make a resin ring using a mold.
Step 1: Prepare the mold
For this resin ring, I’m using a silicone ring mold. To prolong mold life and make sure my resin comes out easily, I applied a light mist of resin mold release an hour or so before mixing and pouring the resin.
Step 2: Measure
Determine how much resin you need to make this resin ring. If you don’t know, don’t worry. Our resin calculator does the math for you! Once you know the specific amount, do the math to decide how much resin and hardener you need to mix together.
While the calculator gives you an estimate, and you can always mix a little more. Have a few extra molds handy for things to do with your excess resin.
For this resin ring, I’m using the Resin Obsession super clear resin. It cures hard, clear and the band won’t soften when you wear it. (Not all resins can do that!) I decided I needed about 20 milliliters total mixed for this project. Since the super clear resin combines two parts A to one part B, I measured 15 ml part A and 7.5 ml part B, which will make 22.5 ml.
Step 3: Mix
Pour both parts together and mix thoroughly. That includes scraping the sides of your cup and mixing utensil several times during the mixing process. If you don’t, your resin can cure with a sticky surface.
Continue to stir until the resin is clear and streak-free. This takes about 2 ½ to 3 minutes.
By the way, if you’ve never done this before, this article shows you more details on how to mix resin.
[OPTIONAL] Step 4: Color
If you’re going to use resin colors, now is the time to do it. Color your resin or keep it clear. It’s your ring, so do it your way!
I used gold glitter to color my resin. You can never go wrong with glitter.
Step 5: Pour
Now that your resin is mixed pour it into your mold. It will start curing in a few minutes, so you want to get it used before it starts to thicken. The thicker it gets, the harder it is to remove bubbles.
Step 6: Remove bubbles
Speaking of bubbles, go over the surface of your mold with a heat gun to get rid of any. Then, check again in 15 and 30 minutes as bubbles have a way of sneaking up on you.
Once you’re sure your project is bubble-free, cover it with a dome and leave it to cure for the next 12 to 24 hours.
Pro tip: Because this ring has a thin band, you will want to give it extra time to cure. Make sure your resin stays warm for an extra couple of days, and that will give your ring time to get extra hard and remain durable when you wear it.
Step 7: Demold
Once the resin is fully dry, it’s time for the (oddly satisfying) process of demolding. If you haven’t done this before, you don’t have to worry. It’s not difficult at all! Simply peel the mold away from the ring while holding onto a ring edge. Your resin ring should peel out easily.
Step 8: Finish
Your resin ring might have a sharp edge or a point that feels uncomfortable. You can sand resin with a nail file or wet/dry sandpaper. If it isn’t glossy enough for your liking, you can polish the resin too.
Step 9: Wear
Here’s the best part of how to make a resin ring. Wearing it!
Where will you wear your resin ring?
Want to try making resin rings but want more help getting started?
It’s why I wrote my eBook, Resin Fundamentals. I’ve condensed my almost fifteen years of resin experience into an easy-to-follow book sharing the essential details you need to make something beautiful from day one. Buy now, and it’s yours to read in minutes!
Unpublished Blog Posts of Resin Obsession, LLC © 2021 Resin Obsession, LLC
