Resin has always been on my list of intimidating crafts. I’m also incredibly lazy. Mix two bottles together? I ain’t got time for that! So I’ve avoided the stuff, even though I love the way resin jewelry looks. But I had a great first experience with Envirotex Jewelry Resin, and I’m no longer afraid (Cue triumphant music!). I tested Envirotex two ways; as a varnish and by filling bezels.
From the Environmental Technology Inc’s website:
Professional results are easy to achieve with EnviroTex® Jewelry Resin! This product adds depth and crystal clear clarity like no other. It visually enhances the surface on which it is applied, resulting in brighter, deeper and more intense colors. EnviroTex® Jewelry Resin has amazing bubble release. It is easy and fun to use and has a pleasing citrus scent! Formulated for high resistance to light exposure and UV rays from the sun. When cured, the resin coating is extremely durable, waterproof, heat & chemical resistant. EnviroTex® Jewelry Resin cures to a soft cure in 12 hours, medium cure in 24 hours and hard cure in 48 hours.
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Crystal Clear
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Heirloom Quality
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Professional Jeweler’s Grade
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Enough product to fill 20 large deep bezels
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One thick coat equals 50 coats of varnish!
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Instructions and tools included with kit.
About Envirotex Jewelry Resin:
- 2 oz
- Includes stir sticks and 2 1-oz mixing cups
- $9.25 on Amazon
All poured and ready to dry!
The instruction sheet was very detailed, and stressed that results really depend on how well instructions are followed. The ratio of resin and hardener is 1:1, and I took care to measure them perfectly.
After a few minutes of stirring, the mixture thickens slightly and is easy to paint or pour. I got all my pieces ready to go within the 25-minute working time, which was ample time to get things done.
Although it’s supposed to have a “pleasing citrus scent,” I noticed no odor at all from this resin, which I think is rare as I’ve heard they can be pretty stinky/chemical smelling. Hooray!
Fresh out of the mold.
I was pleased to see that the dried bezel pieces came out clear, not cloudy or yellow, and were nice and shiny as well. They looked just like some of the resin jewelry I’ve seen at stores, so that’s a good sign.
The glitter I used gave each of these pieces a slightly different shade.
Some of my inclusions sort of sunk to the bottom of the mold tray, but I think I could have avoided this by stirring the resin just before it started to really harden.
Super shiny and hard as a rock!
I also got a little bit of visible discoloration on the edges my paper images. Envirotex recommends two layers of glue before adding resin on top, but I may have not evenly applied.
Experimenting with different inclusions.
I’m impatient and a rebellious rule-breaker in the vein of James Dean, so of course I tried to pop the bezels out before the allotted 12 hours. Nothing doing. Apparently there are sprays available that you can coat your mold in to help this process, but patience is really the only supply needed here. (Hot tip that I learned from the internets: put your mold in the freezer for a few minutes; it’ll harden up the resin.)
I would definitely recommend this product to other resin beginners. My first-try results were pretty darn good, and my next few tries are going to be even better!
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Your projects came out beautifully. I don’t think I would have come up with the ideas of adding glitter and beads. You can now make your own ‘bling’!
I have recently tried a resin mixture as well. The one that I tried sets up in approximately 10 minutes, but BOY does it smell! I’m glad that you tried one and had such great success. ‘Small’ achievements do really make us so happy & brave, don’t they? The ONLY reason that I was brave enough to step into the resin arena was that I took a layering/embellishment class and one of the items she makes of her own are resin embellishments…..and the type she uses and recommends is the quick-dry type. I would NEVER have tried it under other circumstances such as an overnight dry time, not only because I am VERY impatient, but we have a 9 year old son, 3 CATS who would definately try to get into something like that, and one large dog who is my shadow.
Again, I am so glad you tried this and produced such wonderful items! PS my resin dries white rather than clear so it would not work for several of your intended projects. As always, you did a wonderful trial of the product. SCRAP ON!
Thanks for the great review! I have always wanted to try resin and have been afraid to but now I will give it a go! Thanks.
I was so happy to see this review! I am another one who keeps saying that I want to try resin but still haven’t. I had visited the website for this product and it did sound great but, of course, I wanted a non-biased review before buying! Thank you!
I have used it once and I must say I was impressed. Some if my bezels came out good and the others were so-so. I really like Enviro- TEX., as a matter of fact I have some setting beside my desk; just in case.
Hi there! All of this looks great 🙂 I’m also new to resin (to crafting period for that matter) and I was wondering how exactly you went about applying the resin to the pictures of the birds…
Hello, What can I use to cure my project for heat resistance? Thank you 🙂
How high of heat do you need to withstand? This is a product formulated for jewelry. 😉