Can You Use Glue Instead Of Resin? Cheaper Alternative or Bad Idea?

Resin has been used for industrial purposes for many years. It’s most commonly used to make as a coating substance for furniture to make it easier to clean and more recently DIY crafters started using it to make casting molds for jewelry, keychains, and other items.

However, resin is considered too expensive which is why crafters often seek cheaper and more accessible alternatives.

So, can you use glue as resin? You can use glue as resin when it comes to making repairs or as a protective coating. That is because glue forms strong bonds with multiple surfaces and dries clear. Glue is also cheaper and more accessible than resin. However, keep in mind that resin is harder and more durable than glue, so it’s best to use glue instead of resin for small projects.

Keep reading to learn more about how resin is made and what it’s used for as well as the alternatives you can use instead of resin.

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How Is Resin Made?

Resin is a synthetic material that’s packaged and sold in a liquid form then it can harden into a form of plastic to be used for multiple purposes.

It’s made by heating a large amount of crude oil to break into smaller hydrocarbon molecules called monomers. The created monomers include ethylene and propylene which are put through a different chemical process where they’re combined into polymers to finally produce resin.

Other chemical substances and dyes are added to the resin to give it different properties depending on what it will be used for.

As for Glue, you can learn what is glue made of and how it’s made here.

What Is Resin Used for?

Resin is a highly versatile substance as it can be used for a multitude of purposes.

It is commonly used as a protective coating substance for floors and countertops as it’s extremely strong and durable. It can also be used for repairs as it’s an excellent adhesive and to make casting molds for jewelry, figurines, keychains, and other craft projects.

What Is the Difference between Epoxy Resin and Other Kinds of Resin?

Different types of resin are made with varying degrees of strength and durability. Epoxy resin is considered the strongest kind of resin because it has been designed to withstand all kinds of intense pressures making it suitable for a wider range of uses.

Here are some of the differences between Epoxy resin and other kinds of resin:

Epoxy resin has a more viscous consistency compared to other kinds of resin.
Epoxy resin is much more durable than other kinds of resin. It also dries or cures at a much faster rate than other kinds of resin.
Epoxy resin is meant for coating applications while other kinds of resins are more ideal for casting applications such as molds for figurines or jewelry. You can still use any kind of resin outside of its intended purposes, however, the results won’t always be favorable.
Epoxy resin is significantly more expensive than other types of resins. That is because the raw materials required to make it cost a lot more and the process of the production is more complicated.

What’s the Difference Between Glue and Resin?

Both glue and resin function as an adhesive substances and they produce a fast-drying and powerful bond between various kinds of surfaces. The main difference between them is the way they cure.

Glue is made from a base adhesive substance that dries and hardens when the glue is exposed to air. Resin, on the other hand, needs to be mixed with a hardening substance to create a reaction that will cause the resin to dry.