UV and UV-LED Lamps are all over the place, but not all are created equal when it comes to curing resin! When looking for a lamp that will cure your resin projects, you will want something that has the correct power/w, longer timer options, and provides good coverage (enough lights).
The first lamps I really fell in love with were MelodySusie lamps off Amazon. These lamps come in affordable versions, often have sales and coupons, and checked most of the boxes off for me. The lamp you choose should also fit your own personal budget and space requirements. If you are interested in a MelodySusie click here for this one on Amazon. Keep in mind, most nail lamps do not feature timers that surpass 90 seconds. This means you will have to manually restart the lamp after each 90 second interval, as needed.
Tip: Keep in mind, that when you purchase any of these lamps off Amazon or other major retailer websites, there will always be a chance that you don’t receive a good working model… seriously. So always check to see what the return/exchange window is PRIOR to making a purchase, and as soon as you get it, check to be sure that it is working properly. You should also do an unboxing/packing video to document anything that arrives broken or damaged.
How to Choose the Right Lamp
First, you need to check your UV Resin product for the suggested w and/or nm wavelength requirements and curing times.
I highly suggest NOT using Sunlight as your curing method.
Qiao Qiao DIY Resin Products all cure with a minimum 36w power for UV lamps, and 6-9w for UV-LED lamps. Padico also requires 36w, or 405nm wavelength. These are considered standard UV Resin curing requirements.
Select a lamp that has a large enough coverage area or “footprint” to meet your needs. Most resin eye making does not require much space. However, if you are planning to cure large resin projects with larger size molds, you may need to find a larger lamp. Most standard size lamps provide plenty of space.
If ordering a lamp from an overseas based website such as AliExpress, be sure the power cable cord will work for your area/region.
Now, select a lamp that is within your budget, but pay close attention to reviews to assess possible challenges. There is no such thing as a “perfect 5 star rated UV lamp”. A lot of times, it’s user error and/or individuals who are new to UV Resin, leaving negative reviews. Often they are doing something else that is influencing their individual results, and out of frustration, blame the lamp.
A UV Lamp Horror Story
I’ve had a long time to develop my own personal opinions regarding UV Lamps.
Equally, I’ve also experienced the harsh reality of neglecting replacement.
Let me tell you a quick story…
A customer of mine messaged me out of nowhere with photos showing a pair of resin eyes she had commissioned from me that started leaking uncured resin.
I was shocked, confused, and highly embarrassed. How could something like this happen? After years of resin eye making, this was a first – and I would do everything to ensure it was also the LAST!
I immediately refunded her (of course) and then ran to my studio and started looking at all the possible reasons that this could have happened. I immediately suspected my UV lamp, as it was approaching the 8 month mark.
I picked up the lamp and held it upside down so I could see the lights, I put on my UV light blocking glasses, and turned it on. I was shocked to see several of the lights were totally burned out and the lights that were working, did not appear to be as bright as they should.
I still wanted confirmation that this was the culprit for what happened, so I attempted to cast some resin bases. Using the same lamp, UV Resin, same mold, same timeframe, and my same tried and true method of casting in layers – I recreated the bases.
At first look, the bases seemed to have cured properly. However, I wasn’t satisfied, so I cut into one of the bases and discovered the there was still resin inside that was not fully curing. I had convinced myself at that point, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it was in fact the lamp.
After a couple weeks, this uncured resin would start to negatively affect the cured resin surrounding it, possibly causing a chemical reaction that would otherwise cause the eyes to degrade.
I use my UV lamp probably more than most, but I can’t say that my usage would rival that of a busy nail technician – and that is what these lamps are designed for! I don’t care how many resin eyes someone makes, as a handmade artist, there is no way you are going to be making enough to out-perform the usage of a fast paced nail studio. My lamp was barely over 7 months old, but needed to be replaced.
I’ve had lamps last as long as a year, with pretty much daily use, so this was a bit of a shock. They certainly don’t make things to last anymore, so I now check my lamp every day to ensure that it is working at 100% and replacing it as needed. Lesson LEARNED!
UV Resin Curing Lamp Suggestions
Please keep in mind, these are mere suggestions based on my own personal experience. You may or may not find that they meet your specific needs or criteria – however, it’s a really great place to start if you’ve never purchased one before.
I personally love the 2 sided curing lamps currently on the market. These lamps cure from both the top and bottom, as well as the sides. This is very helpful when casting eye bases using UV Resin, as it helps to penetrate the molds from all directions. There is a learning curve to these, but they work wonderfully and often come with timers that are more conducive for UV Resin curing.
Click here to view/purchase the JDiction 2 Sided UV Light for UV Resin
Click here to view/purchase the Let’s Resin 2 Sided UV Light for UV Resin
I personally think these two options are 2 of the best on the market for 2 sided UV light curing lamps. However, do your own research and remember that as long as you select a lamp that meets the curing criteria required for your UV Resin product (s) you should be just fine.
Click here to view other options available on Amazon for 2 Sided UV Light curing Lamps
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