DIY Resin Phone Case Tutorial (How to Make Resin Phone Cases)

A phone case can protect your device from being damaged. And considering how costly phones can be, they’re certainly worth protecting. Besides, cases are a great way to make your device look stylish. There is one issue though!

Beautiful cases come at high prices, making some people choose to go caseless. Also, ready-made cases can be uninspiring and bland. To avoid these issues, why not learn how to make a DIY resin phone case for your device?

Surprisingly, making DIY resin cases is easier than you think. Not to forget that it allows you to customize your device at an affordable price.

If you’re a beginner, take it easy! In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about making resin cases. First, let’s see the benefits of these incredible pieces!

Supplies You’ll Need to Make an Epoxy Phone Case

Before you start crafting a phone case, gather the following items;

• Clear cellphone case
• Epoxy resin and hardener
• Disposable paint brushes
• Resin stir sticks
• Eyewear & protective gloves
• Embellishments (dried flowers, decoration stickers, glitters, etc.)
• Plastic measuring cups
• Silicone mat
• Cotton swab
• Utility knife

Preparation and General Tips to Follow

1. Wear Protective Equipment

Ensure you establish good safety processes when working with epoxy. First, make a habit of wearing gloves before you start the project. I always recommend the use of nitrile gloves when handling epoxy. That’s because they’re non-allergic and gentle to your skin.

Also, they are thicker and deliver superior protection. Another important safety precaution when handling epoxy is to wear safety goggles.

2. Cover the Work Surface

Use a water-resistant and non-absorbent material to cover the tabletop. The surface covering can be an affordable item like a plastic drop sheet or garbage bag. A silicone mat or a vinyl shower curtain will also be an excellent option.

3. Clean the Phone Case

Cell phone cases can carry grime, stains, dirt, and bacteria. So, before you start pouring epoxy resin, it’s important to clean it thoroughly. Fortunately, there are various techniques you can use to clean your phone case. For instance, you can simply use soapy water.

Alternatively, you can use baking soda to remove tough stains or alcohol to disinfect the phone case. Regardless of the approach you use, make sure your case is free from any contaminants. Once you’ve done that, dry it with a soft microfiber cloth and get ready to coat it with epoxy resin!

Steps for Making Epoxy Resin Phone Cases

1. Measure & Mix Epoxy

Measure equal amounts of hardener and resin and put them in a mixing cup. Try to make your measurements as precise as possible.

Now, use the mixing sticks to stir the solution in one direction. Keep stirring until the mixture looks clear. If you’d like to add glitters or pigments to the mixture, do it at this stage. Then continue stirring until the solution has a uniform color.

Put your mixture aside and leave it for about 10 minutes. This will allow bubbles trapped in the solution to move to the surface and pop.

2. Coat the Back of the Phone Case

Put the blank phone case on a silicone mat or wax paper. Epoxy resin doesn’t stick to the silicone or wax paper so this will protect the tabletop from any mess that spills while pouring. Drip some epoxy onto the back of the case. Then spread it uniformly with a stir stick to cover the outside of your phone case.

Don’t worry if some resin mixture goes over the edges as they’ll eventually be covered anyway. Dripping gives you more control as compared to pouring resin on the case. Leave the first coat to dry before you embed items or apply the final layer.

3. Add Decorative Items

Now comes the interesting part; embedding decorative items onto the DIY resin phone case! Remember, you can use any item of your choice. For instance, you can use glitter, dried flowers, or decorative stickers.

Once you’ve selected the ideal decorative item, position it on the back of your case. You can play around with various arrangements until you get the perfect layout. If you’re using smaller flowers, use tweezers to hold them.

4. Apply the Second Coat

After finding a layout you like, add more epoxy until the embedded items are fully covered. Some epoxy will flow over the sides. Use a stir stick to smooth out the resin while it’s still liquid. If resin gets to another unwanted area, use a cotton swab and nail polish remover to rub it off.

When the spillage stops, move your case to a clean surface. Leave the epoxy to gel!

After about 30 minutes, bubbles may start to rise to the surface. Gently pop those bubbles with a toothpick. Alternatively, you can move a heat gun or butane torch over the surface to pop the bubbles. Now, leave your case to cure overnight.

Also before you start ensure your butane torch is full before you start working you do not want to spend time refilling your torch with butane while your resin is curing with bubbles still in it.

5. Let it Cure

A resin phone case can take about 8 hours to set. However, you should give it more time to be on the safe side. Besides, the curing time will vary depending on various factors. These factors include room temperature, phone case material, and resin thickness.

If some decorative items haven’t been covered fully, add more epoxy and leave it to cure.

6. Polishing and Finishing

When your resin has hardened completely, use a utility knife to trim away any over-pour on the edges. Moreover, remove any drips that may be inside the case. Once that’s done, sand the back of your case with 240 to 1200-grit sandpaper. This will give your piece a smooth surface and edges.

As you sand, you start in the lower numbered papers and gradually work your way through the different grits each time you go up one grade of sandpaper you will remove scratch marks from the last grit paper.

Make sure not to skip a grit as doing this will leave scratch marks that are too deep for the sandpaper to remove.

Finish your piece with a polishing compound and a buffing wheel. This will give it a cleaner look and make it shiny.

7. Coat with Acrylic Sealer

To give your piece more durability, apply a clear acrylic sealer over its surface. Besides, this will help to seal the case further. Let the piece dry before you fix it on your mobile device.

Benefits of Making Resin Phone Cases

The epoxy resin forms a transparent, lightweight plastic material when it cures completely. More notably, it’s a highly valuable and versatile material. Some benefits these cases offer include;

1. Device Protection

Cured epoxy is exceptionally strong and a great impact absorber. This enables it to protect your device from chipping or cracking if the mobile drops. On top of that, dried resin exhibits incredible water resistance characteristics. For that, it will protect your device from solvents, oils, and other liquids.

Also read: Difference between UV Resin and Epoxy Resin

2. Durable & Long Lasting

An epoxy resin phone case is extremely durable and can withstand wear and tear to some extent. They can twist and bend without experiencing any structural damage. Also, you can easily wipe them down to get them new and shiny looking again.

3. Custom Style

Resin cases are more diverse and allow you to create various unique designs. As if that’s not enough, epoxy is easy to mold into different shapes. Therefore, you can easily create a custom case to fit any phone type and model.

Want to do a similar beginner project try your hand at making coasters.

Conclusion

If you follow the aforementioned steps carefully to avoid mistakes, you’ll love how your phone case turns out. Also, if you’ve more ideas, don’t hesitate to try them out. The epoxy allows you to get creative and personalize your pieces in any way.

Let me know if you have any thoughts or tips about epoxy phone cases in the comment section!

FAQs

1. Can you use epoxy to make a phone case?

Epoxy adheres to various surfaces including phone cases. So, yes, you can use it to make a cellphone case!

2. Do resin cases protect phones?

Yes! A resin case that covers the edges, back, and corners of your device will protect your phone. That’s because it absorbs impact in these areas when your phone is dropped.

3. Why do I need a resin phone case?

An epoxy case will protect your device from damage and extend its durability. Moreover, it protects your device from solvents and enhances its look.

4. Do resin cases affect the signal?

Epoxy cases don’t absorb a considerable amount of signal. However, like any other case, if its design blocks the internal antenna, it can cause signal loss.