Nothing is more enjoyable than drinking coffee or any beverage in your tumbler. To elevate the enjoyment, lots of people tend to customize their tumblers to their liking.
You can even add your name to the tumbler to let people know to whom it belongs. Whether you want to personalize your tumblers or customize them for commercial purposes, there is no other alternative to epoxy.
Besides the glitters and stickers, you can’t get the job done without epoxy. No, you can’t just buy a random glue and use it to customize the tumbler.
Those dollar store glues will ruin your glitter in no time. They are also not good at heat resistance. This is why we have hand-picked some of the finest epoxy for tumblers. Let’s see if they are worth the hype.
Best Epoxy for Tumblers
The epoxy for tumblers we have gathered over here can withstand high amounts of heat, provide UV ray protection for outdoor usage, and they won’t discolor over time.
Before you settle down for one, check them out to know which one suits your needs better.
1. ArtResin Epoxy Resin
If you are cautious about health when working with epoxy, this one’s for you. Is it all the epoxy provides? Let’s find out.
It’s not a surprise that you should be super careful when dealing with epoxy glue. No epoxy resin is non-toxic. So, why does this brand claim to be non-toxic?
It’s because ArtResin epoxy is non-toxic or food-safe once it cures properly. Once it dries up, you don’t have to worry about any health problems.
It is also very user-friendly. All you have to do is mix both the epoxy and the resin in a 1:1 ratio. After that, stir the mixture properly, and it will be ready to use. See? It’s very easy to apply.
Once you apply the epoxy on your tumbler, it will give you 40 to 45 minutes to change it however you like. As it gives you a big window to work with, your finished product will not have flaws.
As good as the “guarantee non-toxic” sounds, don’t get fooled by it. It’s purely a marketing term. No epoxy is not non-toxic until cured.
Every brand uses some marketing gimmicks to attract customers. If you are okay with this one, the ArtResin epoxy resin is surely one of the safest epoxies for tumblers.
Key features:
- With a mixing ratio of 1:1, this epoxy is very easy to mix and apply.
- Non-toxic and food are safe once it dries properly.
- Provides 45 minutes of working time after applying.
- The epoxy is non-flammable and has low VOC.
2. Art’ N Glow Clear Casting and Coating Epoxy Resin
Since tumblers are used for drinking, you will hold them close to your mouth/face most of the time. It is necessary to use an epoxy that has no odor, where Art ‘n Glow epoxy comes in.
The Art’ N Glow epoxy resin has such a low odor that we applied it freshly on a tumbler and gave it to a coworker.
That person did not even notice that there was epoxy on the tumbler. This should give you an idea of how odorless it is. You can even use it on other indoor things.
One of the most annoying problems when using epoxy is that it tends to discolor over time. When a tumbler turns yellowish, it looks horrible.
This is why you should use Art’ N Glow epoxy because it has a non-yellowing formula. Your tumbler will always look fabulous regardless of its age.
The working time, however, is not that fabulous. Whereas other brands give you an exact working time of 45 minutes, this epoxy still stays tacky after 45 minutes. Even after an hour, it stays tacky. So, you will have to be patient with this epoxy.
Despite having a slow drying/curing time, the Art’ N Glow epoxy resin still shines in other aspects. It mixes well, levels itself, has low to almost zero odor, and does not turn yellow over time. Truly, one of the best epoxy for tumblers.
Key features:
- It can be used for both casting and coating.
- Has low to zero odor.
- The epoxy won’t turn yellow over time.
- Has a self-leveling formula and mixes well.
3. NAKED FUSION-The ARTIST’S RESIN
Are you tired of manufacturers lying to you about crystal clear and super glossy finish? Once you apply those, the tumblers look nothing like the manufacturers promised. Well, let us introduce you to the artist’s resin.
The naked fusion artist’s epoxy resin will take about 72 hours to fully dry, and once it dries, you will get a diamond clarity. It means that the epoxy will have a crystal clear glossy finish. The gloss almost looks like a glass finish.
No matter how clear or glossy the epoxy is, it will discolor over time, leaving a yellow tint. Well, not with this one. This epoxy has UV protection, which will protect your tumbler’s color from outdoor harm.
Easily one of the best features of this epoxy is that it will enhance the color of your tumbler when mixed with mica pigments and pastes. Combining the glossy crystal finish with the enhanced color, your tumbler will steal hearts.
It is also heat-resistant after drying. This is important because most people use their tumblers for drinking hot coffee. Without heat resistance, the epoxy will wear out very fast.
If you want nothing but the best, the Naked fusion epoxy resin should be on top of your list. Crystal clear finish, high gloss, self-leveling formula, heat resistance, and UV protection, this epoxy has it all.
Key features:
- Has low VOC, which means no odor.
- It is non-toxic and food-safe once it dries.
- Dries to a clear diamond finish with high gloss.
- Has UV and heat protection for a longer lifespan.
- Can enhance the color of your tumbler.
4. East Coast Resin Epoxy Resin Kit
If you customize tumblers for commercial purposes, a 250ml bottle of epoxy won’t be able to do the job. You will need more. And that’s where the east coast resin comes in. But, is that all? Let’s find out.
As tumblers are made to contain liquid, there’s always a big chance of the liquid spilling on the exterior. If your epoxy does not have water protection, the spill might damage the epoxy.
This is why the East coast resin comes with water protection. No matter how many times the tumbler comes into contact with water, it will be safe.
The east coast resin epoxy provides not only a super glossy finish but also strong durability.
Let’s face it, without good durability, the glossy finish won’t take long to turn bland. Once it dries, you won’t have to think about the gloss finish getting damaged.
After applying the epoxy, you won’t have to think about leveling it yourself. The epoxy has a self-leveling formula, which will give you an even finish.
However, the issue with such durability is that it does not have a good working time like other brands. You will have to be quick.
If you can quickly finish your application, and want a large amount of epoxy with water protection, the East coast resin epoxy will be an amazing option for the price.
Key features:
- The epoxy is waterproof.
- Provides a super glossy finish with utmost durability.
- Easy to mix and use.
- Has a self-leveling formula for effortless application.
- Does not have any odor after drying.
5. Clear Table Top Epoxy Resin
Whether you are a beginner or a veteran who has worked with epoxy and tumblers for years, one thing you will face is bubbles. Epoxy will always leave bubbles.
To keep that problem at bay, we bring you the ProMarine clear tabletop epoxy. Promarine claims to create a formula that will tone the bubbles down to a minimum level.
When using other epoxy brands, you will have to keep the epoxy at a certain warm temperature to eliminate the bubbles, but you won’t have to do anything in this case. Just mix and apply.
Talking about mixing, this clear tabletop epoxy is also very straightforward to use. All you have to do is mix it in a 1:1 ratio, stir it, and voila, ready to use in minutes.
The only problem is that it does not have a very good self-leveling formula. Without this feature being good, you will have to level the coatings yourself.
Not only can you use it for tumblers, but also for many other works such as paintings, woodworking, tabletops, and many more. Truly an all-purpose epoxy resin.
So, suppose you search for an epoxy that will have minimal bubbles and can be used for various works other than tumbler customization. In that case, the ProMarine clear table top epoxy resin is for you.
Key features:
- Has minimal to zero bubbles when applying.
- It can be used for other works as well.
- Easy to mix and use.
- Non-toxic once it fully cures.
6. ProMarine Supplies Art Resin
Freshly customized tumblers look great after a few weeks, but lots of people have complained about their one looking dull and losing its shine after a month or so. To make sure this does to happen to you, we bring you the art resin from ProMarine.
The art resin has a premium quality coating that has a high gloss. But, that’s not very appealing because high gloss is common among epoxy resin.
The thing that makes ProMarine stand out is that its high gloss is guaranteed to “withstand the test of time.” This means your glossy tumbler will always shine.
Self-leveling is important because when you rotate the tumbler, you need every inch of it to have a solid and leveled surface.
If the surface is uneven, it will look bad after drying. Don’t worry because ProMarine art resin has a superb self-leveling formula.
It does not end there. This epoxy also has UV protection so that you can take your tumbler outside. No more hiding it from the sun. The sun’s rays will enhance the beauty of your tumbler.
Yeah, we tried to find flaws in this epoxy resin, but we couldn’t. So, if you want a long-lasting glossiness on your tumbler that will age like fine wine, ProMarine art resin is your best bet at achieving that.
Key features:
- Crystal clear and high gloss finish that will not fade.
- The self-leveling formula for even surface.
- UV protection for outdoor usage.
- 100% safe once cured properly.
- No bad fumes or harmful chemicals.
7. FanAut Epoxy Resin
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Your shopping does not end with buying an epoxy for tumblers. You will have to buy droppers, sticks, and gloves. If you are a person who loves to have all the things needed in one package, you hit the jackpot.
FanAut is the first epoxy brand on our list that provides not only epoxy but also 2pcs of sticks to help you stir the epoxy, 4pcs of gloves to keep you protected 2pcs of droppers if you want to add liquid to the epoxy.
You get everything at the price of just the epoxy. Great deal if you ask us. The problem with most epoxy resins is that they don’t mix/work well with dye or pigments.
You only have a limited amount of customization. FanAut, on the other hand, can be perfectly mixed with other dye and glow-in-dark pigments.
After applying the epoxy, you will get a 40-minute window to work with it. This will give you the freedom to control how your tumbler will look.
Speaking of applying the epoxy, it will get super hard only within 24 hours. That is very impressive considering how low priced it is. For comparison, other epoxy resins take about 72 hours to dry fully.
With virtually no drawbacks or cons, you can buy the FanAut epoxy resin without a second thought because it does a fantastic job when applied on tumblers.
Key features:
- Comes with 2pcs sticks, 4pcs of gloves, and 2pcs of droppers.
- Works perfectly with dye and pigments.
- Provides a 40 minute working time.
- Dries within 24 hours.
- Non-toxic and odorless.
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8. Counter Culture DIY Clear Artist Resin
If you are a person who goes to the shop and asks for the best product regardless of how much it costs, the counter-culture DIY resin is sure to catch your eyes.
Almost every epoxy resin on our list claims to provide a shiny glass-like finish, and those are not false claims.
As spider-man’s uncle Ben said, “with great glossiness comes great scratches.” glossy surfaces are prone to scratches. This is why counter culture DIY resin has scratch resistance, and boy o boy, it works great.
This epoxy is the thickest epoxy on our list. The thicker it is, the better protection you will get. It also has UV protection, which will prevent your crystal clear finish from getting yellow over time.
The list does not end there. This epoxy has heat resistance up to 500 degrees. No matter how hot your coffee is, the epoxy can handle it nicely.
Furthermore, it has zero fumes, so no odor when applied. Last but not least. It is VOC-free. This means no harmful chemicals are involved.
As this is the last epoxy on our list, we wanted to end it with a banger. One of another, the Counter Culture DIY art resin, keeps surprising us with superb features. One of the best epoxy for tumblers, indeed.
Key features:
- It has a crystal clear glass-like finish.
- Has UV and scratch resistance.
- Does not have any VOC or fumes.
- Has heat resistance up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The resin is very thick.
What To Look For While Buying Epoxy For Tumblers
Many other features determine the quality of epoxy and how good it will be for your tumbler. You can’t just buy random epoxy. So, let’s look at the things you will need to consider before buying epoxy for tumblers.
Heat resistance
We have mentioned this a lot of times in this article/review. As your tumbler will go through various temperatures, the epoxy must also handle those temperatures.
If the epoxy is unable to handle very warm or very cold temps, it might come apart. For example, if you glued glitters on the tumbler, those glitters might come off.
Not immediately, but it will eventually. To guarantee a long-lasting lifespan, you should go for an epoxy that has heat resistance.
Self-leveling
When applying epoxy to your tumbler, every inch of it should have an evenly distributed coating of epoxy. Doing this yourself can be pretty tiresome as our hands were not designed to do this job.
When you have a self-leveling epoxy, it will, as the name suggests, level itself after a certain period. It will evenly distribute itself throughout the whole surface. This will ensure a smooth and glossy finish.
If your epoxy does not have this self-leveling feature, your tumbler will have an uneven surface once it dries. Some epoxy might pool up here and there. So, always go for an epoxy that has this feature.
Water resistance
It is not a surprise that your tumbler will come into contact with liquid from both inside and out. Just like heat resistance, you also need your epoxy to be waterproof.
With daily contact with liquid, your epoxy will lose its durability if it does not resist water.
But, this is not a mandatory feature, though. If your epoxy has heat resistance, you are good to go. Having both water and heat resistance will be a plus point.
UV protection
This, in our opinion, is one of the most important features you need to have in your epoxy resin.
No matter how safe you try to keep your tumbler, it will eventually contact sun rays. It is better to make your tumbler strong than to keep it away from UV rays.
No matter how glossy or crystal clear your tumbler looks, if your epoxy does not have UV ray protection, the surface will soon turn yellow or just get discolored.
Once it turns yellow, you have to scrub it off, and that’s really troublesome. So, it is better to have UV protection.
Working and drying time
Epoxy for tumblers should have a working time of 40 to 45 minutes. This is important because, during this 40-minute window, you can redecorate your tumbler as much as you want.
The epoxy will remain tacky, so you can even remove it if you want. If the epoxy remains tacky even after 45 minutes, it is better to get another one.
And for drying time, you should go for an epoxy that dries to touch within 24 hours. Maybe 48 hours max. Of course, your room temperature and humidity can also affect drying time.
How to Use Epoxy for Tumblers?
In this section of the article/review, we will show you a step-by-step tutorial on how to use epoxy for tumblers or how you can apply epoxy on tumblers and turn your regular tumbler into those glittery-looking tumblers you see on Instagram or youtube.
So, let’s look at the tools and materials we will need to make our tumblers look fabulous.
- A tumbler.
- Cup turner.
- Sandpaper.
- Spray paint.
- Glitters.
- Vinyl sticker (optional).
- Epoxy resin.
- Clear paint sealer.
Step one – preparing the tumbler.
Before we get into the tutorial, let’s talk about the tumbler itself. If you want to apply epoxy on your tumbler, it is absolutely necessary that you buy a stainless steel tumbler with double-walled insulation. You can get a pack of 4 on Amazon for about 27 dollars.
Once you get the required tumbler, the first thing you will have to do is sand it down. Use 80 grit sandpaper, and sand it down like you are trying to scratch it.
After sanding, remove all the residue with a microfiber cloth or any fresh rag. Make sure to remove every bit of remaining residue.
To ensure that the tumbler is fully clean, put some dishwashing liquid on it and wash it under the tap.
Step two – spray paint.
Now it’s time to put on the base coat. You can’t apply epoxy on the stainless steel directly, so we put some spray paint on first.
Remember that you have to pick the spray paint color that matches your glitter color. For example, if you plan on putting blue glitters, use blue spray paint.
To be more flexible and cover all the parts of the tumbler, we like to put a water bottle inside the tumbler so that we can hold the water bottle and rotate the tumbler while spraying.
Wear big hand gloves before spraying. Now hold the water bottle and spray a thin coat of paint on the tumbler. Just enough to cover the surface. Do not put a thick layer of paint right away.
Let it dry for about 5 minutes, and then apply another layer of paint. This should get the job done. Now leave the tumbler to dry for at least 24 hours.
Step three – applying the epoxy
After the spray has dried properly, attach your tumbler to a cup turner. We used this MasBros all-metal tumbler spinner, but you can use any turner you like. Put some paper underneath the cup turner so that it can catch all the mess.
Now we have to prepare our epoxy. Most people use 20-ounce tumblers. For that, 10ml of both the epoxy and the hardener will be enough. You have to be spot on when mixing part A and part B epoxy.
If the balance is off, you won’t get good results. After measuring 10ml, pour them both in a cup and stir with the included wood stick. Be sure to stir slowly.
If you see air bubbles in the epoxy, you can use a heat gun to get rid of those. Now put on gloves and apply epoxy on the tumbler with your fingers. The first one should be a thin coat.
Step four – glitter
Right after you have applied epoxy, start sprinkling glitter on the tumbler. Make sure to turn on the cup turner. Put a piece of paper under the tumbler so that you can catch all the glitter and reuse it.
After covering all the area, let it dry for at least 8 hours. Now you have to put two layers of paint sealer (let it dry for half an hour in-between coatings). Without this, your glitter will come off when you apply the last layer of epoxy.
Step five – reapplying epoxy.
After you are done sealing the glitter with a clear paint sealer, now it’s time to reapply the epoxy. This time, you have to go all out.
Follow the same procedures as before, but this time, apply a thick layer of epoxy. Do it slowly and cover all the surfaces.
Let it dry for another 8 hours. Once the time is up, you have to sand the tumbler. Yes, yes, we know, it will lose its shiny and glossy surface.
Trust us. You will get it back. Just sand it thoroughly once you are done with it. Use detergent and wash under the tap. If you want to add a vinyl sticker, now is the time to do it.
To end the tutorial, you have to apply another layer of epoxy. Take your time and apply a good amount of epoxy because this is the last.
Now let it dry for as long as it takes, and voila, your glittery container of happiness is ready.
What kind of Epoxy is Used for Tumblers?
For tumbler customization, you should go for an epoxy that has two parts. Do not buy those 1 tube epoxy.
Those do not work well for tumblers. Always go for epoxy resins that have two tubes. One is the epoxy, and the other is the hardener.
As the 1 tube ones do not work well, we did not include them on our list. Every epoxy you see on our review list has two parts.
Our personal favorite is the FanAut epoxy resin because it includes all the necessary things you will need, like gloves, stirring sticks, and droppers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are the epoxy for tumblers on this review list FDA approved?
Yes, all of the epoxy resins we have reviewed over here are FDA approved, but only when they cure properly. So wait for them to dry and then touch them with bare hands.
- Is a cup turner necessary to apply epoxy on tumblers?
You can do the job without a cup-turner, but it will look really bad. We would suggest investing in a cup turner because you can get a beautiful look only with this.
- My epoxy for tumblers has bubbles in it while mixing. What should I do?
If you see bubbles in the epoxy while mixing, you have to heat it using a heat gun. This will eliminate or at least reduce the number of bubbles.
- What should be the correct room temperature for the tumbler epoxy to dry?
When drying epoxy for tumblers, the room temp should be around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Final words
The epoxy for tumblers we have gathered over here can give you water, heat, UV rays, scratch, and various other resistance. You can’t get it wrong with these epoxy resins, even if you tried.
Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, the epoxy for tumblers rounded up here will give you the best bang for buck experience.
With the step-by-step tutorial on how to apply epoxy for tumblers, you are sure to become a pro in no time.
Is everything related to epoxy and tumblers are here, so what’s stopping you from making those gorgeous glittery tumblers?