Looking for a unique way to add personality to your furniture? These resin door knobs are fun to make and customisable to suit any theme. From steampunk to beachy or industrial, you can create a variety of knobs using small items you probably already have. I’ve made a few before using steampunk charms in cake moulds, and they were a hit. But I’ve often been asked, What else can you embed in resin?

This project explores just that. I experimented with different fillers using epoxy resin and ping pong balls as moulds. Some worked brilliantly, and others—not so much. But each one gives you inspiration for your designs.

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How to make resin doorknobs

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Materials Needed

• Ping pong balls or silicone moulds
• Epoxy resin
• Measuring cups and mixing sticks
• Small embellishments (shells, charms, bolts, beads, etc.)
• Bolts (for attaching knobs later)
• Chopsticks or pencils (for supports)
• Tape
• A tray or container to hold the balls steady
• Acrylic spray (for finishing)
• Craft knife
• Butane torch or straw (to pop bubbles)

Setting Up Your Resin Moulds

I accidentally bought 300 ping pong balls, so I’m putting them to good use! Their round shape makes great small knobs, and they use less resin. If you don’t have ping pong balls, silicone moulds also work well.

To hold them upright while curing, sit them in a baking tray or similar container. You’ll also need a way to suspend bolts in the centre of each ball. I taped chopsticks together and spaced the bolts between them, easy and effective.

Cutting the Balls

Don’t just cut randomly. Slice the top of the ball, keeping the seam in the centre. This ensures it won’t show as badly in the final finish.

Choosing What to Embed in Resin

You can embed almost anything, as long as it’s clean and dry. I found a mix of items from my workshop and craft stash:

• Pebbles
• Sea shells
• Plastic beads
• Nuts and bolts
• Steampunk charms
• Thumbtacks

Smaller moulds like ping pong balls make it tricky to keep items in place. Objects often shift and sink toward the centre. To get the best result, gently move the contents around and fill all the gaps. When using beads or charms, place them with the decorative side facing down; this will be the visible side once the resin sets.

Mixing and Pouring the Resin

Mix your resin according to the manufacturer’s instructions. I always mix for at least five minutes to make sure it’s fully blended.

Pour slowly down the inside edge of the moulds. This helps reduce bubbles and keeps the items from shifting too much. For one knob, I tried a beach theme using pigment to colour the resin. I learned the hard way—add sand last, not first! All the sand sank to the bottom, covering all the seashells from view.

Securing the Bolts

Once poured, insert your bolts and balance them between chopsticks or pencils. Centre them so they sit halfway into the resin. Tape everything in place to stop movement.

Bubbles will form after a few minutes. Use a small torch to burst them, or blow through a straw for small batches.

Unmoulding and Finishing

Wait 24 hours for the resin to fully set. Use a craft knife to peel off the ping pong balls. Silicone moulds usually give a glossier finish, so I added a coat of acrylic spray for shine.

To hold the knobs upright for spraying, I used a kitchen utensil holder. A piece of scrap wood with drilled holes also works well.

Finished Resin Door Knobs

Each knob has its own personality: Peacock beads – My favourite. Colourful and vibrant.

Shells & Pebbles – Perfect for beach-themed décor.

This doorknob shows how all the thumbtacks sank to the bottom. If I’d added more, it could’ve looked great on an office drawer.

I had high hopes for this one, I wanted it to resemble a beach scene with blue ocean, sand, and shells. Looking back, it may have worked better if I’d poured the blue resin first and let it partially set before adding the shells, then the sand.

More resin projects

This was an experiment to see if I could shape resin into a new form and create a bowl for storing small items.

If you have some resin leftover and you are looking for more ideas.  This wooden suncatcher was made from scrap wood and coloured resin.

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