Acrylic vs. Resin Square Diamond Painting Drills
Both materials can produce excellent diamond painting drills. The important differences are how they are molded, how closely they fit together and how forgiving they feel during placement.
The Short Answer
Acrylic square drills
High-quality acrylic can sparkle just as much as resin. Acrylic squares may leave a little more visible spacing and are somewhat more forgiving of placement.
Resin square drills
Resin drills can be molded with more vertical side geometry, allowing neighboring squares to sit somewhat closer together for a tighter-looking grid.
Why Do Acrylic and Resin Squares Look Slightly Different?
Acrylic square drills can have a very small rough break point on the side from the molding process. To account for that point, the side facets angle slightly inward so neighboring drills can sit beside each other without the molding point interfering with alignment.
Resin squares do not have that same molding break point, so their side facets can be more vertical. That lets the drills fit somewhat closer together.
What Does That Mean on the Canvas?
| Characteristic | Acrylic square | Resin square |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Slightly more forgiving | Can sit somewhat tighter |
| Visible spacing | May show a little more gapping | May create a tighter grid |
| Placement experience | Helpful for less-experienced square-drill painters | Rewards precise placement |
| Sparkle | High-quality acrylic can sparkle as much as resin | Excellent sparkle with quality manufacturing |
| Interchangeable? | Yes | Yes |
Why Does Acrylic Sometimes Have a Bad Reputation?
Acrylic is commonly used in lower-cost diamond painting kits. When inexpensive kits also use poor-quality manufacturing, customers may encounter more misshapen or unusable drills. Over time, those experiences can make acrylic itself seem like the problem.
The material and the manufacturing quality are separate issues. High-quality acrylic can produce clean, bright, sparkling drills. DPD offers high-quality acrylic replacement drills.
Which Should I Choose?
If you are replacing only a small number of missing drills, either material can work because acrylic and resin square drills are interchangeable.
If you want to match the general construction of the original kit, check the manufacturer’s kit information. Most manufacturers use acrylic. Resin is more expensive and is more commonly highlighted as a feature of premium kits.
If the manufacturer specifically advertises resin drills, choose resin if that match matters to you. Otherwise, high-quality acrylic is a practical replacement choice.
Need square replacement drills?
Confirm the DMC number first, then choose acrylic or resin based on your project and preference.
Shop Replacement Drills