When choosing a glossy finish for your home projects, nothing quite surpasses the beauty of epoxy resin. The epoxy’s sleek appearance provides an elegant touch to countless projects, ranging from jewelry and furniture to home flooring and art pieces. When it comes to the safety of epoxy resin, you may wonder if epoxy is safe to use. Although epoxy resin is generally a safe product when used correctly, you may still ask the question, “Are there safer alternatives to epoxy resin?”
In general, epoxy resin is generally a safe, non-toxic product to use. Although epoxy resins are considered toxic in the liquid state, they are completely safe after the curing process. Common alternatives to epoxy resin are slush latex, resin glue, polyester resin, concrete, plaster, and acrylic resin.
As always, it’s important to follow certain precautions when working with epoxy or any other resin. If you want to learn how to safely use epoxy resin for your projects, you have come to the right place. Today, let’s take a look at how to properly use epoxy resin and whether or not there are safer alternatives.
Common Alternatives to Epoxy Resin
Although epoxy resin is considered fairly safe for a variety of projects, there are a few alternatives you may consider using instead. Keep in mind that these alternatives may not be any safer than epoxy resin. Because epoxy resin is one of the safest products to use, there are not many substitutes that contain safer ingredients. Furthermore, these alternatives require the same safety precautions as epoxy resin during the application process.
The most common alternatives to epoxy resin include the following products:
- Slush latex
- Resin glue
- Polyester resin
- Concrete
- Plaster
- Acrylic resin
Note that each one of these products can have some level of toxicity during the application process. Therefore, always wear proper safety gear when working with these materials. Additionally, never allow these products to come in direct contact with your skin.
While each of these alternatives has its benefits, epoxy resin remains the safest and highest-quality product for countless projects. Because the resin is non-toxic once dry, it poses very few risks to an individual’s health. To ensure you remain safe when applying epoxy resin, always wear protective gear and provide plenty of ventilation. By following these basic precautionary steps, you can stay safe even when working with epoxy in the liquid state.
Is Epoxy Resin Safe to Use?
Because safety should always come first, it’s important to understand how safe epoxy resin really is for both indoor and outdoor projects. In addition, learning how to properly handle epoxy resin in the liquid form is essential for staying safe throughout the application process. Before we dive into how to safely apply epoxy resin, let’s take a closer look at how safe epoxy is for projects.
Epoxy resin is generally non-toxic once given the appropriate amount of time to cure. Before the curing process, however, epoxy resin is considered toxic. Because epoxy in the liquid form is unsafe, it’s important to always wear protective clothing and take safety precautions.
During the liquid state, epoxy resin can produce vapors that are harmful to breathe in. For this reason, it’s important to increase ventilation and wear safety gear such as goggles, an apron, and even possibly a respirator. Additionally, take extra care that the epoxy does not come in contact with your skin. Always wear safety gloves and wash epoxy resin off immediately if it touches your skin.
After applying epoxy resin to your project, the resin must go through the curing process. This process generally takes 24 to 72 hours. During this stage, it’s important that you don’t touch or move the epoxy project. Even if the surface is dry to the touch, it must fully cure before it becomes safe to use.
Once the epoxy is completely dry, it is non-toxic and safe to handle. In fact, some epoxies may be food-safe if they’re FDA-approved. Even if the epoxy is not food-grade, it is generally safe to come in contact with food and be handled without safety gear.
Is Epoxy Resin Food-Safe?
A common question regarding the safety of epoxy resin is, “Can epoxy resin be food-safe?” Because epoxy resin is a common finish for items such as cutting boards, tumblers, and coasters, it may appear obvious that epoxy resin is safe to use around food. However, it’s important to realize that not all epoxy resins are food-safe, and most are toxic when in the form of liquid.
When using epoxy resin for kitchenware, it’s important to only use food-grade epoxy. In other words, the epoxy must meet all the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration. Epoxies that are food-grade may come in contact with food without posing any risks to your health.
As with any type of resin, food-grade epoxy is still dangerous when in the form of liquid. Thus, liquid epoxies should never come in direct contact with food, even if they’re food-safe. Additionally, you shouldn’t handle food-safe epoxy until it fully cures for 24 to 72 hours.
How to Safely Use Epoxy Resin
When using epoxy resin, there are several precautions to keep in mind. These include wearing gloves, ensuring the workspace is ventilated, wearing safety goggles, and wearing an apron. Depending on the type of project you’re working on, you may consider using epoxy resin designed for art, which is generally safer than other epoxies.
Before working with epoxy resin, always read the instructions given by the manufacturer. Many epoxy resins recommend wearing a respirator during the application process. Moreover, many epoxy resins require a certain curing time before it is safe to use.
When applying epoxy resin indoors, it’s crucial that the workspace has proper ventilation. Not only should you open several windows, but it is best to run multiple fans. For optimal air circulation, run a ceiling fan as well as a standing or desktop fan. Avoid running air conditioning, as the epoxy’s fumes may get caught up in the system.
