What is Epoxy Resin Made From?
The base for most common epoxy resins is bisphenol A novolac, aliphatic, halogenated, and glycidylamine.
The curing agent will most commonly be amines, however it can be made of homopolymerisation, anhydrides, phenols, and thiols.
How Durable are Most Epoxy Resins?
Very strong. Epoxy resin after a full cure is able to hold up weight and is very resistant to scratches. A well constructed epoxy project will last indefinitely.
How to Color Epoxy?
The best two ways are with powder and wet pigments. Mica powder is the most popular type of dry pigment, while most wet pigments are based with water or alcohol.
What are the Best Finish/Polishes for Epoxy Projects?
The most popular that we have seen for wood/epoxy projects are Odie’s Oil, Walrus Oil, Rubio Monocoat, and Osmo. Although, there are hundreds of types made from a variety of resources, you can find exactly what you’re looking for. When applying finish to epoxy, sand it to 320 grit first to allow absorption.
What is an Epoxy Dirty Pour?
A dirty pour of epoxy resin refers to using multiple colors and allowing them to flow freely. This is usually done to make countertops looking new and intricate.
How to Calculate Epoxy for a River Table Pour?
For a long straight pour for a river table, you want to take the average width, multiplied by the depth, and multiplied by the length. WxDxL will give you the cubic unit you are using, which you can convert to leaders using a simple google search.
How do I Remove Bubbles from My Epoxy Project?
After pouring, you are going to want to wait 5-15 minutes, then go over the surface with a torch of some sort. Commonly used is a propane torch.
How Often can I Pour Layers for my Project?
This will vary by epoxy brand, but usually every 4-6 hours. The best way to test for this is to press it with a fingernail or something similar in toughness. If it can make an indent but is not too soft, it is ready for another pour.
What is the Shelf Life of Epoxy Resin?
Most epoxy resins, when stored airtight in a cool environment, will be able to last indefinitely.
Is Epoxy Resin Food Safe?
This will depend on the brand, but today most epoxy resins are made to be food safe after they are fully cured, and many are FDA approved.
Is there Shrinkage with Epoxy Resin?
While epoxy resin itself won’t shrink, when pours on woods there will be some amount of it that is soaked up by the wood. This will be particularly noticeable on the cut edges.
Do I Need to Seal My Wood Before Pouring Epoxy?
Though it is not necessary, sealing your wood will minimize bubbles and help prevent the wood from soaking in too much of the epoxy resin.
What Does Epoxy Resin Adhere To?
The materials are not exact, however common materials that epoxy resin works well with are wood, glass, concrete, some plastics, and clay. Even materials that commonly wouldn’t stick to epoxy can when sanded first.
Can I Use Epoxy Outdoors?
When working with epoxy, you want the temperature to be stable until cured. After cured, the piece can safely be moved outside without fear of many things being able to damage it easily.
How Long Does Epoxy Resin Take to Cure?
The average length for it to be hard is 12-24 hours. For the chemical bonds to be completed and for it to be worked on is usually 3-5 days, and depending on the brand and temperature can be a week.
How Thick Can I Pour Epoxy Resin?
The average will be between 1/8″-1/4″, however some brands create epoxy resins that are able to be poured much thicker.
