How deep can general use epoxy be poured?

With our General Use Epoxy Resin, we recommend not exceeding 1/2 inch per pour.

Can I dilute my Epoxy Resin?

Yes. If using isopropyl alcohol (99%) it can be added at 1/2% to your total mix to dilute your Epoxy Resin. Be careful not to add more than 1/2% as this can reduce the reactivity of the Resin.

What coloring agents can be used with your crystal clear finishing epoxy?

Below are a couple of links to our pigments, concentrates, and mica powders. They are great color agents that can be added to our epoxy to create virtually any color.  Click here for coloring agents.

Do I need a releasing agent for molds when using your epoxy?

Release agents are not necessary however they do help on some occasions. If your molds are made from silicone, HDPE plastics, and rubbery plastics, then there is no need for a release agent. 

 

What is the maximum temperature that epoxy can tolerate?

After the epoxy fully cures, you must be careful when it comes to exposing your items to high temperatures. Usually, items with epoxy coating can only withstand 135 Fahrenheit. Anything more than that can damage the epoxy coating. 

Fixing damaged areas, (depending on each situation) can likely be fixed by another application. 

How do you make a dam for epoxy?

Various projects require a temporary installation of an epoxy dam. 

One way to create it is by using a flexible plastic strip that won’t stick to the epoxy. Another viable option is to use wooden trim that is covered with at least 4 mil plastic sheeting.

Wax paper is also another great option to prevent sticking. 

How do you properly seal wood surfaces?

Sealing wood surfaces come in two stages. First, you must apply the seal coat— a small batch of epoxy that people brush to seal pores in an item. After that, you will begin with the flood coat. This should be poured approximately 4 -10 hours after the seal coat to avoid sanding.

How thick is the depth of an epoxy?

Epoxy generally has a depth of 1/8 inches. If you want to avoid sanding between layers, it is highly recommended for you to apply additional coats within 4-6 hours.

How do I use epoxy on pictures attached to wood?

Please apply modge podge over the pictures first before applying the epoxy. The epoxy will wet out the pictures and make the pictures look dark. 

Does epoxy smell?

Although we strive to provide odorless epoxy resin, some types of epoxy give off foul smells. 

Can you spray epoxy?

The short answer is no, you cannot. The material of epoxy is too thick to spay, and you will end up with a messed-up surface if you attempt to spray epoxy over your item.

What is the shelf life of your epoxy resin products?

All solvent-free epoxies have essentially unlimited shelf lives so long as they are stored in sealed containers. The resin may crystallize or the hardener may darken but this does not affect its performance. If the material is more than a year old do a test to satisfy yourself that it cures properly. We recommend 24 months as a universal shelf life for our products, although we also recommend using the product within a few months prior to any possible material changes. 

The hardener oxidizes from oxygen which can discolor it slowly while stored over time. Sometimes the user believes it is not good (hence throwing away). Reality is the material may still be good, but just does not look the same. 

As always, please test a small amount prior to any large installations. 

Order more as you need it. We create as we need within our shop and recommend the same for our customers. 

What is the proper working time of coating when it comes to epoxy?

We have several types of Epoxy Resin. They react differently. Please refer to the particular informational data sheet located inside each shipment. If you have misplaced them, you may locate a copy of them here 

Can you use epoxy outdoors?

Can you use epoxy outdoors?

The use of epoxy resin outdoors can be useful. However, discoloration can occur with sunlight. Discoloring can occur by sunlight when located indoors too. 

Generally, Epoxy resin is not UV protected and it is also sensitive to temperature. 

When the epoxy resin is exposed to extreme temperatures, cracking can occur. 

We do have specially formulated products with UV protectors mixed inside to help with discoloring from sunlight. 

FDA Approved?

Our epoxy resin does not have FDA approval certifying direct contact with food. Once the epoxy is cured it becomes an inert plastic. This does not mean that you are safe from illness. Please do not consume if you believe the epoxy is not cured or if any of the material chipped off into the food. The epoxy resin is not antimicrobial. We do not recommend eating directly from epoxy resin materials. Our epoxy is safe for incidental contact, not FDA approved. All of our epoxies are FDA compliant for incidental contact.

Can epoxy be applied vertically?

Technically, yes, but it will shift, merge, and slide. If you want to apply epoxy on items with a vertical orientation, you have to coat the item while it is in a horizontal orientation and wait until 72 hours before you hang it vertically. 

Amazing art projects with epoxy resin are accomplished horizontally. Tilting them slightly forces the epoxy to shift and merge the colors. 

Can additives be added to extend the life of your epoxy?

Can a product like Bioxgen preserver be used to extend the life of your epoxy?

We do not recommend using additives like Bioxgen preserver. It can alter the chemical. 

Can I use resin over laminate?

Yes, you can use resin over laminate countertops. You just need to make sure the resin is thick as thin resin will not stick well.  When the resin is too thin, it beads out, it will not lay flat. Please use our Woodcrafter's Kit on laminate.

How do I store epoxy resin?

We advise not to store the epoxy resin on the ground, concrete, or metal surfaces. 

Best practices for storage of the epoxy resin is in an ideal temperature controlled area on a wood or cardboard surface. 

Keeping the resin in the ideal temperature and on the ideal surface will assist with preventing the material from turning milky or crystallizing at from the bottom up. 

However, if this does occur a quick fix is located here. (link it to the question below)

What do I do when the epoxy resin turns milky or crystallizing?

This is a great question. 

The resin turning milky or crystallizing is a common occurrence with resin. This typically occurs more frequently when subjected to either weather below 50 degrees, stored on concrete, or stored on metal surfaces. 

When the changing of the resin occurs it typically starts at the bottom of the container.

How do we fix this? 

A simple fix is to place the bottle in warm water (make sure no water gets in) let it stand in the warm water for about 15 minutes. 

For the future storage of the resin, place it on top of wood or cardboard surfaces.

What is the average cure time for epoxy?

Epoxy dries after 12-14 hours, but you can only use the item you put a coating on after 72 hours. That is not to say that the curing process is done after 3 days. To fully cure the epoxy applied on an item, you have around 6 months to draw out imperfections in curing and processing the epoxy. 

Is your epoxy available in physical stores?

At the moment, our epoxy resin products are not available in physical stores. You may buy our epoxy resin products online and you can have it conveniently delivered typically within a week. 

What happens when you coat a white surface with epoxy?

The color of the epoxy may not be noticeable when poured over colored materials, but you may see a hint of amber when you have it poured over a white surface. Please test small areas prior. 

How do I get rid of fish eyes?

Substrate contamination is the most common problem that causes fish eyes and pinholes in epoxy seal coats. Dust, dirt, wax, silicones, even the oil from your fingers when touching the part prior to sealing with epoxy will deter epoxy resins from laying flat and curing with a perfectly smooth surface.

Any contamination on the substrate (in the case of surfboards, the fiberglass lamination) will disrupt the surface tension and cause the epoxy to separate or pit. The epoxy will "run away" from the contaminated area. Ripples in the resin can also be caused by applying resin to the previous layer that is already in the process of curing. Once resin becomes warm and is beginning to gel, you must stop.

Top 5 tips to eliminating epoxy fish eyes, pinholes, and separations:

1. Do your epoxy work in a clean, well-ventilated environment with minimal airflow that may introduce contaminants to your work area.
2. Wipe the substrate with Denatured Alcohol (DNA) on a lint-free rag to pick up most of the contaminants and oils that may be on your workpiece. Let the denatured alcohol evaporate completely before applying an epoxy seal coat.
3. Wipe the workpiece with an epoxy seal coat prep cloth. This will pick up any additional dirt or debris to leave a clean surface to apply the epoxy coat to.
4. Use a clean bristle brush, foam or nap roller, or squeegee to apply your epoxy coating.
5. Have the workpiece at the same temperature as the epoxy resin to avoid thermal shock and the resin quickly shrinking and orange peeling. If hot resin hits a cold substrate the rapid change in temperature will cause the resin to ripple and stop flowing correctly.

After preparing to apply your epoxy seal coat it is important to avoid introducing contaminants into the "green" first stage epoxy cure.

1. Do not touch the wet epoxy seal coat - Walk away from it and come back about 10 minutes later to assess any inconsistencies in the coating. Even walking around the workpiece may kick up dust and debris that will settle into your epoxy seal coat and cause a pinhole or fish eye. Just let the resin flow and flatten out for a while.
2. Come back to the fresh seal coat and assess if there are any small issues. Even with proper preparation and cleaning, fish eyes may occur due to environmental problems out of your control. If there are any issues in your epoxy seal coat simply drip some resin that is still remaining in your mixing bucket on the affected area and let the resin flatten out by itself and bond to the surrounding resin molecules.
3. Do not brush over inconsistent epoxy seal coat areas, that will most likely reduce the surface tension and result in a larger fish eye or separation. A drip of extra epoxy is all you need on the area to solve the issue.

In summary, proper epoxy resin seal coats are subject to your workspace environment and your preparation efforts. Following the guidelines written above will greatly enhance the flatness, gloss, and uniformity of your epoxy coating.

What is the proper maintenance method for cured epoxy?

For cured epoxy surfaces, avoid using abrasive cleaning agents like steel wool or a comet-type cleaner as they will scratch and dull the surface. Harsh cleaning chemicals or cleaning compounds with citrus or acid in them should be avoided as well. Citrus and vinegar type cleaners can sometimes hurt polymer floors. We recommend using warm soapy water to clean your surfaces. Try not to expose the surface to a lot of chemicals, as epoxy is a highly-sensitive material.

How much powder or pigment is needed per gallon of epoxy mixture?

There is no specific answer. The amount of pigment solely depends on the outcome that the user wants. It depends on the shade of the color that the user wants to achieve. We recommend adding the pigment in small amounts. You can start with 3 to 4.5 ounces of pigment per gallon of the epoxy mixture and add gradually while mixing. Normally, castings will need less pigment whereas coatings will need more pigment. Epoxy with a 2:1 mix ratio needs less pigment while those with a 1:1 mix ratio need more.

How can I have less bubbles in my epoxy projects?

When mixing the epoxy resin and hardener... 

Preheating resin prior to use can reduce viscosity and reduce bubbles. Fill your kitchen sink with WARM water.  Let container stand in water for 15 mins.  This will greatly reduce viscosity.   Be aware, this heat will speed up cure cycles also.

The more volume of mixture you have in a pot, the more chemical reaction. This creates heat. To reduce the heat, mix the product efficiently within 3-5 minutes. The longer it stays in a pot the more heat. More volume = more heat. More heat will not only create more microbubbles but it can make the cure brittle like glass. 

When mixing, always pour the resin into the hardener. Adding resin into the hardener reduces bubbles and ensures all parts of the resin are mixed appropriately. Hand stir components for a minimum of 3-5 minutes in a round fashion. Stir slowly to help avoid air bubbles. Make sure to scrape the sides and the bottom of the mixing container. It is very important that the 2 components are properly mixed.

Let mixed components stand in a mixing cup for 3-5 minutes. This will allow for any bubbles to rise to the surface. A torch or alcohol spray can be used to alleviate bubbles at this time.      

Why is there an oily film on my epoxy?

Amine blush can be described as a sticky, oily, or waxy appearance on the surface layer of a cured epoxy. It can appear as greasy white spotting, or even salt-like, crystalline deposits. Many times, it can also be cloudy, milky, or gray-colored, with opacity and dullness. The cause is most likely due to a side chemical reaction of moisture (humidity) in the air, interacting with the curing agent in the epoxy. Amine blush is water-soluble, so it's very simple to clean away. All you need to do is reach for a plant spray container, some warm soapy water, and a Scotch Brite pad. Spray the affected surface with the water, wash thoroughly using the pad, wipe dry with paper towels and you're done.

What is the best resin for wood coating and riverbeds?

What is the best resin to pour on wood slabs? What about thick riverbed pours?

Answer: 

Our A+ Clear View is great for coatings (thin 1/8" - 1/4" thick). 

If you are going to do thicker pours 1/2" + we recommend our A+ Deep Pour Explanation below. 

It's not recommended to do that thick pours at one time. The reason why is because thicker the pours produce more heat from the chemical reaction it creates. This can create the cracking and microbubbles you want to avoid. 

We recommend if you went with a 1/2" and under pour first, let it cure to a tac free (touch with a finger - not sticky) then another layer on top. 

For thicker 2" + pour at once Id recommend our A+ Deep Pour.  Again this has a longer pot life and resists the heat that naturally occurs with the two chemicals mixing.

 

Can you mix paint with epoxy?

Mixing paints and acrylics with epoxy is not recommended. 

Here’s why... resin is a byproduct of oil. So acrylic based, water-based and even some oddly blended oil-based pigments don’t mix well. They can get clumpy and even leave a weird film on the finished product. 

We recommend Mica powders, concentrate/solvent based pigments as additives to create your desired colors. 

Powders like Glow powders and mica powders can also be incorporated in our epoxy as long as the powder doesn’t exceed 5% of the total mixture. 

Always test small if you do try outside our recommendations... but we do have some color options within our site if you need. 

Hope this helps. 

Look forward to seeing your creations. 

PS: If you desire a particular LARGE VOLUME mix of an epoxy resin, we do accept special requests (an additional fee is required). 

How do I remove rings in surfaces with epoxy?

The key element in removing rings in surfaces with epoxy is heat. You have to expose your item to heat in order to help soften the epoxy. Only then will it get harder and smother.

What do I do when the epoxy resin turns milky or crystallizing?

This is a great question. 

The resin turning milky or crystallizing is a common occurrence with resin. This typically occurs more frequently when subjected to either weather below 50 degrees, stored on concrete, or stored on metal surfaces. 

When the changing of the resin occurs it typically starts at the bottom of the container.

How do we fix this? 

A simple fix is to place the bottle in warm water (make sure no water gets in) let it stand in the warm water for about 15 minutes. 

For the future storage of the resin, place it on top of wood or cardboard surfaces.

How do you properly coat edges with epoxy?

If having a coating on the edge is desired with the top surface, apply a small amount to the sides prior to moving onto the top surface. This allows the sides to merge and spread more evenly versus having massive drips forming on the edge after working the top surface. Let us know how this works for you. 

PS: Would you like to contribute to our faq or community? Make a video documenting your project creation or educational piece, we would love to share with our community. 

How do I fix the dimples on my epoxy?

Dimples can occur for 3 reasons: temperature fluctuation, micro dust particles, and overtorching. To avoid getting dimples in your cured resin, make sure that the temperature in your resin room stays stable, that you use a dustcover and that you only lightly torch your resin. Whether your divots occurred during the pouring process of your countertops, or afterward due to a soft cure, the solution is always to pour another coat of epoxy. You can pour directly over the previous epoxy pour within 24 hours of the first pour.

What is the ideal temperature when curing epoxy?

To maximize your curing process, it is recommended that the epoxy is cured in areas ranging between 75-100 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do I get rid of Bubbles in epoxy resin?

Bubbles are common. A simple way to eradicate them is by using a heat source like a heat gun or a small torch. Lighter = No (You will burn your finger off).  

PRO TIP: When mixing the epoxy resin and hardener... 

the more volume of mixture you have in a pot, the more chemical reaction. This creates heat. To reduce the heat, mix the product efficiently within 3-5 minutes and get the mixture out and spread across the project. 

The longer it stays in a pot the more heat. More volume = more heat. 

More heat will not only create more microbubbles but it can make the cure brittle like glass. 

What is best epoxy resin for Tumblers?

What is the best epoxy resin to use on Tumblers? 

We commonly get the question, what can I use as an overlay for stainless steel, glass or plastic tumblers too. 

While we don't create tumblers ourselves so we are not the expert by any means, we do have feedback from our a lot of clients who are artists and creators that make/sell tumblers. 

We created A+ Crafters Choice Tumbler Epoxy and this is  the most commonly used resin for Tumblers. The reason why is because the resin can have up to 45 minutes (ish) work time which can be incredibly helpful. It cures rock hard typically in 24hours (under recommended conditions) and it doesn't hurt the wallet like competing brands. And it is UV resistant to keep your projects looking crystal clear.

Can you apply epoxy over stained wood?

Yes, you can apply our epoxy resin over stained wood. However, you have to be careful in doing so. You must make sure that the stain is properly dried before applying epoxy. This is to avoid non-sticking and easy-to-peel-off surfaces after a couple of months.