Thread: Epoxy resin problems

After reading the thread on how to coat wooden scales with epoxy resin I tried it this weekend and, although I believe I followed the correct process, there are lots of air bubbles. Does anyone with experience of the process have any guidance on what may have gone wrong? The temperature in my workroom was pretty low but not enough to stop me working - that was the only potential problem I could think of.

You have to go over the epoxy with a something like a torch to get the bubbles out. You can carefully use a heat gun or hair dryer, too, but a small torch works better.

I always pour my epoxy out on a piece of aluminum foil. Increases work time and pops the bubbles.

Cheers

Hi Scooter. Please explain in some more detail about using the foil - maybe a few instructions to help me ouy.

Thanks

Certainly. I double over some regular kitchen foil and set it out in front of my workspace. I aggressively mix my epoxy in little plastic, graduated mixing cups. After the epoxy is thoroughly mixed(and milky looking because of all the bubbles), I pour the epoxy out onto the foil. This lets the epoxy spread thin enough that the bubbles can actually get to the surface.

Spreading it out has the double benefit reducing the thermal "runaway" of the epoxy and greatly extends pot life.

I've been building custom fishing rods for longer than I can remember. With epoxy, time is money. I also like to thin my epoxies with a little acetone so that it flows and levels when applied. Ever since Flex Coat came out with their Lite formula, no thinning has been required.

Hope this helps.

I haven't seen anyone mention it yet, but there is a special epoxy that Home Depot carries that is made to be poured. It is much thinner so bubbles are not an issue and it gives you a lot more working time. I used it to make a custom coffee table and it came out beautiful. It doesn't set up rock hard like other epoxies.

You can't tell it by feel, but it will flow a little. Months after I made the table I put a thick towel and set a computer on it for a week. When I removed the comp I noticed the feet had left noticeable dents through the towel. I was really angry. A week later the dents disappeared by themselves. Now this shouldn't be a problem on scales. The table acted like this because the coating on the table top is 1/2" thick.

The drawback is you have to buy this epoxy in quart bottles. I can't find it on their web site right now.

You will have to excuse my ignorance - what do you do after pouring on to foil? Does it then go back in to the mixing jug so that you can then pour over the scales?

@Crotalus - unfortunately in the UK we don't have the same level of choice that's available in the US.

I've never used epoxy for finishing scales, but I would assume you could use a small hobby brush, or the mixing stick to "scoop" the epoxy up and then apply. I find a rotating motion of the stick allows me to pick up a larger scoop of the epoxy.

Anytime you have epoxy in a cup, it will shorten the pot life. You could pick the foil up and pour it off the edge if you really must pour the stuff.