You’ve decided to tackle your first epoxy resin project...and it didn’t go as planned. Epoxy resin can be a tricky substance to work with but the common problems for beginners also have simple solutions.
But the results of high-quality epoxy resin are undeniably beautiful. That’s why we’ve come up with the top five ways to fix your epoxy project if something goes awry. Don’t worry, many epoxy enthusiasts run into some hiccups when they’re starting out. It can take a little practice, but the learning curve for epoxy is small.
Whether you’ve ended up with a runny and gooey project, a tacky surface, or wet and soft spots, we’ve got a few different fixes for you to try and some tips to keep in mind for future success.
The Problem: Runny Resin
You’ve spent hours working on your project and you left it to cure. A few hours go by and you check in on your project and find that your epoxy resin mix is still liquid, runny and halfway thickened. This is a very common result that is most likely due to an incorrect mixing ratio - which some argue is the hardest part of working with epoxy!
There isn’t a quick fix to runny epoxy resin, sadly. To fix your project, you will need to scrape the gooey resin off your project in totality. If you leave even a small amount of runny resin behind, it has the ability to leak out of your project even after you perform a new pour.
Once all of the epoxy is scraped off, dispose of the batch and try again. Do a new mixture of epoxy resin and triple check the directions for ratios and measurements.
The Problem: Tacky Resin
You’ve left your project to cure for the time directed on the bottle and even a few extra hours, just to be sure. But as you test the solidity of your project, you notice that your resin has a tacky feeling like the sticky side of tape. This might be disheartening, but this problem can be fixed.
Tacky resin typically occurs when the temperature of the curing or pouring room is too hot or too cold. Resin needs a room temperature between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, your epoxy resin will be unable to properly cure. The upside of having tacky epoxy is that it can usually be fixed by changing the location of your project.
Carry it carefully to a room or space that is within the appropriate temperature range. From here, let it cure another 24 hours. If your home is heated to under 75 degrees, the use of a space heater nearby can adjust the area.
But what if you’ve adjusted the location of your project and you’re still seeing tacky resin after another 24 hours? Thankfully, there is one last fix. Pour a fresh coat of epoxy resin over the tacky surface and let it cure. In many situations, this fixes the tacky situation and you’ll never notice.
The Problem: Soft or Wet Spots
You’ve let your epoxy cure for the allotted time but you’ve come back and now see multiple wet or soft spots sprinkled across your project. This can happen when your mixture of resin becomes uneven during the pour.
It’s possible that your resin wasn’t fully mixed. Or, when you were pouring, you scraped the sides of your cup to get the extra resin on your project. Typically the resin stuck to the sides is unmixed. Getting that last drop introduces unmixed resin into your fully mixed project.
This issue can be fixed with little effort. First, gently wipe away any of the resin that has yet to harden. From there, take a coarse sandpaper across the surface that has already hardened. These two steps are preparing the surface for a new, high-quality pour.
Once your surface is properly prepped, it’s time to do a new pour. This time, measure with extra care.
Get The Perfect Epoxy Resin Pour
The common denominator in many issues with your epoxy project the improper mixing of your resin. While the ratios look simple, a mistake can dramatically alter the results. When researching for the best epoxy resin to use for your project, it is crucial to read the labels and ensure that it is a trustworthy and high-quality brand with clear directions how to get the proper mixture with that specific product.
Keep in mind that the success of a perfect pour relies on several factors. Take the time to research and locate the correct type of resin for your epoxy project. Look for epoxy made in the USA with high quality ingredients. To ensure both of these important factors, look through customers reviews. Lots of DIY enthusiasts will have thoughts on the quality of the product.