Question 1

What causes epoxy not to cure?

Accepted Answer

There may have been too much or too little hardener, which directly affects the cure time of the batch. Insufficient mixing. You may not have mixed long enough for the resin and hardener to be adequately mixed for a proper cure. Always mix thoroughly for a minimum of 5 minutes.

Question 2

Can you pour epoxy in layers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can apply a second coat of resin if you need to fix a mistake or a surface imperfection. You can also pour multiple layers if you need to cover areas of high relief, if you're pouring into a mold or if you simply like the look of a thicker coat.

Question 3

What happens if epoxy gets too hot?

Accepted Answer

This uncontrolled heat build-up is called uncontrolled exotherm. Epoxy heating out of control can foam, smoke, give off dangerous vapors and generate enough heat to melt its container or cause nearby items to catch fire.

Question 4

Why is my epoxy sticky after drying?

Accepted Answer

Sticky, tacky resin

This is often caused by inaccurate measuring, not mixing thoroughly or by curing in cold temperatures. Try moving your piece to a warmer spot: if it doesn't dry, re-pour with a fresh coat of resin.

Question 5

What happens if you pour epoxy too thick?

Accepted Answer

If your epoxy pour is too thick, the reaction can create too much heat, resulting in a product that does not cure properly with cracks or excessive bubbles. You can pour the next layer after the previous pour has gone through its heat cycle, which is usually around 24 hours.

Question 6

Can I sand epoxy after 24 hours?

Accepted Answer

Tip: The epoxy resin must be really dry before sanding. You should therefore allow a waiting period of at least 48 hours before processing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, as there are resins that take even longer to harden completely.

Question 7

Can you epoxy over glass?

Accepted Answer

Besides being a fun medium to create with, epoxy resin is also an excellent glue. You can use it to bond jewelry findings to your resin charms. Also, epoxy resin glues to glass very well, provided the surface is clean. That means if a glass surface is free of dirt and oil, resin will stick to it with no trouble

Question 8

Can you layer different brands of epoxy?

Accepted Answer

I have done this with different brands of resin before and it has worked for me. I would suggest making sure the layers are completely cured first and that you're using the same type (e.g don’t do a layer of epoxy, then a layer of polyester, etc.) Let us know how it works out for you!
If you are a beginner don’t do it, get some practice in first.

Question 9

Why do you spray alcohol on resin?

Accepted Answer

You can use alcohol spray for resin bubbles. Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spritz the surface of the resin. The alcohol breaks the surface tension causing the bubbles to pop and you'll see the bubbles pop right before your eyes.

Question 10

Why is my resin bendy after 48 hours?

Accepted Answer

Short Cure Time

In most cases, the reason you have resin that bends is due to the fact that the resin needs more time to cure. After 24 hours, ArtResin will be at a 95% solidity rate. If you attempt to curve or move the resin before that 24 hour mark, the resin will likely bend.
This can also happen when the mixture is wrong.

Question 11

Does epoxy resin need air to cure?

Accepted Answer

No ,epoxy hardens by chemical reaction rather than evaporation like wood glue does.

Question 12

What causes micro bubbles in epoxy?

Accepted Answer

Air bubbles introduced into the epoxy during the mixing process. This can be due to the epoxy user mixing too vigorously or for too long. You don't want to whip the hardener and resin together quickly and pull a lot of air into the mixture.

Question 13

What can I do with leftover epoxy resin?

Accepted Answer

Stop wasting your resin!

use extra resin on a small project.
create alcohol ink coasters.
brush on small amounts. leftover tinted resin.
make a 3d collage.
make resin crystals.
pour into a small mold.
layer your leftovers. what to do with partially leftover cured resin.
make a trinket dish.

Question 14

Does temperature affect epoxy curing?

Accepted Answer

The warmer the temperature of curing epoxy, the faster it cures . Heat speeds up epoxy chemistry or the chemical reaction of epoxy components.

Question 15

Is burning epoxy toxic?

Accepted Answer

When epoxy fumes are inhaled, they can affect the nose, throat, and lungs. Most symptoms from the inhalation of epoxy involve inflammation and therefore irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs. Repetitive and high amounts of exposure to these fumes can result in sensitization and asthma.

Question 16

Can you mix epoxy with water?

Accepted Answer

Never add Water to the Epoxy Resin.

Question 17

Will cured epoxy crack in cold weather?

Accepted Answer

Epoxy is a common floor coating material. Epoxy will not crack in freezing temperatures. The effects of freezing weather on epoxy only reduce its ability to cure properly.

Question 18

Why is my epoxy not getting hard?

Accepted Answer

If your ratio of resin to hardener is off, your resin will not harden. If the ambient temperature in your workspace isn't ideal, or if your resin mixture has been contaminated, this could also cause your resin to not cure correctly.

Question 19

Is epoxy heat resistant?

Accepted Answer

Usually, Epoxy can withstand up to 150 degrees / 300° Fahrenheit for a short period of time. Heat-resistant epoxy can withstand extreme heat of up to 600° Fahrenheit depending on the manufacturer and product.

Question 20

Can you store mixed epoxy?

Accepted Answer

Do not store mixed resin. Once it's mixed you have to use it or lose it. Otherwise, you will have a hard block of resin when you go to use it.

Question 21

Which ratio resin is best?

Accepted Answer

The right Mixing Ratio

Typically, this is 1 : 1 or 2 : 1 between resin and hardener, but there are also much more complicated ones such as 100 : 45. You can usually find the details on the packaging or containers.

We stick to the 1:1 Olloggin Art Resin and the 2:1 Olloggin Deep Pour.

Question 22

Should you wear a mask when using epoxy?

Accepted Answer

Provide ventilation and wear a dust/mist mask or respirator when sanding epoxy, especially partially cured epoxy. Breathing partially cured epoxy dust increases your risk of sensitization.

Frequently Asked Questions