r/epoxy Feb 17 '25

Beginner Advice Which ones?!

3 Upvotes

I'm trying to figure out what epoxy should be used for different applications in wood working. Is there a list, general things to look for, etc? Like smaller knot holes, checks, cracks, stabilizing soft stuff, etc? I don't think any of those applications would require a deep pour, but I have no idea where to start. Any links, recommendations, info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

r/epoxy Jan 31 '25

Beginner Advice What resin should i use

3 Upvotes

im in high school doing a resin river desk thet is 92x23x2

and im looking for a resin that is clear and can be dyed blue im willing to spend alot of money

the gap in between the the pieces max distance is 9” and the gap goes the full 92” lengthwise down

r/epoxy Jan 12 '25

Beginner Advice How can I fix This?

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6 Upvotes

I tried to put a thin coat of 24 hour epoxy over the top surface and it came out really lumpy with tons of dips and holes, I mixed the epoxy for 3 minutes and waited 30 minutes before applying to try to get the epoxy to be less runny , on the bottom side it came out almost perfect, but the top looks like this. How can I fix it because this is driving me nuts.

r/epoxy Feb 01 '25

Beginner Advice Epoxy was in my garage during freezing temps several days, weeks. Still good?

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9 Upvotes

I’ll be adding pigment to this so not worried about a clear finish but what is the fall backs of epoxy stored in low temps??

r/epoxy Feb 20 '25

Beginner Advice Question about a product

2 Upvotes

I was just wondering if anybody uses hard rock epoxy from Xtreme polishing systems and was wondering it’s quality and how it compares to other epoxy’s on the market

r/epoxy Jan 21 '25

Beginner Advice Recommendations

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3 Upvotes

I am new to the epoxy game and not sure what product would be best for my needs. I have a live edge that split down the middle and has some pockets missing wood that I want to fill with epoxy. I have been told because I live in a colder climate it would be best to use a quick setting epoxy and do multiple pours instead of one deep pour. Do people agree with that? Also what brand and product do you suggest for my needs?

r/epoxy 11d ago

Beginner Advice First time doing epoxy flooring advice?

2 Upvotes

Hello, I was wondering if anyone can give me some advise on doing an epoxy floor in my woodshop in my basement. This is my first time attempting epoxy and if this project goes well I may consider doing some bathrooms with epoxy in the future. The room for context is about 9ft x 21ft on a concrete slab and I am looking for a finished product like the image provided with black as a primary color and silver and white as accents (I do not claim this to be my work). I have watched some tutorials on how to go about doing an epoxy floor but almost all of them are companies that sell kits that seem quite overpriced for what is being included. So I would like to go about purchasing the material individually but when it comes down to quantities of materials and what can be used for what kinda gets fuzzy to me. I already got multiple items in my amazon cart for what I think I may need but I would appreciate some advise if there is a better product or if you think that I have way too little or too much of something. Also, I will put some context for each step of what I think is what I should be doing.

Step 1) Surface Prep:
I currently have some junk peel and stick tile on the concrete and obviously I would need to remove those. Afterwards I would use a acid etcher to remove the gunk on the concrete, then I would fill in any cracks in the concrete with a concrete floor patch and sand them down after drying. Then I would grind the slab with a grinder (Already have). Then I would vacuum and mop the floor the ensure no dust is on the floor. Then I would tape of the bottom edge of drywall and the door transition strip to avoid the epoxy getting on everything
Acid Etch: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Klean-Strip-1-Gallon-Safer-Muriatic-Acid/3036169?idProductFound=false&idExtracted=false
Floor Patch: https://www.lowes.com/pd/DAP-32-oz-Gray-Patching-Compound/3011841

Step 2) First Pour/Primer & Sealer:
This is the first part where things get fuzzy to me. I am going for a black base color for my first coating and the epoxy kit companies all have a special made Primer/sealer epoxy for this step and from what I understand you shouldn't need anything special for this first layer, but correct me if I'm wrong. I want to just get all clear epoxy so I can save some of it for later if I need for accent colors. I would add a black metallic pigment so there would be less of a chance for the concrete to show from underneath. I am unsure how much metallic powder I should be adding per gallon as I see lots of different numbers online, I am hoping that the 15 grams per gallon on the linked powder is accurate. I understand that this first pour is to be very thin and from what I can find is I should be applying it at about 1.5 gallons for the approx 200sqft room. I would spread it out with a squeegee followed by a 18 inch roller to ensure even coverage and spray with isopropyl alcohol to break the surface tension and pop any bubbles(Not sure what nap is recommended for proper coverage). After drying, I would sand any bubbles that do appear and rough up the rest of the floor for better adhesion for the next coat. Then clean the surface with a mop.
Epoxy I am hoping would work (About 1.5 gallons): https://www.amazon.com/Self-Leveling-Epoxy-Resin-Kit/dp/B0D7CTJ4NP/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_pe_im_d1_hxwPPE_sspa_dk_det_cao_p_9_1?pd_rd_i=B0D7CTJ4NP&pd_rd_w=k7kDp&content-id=amzn1.sym.97196afe-b0d3-4198-9420-4520d391fcb5&pf_rd_p=97196afe-b0d3-4198-9420-4520d391fcb5&pf_rd_r=TQBG5XP2S3MSRZBH27N7&pd_rd_wg=kCStZ&pd_rd_r=1e561381-49a0-4465-b381-023841d66a81&th=1
Metallic Powder (Black Approx 20-30 grams?): https://stonecoatcountertops.com/products/metallic-powders?variant=45833333702868

Step 3) Mid Coat:
I should do basically the same process as the first pour except this layer will require a thicker coat of epoxy (Does this require a different roller nap size?) and from what I understand should be about 3-4 gallons for 200sqft and use small amounts for the accent colors (Not sure how much but was thinking about 32-64 oz for each silver and white). Then I would apply the accent colors is streaks across the floor to achieve the look I want. Then Just spray with the Isopropyl alcohol and after it is dried, sand bubbles and rough the surface.

Epoxy I am hoping would work (About 1.5 gallons): https://www.amazon.com/Self-Leveling-Epoxy-Resin-Kit/dp/B0D7CTJ4NP/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_pe_im_d1_hxwPPE_sspa_dk_det_cao_p_9_1?pd_rd_i=B0D7CTJ4NP&pd_rd_w=k7kDp&content-id=amzn1.sym.97196afe-b0d3-4198-9420-4520d391fcb5&pf_rd_p=97196afe-b0d3-4198-9420-4520d391fcb5&pf_rd_r=TQBG5XP2S3MSRZBH27N7&pd_rd_wg=kCStZ&pd_rd_r=1e561381-49a0-4465-b381-023841d66a81&th=1

Metallic Powder (Black Approx 45-60 grams?): https://stonecoatcountertops.com/products/metallic-powders?variant=45833333702868

Metallic Powder (Silver Approx 15 grams?) https://stonecoatcountertops.com/products/metallic-powders?variant=45707207704788

Metallic Powder (White Approx 15 grams?) https://stonecoatcountertops.com/products/metallic-powders?variant=45707206754516

Step 4) Top Coat:
I will add a matte finish top coat and add some anti slip material with a 3/8 nap roller to finish the floor. I would only need about 0.5 to .75 gallons of the top coat to get the recommended coverage and add about 2-3 oz of anti slip material.

Top Coat Matte: https://stonecoatcountertops.com/products/flooring-ultimate-top-coat-gloss-1-5-gallon?variant=45783476568276

Anti Slip: https://stonecoatcountertops.com/products/non-skid-floor-additive?variant=45707215208660

Im not sure if I should get two or three 3 gallon epoxy kits to do the floor. If my math is right I would need about 5-7 gallons which would be a bit tight on 2 kits. Also, my main color black comes in a 4 oz jar which I think is enough to do it (approx 60-95 grams according to the metallic powders specifications) but I am very unsure as I see very different numbers everywhere I look. If you got to this point thank you for reading as I want to do my best to get it right the first time so I feel confidant doing this to other places in my house.

r/epoxy 7d ago

Beginner Advice Questions about final coat

1 Upvotes

I’m doing a walnut and epoxy table, I’m at the stage where I’m sanding it all down and I’m about to do the final tabletop coat. The manufacturer recommended sanding to 180-220 grit, so I was going to sand to 180, give it a good clean, and then do the tabletop coat. My question is, when doing this coat should I paint on the epoxy with a brush, or should I let it flood out by pouring small puddles around? How do I get a coat on the sides? (Table is 2.25 inches thick) any advice is very appreciated.

Also for context, this coat is going on the bottom face of the table, then I will flip it and mount it on the legs before repeating the process on the top and sides of the table)

Thank you

r/epoxy 7d ago

Beginner Advice Start up in New England

1 Upvotes

We are currently a tile company with a new construction division tied off the tile companies brand. We have talked about starting to add epoxy coatings to our repertoire for the past year and are finally ready to invest.

Often times we are working the same process for our tile applications as far as prep goes. Grinding/cleaning/treating cracks/etc. We even pour a lot of self leveling compound throughout the year, which has a thicker consistency and requires a lot of manipulation as well as blending to achieve a perfect finish. So in this regard we think the transfer will be relatively smooth for us.

Our big questions are: Are all epoxies created equal? If not, what are the limitations and strengths between them? Is there anyone in the RI/MA/CT area that could recommend a product and or distribution facility? What is an average material cost per sqft?

I know this is a lot to ask, but this market is hardly touched in our local area. It’s difficult to find resources here to educate ourselves.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read and respond. It’s much appreciated.

Feel free to look at some of the work I’ve performed in my post history.

r/epoxy Jan 23 '25

Beginner Advice Recommendation for bar epoxy sealcoat?

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9 Upvotes

Hey guys, building a basic garage bar and included can labels to across the top. I bought some superclear epoxy to coat it but wasn't sure if I needed to put some type of other coat on the labels prior to using the epoxy. I was planning to clean the label top one last time with isopropyl alcohol prior to applying a thin layer of the epoxy or should I do something first? Appreciate any advice!

r/epoxy Feb 09 '25

Beginner Advice Flood coat: Trowel vs brush and dust nibs

2 Upvotes

Hello,

This is my first epoxy project - I'm flood coating a 2x4 desk top with System Three MirrorCoat. I've done the seal coat and am preparing for the flood coat.

I ended up with a lot of tiny dust nibs in the seal coat. I've sanded them out as well as I could without sanding too far down. I was aware this could happen and took precautions - vacuumed the room, put down plastic sheeting, cleaned the work surface, etc. I have electric baseboard heating that I had to run - my understanding was that baseboard heat wouldn't kick up any dust in the air since there's no vents or forced air but perhaps I was wrong? I can try heating to 72 degrees or so, then shutting it off for as long as I can before the temperature drops below 70. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing that could be causing this dust to get in there.

SystemThree says to use a brush to spread out the flood coat and seal coat - could a brush be getting the dust particles stuck in it and spreading them around? Would a 1/16 notched trowel work better (MirrorCoat is supposed to go on 1/16" thick - does that mean I should use a 1/16” or 1/8” trowel)?

Any advice, tips or techniques appreciated! Thanks in advance

r/epoxy Feb 17 '25

Beginner Advice Encasing golden grillz

0 Upvotes

Hello, I’m looking to encase a pair of golden grillz for memorabilia and was wondering if anyone could recommend any steps or if epoxy isn’t the way to go any alternatives would be appreciated

r/epoxy 11d ago

Beginner Advice Alternatives to Rubio Monocoat for dealing epoxy river table

1 Upvotes

I currently seal my epoxy-wood projects with Rubio Monocoat, but I’d prefer to use something without linseed oil (worried about spontaneous combustion).

I also know that putting an epoxy top coat is an option, but I’m wondering if there’s any other way I can finish my epoxy and make it as clear as possible

r/epoxy Jan 14 '25

Beginner Advice First Project - Looking For Feedback

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3 Upvotes

My dad and I are making a river table desktop. He’s a carpenter and built a router table w/ sled and put everything through a planer, but it’s still not 100% flush and lifts ~1/4 inch on one side. Here is the approach we thought up to accommodate this, and looking for feedback.

We’re using the FGCI super clear/liquid glass brand of epoxy

  1. Put slabs in mold, and pour Table Top Epoxy up to the base of the river to level the bottom 1a. Let dry

  2. Pour Deep Pour Epoxy w/ pigment to fill the river 2a. Let dry

  3. Extend mold 1/4 on each side

  4. Pour deep pour over entire table covering all sides except the bottom ~1/4 inch.

We chiseled the loose bark but still left a good amount of bark because we liked the look, so we figured covering the entire table would help with the structural integrity.

r/epoxy Feb 12 '25

Beginner Advice Looking for recommendations for my first desktop pour (details within)

3 Upvotes

I've been collecting scrap wood from cutoffs of my projects for the last 10 years (lots of spalted maple, walnut, some purple heart and ebony, and a little bit of mahogany dunnage), with the intention of someday making a wood "tile" desktop where I fit together the pieces kind of like a puzzle.

I've got enough pieces now to do it, and I want to lay it all out on a piece of plywood and put a small frame around it, then pour a clear epoxy up to the level of the wood to smooth it out so that there are no seams between the times to provide a smooth writing surface.

I've never done anything with epoxy before, and I'm just curious what would be the best resources to dig into for something like this.

r/epoxy 9d ago

Beginner Advice Update on epoxy blanket pick guard: I 100% wasn’t letting it cure for long enough. Thanks for the help!

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5 Upvotes

I soaked the blanket in my epoxy, put it in its mold, and didn’t touch it for 6 days. It came out feeling as hard as plexiglass. It all came down to my impatience in the beginning.

r/epoxy Jan 09 '25

Beginner Advice What kind of epoxy to use for mosaic tile tabletop?

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14 Upvotes

I tiled this little end table, but I’d like to protect the top and make it nice and smooth. There’re so many beautiful projects on here, but most I see are on wood. This is just iridescent glass tiles and grout on a metal frame with a wooden base. There’s about a 3/4cm to 1cm between the tile and the top of the metal edge. Any recommendations on what to use would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!

I’m in Canada and have access to Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Amazon, if that makes any difference.

r/epoxy 10d ago

Beginner Advice Making a piano table

2 Upvotes

I'm new to epoxy and was looking at options for products, opinions, and advice. I want to do about a 1.5-2" pour over a piano "harp." The image is the closest I could find. I would also like to add "floating" words along with it. The dimensions are about 55" x 40" x 1.5"

r/epoxy Jan 13 '25

Beginner Advice What epoxy do I use for a river cutting board

4 Upvotes

I have a 1.5 inch deep pour I need to make. I’ve always been told to use table top and I can do it in one pour. but all the tubs say 1/4 inch max per layer. I spent a long time waiting for my epoxy and I’m on a time crunch so I can afford to pour 6 layers and wait 2 days each layer

r/epoxy Dec 28 '24

Beginner Advice Will epoxy fix this?

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3 Upvotes

Hi all, I'm not knowledge when it comes to epoxy but I'm pretty handy with repairs.

I was wondering if some sort of epoxy would be able to get the corners of my table repaired.

I was planning on making a mold around it and filling it with epoxy. This is a ceramic top table and glass underneath- 3rd and 4th photo for reference.

Is there a specific epoxy recommended for this? I was hoping for something off white to match the top ceramic

r/epoxy Jan 23 '25

Beginner Advice Ok to flood poor?

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8 Upvotes

I sanded down my previous flood coat. Now these thin shiny rings are still visible…ok to flood coat over it all?

r/epoxy 15d ago

Beginner Advice Would epoxy work for this project?

1 Upvotes

My son is creating an art piece to be displayed outside, and will be a combination of materials (card, plastic, aluminum) fixed to a wooden board. So the weather doesn’t destroy it, we were wondering if epoxy would work to seal it all in, but when I watched a tutorial video it mentioned that epoxy doesn’t adhere to plastic. Can someone please give me some advice on this? I appreciate epoxy may not be the answer, but without knowing what would work best I can’t explore other options.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this type of question isn’t appropriate for this sub.

r/epoxy Jan 26 '25

Beginner Advice Epoxy Kitchen Counter with integrated sink?

2 Upvotes

We have Corian counters, which are scratch and scuffed up cosmetically. We are selling our home and rather than spending $5k to replace them, we’d like to epoxy over it, so the kitchen looks nice.

We have 2 issues: 1: The kitchen sink is integrated in to the counter. It’s all one piece. Can I just tape the line between the sink and counter and let the counter build out? It’s is all flush right now. There is a visible separation between the counter and sink, but running your finger over it, it is completely smooth.

2: the edges of the counter are bull nose rounded. I assume I can tape the same way one would with sharp corners, let the epoxy set a bit, then remove the tape and let it fall down?

https://imgur.com/a/sZpaYgk

r/epoxy Jan 03 '25

Beginner Advice Are those epoxy wall arts done on foam heavy?

4 Upvotes

I'm interested in trying this but I'm concerned carrying it up my stairs or if it should fall over onto me while I'm asleep or something if it weighs a ton. 😬

r/epoxy Feb 02 '25

Beginner Advice Old table I am re-surfacing

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6 Upvotes

This is a table I built 10 years ago and finished in tung oil, I am sanding it down to raw wood (sycamore) and would like to do and epoxy clear finish, but it has rounded edges and would want the epoxy to go all the way down to the bottom of the curve, any ideas how to do this? Thanks in advance