How To Pour Epoxy Resin Without Air Bubbles, Properly Preparing Substrates

The most common problem when pouring epoxy resin is developing bubbles during the mixing, pouring & curing process. Although bubbles can occur from incorrectly mixing/pouring epoxy, a very large majority of the problems stem from a porous substrate.

Pouring on a porous substrate like wood will almost alway result in bubbles if the wood has not been properly sealed. Most epoxy manufacturers recommend a very thin seal coat so that bubbles can work there way to the surface. With a large initial pour, the ability of air to rise all the way to the surface is greatly reduced.

In this video we show multiple different epoxy resin brands poured on three different surfaces, pine, cedar plank and a laminate. The pine is natural with no seal coat or coating. The cedar slab we used a Sand Sealer coating prior to pouring the epoxy. The laminate did not require any prep as this is not a porous surface. As you can see the same epoxy reacts very differently to different surfaces. Needless to say, properly preparing a surface can make the difference between a successful epoxy project and failure.

Our favorite Table Top Epoxy (can also be used as a seal coat):

[ianfaith]

I used to get bubbles in my river tables, wood is porous and that is where you get bubbles. I found that the Wood Sealer by iCoat just does a great job of filling those voids so I don't worry about bubbles now. Also, stop using cheap Chinese epoxy resin, the best composites are made here in the west, I'm British by I buy American made products.

[malloryreed]

I have sanded, stained, and used 2 coats of polyurethane to seal a table but want a thicker, smoother finish. Do I need to do anything before adding an epoxy layer to that mixture?

[bulewee]

HI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EXPLANATION, I HAVE THAT PROBLEM SOMETIMES WHEN THE EPOXY DRIES UP ITS CRACKED TO THE BOTTOM WHAT WAS MY MISTAKE
REGARDS

[TTurbo]

How did you seal that one piece? I'm covering butcher block counters with epoxy to give it a marble look. I do not want all those bubbles obviously. what is the best way to seal it first?

[ottiegarrity]

My biggest problem is dust. I'm thinking about running a cold water humidifier about 30 minutes before in my sealed room? It's not air tight but it's sealed. Even sealed all vents and have sprayed water, mist, on myself before walking in room.

[kartikeya]

Hi, thank you for sharing this video.

I am facing a different problem. When i Pour epoxy on the mold (plastic), within 10-15 mins all bubbles have escaped and it is absolutely bubble free. But after 30-40 minutes, I notice that some bubbles start coagulating at the bottom of the surface and do not rise to the top and remain at the bottom and with multiple pours, the coagulation of bubbles is there after every pour. what do I do? please help

[BerryTheBnnuy]

I feel like you didn't actually show how to do it, rather all you did was show that it can be done.