5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Tried Epoxy Resin

I tried epoxy for the first time last weekend... and I learned so many things! Come find out what you need to know before you try epoxy resin.

Timestamps:
0:00​ Intro
0:37​​ Obvious Thing 1: Mix Thoroughly
1:02 Obvious Thing 2: Heat Guns
1:21​ Obvious Thing 3: Rubbing Alcohol
1:35 Less Obvious Thing 1: Safety Concerns
2:28 Less Obvious Thing 2: Epoxy Options
3:30​ Less Obvious Thing 3: Water
4:04 Less Obvious Thing 4: Translucence
4:42 Less Obvious Thing 5: Start Small

[williambranham]

Great video! I know this video is about Epoxy but my comments are about safety as well as it applies to the use of organic compounds. After 76 years and many projects I've learned that organic compounds like epoxy and super glues are not your friend unless you protect yourself. I had almost no allergies or sensitivities until a few years ago when I was helping my grandson with a project. I was putting back together a toy and Super Glue was my best choice. There were lots of small parts so it took some time and my face was close to the glue. I could smell it. I've used superglue and other glues and epoxies for model airplanes extensively-no problem. But after working with my grandson, I had to go to bed. I was wheezing and had some trouble breathing. I felt terrible. After 2 days I felt better and after 3 years I still have some respiratory damage. Word to the wise, use these products outside, fan blowing across the area or if inside use a 3M canister mask for organic type compounds. The surgical mask we are use to with Covid are not adequate for organic materials.

[dolphin]

I've been watching Evan and Katelyn use resin for years so I knew about the respiratory thing, but I'd never heard that water is bad for resin! Thank you for making this video!

[machineman]

Respirator Respirator Respirator!
Even the low stuff adds up. Plus a lot of artists faces are right above the workpiece, and that’s not really covered on an MSDS.

[ArdWulf]

You don't need to use mica powders...try acrylic (yes...water based) or oil paints....they're cheaper and more versatile for color scheming.

TRY it/them...experiment on a small scale first until You have a "real" feel for the correct proportions:

For sampling, just make up a few five-sided boxes using scrap card simply taped together with anything but cellophane tape...the shallower the better.

From there, you just scale everything up for larger pours...being sure to "block" the edges.

Cheers!

[tim]

Test. Practice. Repeat. When people ask me how long I've been woodworking, I say 2 years or so. They say, cool what have you made. Then I think about it say, not much. What I did do is practice and learn technique and practice more. I'm not sure if this is the best way but it's the the way that I chose.

[HardtoHandleThisFella]

Thank you for sharing the safety concerns. I'm certain this will benefit plenty of noobs.

[BloomintheBlack]

Thanks for the tips! I've been thinking about trying a resin project -- I'm glad to know what to watch out for 😬

[HappyPappynKatyTX]

One more lil tip. When working with epoxy and wood. Past the flame or heat gun over quickly. If the wood gets hot, it will release air bubbles until it cools. That means going over it a bunch of times with your heat gun, thus, creating hot wood. Been there, done that

[ClumsyFlounder]

Thanks for a video of completely obvious things/topics that only the lowest common denominator of “makers” needed to watch

[gcranch]

I made a mesquite table top once and routed out the ranch brand con a corner of it and filled it in with epoxy mixed with crushed red coral. It came out well so just keep trying new stuff

[beheroot]

i wasn't aware that resin is like honey - if there is microscopic hole it can leak out, it will find it and leak. but not when you are pouring it, oh no, it'll wait a few hours... at least my first or second project which leaked was done with slow setting epoxy so i was able to save my hardwood floor ;)

[omar_padilla]

Your project didn't look too bad i actually thought it looked nice, if something you mess up comes out looking that good then wow!.