Top 3 Mistakes To Avoid When Working With Epoxy l Beginner’s Guide

In today’s article, Steve with Upstart Epoxy breaks down how to fix epoxy mistakes by pointing out the three most common errors novices make when working with resin. Being mindful of these mistakes can save you plenty of time and money!

Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate/Expert

Estimated Working Time: N/A

How to Fix Epoxy Mistakes: Be Smart from the Beginning

Once epoxy is mixed and poured, the outcome is fairly final. There isn’t a lot you can do to “fix epoxy mistakes.” Instead, all you can really do is prevent them from happening by being careful not to make any mistakes in the early stages of the process.

Let’s start with the most costly mistake there is when working with epoxy resin- not properly measuring your epoxy. Always reference the coverage calculator on our website- enter the specs of your project to get the most accurate result. It’s better to have an accurate measurement so that way you don’t waste any of your resin. Also, your project likely won’t cure properly if your measurements are off. If you overdo one part of your resin pour and pour too little of the other, you'll end up with an unworkable mixture.

Here’s another mistake- overheating your piece. Be mindful of this with ALL resins, but especially with table top epoxy. If you overhear your epoxy, this is a mistake that is practically impossible to fix.

This particular formula cures quickly, which makes it heat up very quickly too. When removing bubbles from your project, move your heat gun/torch back and forth constantly. Do not keep it in a particular area for too long, or it will cause that area to rupture. Always keep the heat evenly distributed, leaving your tool in one area for no more than 1-2 seconds at a time.

One of the worst things that can happen to any epoxy creator is a leak! Here at Upstart, we highly recommend sealing every crack and crevice- you can use silicone or another type of sealer to do so. Doing this prevents the epoxy from leaking out of your project, which ruins all of your hard work.

Aside from sealing your forms, you should also make sure your projects are screwed together nice and tight. We recommend the Craig brand for screws, but you can use any kind one as long as they're strong, snug, and sealed.

If you’re using silicone or another type of sealer, make sure they’re thoroughly spread out. Make sure that you don't have any cracks or anything where the epoxy can leak through in the silicone. Be extra mindful of this if you’re using deep pour epoxy, because it’s watery and does like to travel through projects. If there are any cracks in there, the epoxy is going to leak out. Leaks are no fun.

We hope these tips and tricks help you avoid mistakes as you continue your epoxy resin journey! Remember, all of these mistakes can totally be avoided! Trust yourself, remember the tips we gave, and have fun!