Epoxy Resin is a type of reactive prepolymer and polymer whose components include epoxide groups. Epoxy resin has higher mechanical properties, good chemical resistance, high adhesive power, and more thermal resistance compared to other resins. These properties allow it to be used in various areas of specialization. While it can be exciting to use epoxy resin in your designs or any other area of your liking, knowing how to use it properly will give you the best results and ensure your health is not compromised in the process. This guide from SquidPoxy Epoxy Resin will provide you with the necessary steps and tips for effectively and efficiently use of epoxy resin.
Contents
Collect Your Material
The first step should always be having all the tools and material necessary for your project close to you before beginning your process. Having everything in your proximity will allow you to effectively use your time and to know where a specific thing is whenever you need it. Here are the important material and tools to have for your project.
- Protective gear – these include eyewear, gloves, plastic coat/apron, protective mask.
- Measuring tool – this can be a digital measuring scale or plastic measuring cups with lines on them. Also, include a mixing cup.
- The epoxy resin of your choice (squid craft in this guide)
- Mixing stick
- A brush to apply the resin
Tips
- Your measuring cups and mixing stick should be clean and dry.
- Avoid using recycled cubs with oily material
- Do not use glass or foam material
Preparation
This is an important part of our process as it involves precautionary actions to prevent exposure to epoxy resin. Since we already have our protective gear, we need to suit up and cover the most vulnerable parts of our bodies.
Remember, it is important to protect yourself at all costs and to ensure you work in an open or well-ventilated space. This is because epoxy resin contains chemicals that are harmful to our health. These unhealthy epoxy chemicals can cause skin allergies, asthma, irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat when overexposed to them.
- Put on the plastic apron in your possession or a long-sleeved shirt if you do not own an apron.
- Put on the mask and the eyewear to protect your nose and eyes from the fumes of the resin.
- Put on the rubber gloves to ensure your palms are safe as well.
Note
When using epoxy resin, ensure it does not come in contact with your skin, as it might be a hassle getting it off without hurting yourself. This is due to the adhesive properties it possesses that make it hard to remove unless you use vinegar or isopropyl alcohol at its uncured state.
Measuring And Mixing
You should only perform this step after protecting yourself, as advised in the previous step. At this stage, you should already know the purpose of your project and how you will use the resin you are about to mix. In this guide, we mix the epoxy resin to be used on wall art using the Squid craft resin.
Depending on the measuring tool you have, either a digital scale or plastic measuring cups, you can conduct your measurements differently.
Digital scale
- Place the mixing cup on the scale and note the measurement.
- Pour the resin to your desired amount predetermined for your particular project and note the measurement minus the cup’s weight.
- Pour the hardener into a different cup, the same amount as the resin, and add it to the mixing cup.
Measuring cups
- Pour the resin in one measuring cup to your desired capacity and note the line outlined on the cup.
- Do the same for the hardener, in a separate measuring cup to the same amount as the resin.
- Pour both the contents of these separate measuring cups into a mixing cup.
Mixing
With all your content in one mixing cup, begin mixing the resin with the hardener using the mixing stick. You should scrape the sides and the bottom of the cup to ensure the content is mixing well. Ensure a thorough mix for up to 3-4 minutes which is the ideal time it takes to mix correctly.
Application And Curing
Ensure your art is on a flat surface which will guarantee that it is levelled, and then pour the mixture onto it. As you will notice, the mixture will spread evenly across the canvas, and you will just align it properly using a brush. Bubbles will be formed, but they will pop on their own, and if not, don’t be afraid to tidy them up. The curing stage can last for up to 8 hours. Ensure your art is placed in a clutter-free area to prevent dirt and debris from contaminating your resin. At this point, you should clean up if you intend to reuse the equipment for other projects.
Now you have the basic knowledge of using epoxy resin. However, always remember to check the safe handling information labelled on the resin you purchase. Depending on your project, these tips can be tweaked to fit your preference in the long run.