Epoxy Working Tips

Epoxy Clean Up

Epoxy work can be messy very messy and clean up after can be major work. Here are a few things I have found that helps when working with epoxy. 

1.      Mix well

2.      Get good coverage of epoxy over the surface you are putting together.

3.      I you are doing a large area use a big cup to mix in and work from.

4.      Do not over clamp.

5.      Scrape off excess while it is still workable

Use the recommended proportions of resin and hardener the maker says to. If you do not and if you do not mix well it may not set, it may set to fast or you may get hard and soft spots. So MIX WELL!.

Make sure you get good coverage when you apply it. No air gaps. The epoxy will fill small holes and gaps and it may soak in to soft porous surfaces.

You can extend the work time if after mixing the batch you work out of a pan with a large surface area. This lets the heat of the chemical reaction to dissipate and it hardens more slowly. Also keep the cup you mixed it up in. You can check the cup after it sets to see if it really did set all the way.

When you clamp parts together, do not over tighten. Just tighten till you get just a little squeeze out. It is not like the old wood glues you need to tighten down hard. The epoxy strength is in the thin surface you get between the mating surfaces.

After clamping scrape off excess squeeze out. It makes final sand off and cleanup much easier. A neat trick after it has hardened for clean it up is to first use a heat gun and scraper. You can scrape off a lot this way before sanding and the sand paper will not fill as fast.

Good old cheap vinegar also helps clean sticky stuff off your hands and body parts. Then use soap and water. You will smell a little like a salad, but that is not so bad. 8-)