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Substrate contamination is the most common problem that causes fish eyes and pin holes in epoxy seal coats. Dust, dirt, wax, silicones, even the oil from your fingers when touching the part prior to sealing with epoxy will deter epoxy resins from laying flat and curing with a perfectly smooth surface.
Why is my epoxy tumbler getting fish eyes?
Fisheyes or divots are generally caused when there is not enough resin on the surface of the project for the resin to self-level. To fix this issue, you will want to ensure you add enough resin to self-level and completely cover your surface.
How do you fix epoxy dimples?
Whether your divots occurred during the pouring process of your countertops, or afterwards due to a soft cure, the solution is always to pour another coat of epoxy. You can pour directly over the previous epoxy pour within 24 hours of the first pour.
Why is my epoxy repelling?
Bare spots, or voids, happen when something sitting on the surface of your artwork and repels the ArtResin, preventing it from adhering. It could be silicon residue or even something like lotion or natural oils from your hands that transferred onto your piece when you handled it.
Why is my epoxy not leveling?
Nearly all the epoxy resins you can purchase are self-levelling. However, if you find your epoxy resin is not levelling out properly, it could mean you are using too little resin. So, if your epoxy has already cured properly, you will need to sand down the surface and apply a second coat.
How long does it take for epoxy to dry on a tumbler?
Let The Tumbler Cure: Leaving the motor running, allow the cup to continue turning until the resin is dry to the touch, approximately 18-24 hours later. Remove the tumbler from the cup turner and remove the tape. Allow the cup to continue curing – it will be fully cured at the 72 hour mark.
Do you have to sand between coats of epoxy on tumbler?
????TIP: Remember: whenever your resin is dry, you need to sand before you apply a second coat to ensure the two layers bond together. If you don’t sand, you run the risk of the two layers eventually delaminating.
How do you remove uncured epoxy?
Remove uncured or non-curing epoxy as you would spilled resin. Scrape as much material as you can from the surface using a stiff metal or plastic scraper. Warm the epoxy to lower its viscosity. Clean the residue with lacquer thinner, acetone, or alcohol.
Can you pour epoxy over cured epoxy?
Can I put another coat of epoxy over cured epoxy? Yes. Since the epoxy has cured a chemical bond is not possible so what is called a mechanical bond is needed. This simply means that the cured epoxy has to be lightly sanded before the next coat is applied: the first coat should have a matt, almost white, surface.
Why is my resin bumpy?
This problem can be caused by anything floating/falling into your resin while it cures, resulting in imperfections in the surface. If you are experiencing imperfections that look more like domed bumps in the resin, skip down to #4.
Why is my resin wavy?
Sometimes, resin components can crystallize when the kit has gotten too cold. These crystals can show up as swirls or waves in resin. Before using the kit again, gently warm it in a warm water bath. Moisture has contaminated the resin.
How do you smooth epoxy?
Wet sanding with waterproof sandpaper is often the best approach to sanding cured epoxy resin. Wet sanding removes unevenness while you are sanding, reduces clogging of the abrasive paper and drastically reduces the amount of dust emitted into the air.
How do you apply epoxy smoothly?
In short, there are two solutions for making an epoxy finish smooth. First, you may lightly sand it and apply a finishing product. Using high grit sandpaper works well for smoothing epoxy finish. Second, you may apply a top coating of epoxy to your project.
Why is my epoxy cloudy after sanding?
You sand something and add water that act/behave like a varnish thus eliminating all sanding mark… Just clear coat it with any glossy varnish and it will be transparent as wet. sanding leaves tiny little scratches that refract and diffuse light.
Can you use a hair dryer on epoxy?
Option 3: Turning a hair dryer into an epoxy dryer If there’s one thing resin bubbles can’t stand, it’s the heat. You can actually use a hair dryer to pop bubbles; however, the heat a hairdryer provides is less potent than that of a butane or propane torch.
How do you know when epoxy is cured?
The epoxy resin and hardener mixture has cured to a solid state and you can dry sand it. You will no longer be able to dent it with your thumbnail. At this point, the epoxy has reached most of its ultimate strength, so it’s fine to remove any clamps.
How long does 2 part epoxy take to dry?
Full cure of a two part epoxy can be several days. However adequate strength for further assembly, or packaging can be reached within minutes or hours. To increase full cure speed, heat can be used.
Why is my epoxy Cup sticky?
If your epoxy resin hasn’t cured properly, this means that the chemical reaction between the resin and hardener was not able to take place. Sticky resin is typically caused by inaccurate measuring or under mixing. Try moving your piece to a warmer spot: if it doesn’t dry, re-pour with a fresh coat of resin.
How do you clean epoxy after sanding?
Cleaning and Sanding Your Resin. Use soap and warm water to clean your resin piece, if necessary. Dip a sponge in warm, soapy water and scrub your resin with it to clean it. Make sure you’ve removed any dirt, grime, or mold from the piece before you begin sanding it.
How many coats of epoxy does a tumbler need?
It does depend on what you’re creating, but the average is 2-3 coats. To properly seal all the layers beneath, we recommend using a topcoat of your resin. For a sparkling finish, you can mix in glitter from our friends at Alumilite to realize your epoxy glitter tumbler vision.
How do you get bubbles out of epoxy after it dries?
Yes, you CAN get rid of bubbles after your resin has dried! Simply sand down the entire surface of your piece, making sure you pay special attention to the areas with bubbles. Wipe away all the sanding residue with a damp paper towel. Apply a fresh coat of carefully measured and mixed ArtResin epoxy resin.
