Here are some of the consequences of using solvents as epoxy thinners: What is Denatured Alcohol? To thin the epoxy by heating, use a hairdryer. In this article, we will be guiding you through the process of thinning epoxy and of what to expect and look out for during the process. These two solvents have very few differences and as such are interchangeable for use as an epoxy thinner. Warming it will alter the viscosity of ArtResin, making it more runny and greatly decreasing the bubbles. Your Go-To Guide for start working with Epoxy Resin. The warm wood begins to cool down and the epoxy will be drawn into the wood and start to thicken. Polyester resin is recommended for use with fiberglass repairs that are above the water line on boats and also on other dry-surface fiberglass forms such as auto bodies and models. In this article, we will be guiding you through the process of how to thin epoxy resin correctly. You want to get right to the fun stuff. Copyright© This will allow the epoxy to flow much easier, especially with things like partly rotten wood, helping it to penetrate the porous surface. On our blog you will find exciting tutorials, reviews and inspirations. Thanks . Most of the time spritzing your resin with a little bit of alcohol will get rid of those bubbles for you! The heat of the water combined with the conductivity of the metal can will allow the epoxy resin to become much thinner. My husband and I are remodeling a bathroom in our basement. All rights reserved. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Fill a bathtub or bucket with very hot water; use boiling water if possible for best results. Normal off-the-shelf 2-part epoxy will thin with isopropyl alcohol, but you have to be VERY careful to add and mix in drops, not squirts. You can use this process for the epoxy resin. The same idea applies to epoxy resin. Thinning epoxy also makes it much easier to brush or roll onto your surface, and fiberglass material is more easily saturated. You can also use Thin Viscosity for some of your casting if you are doing it in thin layers. Thinning it with anything will make it even more brittle and weaker than it would be to begin with. Anyone who’s had a bottle of Myrrh or Vetiver essential oil for awhile knows how difficult it can be to get those oils to drip out of the bottle, as they thicken over time. I was thinking I could use some paint thinner to thin it a bit and restore it. Make sure that when your epoxy cures it does not overheat, then all the physical properties of your epoxy will remain constant. Then, let the mold sit for around 3 hours until the resin becomes tacky. Overview. So, you need to plan and have things ready when needed. For faster kicks let the epoxy resin mix sit for a few minutes before pouring. Fill a bathtub or bucket with very hot water; use boiling water if possible for best results. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". How to mix it for your epoxy? Take a big enough container and fill it with boiling water, then take the epoxy resin container and immerse it in the hot water. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be It's properties also allow you to thin the epoxy more without as much detriment to its protective nature. View our Privacy Policy here. It is for this reason that they are interchangeable for the purpose of thinning out epoxy resin. An acceptable mixing ratio is 15 to 20% of the volume, which means that you take 30 fluid ounces of epoxy and mix it with 2 fluid ounces of solvent. Getting Ready to Use Epoxy Resin Wear protective equipment and work in a well-ventilated space. We do have thinner viscosity resins than the Regular Alumilite at 190 cps. Unlike epoxy resin, you … Thinning the resin itself could help a lot in the elimination of air bubbles when mixing. The flange clamp split and is leaking. However, if you use the solvent method, which is much easier and quicker, you run the risk of drastically reducing your cured epoxies moisture resistance and strength. The best way to thin out ArtResin epoxy resin is to place the unopened bottles in a warm water bath before you mix. Start your journey with Epoxy Resin the most efficient way and create stunning Resin pieces – what are you waiting for? home improvement and repair website. The following article will show you how to do this correctly so you can get the best, more thorough coverage whenever you use this resin. Learn creating fascinating Resin Arts and Crafts within minutes. Mix another batch of resin with less acetone than the first batch. How much do you use? If you are unsure what drying time and curing time mean, this article explains more: How long does it take resin to dry? Solvents like denatured alcohol, lacquer thinners and acetone. This method for thinning epoxy is the best option, as it will not weaken the material in any way. Heating is, by far, the best method for thinning epoxy resin as it doesn't actually weaken the substance in the slightest. Some people said to mix styrene monomer to the resin. Unfortunatley, the place were I get my stuff (resin, bla Next, apply the float coats, this is the same product as your seal coat. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent The epoxy resin itself, as well as the container, should be handled without burning yourself. If you choose to thin the two-part epoxy with a solvent, think about whether it is necessary first. To thin Epoxy Resin simply means that you lower the viscosity. Mix this in the same way as paint thinner or acetone, but at a ratio of about 15 to 20 percent instead. oops! … Step 3 Add 2 percent catalyst to the bucket of thinned resin and thoroughly stir it together with a stir stick. However, just pop it into the microwave for a couple of seconds and the viscosity becomes low enough to be able to pour it. Including several detailed tutorials for your first projects.