12
votes
What can I use to slow down the curing of 2-part epoxy?
This is a bit of a frame challenge, but honestly the solution is to buy slow epoxy in the first place.
The difficulty is that consumer products seem to have divided into fast, unusable after a few ...
- 6,594
8
votes
Curing non-UV epoxy resin with a UV light?
Short answer: UV light won't affect the cure of non-UV resin. Strong UV may even discolor or degrade some types of non-UV resin.
Longer Answer
UV-curing resin works on a different mechanism. A one-...
- 11.5k
8
votes
Accepted
Giving epoxy resin an opaque color
I agree with Chris H's answer, and titanium dioxide powder is one of the best solutions (it's the go-to white pigment in most things; it's what is likely coloring the white acrylic paint, so you would ...
- 11.5k
8
votes
Are there every-day substances that can be used to color 2-component epoxy adhesive?
Consider using sawdust. You can pack a considerable amount of dry filler materials into epoxy without it losing its adhesive properties. This not only colors the epoxy the same shade as the wood (it ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
8
votes
What can I use to slow down the curing of 2-part epoxy?
Epoxy comes in different speeds
Of course, "5-minute epoxy" is what people go for, because it benefits from advertising. I actually use the West System 105 family, which is closer to 500 ...
7
votes
Accepted
How to dry out epoxy resin faster than usual?
To cure them more quickly you can either:
use heat lamps or an electric heater over your resin pieces
raise the temperature of the room they are in to say, 75 - 85°F / 24 - 30°C.
If you do ...
- 644
7
votes
Giving epoxy resin an opaque color
In general, water-based products and epoxy don't mix well, and normal acrylics are water-based.
Instead I'd try stirring in titanium dioxide powder (titanium white pigment). You probably wouldn't need ...
- 6,594
6
votes
Accepted
How to dye or tint epoxy resin to produce translucent colors?
You need something that's soluble in the liquid epoxy, or possibly a liquid that's miscible with it. Water isn't miscible with epoxy, and if you try too hard to mix it you'll produce cloudiness. I ...
- 6,594
6
votes
Accepted
Is epoxy a reasonable adhesive choice for repairing pottery?
epoxy seems like a reasonable choice
Epoxies are really versatile and can give very strong results. It would have been the first thing I considered as well.
since there are some gaps of around 1mm ...
- 11k
6
votes
Can I use epoxy to stabilize/restore 18th century giant pottery?
I'm not a conservator, so I cannot give you a definite answer. And the answer will depend on the value of the object. If this is a rare remnant of history, do not attempt any restoration and let a ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
6
votes
Accepted
How to care for large epoxy tables and counters?
Some kinds of epoxy are not suited for any storage or work surface. There are special products marketed specifically for the purpose of coating counter tops or tables. The problems listed below are ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
6
votes
Epoxy resin won't dry and remains sticky
2-part epoxy must always be mixed in the correct ratio.
The chemical components of 2-part epoxy are designed to bond with each other. Each unbound component is liquid, but as soon as they bond, they ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
5
votes
How to dye or tint epoxy resin to produce translucent colors?
I've done this myself successfully with alcohol inks. I use the ones from Ranger; Piñata's inks are likely to work as well.
Avoid Sharpies as they tend to fade and change color over to time. I know ...
5
votes
Accepted
How can I make molded fake dirt?
Why not use real dirt?
You can buy (or find) potting soil quite easily, which is relatively 'clean'.
An alternative is coffee grounds. To make it as dark as regular soil, you can add a little black ...
- 10.5k
5
votes
Can I mix acrylic paints into resin?
Yes, you can mix acrylic paint into resin (I assume you mean epoxy resin), but the results may wary from paint to paint.
The general rules apply:
You can mix wet ingredients (paints, inks) up to 10% ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
5
votes
Will two-part epoxy casting resin melt Lego?
Lego is ABS, which can have a range of melting points melts up to 200°C*. We should consider the lower end of the range just in case, which is often quoted as 105°C. Your resin shouldn't get that hot ...
- 6,594
5
votes
What is the maximum amount of time I should leave between resin layer?
Resins differ but most recommend that you apply additional layers when the previous layer is firm but tacky to the touch. This can be minutes to hours after an initial pour but usually less than 24 ...
- 3,235
5
votes
Is there a type of ink that dissolves in epoxy resin?
I've tried with some pens. I don't have casting epoxy, only slow epoxy glue (Araldite precision), but it's enough to demonstrate a problem or two within a few hours.
A water-based overhead projector ...
- 6,594
5
votes
Are there every-day substances that can be used to color 2-component epoxy adhesive?
In the past I've suggested titanium dioxide powder for opaque white epoxy. That's pretty specialised and would need to be ordered.
If there's really no time for that, it looks like baking soda works.
...
- 6,594
5
votes
What is this thing on top of my bucket of resin?
The lid to the pouring spout :) I know them from cans of turpentine. Those two plastic semi-circles can be lifted to give a better grip when unscrewing the lid.
This picture gives a better ...picture:
...
- 10.5k
5
votes
What are some inexpensive alternatives to epoxy resin for diorama water effects?
Something inexpensive that comes to mind is "fake glass" made from sugar. This is what is often used for prop windows and bottles. You can color it or put a clear layer over a painted ...
- 11.5k
4
votes
Create large objects from epoxy
Changing the door is going to be much easier than making a sink/basin from scratch. By far the simplest way is using a pelmet and sliding door on the outside of the bathroom.
However, if you are ...
- 623
4
votes
Create large objects from epoxy
A sink like that is more complex than it appears. The factory that makes it has invested in precision molds that get reused to make it cost effective. There are hidden parts like the overflow ...
- 11.5k
4
votes
Ways to cast a rod shape out of resin?
So assuming you want it solid and not hollow. I really think the comment Chris H made about the pre-cast acrylic rod would be a much better option financially and structurally.
If you do want to go ...
- 146
4
votes
Accepted
Will commercially produced soap coated in epoxy resin last?
Once epoxy resin is cured, it's extremely stable and resilient against mechanical and chemical damage. It's impossible to dissolve cured resin in water, so your soap is well protected.
Adding water ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
4
votes
How can I make molded fake dirt?
Model train enthusiasts have to be creative to get the results they desire. Some of them can be really demanding, so I jumped out on the 'net to see how they do it.
One site, cs.trains.com suggests ...
- 7,231
4
votes
Comparison: epoxy resin vs. glass
About a year ago, I created a epoxy resin based river table for my dining room involving a couple of live-edged oak panels joined by a river made from several hundred dollars worth of metallic blue ...
- 3,235
4
votes
Too Much Alcohol Ink, Overshooting the Color Too Dark
The best advice I can give you is to mix the ink with the hardener first, and then mix the tinted hardener with the epoxy. If you have epoxy that uses very little hardener (like "add 10 drops of ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
4
votes
Accepted
Can two-part epoxy casting resin be diluted?
The miniature sealed inside implies you want clear resin so you can see the miniature (not a secret miniature that someone would take your word is in there). For this requirement, there really isn't ...
- 11.5k
4
votes
Accepted
Rock Tumble Epoxy
You can definitely mix the quartz waste with epoxy. In fact, it can be mostly waste, with just enough epoxy to bind it together. Mix thoroughly so all of the quartz is covered with epoxy and there ...
- 11.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible