How to properly seal wood with clear epoxy resin.
Anyone who loves working epoxy resin with wooden items, such as slabs or boards has probably experienced some challenges. Once the materials are brought into contact one major risk is the formation of bubbles. If you do not pay attention to the preparation phase, the final result will be irredeemably compromised. Instead of embedding the wood, it will seem that you have drowned the artifact in resin. How to avoid such a disaster?
The first step is to apply a quality Transparent Epoxy Resin. We will never stop repeating this. Wasting time and money is a luxury few can afford. Resinpro “Multipurpose” resins are ideal for this application, given their excellent mechanical strength and ability to maintain their characteristics, even when subjected to high temperatures.
Another aspect to consider is the state of the wood prior to casting. It must be dry and not in its raw state to allow the pores to saturate. Where practical it is best to sand the wood with sandpaper, starting from a grain of 80 up through 120, 240, and 320, to clean the surface well.
Bubbles burst on contact with hot air, so one of the most frequent methods of eliminating them is the use of a common torch.
In order to block each pore, apply Multipurpose catalyzed resin with a brush, taking care to apply layers to the underside of the wood, and the base of the forms, with a thickness of at least 2-3 mm. This avoids the formation of bubbles under the wood where the hot air cannot reach it adequately and discovery of an unwelcome surprise when things are done.
Whether you choose to use it unpigmented for an elegant effect, or give the work a touch of liveliness by mixing in pigments, the hardened resin is ideal for the finishing phase, but also to protect the processed wood.
In summary, here are the 3 mistakes to avoid during the processing phase if you want to achieve a satisfactory result in the saturation of the wood pores:
- Working on damp wood;
- Not cleaning the surface with compressed air, especially the parts of the wood where there are holes;
- Neglecting to apply the Multipurpose resin layer on the wood, the underside and on the base of forms before inserting the wooden object.
If, after following this guidance you still have issues with bubbles ResinPro experts are available to answer questions on the subject.
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