How can I have less bubbles in my epoxy projects?
When mixing the epoxy resin and hardener...
Preheating resin prior to use can reduce viscosity and reduce bubbles. Fill your kitchen sink with WARM water. Let container stand in water for 15 mins. This will greatly reduce viscosity. Be aware, this heat will speed up cure cycles also.
The more volume of mixture you have in a pot, the more chemical reaction. This creates heat. To reduce the heat, mix the product efficiently within 3-5 minutes. The longer it stays in a pot the more heat. More volume = more heat. More heat will not only create more microbubbles but it can make the cure brittle like glass.
When mixing, always pour the resin into the hardener. Adding resin into the hardener reduces bubbles and ensures all parts of the resin are mixed appropriately. Hand stir components for a minimum of 3-5 minutes in a round fashion. Stir slowly to help avoid air bubbles. Make sure to scrape the sides and the bottom of the mixing container. It is very important that the 2 components are properly mixed.
Let mixed components stand in a mixing cup for 3-5 minutes. This will allow for any bubbles to rise to the surface. A torch or alcohol spray can be used to alleviate bubbles at this time.
Also, we have special formulations that naturally have fewer bubbles like Liquid Diamonds.