If your epoxy resin hasn't cured properly, it 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.
Why is my resin still sticky?
The three most common sticky issues are:
Liquid, runny resin
This can be caused by not following the correct 1:1 mixing ratio of resin and hardener, or by adding too much colorant. The liquid resin will need to be scraped off before you pour a fresh coat.
Sticky, tacky resin
This is often caused by inaccurate measuring, not mixing thoroughly or by curing in cold temperatures. Try moving your piece to a warmer spot: if it doesn't dry, re-pour with a fresh coat of resin.
Soft, sticky spots
If you have sticky spots on an otherwise perfectly cured surface, you may have scraped out unmixed resin or hardener from the sides of your mixing container when you poured. Scrape off any liquid resin as best you can and pour a fresh coat.
Resin that remains sticky days after being poured will stay sticky indefinitely untilmeasures are taken to fix the situation. Be sure to measure and mix your resin properly, so this problem will not occur again:
- Measure ArtResin in precisely equal amounts by volume:
Adding too much of either resin or hardener will alter the chemical reaction and the mixture will not cure properly. - MixArtResin thoroughly for at least 3 minutes:
Scrape the sides and bottom of the container as you mix: improperly mixed resin stuck to the sides and bottom won't be able to catalyze and therefore won't be able to cure, leaving sticky spots in your resin that just won’t harden.
In this video, we take a closer look at the three most common sticky situations, why they happened and, most importantly, how to fix them.
Sticky Situation #1: Runny Resin
What It Looks Like:
- Liquid, runny resin
- Resin that may have thickened somewhat but is wet and gooey
Why It May Have Happened:
- You did not follow the 1:1 ratio between resin and hardener:ArtResin requires equal parts of both resin and hardener in order to cure. Adding more hardener will not make the resin cure faster or harder.
- You may have measured by weight, not volume:ArtResin was formulated to be measured in equal amounts by volume.
- You may have accidentally mixed two parts of resin or two parts of hardener:the chemical reaction requires equal parts of resin and hardener in order to harden.
- You may have added too much resin colorant:never add more than 6% of the total combined volume of resin and hardener (eg. 50ml resin + 50 ml hardener = 100 ml total would require no more than 6 ml of colorant.)
How To Fix Runny Resin Problems:
Directions:
- If you have areas with runny or gooey resin, you'll have to scrape off as much wet material as you can.
- If you don't remove all the wet material, it could eventually leak out from under the new resin coat.
- Once you've scraped your piece down, go ahead and pour a fresh coat of carefully measured and thoroughly mixed ArtResin.
Sticky Situation #2: Tacky Resin
What It Looks Like:
- The resin has started to cure but the surface is still tacky, like the sticky side of tape
Why It Happened:
- The temperature of your resin room may be too cold: the ideal temperature in which to cure resin is 75-85F or 24-30C for the first 24 hours.
- Inaccurate measuring: always measure ArtResin in precisely equal amounts, by volume.
- Under mixing: mix thoroughly for at least 3 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the mixing container as you stir.
How To Fix Tacky Resin:
- Try moving your piece to a warmer spot for 24 hours to see if it dries.
- If temperature was not an issue and your resin is simply tacky, count yourself lucky: this is the easiest fix of all 3 sticky situations. In fact, as long as you don't have any soft or wet areas (if you do, that liquidy resin needs to be scraped off) you don't need to do a thing: go ahead and pour a fresh coat of carefully measured and thoroughly mixed ArtResin directly over the entire tacky resin surface. When the fresh resin cures, you'll never know you ever had a sticky resin issue.
Sticky Situation #3:Soft Spots
What It Looks Like:
- Random soft or wet spots on an otherwise perfectly cured resin surface.
Why It May Have Happened:
- You may have scraped the sides of your mixing container after you poured: although we recommend scraping the sides and bottom of your container when you're mixing, we DON'T recommend scraping when you pour your ArtResin onto your artwork (like you might if you were scraping cake batter out of a mixing bowl and into a cake pan. )If any unmixed resin or hardener stuck to the sides gets scraped out onto your artwork, you'll end up with soft wet spots in your cured resin.
How To Fix Sticky Resin:
- Sand down perfectly cured areas with coarse sandpaper, such as 80 grit. Wipe up sanding residue with a damp paper towel.
- If you have areas with runny or gooey resin, you'll have to scrape off as much wet material as you can.If you don't remove all the wet material, it could eventually leak out from under the new resin coat.
- Once you've scraped your piece down and your piece is clear of any sanding dust, then go ahead and pour a fresh coat of carefully measured and thoroughly mixed ArtResin.
So remember .....
If You Find Yourself With Sticky Resin:
- If it's liquidy:scrape it off
- If it's tacky:leave it
- If you have areas that have cured perfectly:sand those parts down, thoroughly wiping away the sanding residue
- Leave your fresh resin coat to cure for 24 hours: your piece will look good as new!
To Avoid Sticky Resin In The First Place:
- Make sure you resin in a warm environment ( 75-85F or 24-30C is best )
- Don't add more than 6% colorant to your resin mixture
- Check the ratios and measure your resin and hardener in equal amounts by volume
- Mix your resin thoroughly for at least 3 minutes
- Scrape the sides and bottom of your mixing container as you stir
- Don't scrape when you pour
If you follow these instructions, you will end up with a beautiful, glossy, hard ArtResin finish! Leave any questions or comments below - we would love to hear from you for the curing process.
ArtResin: Made By Artists, For Artists.
FAQs
Why is my epoxy resin so runny? ›
Liquid, runny resin
This can be caused by not following the correct 1:1 mixing ratio of resin and hardener, or by adding too much colorant. The liquid resin will need to be scraped off before you pour a fresh coat.
We answer questions about sticky/uncured epoxy all the time. The number one cause we see is that the resin and hardener were not mixed together at the proper ratio. Unlike polyester resins and vinylester resins, for instance, epoxy does not cure faster by adding more hardener to the mix. It simply will not cure.
What to do when resin won't dry? ›Try adding a new layer of resin on the tacky areas and let it dry. Recoat Your Project: If your project is still having difficulty curing, we suggest sanding off the tacky surface with fine sandpaper (80-120 grit) and coating your artwork with an additional layer of resin.
Will tacky epoxy ever cure? ›You cannot leave the sticky resin, as it will not harden after time, it will remain sticky. You will have to either throw your item away or fix the problem. In order to avoid the problem all together make sure to do the following: You must measure out your resin and hardener precisely.
Why is my epoxy resin not setting hard? ›Why is my resin not hardening? Well, there are a few reasons this could be happening. If your ratio of resin to hardener is off, your resin will not harden. If the ambient temperature in your workspace isn't ideal, or if your resin mixture has been contaminated, this could also cause your resin to not cure correctly.
How long does it take for epoxy to stop being tacky? ›Thin coatings may get tacky to touch within the same day. Sometimes 6-12 hours. It can be quicker depending on the type of epoxy and temperature. In a thicker 1+" pour project, it may take 48/72 hours for tackiness to set in.
Why did my resin stay soft? ›Your resin needs more time to cure
While resin is curing, it turns semi-solid (think gelatin) but is soft and pliable. In other words, it looks like it's done curing, but it may not be. Double-check the cure time for your resin. If you're lucky, you simply need to give it more time to cure.
In most cases, the reason you have resin that bends is due to the fact that the resin needs more time to cure. After 24 hours, ArtResin will be at a 95% solidity rate. If you attempt to curve or move the resin before that 24 hour mark, the resin will likely bend.
How can I make my epoxy cure harder? ›Pro Tip: If you want your epoxy resin to cure harder, here are a few helpful tips. While mixing, let it induct heat in the container until it hits 93°F. For an accurate temperature, just use an infrared heat gun or you'll feel the cup start to get warm in your hands.
How do you force epoxy to cure? ›Use a hot air gun, heat lamp, or other heat sources to warm the resin and hardener before mixing or after the epoxy is applied. At room temperature, supplemental heat is useful when a quicker cure is desired.
How do you remove tacky resin from epoxy? ›
Gently rub the areas where epoxy needs to be removed with a clean, soft cloth dampened with an epoxy solvent, such as acetone. Keep the acetone in contact with the area to loosen the epoxy. Use enough acetone to soak into the surface a bit.
How do you fix overheated epoxy resin? ›Use an 80 grit sandpaper to remove the ripples and the dimples. At the same time, make sure you do the sanding nicely as it needs to create a “tooth” for the new layer of resin. – Clean up the sanding residue with a damp towel. Repeat this step until all the dust are taken out.
Will epoxy resin cure without hardener? ›Does epoxy resin harden without hardener? It is only when mixed with an epoxy hardener that they can undergo the chemical reaction needed to cure properly. If applied onto a floor without the hardener, the resin would remain a near liquid indefinitely and could not transform into a durable flooring system.
How do you thicken epoxy resin? ›Fillers are used to thicken epoxy for specific applications such as bonding or fairing. After selecting an appropriate filler for your job (see Filler Selection Guide), use it to thicken the epoxy mixture to the desired consistency.
How long does it take for epoxy resin to thicken? ›Sometimes 6-12 hours. It can be quicker depending on the type of epoxy and temperature. In a thicker 1+" pour project, it may take 48/72 hours for tackiness to set in. It may require a week before the project is solid (not pliable) enough to remove from a mold.
How long does it take for epoxy resin to stop dripping? ›Usually, it takes around 72 hours to fully cure the epoxy. Whatever the dry time, the resin should be allowed to fully cure before attempting to move or sand it.
How do you fix bendy epoxy resin? ›Now, how can you fix bendy resin? The good news is that this could be a very easy fix; it just requires patience. Let the resin sit for another 2 to 7 days to allow it to fully cure. Allowing the resin to cure a while longer will harden up your piece and prevent the resin from bending.
What happens if you over mix epoxy resin? ›If you mix too vigorously, you can trap air and introduce bubbles. If you're overly enthusiastic, you'll get a “foamy” epoxy that looks like whipped cream. Note that a few bubbles will appear in properly mixed epoxy.
Can you use flour to thicken epoxy resin? ›Simply mix up a batch of thin two-part epoxy and stir in some wood flour until the sticky mixture holds its shape. Apply as needed, and allow it to cure.
How do you fix a leaky epoxy? ›Tear off enough plumbing epoxy putty to fully cover the surface around the leak. Knead the putty until it is pliable enough for application. Apply the putty to the pipe. After the putty has fully cured according to the manufacturer's instructions, turn on the water flow and check for leaks.
Can you dry epoxy with a hair dryer? ›
You can use a blow dryer or hair dryer to dry your resin art fast. To do this, simply plug in the dryer and blow it directly onto your resin art. But be cautious to not blow too hard and too warm.