The Best Epoxy Resin for Wood (river tables, countertops,…)

Woodworkers often use epoxy resins to give wooden bar counters or tabletops a high-quality, glossy coating. They are also widely used by talented craftsmen and women who use epoxy resin to create the most amazing wooden art pieces like river tables.

This article will take you through each of the best epoxy resins for wood the market offers and discuss their pros and cons.

If you’re on the lookout for an epoxy resin for your woodworking project but don’t have the time to read this entire article, here are the most important things to consider when shopping for epoxy:

• How long it takes to cure: It shouldn’t cure too slowly, or your project will take ages to finish. But it also shouldn’t cure too quickly; it needs to give you time to apply it everywhere (especially on big projects) and make adjustments if needed.
• Product quality: Is the resin crystal clear? Do the bubbles go away easily? Does it create a lot of amine blush? How hard is it once cured?
• Environmental endurance: Depending on your project, you may need your epoxy resin to be UV-resistant, heat-resistant, food-safe, VOC-free, etc.

And here is our Top 3:

If you want to know more, here’s our full Epoxy Resin for Wood Buyer’s Guide:

We’ll kick this list off with a reliable choice from ProMarine. ProMarine’s clear tabletop epoxy resin is ideal for even the hardest-wearing surfaces. Whether it be a bar countertop or river table, ProMarine’s epoxy resin will leave your wood looking crystal clear. 

Like many wood-working resins, Pro Marine is self-leveling, which means you won’t have much trouble getting a consistently smooth surface when using it. This is another feature that makes this epoxy resin an excellent choice for beginners, along with the fact that the product behaves very consistently.

For the artistically minded, this resin works well with dyes or other pigments to make beautiful, vibrant coatings over wooden objects like skateboards, tables, or coasters

While this resin is predominantly used on wood, it offers more than enough versatility to be used with other materials too. You can apply it to virtually any surface. 

The clear tabletop resin is made from a mixture containing 100% solids. As a result, it also boasts impressive color stability and air release. Meeting FDA guidelines, preparing food on a surface coated in this resin will never be an issue either. 

It can take up to 72 hours to cure, and as such, is not the best choice for casting very large objects, as the middle may not cure as fast as the outer layers. However, this product is great for river tables and countertops since it’s completely food-safe once cured. 

Also available at: Promarinesupplies.com

Their two-part formula comes in bottles containing 1 gallon of epoxy resin. This is more than enough to get most projects complete.

Your finished project will be resistant to scratches, stains, and moisture. The resin is protected against amide blush as well, so it won’t turn yellow as some lower-quality products do.

This Resin has a fast curing time which means you can apply it in multiple layers to get a thick seal over your wooden surface. As such, you can slowly build up the layers of RTG to create items that are thicker than the maximum pour depth of 1/8 in. One trick you can do is to place a small object between the layers so that once the resin cures, it will appear as though they are floating.

One thing worth knowing about this product is that the fast drying time means you will need to be quick when manipulating it. This makes it a difficult product to use for beginners who may want a resin that gives them a bit more time for leveling and removing air bubbles. However, this may not be too much of an issue since this resin is self-leveling and won’t require much effort to get a perfectly smooth surface.

Due to its fast hardening time, it is not recommended to use RTG for casting large objects. If you do want to do this, you will have to increase the size of your cast incrementally, which can be quite difficult to do. It is important to note that while this resin hardens fast, it is still worth waiting at least 24 hours to ensure it has been fully cured

We were very impressed with this, as it is something not many resin brands offer. The only negative we could find with the resin is that it isn’t intended for outside use as it can’t cope with hot temperatures.

This epoxy resin cures very fast, meaning you can easily apply it in layers to create wonderful 3D effects. If you wait longer than 12 hours to apply a second coat, then the first layer will have already hardened, however, this is easily overcome by lightly sanding the original coat. This isn’t the best epoxy resin for making large or deep casts, since it only has a maximum pour depth of 1/8″.

While it will still take up to 7 days to completely cure, (which is standard for most epoxy resins), this product will be hard to touch after only 12 hours. It is blemish resistant, which means that you may not have to worry about removing Amine blush from this product. That said, you may still get a small amount of blush when working with this product at a low temperature below 77 °F.

As well as being resistant to UV and water, this resin produces practically no odor or VOC, which means it is very safe to work with. It also produces minimal bubbles while it is hardening, which means you won’t have to spend as much time with a hairdryer getting air out of your coating.

While this epoxy resin is food-safe once fully cured, it is not a high heat product, which means you should always use coasters or heatproof mats when placing hot cups or plates on it.

Also available at: Incrediblesolutionsonline.com

MAS is a professional product that is still very easy to use for beginners. It cures reasonably fast and, at the right temperature, will be hard to touch after 8 hours. However, it is recommended to wait at least a full day before sanding and adding subsequent coats, especially when working with deep pours.

That said, this resin can be applied in layers as thick as 1/4″, which makes it a good product for artistic projects like river tables. While it isn’t a self-leveling resin like many of the others we have looked at, it comes with a plastic spreader and foam brush to help you get an even coating. This resin is compatible with most dyes or pigments and is therefore suitable for those who want to create artistic finishes for their tables or countertops.

After coating your wooden tabletop or bar counter in this epoxy resin, you can expect vibrant, smooth results with solid resistance from general wear and tear, scratching, and scuffing. We have the resin’s high gloss formula to thank for that.

One issue with this product is that it is very heat sensitive, and, therefore, will go yellow and soft when exposed to objects above a certain temperature. As such, if you want to use it to seal a dining room table, you will need to use a heatproof mat for placing hot dishes or cups on this resin. Aside from this, though, you can rely on MAS to create a durable and long-lasting coating for any surface in your home.

Also available at: Maxepoxies.com

If you need a solid indoor epoxy resin that can be used for a wide range of projects, this epoxy from TotalBoat is your best option.

The fact this resin is ideal for indoor use may surprise you, considering it comes from TotalBoat – a brand that specializes in working with outdoor water products. However, it is what it is. 

When we reviewed TotalBoat’s epoxy resin, we were thrilled with what we found. For starters, we would consider this resin to be top-tier.

Despite its cheaper price tag, it easily competes with the more expensive brands of resin. Secondly, it is incredibly versatile. No matter what your project is, you can all but guarantee that this resin will work.

Finally, this epoxy resin offers unparalleled resistance to a variety of factors that would cause major problems with other resin products. When it comes to resistance, the most impressive thing about this epoxy is that it is 100% waterproof. That is more than we can say for any other resin on this list.

We also found this formula to be one of the best at preventing bubbles and blushes. Overall, there’s nothing we don’t like about this epoxy resin. We love how it finishes a beautiful tabletop.

Also available at: Totalboat.com

You might not have heard of this brand of epoxy resin, but if you want a fast-curing, budget-friendly epoxy resin, they offer the perfect product for you.

It is clear that East Coast Resin has carefully thought about the essentials of an epoxy resin. They’ve then put all of that into a reliable, effective resin.

In terms of speed, this epoxy resin is tough to beat, offering the user a 30-minute drying time and a cure time of up to 20 hours. For context, that is a whopping 52 hours less than ProMarine’s clear tabletop epoxy resin.

This fast curing time is the resin’s most significant selling point. However, that’s not all. The East Coast epoxy resin also offers high levels of UV protection, water resistance, self-leveling, a high gloss finish, and no odor.

Together, these factors make this epoxy resin one of the best on the market.
The only downside we could find with this resin is that the application process can be tricky. If you don’t prepare your resin correctly, there is a high chance you might end up with bubbles in your final finish.

Also available at: Eastcoastresin.com

If you’re looking for the easiest epoxy resin to use on a wooden tabletop or bar top, Epox-It 80 clear epoxy resin is probably your best option.

Made in the United States with fresh resin, this epoxy formula protects your surfaces from water, UV lights, and blushing.

It produces a crystal-like clear finish that is also very impact-resistant, making it perfect for busy areas like a bar.

As if that wasn’t enough, this resin is also odorless, eco-friendly, and food-safe.

With a working time of 45 minutes, you can work with larger objects without difficulty.

While the most popular of these installations are bar tops and tabletops, you can also use this epoxy resin with no problems when making a river table, art piece, and jewelry.

Also available at: Specialityresin.com

Next, we have the epoxy resin manufactured by ArtResin. If you haven’t already guessed, this epoxy resin is for artists.

If you want to create wooden table tops or wooden sculptures, this could well be the resin for you.

This resin doesn’t only work with wood, so if you need an art resin that offers versatility for a wide range of art projects, this one is a great choice.

Perfect for 3-dimensional art, ArtResin has formulated this product to be very easy to cast, which means it will offer accuracy and control over the resin.

The formula is also self-leveling so creating that smooth, glossy appearance isn’t too difficult either.
In terms of safety and durability, this epoxy resin performs quite well. It is certified food-safe, non-toxic, non-flammable, and contains no fumes or BPA.

Regarding durability, this strong epoxy resin resists yellowing and offers UV protection. This will ensure your masterpiece stays perfect for years to come.

We were pleased with most aspects of this product, except its price–it’s pretty expensive.

Also available at: Artresin.com

Manufactured by Magic Resin, the Deep Pour Epoxy Resin provides all we should expect from a high-quality product: It is 

• strong, 
• durable,
• clear,
• shiny,
• food-safe, 
• U.V.-resistant
• scratching-resistant,
• blushing-resistant, 
• bubble-free, 
• VOC-free
• and water-proof!

You can deep pour this epoxy up to 2 inches, which makes it ideal for river tables. If you need more than 2 inches, you need to pour multiple layers. There are 2 ways to do this while ensuring adhesion between the layers:

1. Leave a layer to dry for 18 to 24 hours before pouring the next–no more, no less.
2. Let the layer cure for 72 hours, and sand it before applying the next.

Because it is a low-viscosity epoxy, you will easily achieve a bubble-free result, making it great for beginners who never worked with epoxy before. Low viscosity also means it will fill every small crevice.

Its mixing ratio is 2:1. For every measurement of hardener you add, you pour in twice as much resin. After you mix the two components, you have an hour to apply the resin. It will take 48 hours to dry and 72 hours to reach its maximal strength, so make sure you can leave whatever you’re working on for this long.

One more thing: this product is made in the U.S.

Also available at: Magicresin.com

It’s important to note that this resin won’t glow in the dark right from the bucket. You need to add the Glow in the Dark Paint from the same brand to get this magical effect.

As you can probably already tell from its name, this epoxy resin was designed with art in mind. It could easily be argued that this is the best resin on the market for artistic expression.

If you produce artwork using resin, be sure to check this epoxy resin out!

Another clear epoxy resin, the Art’ N Glow resin, delivers on its name. Making life super easy, this resin will help you take your wooden art pieces to a new level. It’s easy to apply, dries hard, and works well with a wide range of materials.

What else does any budding artist need?

Even though Art’ N Glow has designed this resin with woodwork in mind, it can also be used when working with rock, paper, canvas, stone, granite, ceramic, and concrete. This makes it an even better option for artists that work with a variety of different materials.

You could easily use the resin to coat resin paintings, countertops, tabletops, bar stools, and jewelry. If you like making more unique creations, why not use it to make figurines? 

When we reviewed this resin, we loved how it can be used to make glowing pieces. We also loved how easily it can be colored using pearl powder.

Superclear is advertised as an art resin; as such, you can use it for projects that require a deeper pour, such as river tables. This means that it works well with pigments and other coloring agents to create vibrant and intricate patterns. Its self-leveling properties and fast hardening time make it highly suitable for sealing tables, countertops, and other wooden surfaces.

As its name suggests, this resin is crystal clear and can be used for casting objects and preserving them in translucent blocks. It also prevents any colors you add from becoming distorted or lost as the resin cures. Once it has fully cured, the product has high UV resistance, which means it won’t gradually turn yellow in sunlight.

Superclear is a mass-dependent product, which means you shouldn’t mix up more than half a gallon at any one time. If you do, the reaction between the resin and the hardener will generate heat, causing it to cure faster and giving you less time to manipulate and work with it.

Remember to always wear a respirator when working with this product, as it does produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) once the reaction between the two components begins.

Also available at SuperEpoxySystems

The Stone Coat Epoxy is great for wooden kitchen counters because it is heat-resistant up to 470°F, but don’t leave a very hot plate on it, as it’s only for “incidental contact”.

This product takes a very long time to fully cure, and as such is not appropriate for deep casts that are more than 1/8 inches in thickness. As such, it isn’t the best for more artistic projects and will work best for sealing surfaces. It forms a crystal clear gloss that will show up the grain of your hardwood floor beautifully.

The final epoxy resin on this list is the crystal clear epoxy resin from Zdspoxy. Available at an amazing price, this epoxy resin is both affordable and reliable. It also happens to be one of the best epoxy resins on the market regarding self-leveling.

More often than not, manufacturers hype up the self-leveling properties of their epoxy resins. From what we’ve seen, this isn’t the case with Zdspoxy. Promising total coverage when applied properly, we found the self-leveling properties of this epoxy resin worked perfectly. 

Thanks to these self-leveling properties, the resin left us with a smooth, rather unique finish. Made in Germany, this resin is of high quality. It has no odor, produces no smoke, contains no VOC, and continuously offers consistently good performance. 

We love the clear, glossy finish it provides. We found that the finish gave the wood a shine but still showed off its natural grain. 

As if that wasn’t enough, the Zdspoxy epoxy resin is resistant to blushing, bubbles, water, scratching, heat, UV rays, and yellowing. This makes the resin one of the most resistant on the market. 

To well and truly top things off, the Zdspoxy resin offers strong adhesion and a more eco-friendly formula.

Buyer’s Guide 

When making a final decision in regards to which epoxy resin you need to buy, there are a number of key things to take into account. For example, you need to take curing time and durability into consideration. 

If you don’t take key factors like this into consideration, you could quite easily buy an epoxy resin that doesn’t suit the type of project you plan on completing. 

To make sure you don’t buy the wrong epoxy resin, we’ve put together a small buyer’s guide. In this buyer’s guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about each important factor.

Durability

Apart from making tabletops, art projects, and bar counters look incredibly beautiful, epoxy resins are designed to make materials more durable and resistant to scratches, punctures, fading, and rotting. 

Therefore, it is important to find an epoxy resin that offers reliable and strong durability features. You can see how well a resin performs in relation to durability by simply reading the product description and other user reviews.

Usually, epoxy resins that are thick, offer UV protection, and water resistance, and also have scratch-resistant features are the best resins to look at. These features guarantee durability.

Even if you aren’t buying an epoxy resin for its durability and simply want to make an art project look more unique, you should still always look for a resin that’s both durable and strong. It only makes sense as you probably won’t have to spend any extra money and will be left with an art project that will last a lifetime. 

Viscosity

If you’re new to working with epoxy resin there’s a fair chance you won’t know much about viscosity. If you’re experienced when it comes to working with epoxy resin, you should at least have some knowledge about what viscosity is and how it affects things.

For those that don’t know, viscosity is the scientific way of describing the thickness of a gel substance or liquid. Epoxy resin sits somewhere between both of those things. In terms of where it sits on the spectrum, this will vary from product to product. 

The reason viscosity varies from product to product is because manufacturers produce a wide range of epoxy resins for different jobs. There is no one size fits all. A high viscosity epoxy resin will be much thicker than a low viscosity epoxy resin. 

With that in mind, you need to choose an epoxy resin that has the right thickness for your project. 

If you were to choose a thicker epoxy resin, you’ll be left with a resin that is shinier and richer in appearance. You also won’t be able to finish your project as quickly.

If you were to layer this resin too quickly, it will be hard for the air bubbles to escape before the resin dries. You should never add more than 1 centimeter of high viscosity epoxy resin at a time. 

If you were to choose a thinner resin instead, you won’t be left with the same visual effects. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as you might seek a more natural finish.

You can also add thicker layers when working with a lower viscosity resin. This will keep overall work time down.

Drying Time

Drying time is incredibly important when it comes to finding the best epoxy resin for your project. An epoxy resin’s drying time is essentially a measure of your overall working time.

Because epoxies vary so much and use such a wide range of hardeners, their drying times also vary massively.

When picking the best product for your project, you need to think about how much time you have and how much time you’ll need. 

For example, if you’re working on something quite artistic like a river table, you’ll probably benefit more from an epoxy resin with a longer drying time.

This will give you more time to work with the material and manipulate it. For simpler projects that don’t require too much shaping etc, you’re going to benefit more from an epoxy resin that dries a lot quicker. 

On top of that, you also need to think about the shape of your project. If you’re working on an object that has a semi-vertical or vertical plane, shorter drying times are essential. Without a short drying time, the epoxy resin will run and drip. 

Curing Time

Like drying time, curing time is also super important because it impacts how long it takes for the epoxy resin to be fully set.

Epoxy resins with a longer cure time take longer to set which isn’t great if you need to get the task done quickly. However, they are also workable for longer which might suit artists who need to work with the resin more accurately.

If you simply want to pour the resin on, smooth it out, and wait for it to cure, we recommend choosing a resin that sets quickly. Some resins are capable of drying after 20 hours, while others take up to 72 hours to dry.

With this in mind, think about how much time you have to get the project done and what you need from the epoxy resin. 

One thing we will say is that epoxy resins with a longer cure time do have more chance of accumulating dirt and dust before they set.

It is also important to remember the three different types of curing times. We’ve listed these for you below:

The first type of curing time is how long it takes for your epoxy to harden to the point where it can be touched. 

The next curing time is the length of time you need to wait until you can apply another coat.

Finally, the third type of curing time is the amount of time it takes before the coated surface can be used for any purpose.

Toxicity

For obvious reasons, it is important to determine how toxic any product is before you use it. This is also the case with epoxy resins.

When picking the epoxy resin that suits your project best, not only should you look at how quick it dries and how thick it is, but you should also look at the product’s toxicity.

How important this is to you will depend on your project. Therefore, you need to consider how the end product will be used. The reason for this is pretty simple.

If your project is an art installation, its toxicity isn’t as important as it is if your project is a kitchen countertop. This is because things like cutting boards, river tables, and countertops have to be food-safe.

If people are going to eat from an epoxy resin surface or prepare food on one, it needs to be perfectly safe and free from any toxins and chemicals. You can easily identify a food-safe epoxy resin by reading the label. The label should state whether the resin is food-safe or not.

You can also keep an eye out for certain ingredients. For example, most epoxies are made using Epichlorohydrin and Bisphenol-A. Both of these substances aren’t safe. Epichlorohydrin is even toxic. There are a number of health concerns associated with the use of Bisphenol-A in food products.

You should also avoid epoxy resins that contain carbolic acid. This is a substance commonly used in weedkillers. For obvious reasons, you don’t want this near your food.

Aside from a food-grade safe label, we also advise looking out for a BPA product.

Yellowing

One of the biggest concerns people have with epoxy is yellowing. This is a particularly major concern for individuals that use epoxy resin for artistic projects. Despite most manufacturers focusing heavily on producing clear epoxy resins that don’t have any color, not every resin will stay that way.

Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon for most epoxy resins to start yellowing. In fact, over time, virtually every epoxy resin will start to yellow. Whilst this is extremely frustrating, by purchasing the best epoxy resin we can avoid this from happening too soon if not altogether.

Like most things, if an epoxy resin isn’t made to a high standard it won’t last as long. You may even find product reviews stating that yellowing occurred almost immediately. Sadly, this is something manufacturers will try to cover up. 

Some manufacturers will even claim that their epoxy resin uses a “non-yellowing formula”, when in fact they don’t. 

Taking this into account is very important when making your purchase. Before making any purchase, you should first carefully read product reviews. If there is a yellowing problem with that specific resin, it will soon become clear to you.

It’s worth noting that yellowing might not be a problem for you. If you only need an epoxy resin for a repair project, the yellowing might not even be visible once the resin has dried and cured. If appearance is a non-issue, don’t worry about this.

Protections

While the vast majority of epoxy resins are durable and strong, there are still a handful of epoxy resins that simply don’t offer enough protection. If you want an epoxy resin to protect something and make it more durable, you seriously need to think about just how much protection the resin will offer.

Generally speaking, most epoxy resins work well, giving us more than enough protection to keep our furniture, flooring, countertops, and art projects safe from superficial damage and impact. These are the epoxy resins that steal the headlines. Picking one of these resins out will ensure your materials last longer. 

The reason these epoxies are so good is that they have been designed to offer protection against a range of different things. For example, most effective epoxy resins offer protection against general wear and tear, UV radiation, and the elements.

These are the types of protection you should keep an eye out for when choosing the best epoxy for your project. If you don’t see the protections an epoxy resin provides in the product description, we advise looking elsewhere.

As a minimum, you should pick a resin that can offer protection against extreme heat, extreme cold, water, UV radiation, and of course, general wear and tear. 

Water Resistance

If you need an epoxy resin to guarantee the durability and shelf-life of your wooden furniture, DIY projects, or art projects you have to make sure it has water-resistant features. If the epoxy resin you choose doesn’t have good water-resistant features, water will seep through the resin and into your wood. 

As you probably already know, this will seriously damage the wood, massively reducing its shelf-life in the process. 

Thankfully, finding an epoxy resin that offers great water resistance isn’t that difficult. Like most plasticized substances, epoxies are naturally good at repelling water.

It is quite uncommon for any epoxy resin to be vulnerable to water. However, they aren’t always waterproof. A lot of epoxy resins are just water-resistant and not waterproof.

This often leaves people feeling disappointed when they find that a glass of water has left a mark on their new shiny epoxy resin finish. 

While this won’t be an issue that affects everyone if you plan on exposing your epoxy resin to moisture you have to ensure it’s waterproof too. All you have to do to find out if a resin is waterproof or not is check the label. The label will tell you if the epoxy resin is waterproof or not. 

UV Resistance

Having an epoxy resin that offers protection against UV rays might not be something everyone needs but it is still very important. If you plan on leaving your epoxy resin finished project outside, this is even more important. 

Over time, UV light rays from the sun cause epoxide substances to break down. In all honesty, this can take a very long time and does vary depending on the climate you live in, however, if you want something to last for many years, you need to find a reliable epoxy resin that has UV-resistant properties. 

The main problem caused by an epoxy resin that doesn’t offer protection against UV light rays is yellowing. UV radiation causes clear epoxy to change color. It will start to turn yellow and may gradually cloud over too. 

This yellowing is the biggest sign that the resin has started to break down. Despite taking a while to fully break, this molecular collapse will leave your wooden surface exposed and vulnerable to the elements.

Most epoxy resins you find on the market will offer some form of protection against UV radiation so finding one shouldn’t be too hard. Having said that, it’s always a good idea to look for the best.

If you read product descriptions and reviews carefully, you will even find epoxy resins that cure when exposed to UV light.

Self-Leveling

When scouring the market for the best epoxy resin for wood, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll come across resins advertised and described as “self-leveling”. If you haven’t worked with a variety of epoxy resins before you probably won’t have a clue what this means.

The fact manufacturers don’t typically explain what it is either doesn’t help matters. No need to worry though, that’s why we’re here to help.

An epoxy resin described as self-leveling means that its chemical structure is perfect for level structures.

In other words, it means the epoxy resin can create a level surface without you having to put in any extra effort. However, in reality, things aren’t normally that easy. Most self-leveling epoxies still require brushstrokes to form a flat, even surface.

They are still very good for helping users get that smooth shiny finish though so if you need to create a shiny, smooth finish and don’t want to do too much, make sure you buy a resin with this feature.

We’d even go as far as saying that it is an essential feature you need from any epoxy resin. Arguably, there isn’t a single project self-leveling can’t help with. One thing we will say though is that you shouldn’t expect a formula to be able to cure quickly and self-level at the same time, even if that’s what’s advertised. 

Blush

Blush is one of the more frustrating factors you might have to deal with when working with an epoxy resin. The main reason for this is that it doesn’t usually appear until the curing process is already well underway. By this time, there isn’t much you can do about it.

When an epoxy resin blushes, it produces a waxy bi-product. This waxy bi-product then sits on top of the surface of the resin. 

Blushing causes a number of problems. First of all, epoxy resin blushing spoils the finish. It gives the resin a different appearance and one none of us want.

Secondly, it makes it much harder to work with the project. Once blushing has occurred, adding an extra layer of epoxy or applying another type of finish is almost impossible to do correctly. 

In terms of how you can avoid blushing, there’s very little you can do. You could look for an epoxy resin that offers some protection against blushing, but blushing could still occur.

By far the best, and arguably the only way to prevent blushing in your project is to ensure your workspace is as dry as possible. When we say as dry as possible, we mean it! You might even need a dehumidifier.

Bubbles 

Once you’ve bought the epoxy resin that suits your project best, there are still plenty of things to think about and deal with. One of the most common things you could come across is bubbles. 

Those of you that have worked with epoxy resin and wood before will already know just how much bubbles like to appear in cracks.

Super annoying, bubbles can occur for a number of reasons and in multiple places. Bubbles can appear inside and outside the formula. Either way though, bubbles will completely ruin your project. The epoxy resin finish will look awful.

How you go about dealing with this problem will depend on where the bubbles are coming from. You have to deal with bubbles within a lot differently than those found on the exterior. 

If you’ve noticed bubbles seeping into your epoxy from the exterior, you should apply the epoxy in a hotter place with very little or no humidity. If you spot bubbles forming on the interior of the material, you have to use a heat gun to get them out. You could use a blowtorch too. 

Like blushing, bubbling will have a bigger impact on formulas that have quicker drying and curing times. Therefore, if you want to avoid this issue, you might choose an epoxy with slower drying and curing times.

At least bubbling is a lot easier to solve than blushing.

Application

How easy an epoxy resin is to apply is always going to be important, no matter who you are. Whether you’re a beginner that’s never worked with epoxy resin before or someone who works with it every day, you’re going to want a resin that can be applied quickly and easily. 

Aside from speeding the job up and helping you learn the process, an epoxy resin that is easily applied reduces the chances of any mistakes occurring.

An epoxy resin that is difficult to apply dramatically increases the chances of something going wrong. Most of the time, this leads to the resin not curing correctly. 

More often than not, most of these curing problems come from the time it takes for the resin to be applied. A lot of people find that by the time they’ve worked out how to use the resin it’s already started to cure. A messy finish can be expected.

Blushing and bubbles are also common. 

Taking all of this into consideration, you should try your best to find an epoxy resin that has an easy application. To find a resin like this, you should read user reviews to see what they thought, read product descriptions, and see what instructions the resin comes with.

Clear, easy-to-follow instructions will make it much easier for you to apply the resin without encountering any issues.

Coverage

The final thing to think about when looking for an epoxy resin for your wood-based project is coverage. Coverage is one of the defining factors when deciding whether or not a resin is right for the job. 

At the end of the day, you need an epoxy resin that will cover the whole job. If it doesn’t you will be left short. This will lead to an uneven, incomplete project. There’s even a good chance that you could completely ruin your project by accident. 

On the epoxy market, you’ll find products that offer things like “superior coverage”. These products are designed to give you more for your money.

This essentially means that a smaller amount of epoxy resin will cover a wider area. A resin that can do this will save you money, lowering the overall costs of your project. 

Seeing as though epoxy resins aren’t the cheapest materials in the world, this can be extremely helpful.

Unfortunately though, some of these claims are false. Most epoxy resins are the same, offering little difference in the form of coverage. As a result, you should carefully check product reviews before making a decision.

If you do find an epoxy resin that covers 12 feet or more per gallon, you’re in luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

There you have it, the best epoxy resins for wood currently on the market. While it can be quite difficult to find the best epoxy resin for your project, when you know what you’re looking for things become a lot easier.

As you can see from the options we have discussed in this article, there is a wide range of different epoxies to choose from. Having said that, we are confident that the options we have shown you are up there with the very best.

The options we have talked about vary in terms of curing times, color, effectiveness, and resistance. However, one thing is guaranteed. They will all leave your wooden table tops, bar counters, and art masterpieces looking absolutely incredible. They’ll also give them plenty of durability and resistance.

With our list of epoxy resins and buyer’s guide at your fingertips, take your time to narrow down your options. If you come across any difficulties, refer to our frequently asked questions section for the answers.

By doing so, you should be able to pick out the epoxy resin that suits your needs and requirements best!