What am I getting bubbles and dimples in my epoxy resin pour?

[maggie36]

Have made a wooden table, sealed and prepared it according to instructions, pored Feast Watson glass finish. First coat we had lots of bubbles, burst them with blow tourch according to instructions but bubbles kept on coming back. Tried and tried to burst bubbles but epoxy set and we were left with dimples. So, we left it for a few days, sanded the surface and repeated the pour. Same thing happened. Bubbles keep coming, we kept on de gassing and the epoxy hardened and now we have dimples still. What are we doing wrong and how can we fix this expensive mess we have created.

[JDE]

Doing an epoxy finish can be really difficult. Believe me my wife and I once did a 7.5 x 4 m pour.  Dimples can be caused by numerous things notlimited to below

1. Original surface wasnt completely dry or too humid day

2, Not mixing resin a d hardener well enough - use 2 cups to pour back and forward scrape sides and mix for full time 3-5 min

3. Surface not perfectly clean

4. Temperature fluctuations while epoxy curing try to keep consistent 

5. Over torching using heat gun or torch in one spot for too long , you need to move it around

Ultimately we too ended up with dimples in our dirty pour

JDE

[JacobZ]

Hi @maggie36,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

There isn't too much I can add beyond what @JDE has already mentioned. Things like the air temperature and humidity in the air can also be contributing factors.

Unfortunately, poured epoxy can be very temperamental, and even very experienced people can still have things go wrong. 

If you had some photos of the table, we might be able to offer some advice, but the answer is likely to sand it back and try again, ensuring the surface is perfectly clean, dry, and the temperature of the room is controlled.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[maggie36]

Thank you for your help. We will try again. 

[maggie36]

Thank you so much for your advice / help. We will sand it down and try again 

[maggie36]

Just asking one more question. How much would you sand the table back. Light sand or heavy. This is the second coat. 

 

[JacobZ · Accepted solution]

Hi @maggie36,

I'd just sand it enough to remove the bubbles and smooth the surface a bit. There's no need to remove everything that has come before.

Wait until it’s fully cured, which can take up to a week, then clean the surface with warm soapy water to remove any residue. Sand evenly with 180-grit sandpaper to flatten the bubbles, then smooth with 320 grit for a consistent finish. Vacuum and wipe away all dust using a lint-free cloth and methylated spirits before recoating. 

When reapplying your epoxy, make sure the surface is bone dry, work in a clean, dry space where the temperature is around 20–25°C, mix your epoxy slowly to avoid air bubbles, and pour a thin, even layer, using a heat gun gently to release any remaining air.

Good luck, and let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob