As you progress through the key stages of an epoxy project, you'll reach a step wherein you need to pour the epoxy resin mixture onto your substrate or into your mold. And during this step, there are several potential pitfalls mar your efforts if you're not fully prepared.

While epoxy resin is renowned for its strength and aesthetic appeal, achieving that perfect finish requires careful attention and meticulous execution. This doesn't mean the process is difficult, but rather that it's important to stay focused during most of the steps to avoid common errors.

In this article, we'll explore the five most frequent mistakes people make during the pouring phase of an epoxy project. Although this phase is relatively brief, it is crucial to the project's success, and as such, it's essential to take the time to understand it.

But None of It Matters Without Quality Epoxy

Before getting into the main topic of this article, it seems prudent to address the one aspect that can subvert all your efforts to achieve the ideal finish: choosing your epoxy.

Choosing an epoxy resin to use for your project doesn't have to be a profound endeavor, but it is absolutely essential that you end up with something of good quality.

These days, with so many shady epoxy dealers present in online marketplaces, it can be a challenge to find a source of epoxy that is both reputable and able to provide the quality of resin you deserve for your project.

Many sellers who offer resin products are relatively new, having popped up in just the last few years. These sellers often showcase their products at a exceptionally low cost, hoping to entice unaware buyers into purchasing their resin over many other options.

The truth, however, is that these sellers are offering what is called "budget-brand" epoxy. This type of epoxy is advertised at a low upfront cost, seemingly too good to be true sometimes, with ostensibly the same qualities and highly valued features of more standard priced epoxies. But in reality, what users get is a subpar resin product that has been produced in an unregulated environment, with many corners being cut on quality to provide the epoxy at such a low price.

In turn, when used, the epoxy fails to live up to expectations. It may cure cloudy or riddled with blemishes, or it may fail under normal wear and tear, being prone to cracking, scratching, or remaining soft in its "cured" state.

Primaloc Provides the Quality of Epoxy You Deserve

To avoid this concern entirely, always choose a premium epoxy for your project. At Primaloc, we offer top-tier resin products designed for a very wide range of project types.

In our store you'll find the following options, which cover nearly every conceivable commercial and DIY epoxy project:

• Primaloc Bar & Table Top Epoxy—Our strongest epoxy resin. This type of epoxy is considered the conventional choice, being ideal for finishing and sealing all manner of furniture and fixture substrate surfaces, including bar tops, countertops, and table tops.
• Primaloc Deep Pour Epoxy—Our premium deep casting resin. Deep pour epoxy is a specialized option designed for pouring out deep, thick layers of resin (up to 2 inches per layer!) at a time, making many types of projects more convenient to achieve, such as river tables, pure epoxy projects, and those which make use of deep resin molds.

Set yourself up for success by only using premium epoxy products from trustworthy dealers.

5 Missteps to Avoid When Pouring Epoxy

The pouring phase is one of the easiest parts of the epoxy process once you're aware of what you should and shouldn't do. From here onward, we'll be discussing the 5 most frequent missteps epoxy users make when pouring their resin batches.

These are:

1. Pouring before you've fully mixed your resin batch.
2. Rushing the pouring process.
3. Applying the batch to an unready substrate.
4. Pouring from too high.
5. Pouring an excessive amount of epoxy.

Below, we'll address each of these, starting with the first.

Misstep #1: Pouring Before You've Fully Mixed Your Resin Batch

Before pouring, make sure that your resin batch is thoroughly mixed. Typically, mixing takes about 3 to 5 minutes, but this duration can vary depending on the size of the batch, the type of resin, and the mixing tools you use, like stir sticks or a mixing drill bit.

Since the required mixing time can differ between brands and types of resin, it's important to carefully read and follow the instructions provided with your specific brand of resin.

Digital Instructions for Primaloc Epoxy Resins can be found on the following pages:

• Digital Instructions for Primaloc Bar & Table Top Epoxy
• Digital Instructions for Primaloc Deep Pour Epoxy

Avoiding This Issue

• Follow the mixing instructions provided by your epoxy dealer.
• Be sure to fully mix your resin batch before applying. This is typically 3 to 5 minutes depending on the volume of resin and the mixing method chosen.

Misstep #2: Rushing the Pouring Step

Another common problem in epoxy projects is the formation of air bubbles, which can occur if the resin is poured too quickly.

Air bubbles are a persistent concern at every stage of an epoxy project, and although their removal is a routine part of the process usually carried out after pouring, their presence can become challenging to deal with.

The main difficulty with air bubbles is that while it's possible to remove them post-pour, excessive bubbles can be tough, if not impossible, to eliminate completely. This can leave unsightly blemishes in the finished epoxy resin surface.

Avoiding This Issue

• Pour carefully and deliberately.
• Don't rush; just let the epoxy flow out onto the surface, and guide it while it does as needed to assist the self-leveling properties and ensure full coverage.

Learn proper epoxy pouring technique in our guide here!

Misstep #3: Applying the Batch to an Unready Substrate

The third common mistake in our list is pouring epoxy onto an unprepared substrate.

An unprepared substrate may be dirty or wet, or it might not yet have a seal coat applied. It's important to ensure your substrate is properly prepared before pouring the epoxy to prevent a range of problems, including air bubbles, curing issues, and various blemishes and imperfections which can tarnish the appearance of your finish

Avoiding This Issue

• Clean your substrate surfaces before applying any epoxy.
• Apply an epoxy seal coat before you perform a flood coat or deep pour coat.

Discover how to properly prepare your substrate for epoxy here!

Misstep #4: Pouring From Too High

Next on our list is the error of pouring epoxy from too great a height above your substrate or resin mold.

When pouring epoxy out of a mixing container, it's best to keep it close to the surface. The higher the pour, the greater the chance of drawing air into the viscous epoxy. This often results in excessive air bubble formation.

While many of these bubbles can be removed, the increased volume raises the likelihood that some will remain, leaving imperfections in your final epoxy finish.

Avoiding This Issue

• Pour from a height of several inches above the substrate surface.
• Move slowly and smoothly as you guide the epoxy out of the container and onto the substrate or into a mold. Epoxy is self-leveling, but the guidance will help it quickly spread out evenly.

The best methods for air bubble removal use a heat gun or torch. Learn more here!

Misstep #5: Pouring an Excessive Amount of Epoxy

The last mistake on our list is pouring too much epoxy at once.

In other words, it's the act of applying a layer of epoxy that exceeds the recommended thickness for a single pour. Most epoxy resins are designed to self-level to a specific thickness—typically 1/16 inch for many tabletop resins. For higher-grade resins, such as our Primaloc Bar & Table Top Epoxy, the self-leveling thickness can be a more resilient 1/8 inch. Exceeding these thicknesses can lead to issues due to the viscosity of the epoxy.

Pouring a layer thicker than the epoxy's self-leveling capacity can prevent air from escaping effectively, resulting in the formation of air bubbles within the finish. As epoxy is viscous, if the layer is too thick, air bubbles may not rise to the surface but instead get trapped within the resin as it cures and hardens.

To ensure a flawless finish, it’s crucial to adhere to the recommended thickness and avoid overly thick pours.

Avoiding This Issue

• Read the instructions for the epoxy you'll be using carefully.
• Avoid pouring overly thick layers by knowing your epoxy's limitations and adhering to them.
• When using raised trim or edge guards, be careful about pouring in too much epoxy. The epoxy self-levels but if it is prevented from spreading it may build up into an excessively thick layer.

Learn how to apply additional epoxy layers as desired in our guide here!

Primaloc Epoxy: Premium Epoxy for Premium Results

With our premium Bar & Table Top Epoxy and our Deep Pour Epoxy, Primaloc gets the job done. Our epoxy resins are premium-grade, with high performance in every category, including:

• Unmatched Strength: A Primaloc finish won't buckle, even under high pressure.
• Long-Lasting Resilience: Primaloc epoxy lasts for many years with minimal care, and can endure high-traffic environments with ease.
• A Crystal-Clear Coating: With its pristine, transparent appearance, looking at a cured Primaloc coating is like peering through a window.

Epoxy resin can be beautiful, strong, and long-lasting—which is why you shouldn't compromise on quality. With Primaloc Epoxy Resin, you get the ultimate finish in durability and visual appeal.

Protect your surfaces by giving them a rock-solid epoxy finish. Choose strong. Choose reliable. Choose Primaloc.