In every department you are in, some challenges come with it. And when dealing with wood, the challenge you mostly face is cracks and holes. In this article, I will share with you one of the ways you can counter this challenge, which is the use of epoxy. What is epoxy and what kind of epoxy do you use to fill wood?
Epoxy is a resin with two-component materials: resin and hardener, and when the two are mixed, they form a solution that cures within hours after using it with a wooden surface. It comes in various forms that can be used to restore and maintain the wood.
There are two forms of epoxy you can use to fill your wood, one in the form of paste the other in the form of pourable liquid. Pourable liquid can be used in deeper cracks because it will pour right in and if the cracks are not deep you can decide to use paste form.
How do you use epoxy to fill cracks in wood?
There are a few steps to follow when using epoxy to fill cracks in wood, but first, you have to prepare your wood by cleaning it to remove dust or dirt to avoid affecting the adhesion of the filler and removing the existing paint by sanding to have a clear view of the crack will also smoothen the surface.
Before pouring epoxy in the cracks, dam up the cracks because holes in wood can extend much further than the surface. To prevent the dripping of liquid epoxy out of all cracks, you will need to use epoxy putty because paste can’t drip out the cracks.
Using a plastic knife or putty knife, push the paste in the cracks and after filling, wait for it to dry, and then you can sand to smoothen the surface.
Will epoxy stop wood from splitting?
Epoxy does not only act as a filler but also as an adhesive and to answer the question of whether epoxy will stop wood from splitting, I will say yes because the adhesive holds the sides of the crack together and this will prevent further damage.
When the epoxy is poured into a deep crack, it takes 48-72 hours to dry and you will have no other choice but to practice the virtue of patience. Make sure that you keep an eye for the first couple of hours, but if you are dealing with shallow cracks or holes, it will take about 20-30 hours to dry to touch.
Before sanding, give it 24hrs to ensure the epoxy has completely cured
How Long Does Epoxy last in Wood?
Epoxy can last in wood for decades if the wood is properly stored right. Avoid direct sunlight because the excess heat will cause discoloration. When epoxy dries, it hardens due to the hardener component in it, and this increases the wood strength because cracks weaken the wood.
Is Epoxy Wood Filler Waterproof
Epoxy is not only waterproof but also heat resistant, scratch resistance, and also resistant to chemicals offering a durable product. So if you are worried about the cracks absorbing moisture, relax.
Do you stain wood before epoxy?
Stain acts as a top coat after treating cracks on wood but when using epoxy you don’t need to scrub off the stain, you can use epoxy over the stain.
Make sure when the epoxy is drying, cover it to ensure dirt particles and dust don’t stick to the wet epoxy.
Does epoxy need a topcoat?
You can apply a topcoat for more protection from scratches and to enhance the color and shine of a piece. You can use the epoxy clear coat that will provide a smoother more professional finish to any suitable project.
How do you stop epoxy resin bleeding in wood?
If you are using colored epoxy, small details can go wrong and can lead the epoxy to bleed ruining your piece of wood. Epoxy bleeding is one of the hardest mix up to recover from.
Bleeding mostly occurs when your wood is extremely porous giving epoxy a great chance of sinking deep into the cracks and pockets, creating an unpolished look or in some cases changing the appearance of your surface entirely.
The color flows into the grain outside the intended area and this creates a blurred image that is hard to recover from.
The most effective way to prevent grain bleed on colored epoxy is using a sealant and with a sealant, take measures to prevent the sealer coat from taking over the space you intended to use epoxy.
Conclusion
When you go through my research the question, ” what kind of epoxy do you use to fill wood?’ will be answered, and as you are using epoxy try working in a warm environment or apply a gentle source of heat over the epoxy to attempt to speed up the curing process.