Epoxy is a popular adhesive due to its ability to create a strong bond and dry quickly. It can be used for a variety of different projects and surfaces, but does it stick to wood? The answer is yes, but there are some things you should know before you use epoxy on wood.
If you want the best results, you need to make sure your wood is properly prepared for the application of epoxy.
Does epoxy stick to wood?
Many woodworkers wonder about the best way to handle epoxy. Should you just use what you find at Home Depot or Lowes? Or should you choose expensive, professional-grade products from a specialty store? The answer is: it depends.
And it depends on a few factors, like whether the project is big or small and if it needs to be pretty, strong, or durable. Epoxy is both strong and durable when used properly.
It’s also great for bonding wood because it is guaranteed not to separate under normal circumstances.
So how do you get it right? Let me walk through the steps we took on our project with this table–our latest version of outdoor dining set in our backyard to make sure I don’t end up getting sued by any lawyers!
Table of Contents
How do you get epoxy to stick to wood?
Epoxy bonds to wood and other surfaces by forming a chemical bond. However, this bond can only be formed with clean and porous surfaces. Before applying epoxy, make sure the surface is free of grease, dust, and debris.
If possible, sand the surface before application as well. This will help ensure that the chemical bond forms properly, greatly improving adhesion.
Another recommended step is using a primer before applying epoxy. This helps create an even layer of primer on your wood surface which improves adhesion even more!
When you apply epoxy to your wood surface, be aware that anything left on top of the surface will not stick to it! And if something does get stuck under the resin or epoxy this can cause bubbles in your finished product!
Use a vacuum cleaner or compressed air to remove any dust from your project before applying resin/epoxy
How do you prepare wood for epoxy?
Apply wood sealer. This is a very important step to make sure that everything goes smoothly. Your epoxy doesn’t necessarily need to adhere to the wood itself, so long as it adheres well to the sealer.
It doesn’t matter what type of wood you’re using, apply a thin layer of wood sealer and let it dry thoroughly before applying your epoxy resin.
Sand your surface first with 220 grit sandpaper, then vacuum or wipe down the surface well with acetone or alcohol. Make sure that you remove any dust left on your project after sanding. The cleaner the better!
What kind of epoxy should I use on wood?
- If you’re looking for a clear finish, make sure to buy a clear epoxy.
- Epoxies with a high amount of solids are best for wood since fewer solids mean more water and hence more chances for the epoxy to be absorbed by the wood.
- For embedding objects in your project, consider using a casting epoxy. Castings can be formed from everyday items like plastic bags or even foil from the kitchen.
- For maximum strength of bond, consider using structural epoxy.
What should I use to seal wood before epoxy?
A “sanding sealer” is a general term that describes a thin coating, with a minimal filling or builds. You apply the sealer to your wood surface and then sand it off when dry (hence the name).
There are many brands of sanding sealers on the market, such as Shellac Sanding Sealer, Epifanes Easy Varnish Sanding Sealer, or Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner.
The reason you use a sealant to start with is that epoxy resins do not stick well to bare wood. The resin will soak into the pores on the wood surface and create an uneven finish.
Even if you sanded down your piece of wood before applying epoxy resin, you would still end up with an uneven finish because some areas would be deeper than others.
This difference in depth could also pose issues when polishing epoxy later on. If you have any holes in your piece of wood, this can also cause problems when working with epoxy resin but more on that later!
There are other ways to prep your surface for applying epoxy resin but using a sanding sealer is definitely one of the easiest methods! It’s simple enough for anyone to do and it works great at sealing off those pesky air bubbles from forming underneath your layer of epoxy once applied!
Can you put epoxy on wood table?
We’ve all encountered those tables at restaurants or coffee shops that are built of wood and have been used for decades. Bending the wood and giving it a coat of finish can be very helpful, but in most cases, you want to use epoxy instead.
Epoxy is a tough resin that can be brushed on top of almost any surface without leaving any visible brush strokes, with the result being a smooth, even layer that will not chip or flake off over time.
If you’re using epoxy on a wooden table, make sure the wood is clean before applying it. This means you’ll need to sand down any rough spots where the table rubs against other objects in its environment and fill any cracks with an epoxy compound.
After laying two thin layers of epoxy on your table’s surface, apply another thick one to cover it up so you have an even coating from edge to edge.
How well does epoxy bond to wood?
Epoxy has excellent adhesion to wood. In fact, the bond between epoxy and wood is often stronger than the wood itself.
This makes epoxy an excellent choice for protecting wooden surfaces in high traffic locations like a deck or boat.
Since epoxy is waterproof and rigid, it does a great job of protecting wood from moisture intrusion that could lead to swelling or rot.
Epoxies are also compatible with other protective coatings like paint, so you can use them as a clear sealer over finished pieces without worrying about compatibility issues.
Applying epoxy is easy as well. Most manufacturers sell ready-to-use kits that come with everything you need to mix and apply the coating.
You can also buy specialty applicators designed to spread thick coatings like epoxy evenly over large areas such as floors or tables without leaving visible brush marks in your finish.
Do you need to seal wood before epoxy?
- To seal wood (wood boards) you need to use a primer. Primers are designed to stick to raw wood and provide a layer for the epoxy resin to adhere to.
- To seal plywood you need use epoxy and then fill it in with wood filler. The wood filler is necessary because epoxy has trouble bonding with plywood due to the large surface area of its glue lines.
- To seal MDF you need to use an oil based primer before sealing with epoxy. MDF doesn’t have any grain or pores which makes it very difficult for the epoxy resin to adhere
Conclusion
Now that you know what kind of epoxy to use and how to get it to stick, go forth and epoxy your heart out! Maybe you’ll make a resin river table.
Or maybe you’ll finally finish a river-themed mural in your bathroom. Or maybe you’re just going to seal a few cracks in your countertop before throwing down some oil paint.
The world is your oyster or should we say, the wood is your canvas!
