My Process

Most of my creations are made of epoxy and are hand poured in very small layers. This will ensure there are less potential for microbubbles, which is our biggest enemy when it comes to working with epoxy haha. Each of my items go through a rigorous process and I will give you a quick view on what goes on behind closed doors.

First… what exactly is epoxy?

Epoxy resin are known as polyepoxides and are a class of reactive prepolymers and polymers that contain epoxide groups.. basically a compound that solidifies when mixed with a hardening agent. There are many types of epoxy resins that can be used for a variety of different purposes.

Steps with epoxy include: mixing, pouring, curing, sanding/polishing, final touches

Step One = Mixing:

Epoxy is poured into a container at a 1;1 ratio and slowly mixed for 5 minutes. After the epoxy has been fully mixed, you have roughly 45 minutes of working time before its starts to harden/cure. For coasters, I would split the epoxy into smaller cups then start mixing in the additives (micas, glitters, stones, crystals).

Step Two = Pouring:

After the epoxy has been divided and additives fully mixed in, the fun part starts… which is the pour! Most epoxy projects involve silicone molds. When pouring, it is best to work in small layers. This will ensure minimal microbubbles are produced. After the pour has been completed, I wait for about 5 minutes and do a quick torch with the heat gun. Heat guns and isopropyl alcohol help get rid of microbubbles

Step Three = Curing

There are two types of curing time. When working with layers, I wait about 24 hours to add the next layer. But once I completed ALL pours for the project, I let it cure for 72 hours before taking it out of the mold.

Step Four = Sanding/Polishing

This is the most important part that gets overlooked by a lot of epoxy artists (when first starting IMO!). ALL my products that have been produced in silicone mold will get sanded down. This is done to ensure edges remain smooth.. if left un-sanded, edges will get dull and sharpen over time. The sanding is the most rigorous and time consuming part of working with epoxy. I start with 200 grit and work my way up to 2200 grit paper. After that is done, I wash my product in warm water and soap to clean off all dust particles

Step Five = Final touches

This is when I will fully inspect the item one by one, looking for any imperfection. After they pass, I go back in and add any final touches. I’ll add gold edges, add adhesive corks to the bottom of the coasters and etc.

This is why most projects have a turn around time of 2-8 weeks (depending on size and item)

The one thing I forgot is to always wear your safety gear. Most epoxy resins advertise that they are VOC free, which is great… but you don’t know what inhaling invisible fumes can do over time. Always wear a respirator mask when working with epoxy ESPECIALLY when sanding! It is dangerous to your health to inhale epoxy particles in to your lungs