Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

EPOXY COUNTERTOP

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic32491.aspx

By Pmwoods - 4/3/2019 2:54:46 PM

Hi,
I'm going to make an epoxy countertop with color mix and i would like to know which epoxy resin must i use.
I either had glasscast 3 but i would like to be sure that i can use this product to this project.

Maybe another epoxy resin with less viscosity must be use ?
Thanks for your help

Regards
By Matt (Staff) - 3/13/2020 11:48:18 AM

Einar Valmundsson - 3/10/2020 6:27:29 PM
Warren (Staff) - 4/4/2019 9:51:02 AM
Generally GlassCast 3 is ideal for counter tops and work tops.  GlassCast 3 settles flat as it self levels giving a smoother surface than other clear resins.

Hello

I´m going to make a Epoxy countertop with mixed colors.
My plan is to cote a plate made out of MDF
The look should be Cement grey with some veins.
So my questions are:
1-    Do I need a primer? If so what material would you recoment
2-    Then I just mix the resin (GlassCast 3) with hardener and coloring pigment.
By adding small amount of color I get weak color, If I put a lot I get strong color.
3-    If I´m happy with the pattern I let it harden
4-    Then I put GlassCast 3 resin layer over the color.


Hi Einar, answers to those questions as follows:

1. Well, you will need to prime the MDF somehow to make it non-porous and avoid the risk of any air bubbles coming out and spoiling the appearance. You could use a variety of things for this like, including paints and primers, or a lot of people just choose to use a thin coating of the GlassCast 3 itself. One advantage to the GlassCast is that you know it's completely compatible. You would apply it all over the bare MDF surface, let it cure fully and then give it a light sand so provide a key and remove any high-spots.

2. Yes, for the main pour you would normally mix up the full amount of resin and hardener and then pour this mix into 1 large bucket and at least two smaller pots. The large bucket you'll add the base colour to (black, for example) and then the 2 smaller pots you'll add the accent colours and/or effects to. Give them all another mix to disperse the pigment and then pour the base layer out all over the surface. You then immediately drizzle the accent colours however you want them onto the base colour. Finally, you would use a hair dryer on a low heat to blow and blend the colours into each other.

3. Yes, once you're happy you just leave it to cure.

4. No, you don't usually need to do another clear pour over the top, the finish is usually great just from the main coloured pour. This also makes the job quicker (because you don't need to key the cured resin), easier (less steps!) and less expensive (because you don't need more resin).

The best colours to use are our new CULR Pigments; they're super concentrated and come in small packs (which are still plenty) so they'll save you money. We don't list them on the Easy Composites website but you will find them on the dedicated GlassCast website so be sure to take a look at www.glasscastresin.com where you can still buy the GlassCast 3 Clear Epoxy Resin but also the CULR epoxy pigments.

I hope this works well for you.

All the best, Matt