Are you ready to learn how to prepare your workspace for when you use epoxy resin? You’ve come to the right place! Working with epoxy resin can be a challenging process, and it can create space-consuming messes if you’re not careful. Fortunately, there are a few ways to prevent these accidents from happening. Before working with epoxy resin, practice these general steps. If you follow this advice, you should be able to keep messes to a minimum and your space clean without hindering your work. If you’re a beginner, and want to start small and easy, these projects are great to start out with. They are also not overly messy, so you’ll get a sense of what kind of area you will need for bigger and messier projects.
Choose the right epoxy
Epoxy resins are popular for a reason: They are mostly easy to work with and extremely durable. You can expect to make furniture that will stand the test of time, tables that will withstand use and abuse, and artwork that will shine like glass. Choosing the right material for your project is crucial to a successful creation. Epoxy resins come in a variety of thicknesses, so you must carefully consider the type of project you will be working on. For example, you will want to opt for a stronger, thicker resin if you are planning on making household furniture. On the other hand, if you are working on artwork or molds, you will want to go with a thinner epoxy resin to ensure an easier working process. Thinner epoxies are easier to clean-up, but they are also easier to make a mess with!
Creating a safe workspace
Make sure you have a clear space in which to work. Epoxy resins adhere best when they are allowed to breathe, so make sure you have plenty of open room and good ventilation. Epoxy resins are reactive, which means they can produce smoke and fumes if they come in contact with other materials or if they get too hot while mixing or curing. The best way to protect your workspace from damage is to ensure there is a safe distance between your work and any nearby items such as brushes, bottles, paint, wood, or anything else you do not want the epoxy to stick to. Keep the space clean and organized. If you have a messy desk or a cluttered mind, it will be harder for you to focus and complete your task efficiently. It is also easier to contaminate your poured resin if the area you are working on is on the messy side. Create a clean, easily accessible work space for working with epoxy resins.
Preventing accidents in your workspace
Epoxy resins are very sticky and can be smelly, so it is important to take care when working with them. For example, when handling epoxy resins in a confined space, use a dust mask or respirator and avoid breathing in the fumes created by the resin. When working with epoxy resins on tables or other flat surfaces, keep your workspace clear of clutter and avoid placing your projects in awkward or difficult-to-reach locations. Always wear gloves when working with resin so it doesn’t get on your skin. It’s a pain to get off, but you also don’t want your skin to absorb the chemicals. If you have long hair like mine, word of advice: PULL IT UP! I have had many times where I’ve gotten epoxy in my hair. It is NOT fun. So keep some baby wipes on hand at all times for this reason! Wearing tighter clothing helps to not accidentally mess up your project. You should also wear clothes that you don’t care about because once epoxy gets onto them, there’s no going back.
Protecting your workspace
If you do nothing else, I highly suggest getting a nice-sized silicone mat to put under whatever you’re working on. Resin will not stick to silicone, so it is very easy to clean up after you are finished with your project. In the same respect, using silicone tools, such as stirring sticks and cups makes clean-up much easier. They’re also reusable, so you get to help the environment out while you’re at it. Creating a dust-free space is very important. There’s nothing worse than seeing a beautiful pour get ruined by dust or a piece of hair. Ask me how I know. Having an air purifier and not using a fan will help cut down on the dust. Regular dusting and vacuuming, or vacuuming the area before working, also help. Just wait a little while after you do this, since you just stirred the air up. As hard as it can be, try to keep your pets out of the room so that their sweet, fluffy fur doesn’t end up embedded in your artwork. Once you have that beautiful coat of resin on, cover it! You can use totes that are bigger than your project, mesh laundry pop-up hampers, mesh food covers, or anything similar. I cannot tell you how many times I forget to check on my project, and didn’t cover it, and there was a fly or a couple of gnats or fruit flies stuck to it. I recently saw someone in a Facebook group who had a bird get stuck on her project. The threat is real!
Protect yo’ self and yo’ space
Epoxy resins are an incredibly strong, long-lasting, and durable building and finishing material that can be used to create almost anything. They are very sticky and can tend to get all over the place, trust me. I’m a perfectionist, but even I can’t keep this stuff contained. However, if you prepare your space ahead of time and have the right clean-up tools, you will be good to go. Silicone, baby wipes, and gloves are staples when it comes to working with resin. Minimize dust and pet hair, cover your work when you’re finished, pull your own hair up, and you will end up with that beautiful shiny finish that epoxy is known for!