- this is not the same as FDA approval. I have just poured the second coat and it is in the process of curing fully. Thermochromic is interesting, its a color changing temperature sensitive pigment so it might be blue then change purple. Tabletop Pro does not have any UV inhibitors and is not recommended for direct UV exposure. I have just poured the second coat and it is in the process of curing fully. With age or when stored improperly, you may encounter issues such as crystallization of the epoxy resin or yellowing of the hardener. Art work especially so. Answered by the admin Technical Data Bulletin. Do not apply additional material over non-curing epoxy. If there is any doubt about the condition of old material, we recommend mixing a small amount in a disposable cup to ensure it hardens before using it for a project. You can find additional technical attributes under the resources tab in the Technical Data Bulletin  If a large mass cures in them they can melt a little, but they do not dissolve in epoxy resin or hardener. Easy to use. Let epoxy sit for 10 minutes to allow air bubbles to rise to the surface. See Cold-Temperature Bonding. 5 Best Epoxy for Wood Slabs in 2021. t’s an unconventional approach, that can be a little time consuming, but buffing and polishing can be a useful technique to remove small surface imperfections while rejuvenating the original high gloss finish of the epoxy coating or to knock back the high gloss look to more of a mat or satin finish. It can but used in that application. Opaque pigments such as One-Shot Lettering Enamels, K-Bond Color Pigments and most oil based alkyd paints work well. It gives me perfect ocean cells. Asked by Jaime Kuzio on October 20, 2020 7:10 pm Is there a limit on how much epoxy resin I can mix at one time? Scuff the surface up with 120 or 220 grit sand paper MY GO TO RESIN FOR OCEAN CELLS!!! Will epoxy resin change the color of wood? It is quite like the allergic reaction to poison ivy. Use 205 Fast Hardener, designed to cure with epoxy resin at lower temperatures. answer now Hello! Simple changes in temperature can affect the density of both the resin and hardener while the kit is being metered out. What is the mix ratio of MAS Tabletop Pro? 0 votes I ended up with approximately 1/4” deep in a 14” ... answer now 0 votes Single Layer Thickness: Typically 1/8" to 1/4", depending on the tabletop epoxy used; Typically 1/2" to 2", depending on epoxy and size of mold; Product Examples: MAS Table Top Epoxy, TotalBoat TableTop Epoxy, Pro Marine Supplies Table Top Epoxy… Typically, you would add a small amount of the colorant into the resin or into the blended resin and hardener. Keep in mind, every project is unique. However, the formula for a given stain can change at any time and we always recommend performing the cross hatch test on a scrap piece of wood as described above when using a new stain for the first time. As a general rule, if you can sand, you should. Best practice is to combine resin and hardener at recommended mix ratio, mix 1-2 minutes while scraping sides and bottom of container until no streaks or striations, transfer to second container, mix 1-2 minutes again until fully blended, let sit for 1-2 minutes to allow air bubbles a chance to start rising to surface, and then use immediately. We certainly do! What is the VOC Content of MAS Tabletop Pro? DO NOT deviate in an attempt to speed up or slow down the gel time. If you are placing it in an area of the house that does get some morning or late afternoon sun, you can always do a final flood coat of ArtPro for added protection! When warm, it’s thinner and sets faster. 0 votes For the best results, expect a 30-min working time, with product and working conditions maintained at 75˚F. If there is any doubt about the condition of old material, we recommend mixing a small amount in a disposable cup to ensure it hardens before using it for a project. Moderate heat (an industrial hot air gun, hair dryer or heat lamp) applied to the layup or to the resin and hardener before mixing, will shorten the epoxy's pot life and cure time. Applying MAS Epoxies Table Top Pro Epoxy on to a Walnut surface. What is the working time for MAS Tabletop Pro? Why do I have little circles or "fish eyes" on my epoxy resin surface? Most people use tabletop to build up the layers then once they get to close to the surface they do a flood coat over the entire table! The gel time (time it takes the mixed epoxy resin and hardener to initially harden up) can vary drastically depending on any number of factors such as mixing mass, material temp, ambient temp, mixing time, speed of mixing, speed of application, casting and coating thickness, etc. It was very easy to use and the instructions that were included were helpful, but I would also use the internet for their videos and other resources to bolster your knowledge. One of the major differences between resin choices is the rate at which the hardener and the resin reacts and ultimately cures. Hello! Degreasing is a VERY important step and should be done even if the surface appears clean. In some cases, the bond created through the use of epoxy polymers is much stronger than the original substrate. To make a mechanical bond: Overcoating with a thin layer of fresh epoxy, or buffing and polishing. One of the great things about an epoxy project or finish is that if it does get damaged, it can easily be sanded and recoated. Some manufacturers may claim “FDA complaint”, “meets FDA guidelines”, etc. Typically, we simply recommend keeping the surface clean with over the counter non-abrasive multipurpose surface and glass cleaners like Windex to let the natural high gloss finish shine. The condensation won't leave rings on the epoxy, however, if the cup or mug is very hot it could leave an indentation on the resin. General about Epoxy Resin Dry Time. You can certainly use it over a water-based stain with out issues. Answer now Place a piece of Duct tape on each of the nine squares. Using the recommended mix ratio is VERY important when using epoxy. Rewards Program Painters tape is my preferred method. Asked by Mike Owens on October 24, 2020 10:53 am Don't worry the scuff marks from sanding will disappear when you pour the next layer! Affiliate Program, If you want the appearance of 50 coats of varnish with just one pour on your, , thick pours. Coating Thickness:  Applying Table Top thicker than the recommended 1/8”-1/4” maximum coating thickness will make it difficult to release air bubbles with heat gun or torch. Make sure the surface is fully cured, dry and free of contamination. Yes! Mixing:  Mixing to vigorously will whip in excessive air bubbles into the blended resin and hardener. 0 votes We do not recommend using tabletop for anything that would have direct continuous exposure to food or someones mouth. Wax free paper cups and metal cans also work well. Exceeding max coating thickness may cause MAS Table Top to heat up and exotherm upon hardening which could cause it to yellow, distort or even crack in extreme cases. You can check out https://masepoxies.com/where-to-buy/ and find one closest to you! As for the metallic pigment, you can use Mica Powder or even a metallic acrylic craft paint for the coloring. Answered by the admin How do I fix surface imperfections in epoxy resin? Surface prep is critical, if you can no longer make an indentation in the epoxy with your fingernail, then you are past the window for a chemical bond and will need to create a mechanical one. Keep in mind that epoxy is mass and temperature sensitive. Every project is unique, but as a general guideline do not exceed 0.5” casting thickness for a full mixed 1.3 gallon kit, or 1” for a half mixed kit. When varnishing, first and foremost follow the varnish manufactures instructions for overcoating epoxy. We recommend working in well ventilated areas for precisely that reason. Q A lot of customers use Tabletop and Art Pro with silicone molds 0 votes You could simply warm up the indent with a hair dryer or heat gun and smooth it out! Asked by RICHARD BERGNER on October 6, 2020 10:33 am That being said, 10-15 minutes is all it should take to carefully mix and pour. With age or when stored improperly, you may encounter issues such as crystallization of the epoxy resin or yellowing of the hardener. You can certainly use it over a water-based stain with out issues. MAS Table Top Pro is considered a 100% solids epoxy coating. An excess of resin or hardener will negatively affect the cure and could cause a wide range of short and/or long term problems with your epoxy coating. Differences in viscosity can also lead to variations in how much waste is being lost after every pour. commonly used however some customers have experimented with alcohol inks and acrylic tints. Some people become sensitized to the epoxy resin and others to the hardener. The gel time (time it takes the mixed epoxy resin and hardener to initially harden up) can vary drastically depending on any number of factors such as mixing mass, material temp, ambient temp, mixing time, speed of mixing, speed of application, coating thickness, etc. Q We’ve actually tested our product and obtained a result of 1.5 g/L VOC, which is extremely low. An alternative to an epoxy finish coat would be a polyurethane varnish. Do not allow epoxy resins or hardeners to freeze during winter storage. Q Each layer MUST be allowed to cool to room temperature (70-80°F) before adding additional layers. If anyone knows me, they know how much I rave about this stuff. Symptoms may include tightening of the throat and difficulty breathing. Asked by Nardin Costandy on October 20, 2020 1:16 pm You can find additional technical attributes under the resources tab in the Technical Data Bulletin. How long does Mas Tabletop Pro take to dry or fully cure? Do not use a tack cloth. 1:1 mix ratio, self leveling epoxy available exclusively on Amazon. It’s also a good idea to first test your stain for compatibility with epoxy using the cross hatch test:  Apply the stain a scrap piece of wood. DO NOT deviate in an attempt to speed up or slow down the gel time. As for the polyurethane on the top, you can apply it as a top coat but in this environment it would not be needed! Asked by Brittany on December 26, 2020 12:41 pm Warm soapy water works well for hardeners. Most acrylics are also epoxy compatible. A hard wearing epoxy resin coating system with a smooth gloss finish. Avoid scratching with our best epoxy for table tops by simply pouring and spreading MAS Table Top Pro Epoxy evenly, covering your entire surface for a beautiful glass-like finish on any table. Working in conditions or with material above 80°F, Table Top may set too quickly and exotherm, become too hot, which could cause it to yellow, distort or crack. Fill the spot and let it fully cure, then lightly sand the entire surface and apply another coat to level it out. As a general rule, anything that will burn you (hot pans, boiling water kettle, etc.) Answered by the admin Check Price. 0 votes Q The purpose of a seal coat is to minimize the effects of off gassing by creating a thin air-tight barrier between a porous wooden surface and the Table Top epoxy flood coat so air bubbles won’t percolate up through the curing epoxy creating cosmetic defects. If you do get some on your skin wash it off immediately with soap and water. Is MAS Tabletop Pro FDA Approved food safe? Typically 24-36 hours depending on air temps. Do not use paper towels, dirty rags, contaminated sandpaper, or touch surface with oily fingers. Be careful not to not over heat, scorch or burn the epoxy. We typically recommend using MAS Deep Pour epoxy for river tables where you can pour large amounts of epoxy up to 0.5-1” thick, and then using MAS Table Top Pro as the top coat. The heat deflection temperature (HDT) of MAS Table Top Pro is 124°F. If I am using this epoxy for a table top and someone puts a cup on it will it leave water rings? These are largely marketing claims that have not necessarily been substantiated. When cool, it’s thicker and sets slower. We typically recommend using a water-based stain under the epoxy clear coat. Once epoxy has started to harden, you can just carefully peel the tape and any drips away before if fully sets. Is this safe to use on Tumblers? Crystal Clear. Thin coats and cooler working conditions will cure slower, and thick coats and hotter working conditions will cure faster. Q How hot can MAS Deep Pour get during it's curing process? MAS Deep Pour has a hardness rating of 82 Shore D, and is resistant to scuffing and scratching under normal wear and tear conditions. You would need to completely sand off the problematic areas and then re-coat. 0 votes After 24 hours from pouring and spreading, your epoxy table top finish is sandable at 75˚F. If you are placing it in an area of the house that does get some morning or late afternoon sun, you can always do a final flood coat of ArtPro for added protection! If no instructions are available, then simply treat the varnish as an additional coat of epoxy:  Allow last coat of epoxy to cure 24 hrs, scuff sand with 120-220 grit paper, clean sanding residue from surface, and apply varnish. Answered by the admin I ended up with approximately 1/4” deep in a 14” ... Can this be used for outdoor application? Step pour multiple layers for thicker castings. Q Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) or Thermal Glass Transition temperature (Tg) are the values you’ll want to be comparing for real world usage, with HDT being the most conservative. These are largely marketing claims that have not necessarily been substantiated. MAS Deep Pour has a 5.5 hour gel time at 77°F in a 150 gram mass, but will set up much faster if warmer or left sitting for an extended time in a larger mass. The heat deflection temperature (HDT) of MAS Table Top Pro is 122°F. Insufficient mixing. We’ve run HDT on pretty much every competitor Table Top product on the market, and they are equal to or below MAS Table Top. It has a one-to-one by volume mix ratio and cures at room temperature. 0 votes Let the solvent flash off (dry) then apply the next layer! A lot of customers use Tabletop and Art Pro with silicone molds. Most common table top and bar top epoxies provide approximately 12 sq feet per mixed gallon coverage at 1/8″ thickness. The mix ratio is fairly forgiving, and in fact, erroring on the side of less hardener is better than adding too much. That said, we’ve made many table/bar tops with our product and personally feel comfortable if the tabletop incidentally contacts food (like dropping and being picked up), but we wouldn’t use it to coat a food prep surface where the food will have direct and continuous exposure. Will epoxy resin bond or stick to acrylic? 0 votes Can you use use MAS Tabletop Pro outdoors? Sometimes, its easier to just sand out the spot and re-coat the entire surface depending on the size of the piece. can potentially leave an impression on the surface. Wipe the surface down with a solvent like denatured alcohol or acetone Unfortunately, it’s possible to develop an allergic sensitization to any epoxy resin system. With that said, you can wait for the full cure schedule, then lightly scuff the finish to create surface area and texture for the epoxy to adhere to, wash the piece down with a solvent like denatured alcohol or acetone (keep in mind that may discolor or remove the oil finish)  at which point you can apply a seal coat (1/32") and watch for any fish eyes or orange peel. Pouring too thick and layering too quickly could cause the curing epoxy to heat up, yellow, distort or crack. Q Combine resin and hardener at recommended mix ratio. Don’t mix more than one gallon at a time, instead step pour multiple batches for larger projects. Scratch repair can be accomplished in two ways. You will need to degrease using a solvent like denatured alcohol or acetone to remove any oils or contaminates from the surface, followed by a light scuff of the laminate with sandpaper followed by another wash-down with a solvent. A little goes a long way. How do you remove bubbles in epoxy resin? Can you pour multiple layers of MAS Tabletop Pro? Exceeding max mixing quantity may cause Deep Pour to heat up and exotherm upon curing which could cause it to yellow, distort or crack. When working in conditions or with material below 70°F, epoxy resin may become too viscous to properly release air and self level. Buffing and polishing can be a little time consuming, but can be a useful technique to remove small surface imperfections while rejuvenating the original high gloss finish of the epoxy coating or to knock back the high gloss look to more of a mat or satin finish. Objects that harder than the epoxy, scuff, gouge or scratch the surface if proper care isn’t given. We do not recommend using tabletop for anything that would have direct continuous exposure to food or someones mouth. What is the working time for MAS Deep Pour epoxy resin. 21. The edge you are referring to is a phenomenon that occurs when the surface adhesion pulls the epoxy up to form a concave meniscus. Asked by Kyle on December 11, 2020 10:26 am - this is not the same as FDA approval. How much heat can this resin withstand once cured? Using MAS Penetrating Epoxy sealer, mix two parts resin to one part hardener into a cup and stir for 2-3 minutes. Denatured alcohol is my preferred degreasing and cleaning solvent. The being said, the most likely culprit is simple mixing errors compounded over time, or manufacturer’s defects in graduated mixing cups. Thin coats and cooler working conditions will cure slower, and thick coats and hotter working conditions will cure faster. What is the recommended cure time before top coating with varnish? Allow the seal coat to cure to a rock hard solid, and sand with 80-120 grit paper, paying special attention to imperfections such as air bubbles. An excess of resin or hardener will negatively affect the cure and could cause a wide range of short and/or long term problems with your epoxy project. I can’t find the info on UV protection (yellowing effect) and up to many degrees is resistant ... What is the recommended cure time before top coating with varnish? This is how long you have to work with the resin before curing sets in and it becomes too stiff to manipulate. Marine grade polyurethane varnishes like Bristol Finish UV Clear, with enhanced UV protection additives, offer improved UV stability and abrasion resistance over “off the shelf” spar varnishes available at your local hardware store. Asked by Billy Prater on September 9, 2020 9:30 am If it comes off easily without any wood chards then there is an adhesion problem and will not work, but if it comes off with bits of wood attached, the epoxy is penetrating the stain and will adhere well. When can you pour another layer of MAS Tabletop Pro? You can use Tabletop in two or three shallow 1/4" pours or bump up to deep pour and do it in 1 pour. The max thickness MAS Table Top Pro should be applied is 1/8-1/4” per layer. These are largely marketing claims that have not necessarily been substantiated. 0 votes Answered by the admin That should be around 2-4 hours after pouring, but warmer temperatures will set faster, and cooler temperatures will set slower. Best practice is to wait 5-7 days at room temperature for an epoxy surface to fully cure (develop it’s full mechanical and thermal properties) before putting it into service. What is the temperature rating for MAS Deep Pour? Three oil-based stains that have worked well epoxy resin in the past are Ace Hardware Great Finishes Wood Stain, Old Masters Wiping Stain and Pratt & Lambert Tonetic Interior Wood Stains. We typically recommend using MAS Deep Pour epoxy for river tables where you can pour large amounts of epoxy up to 0.5-1” thick, and then using MAS Table Top Pro as the top coat. To start, the surface must be clean, dry and free of contamination. A good comparison is the color difference of wet vs dry wood, although the extent of the color change can vary based on wood type. However, it’s important to keep in mind that epoxy takes roughly 5-7 days at room temperature to fully cure and develop its full mechanical and thermal properties. Longer cure time than tabletop epoxies; Max. MAS Table Top is not FDA approved for direct food contact. Mica comes in a variety of colors and is generally the go to pigment. Feel free to experiment. Wood will off gas and percolate bubbles up through coating if you fail to do so. Learn how your comment data is processed. With that said, you can wait for the full cure schedule, then lightly scuff the finish to create surface area and texture for the epoxy to adhere to, wash the piece down with a solvent like denatured alcohol or acetone (keep in mind that may discolor or remove the oil finish)  at which point you can apply a seal coat (1/32") and watch for any fish eyes or orange peel. Keep in mind this procedure assumes a heavily scratch damaged surface, so you could start higher up in the sanding process if you choose: Volumetric yield of Deep Pour is about 25 cubic inches per mixed pound. Name * Asked by Earl on September 27, 2020 10:00 pm While much of the industry will tell you their products contains zero VOC, we’ve actually tested our product and obtained a result of 1.5 g/L VOC, which is extremely low. 0 votes I’ve looked long and hard for a good resin that can withstand the abuse I put it through while I paint and this one is by far the winner. Whatever the dry time, the resin should be allowed to fully cure before attempting to move or sand it. The heat deflection temperature is 124F. A clear epoxy coating & casting resin especially designed to create hard wearing, beautiful bar tops and tabletops. When warm, it’s thinner and sets faster. The edge you are referring to is a phenomenon that occurs when the surface adhesion pulls the epoxy up to form a concave meniscus. We always recommend placing a coaster down on any tabletop to mitigate any unnecessary scratches. The mix ratio for the MAS Table Top is 1 part resin to 1 part hardener (1A:1B) by volume, or 100 parts resin to 83 parts hardener (100A:83B) by weight. Only mix up what you intend to immediately use. It is not a necessary step. And we’re OK with that! What is the best temperature to use epoxy resin? The shelf life of MAS epoxy resins and hardeners is at least one year in sealed containers, but the material can last much longer when stored between 60-90°F in a dry place. I plan to use Varathane premium quick drying wood stain. Remove epoxy. That being said, MAS Table Top is the absolute clearest epoxy system we offer, and specifically formulated for flood coating applications. 0 votes Is there any prep work needed before pouring epoxy? As with most projects, artwork especially so, each piece is unique. Fish eyes are caused by surface contamination. With that said, in some instances you can apply epoxy over an oil-stain however you will need to let the stain fully cure, could be 14+ days and then apply a seal coat of epoxy over it, scuff lightly with 150 grit sand paper, wash it down liberally with denatured alcohol or acetone and then apply another seal coat, repeat the scuff and wash. Can this be used on a laundry top with a back-splash? Pouring:  NEVER scrape or brush the sides or bottom of the container you just mixed in to remove every last drop because no matter how thoroughly you may have mixed, there will always be an unmixed portion which can be dislodged and will leave a wet or sticky spot on your coating.