The Best Epoxy of 2024
Epoxy, a powerful adhesive and coating material, has revolutionized various industries and DIY projects alike. Composed of two components—a resin and a hardener—epoxy creates a chemical reaction when mixed, forming a durable, high-strength bond. Its versatility knows no bounds, adhering to materials such as metal, wood, plastic, and concrete with ease. Beyond its adhesive properties, epoxy offers a range of finishes, from glossy and smooth to textured and matte, making it ideal for diverse applications like flooring, countertops, art, and jewelry. Its ability to resist chemicals, water, and heat ensures long-lasting durability, while its customizable nature sparks creativity in crafters and professionals worldwide. Discover the endless possibilities with epoxy, like the DR CRAFTY Epoxy, today.
The Best Epoxy
Best Overall
With a name like DR CRAFTY, you’d think that the epoxy resin kit was aimed towards artists. And it is – made to be easy to use and with all the included tools to get started, this kit is perfect for people who know that they need to use epoxy, but aren’t sure exactly how. The kit comes with various bits and bobs, but the main product includes the resin and the hardener – you mix even parts of both and you’ve got 45 minutes to work with it before it completely hardens.
The kit also comes with other tools to help you get started. These include two large sticks, two measuring cups with spouts, and two plastic spreaders. You won’t have to prepare anything else for the epoxy since you’ve got all the tools you need right out of the box.
Best for Beginners
Make your crafts shine like never before with the Unicone Art Epoxy Kit. This kit, providing an efficient solution for both beginners and experts, effortlessly coats and seals your crafts with the best epoxy. The kit includes 2 gallons of epoxy resin, delivering a high gloss, UV-resistant, and odor-free art resin.
Mixing and pouring the resin is a breeze, making it the best overall choice for beginners. The BPA-free non-toxic crystal clear formula remarkably reduces bubbles, allowing you to achieve a smooth finish without any flaws. Its unique compound is designed to resist UV rays, preventing yellowing and keeping your crafts vibrant and clear for a longer time.
The kit is perfect for achieving a crystal clear finish. Its high gloss property brings out the colors and details of your craft, making it stand out. This kit doesn’t just coat your crafts, it transforms them, sealing your creativity in a layer of high-quality, durable epoxy. Making your crafts last longer and look better has never been this easy. So whether you’re a crafting newbie or an experienced artist, make the Unicone Art Epoxy Kit your go-to choice for all your sealing and coating needs.
Most Durable
The Better Boat Crystal Clear Epoxy brings a new level of professionalism and quality to the small business crafting scene. This kit not only offers top-notch durability, making it incredible for jewelry crafting, but it also provides crystal clear clarity, transforming ordinary art projects into extraordinary pieces. With this kit, you can effortlessly coat and seal your crafts, presenting your customers or audience with stunning, glossy, and durable products.
This kit equips you with everything needed to kick-start your epoxy journey, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned crafter looking to scale up.
What sets it apart is the inclusion of resin molds, making it a comprehensive package. The kit ensures your tabletop art, jewelry casting, DIY tumblers, and wood crafts get a smooth, clear, and professional finish. The two-part epoxy resin supplies guarantee an easy mix for a perfect blend. Whether you’re planning on crafting a boat pint or sealing a gal, this kit provides a crystal clear result that is hard to beat.
Easy to Mix
One of the trickier parts of applying epoxy is leveling the substance. The epoxy resin hardens after a while, and you want to make sure that the resin is evenly applied everywhere so that it looks good and is structurally sound. The problem is that if you’re new to working with epoxy, you’re bound to make some mistakes.
That’s where this epoxy resin comes in. Designed to be used by beginners, you won’t have to worry too much about leveling the substance before it dries, since it does that for you. It’s easy to mix too, with a 1:1 recipe that’s incredibly easy to follow along. If you don’t want to worry about messing up as much as possible, this is the resin for you.
Most Convenient
One issue some people have with cheaper epoxy resin is the fact that over time, it can turn yellow. This can be the result of various outside factors, and what was once a clear white finish can easily ruin the look of whatever has epoxy on it. To solve this, you’ll need to get an epoxy resin formula that’s made to resist the yellowing tendencies of epoxy.
This resin is made for just that purpose. Not only does it prevent any yellowing, which can save you a potential nightmare, but it’s also easy to use. It’s low-odor, meaning that you won’t be smelling too much while working with the substance. Finally, it’s also non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about your health even if you inhale the epoxy fumes.
Most Reliable
Epoxy is mainly used as an adhesive, and this epoxy is made to hold together even the toughest of materials. It’s steel-reinforced, and it claims to create a bond that’s stronger than steel. Unlike the other epoxy products shown earlier, it doesn’t come in large bottles – rather, it comes in two small squeezable containers.
The process of using this epoxy is similar to others – you just mix equal parts of both substances and apply the epoxy. It’ll take quite a bit of time before the epoxy settles – expect 4 to 6 hours before it’s perfectly settled. Finally, wait up to a day for the whole thing to cure. You’re then left with an incredibly strong bond that’ll be very difficult to break.
Most Efficient
The previous epoxy product was tough and created really powerful bonds, but it had one downside – you had to mix the substances together manually before applying it. Now for some, this may be easy enough to do. But if you’re pressed for time or can’t be bothered to mix them manually, you probably want a faster, more efficient solution.
This epoxy product comes in a syringe. The syringe holds the resin and hardener in separate containers, and squeezing the syringe applies an even amount of both. The syringe also self-mixes the substances as they’re squeezed out, saving you the time and effort of mixing it yourself. It’s perfect for quick fixes that you don’t typically have time for.
Great Brand
Gorilla is a well-known brand for adhesives and glue, and their 2-part epoxy syringe is a great testament to their quality. It comes in a syringe similar to the previous one, with two different substances stored in different containers. The substances mix and you get your furniture fixed and holes sealed. However, what really makes this product special is its setting time.
Epoxy takes a bit of time before it settles in and hardens. Gorilla epoxy settles in just five minutes, making it great for quick fixes. Five minutes is a bit short, but it gives you enough time to make the necessary adjustments before the epoxy hardens. The syringe also comes with a cap that lets you seal and reuse the syringe whenever you want to in the future.
Ideal for DIY Projects
One of the more common uses of epoxy is as a sealing agent for boats and other complex construction builds. The seal can handle water, which is why it’s such a reliable tool for building boats. This particular epoxy resin is marketed towards boat-building and other building projects, hence the name “Aquaseal”.
The epoxy resin is also made to be ideal for construction projects. It’s even, doesn’t smell, strong, and clear, making it the perfect resin mixture for your DIY projects. There are also cups, stirrers, and spatulas included with your purchase so you can prepare the epoxy without any extra tools necessary.
Best Epoxies Buying Guide
Epoxy is a popular product, but it isn’t something you can just use right off the shelf, unlike other adhesives. You’ll need a stir stick to mix the resin with the hardener, use it before it hardens, and then wait for it to completely settle and cure. It’s a little more complex than your average adhesive, but its durability and effectiveness make up for the difference.
Want to seal holes, repair PVC pipe, fix furniture, and mend broken appliances with ease? You’ll need to learn how to use epoxy adhesive first. Here’s what you need to learn about epoxy, as well as some tips to make the purchasing process a little easier.
What Is Epoxy?
Epoxy is a substance and adhesive that’s used in various products. These include paints, primers, glues, and the like. So, you can check for epoxy paint, or epoxy glue depending on your need. Epoxy coatings are water resistant and can last up to 10 years if applied properly. It’s typically clear, and when mixed with a hardener, becomes solid within an hour or less. While they are useful, they can also cause chemical reactions like skin irritation when left in contact with the skin. The exothermic reaction epoxy generates can even result in moderate chemical burns.
Why Do You Need Epoxy?
Epoxy’s useful for a couple of reasons.
They’re potent and powerful
If you’re working on an arts and crafts project, or you’re just putting things together, then paper glue or tape will probably be more than enough. And for stuff that requires a little heavy-duty work, duct tape will probably be sufficient. But if you really need something that can seal and hold reliably for years to come, then you’ll want epoxy.
When making your project, you should also remember epoxy requires drying times to cure and harden. Usually, it takes somewhere between 24 hours to 72 hours to fully cure the epoxy.
Epoxy is incredibly powerful, and it’s used to seal boats, make furniture, and hold many other things in place. It’s a bit difficult to use at first, but its effectiveness makes the extra effort worth it in the end.
They can be used in a variety of situations
Epoxy has many uses. While some companies advertise epoxy as an adhesive, which it is, epoxy can also be used for many other things. It is used to coat and cover certain objects. It is also used in various art projects that need the clear and glossy nature of epoxy. It’s also be used as a protective coating for simply sealing holes. Even if you aren’t using epoxy 24/7, you’ll eventually end up in a situation where you could use epoxy to solve a problem. That’s how versatile epoxy is, and why you should at least have a bottle of one at home at all times.
Remember, 99.9% isopropyl alcohol is ideal for cleaning liquid resin spills or taking resin off your tools and brushes. However, prolonged contact with isopropyl alcohol can result in breaking down the resin, thus hampering your project. The chemical reaction can also cause a safety concern. So, undertake safety measures when working with epoxy.
Things To Consider When Buying Epoxy
Here’s what you need to remember the next time you buy epoxy.
Type
Despite how simple epoxy adhesive is, there a few different types out there that are meant to be used for different situations. For example, some epoxy resins are marketed to be used for arts and crafts projects, whereas others are marketed to be used in the construction of boats and various types of furniture. While the epoxy resin could also be used in other ways theoretically, the ideal use of the product is what’s being marketed by the manufacturer.
Then you have other types of epoxy adhesives that are made for a specific purpose, and that purpose only. For example, there are epoxies that are mixed with other substances to make it stronger, but it doesn’t appear clear, which can be a problem for some people who need the clear nature of epoxy.
When buying epoxy, be sure to consider first and foremost what you need the product for. Chances are that there’s an epoxy resin marketed for that exact same purpose, and chances are that the product was intended to be used in that specific way. Your best bet is to use products as intended, even if epoxy is very versatile and can be used in multiple ways.
Amount
The amount of epoxy is also something you want to consider. Since epoxy only hardens when mixed together with the hardener, you don’t really need to worry about the substance hardening while you leave it on a shelf for long periods of time, however, there are still some things worth noting.
For example, do you have the space to store epoxy? Epoxy can be non-toxic, but can cause chemical reaction when gets mixed with other substances. If your pets consume it, they may get sick, so you’ll want to store it away from pets and children. Some epoxy products also produce a bit of smell, so you’ll want one that doesn’t have that sort of odor. Typically, you only need a bit of epoxy for quick fixing, so if that’s your intended use, then get a syringe or small bottle. Otherwise, you’ll have to get the large bottles, since epoxy is also used in large amounts for certain projects.
If you are going to use epoxy for the first time, consider checking the video from John Malecki to learn useful tips and tricks.
Epoxy Price Range
Depending on the formula, epoxies can vary greatly in price. Some epoxy syringes can go for as much as a large bottle of epoxy resin and hardener. This isn’t a scam, either – some epoxy products use higher-quality ingredients compared to others, and as such are better in certain aspects, such as bonding. You can expect to spend around $20 for your typical bottle or syringe.
How We Choose the Best Epoxy?
We choose our epoxy products based on their odor, color, intended use, and brand history.
People Also Asked
Is epoxy a glue?
Epoxy is a substance that’s used in a variety of products and is commonly used as an adhesive, though it can also be used in other ways. Unlike glue, while seals within minutes, epoxy adhesives can take more than 24 hours to cure, depending on the project.
Is epoxy toxic?
Epoxy is generally non-toxic. This means you can inhale and even ingest epoxy without suffering from anything severe.