At UltraClear Epoxy, we specialize in high-grade epoxy resins, designed to fulfill the needs of any epoxy project, whether as a sealant for vulnerable surfaces or as a medium for creative endeavors.
And when it comes to most projects, there's a small set of particular tools and supplies considered invaluable to not only ensuring optimal results but also to make the entire process more streamlined and convenient.
In this article, we'll be talking about our essential tools and supplies bundle for epoxy projects: the Basic Epoxy Tool Kit.
UltraClear Epoxy: Get it done right the first time.
At UltraClear Epoxy, our premium epoxy resin products are all carefully formulated for both quality and convenience. Our collection includes epoxy variants that cover nearly every conceivable project type, facilitating a range of traditional projects like bar tops and table tops, as well as more modern creations such as resin art and jewelry.
The ideal epoxy choice depends on the type of project you're planning.
The primary epoxy options include:
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UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy—This is the classic choice. Capable of handling most project types, this resin excels at sealing bar tops, countertops, and table tops, along with most other types of furniture or fixtures.
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UltraClear Deep Pour Epoxy—Our deep casting resin variant. This type of epoxy is designed for deep, thick resin layers at just a small cost to durability. This is best used for deep resin molds, river veins, and extra-thick finishes.
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UltraClear Art & Craft Epoxy—For typical resin art, there's no better choice than this epoxy option. Produced with the goal of making resin art easier, it's slightly less viscous than Bar & Table Top Epoxy and can be poured in thicker slightly thicker layers as a result. As such, it stands between the other two in terms of strength and layer depth.
By choosing a premium epoxy resin and avoiding low-quality "budget brands", you'll be prepared to achieve your goal of a crystal-clear, rock-solid epoxy finish.
Unpacking the Basic Epoxy Tool Kit
The basic epoxy tool kit is a bundle of essential tools and supplies for performing an epoxy project. Each item serves a distinct purpose that will enable you to complete the various phases of the epoxy process without issue.
Here's what is included in the Basic Epoxy Tool Kit:
- 2—Five-quart mixing containers
- 1—One-quart mixing container
- 1—Mixing drill bit
- 1—Epoxy heat gun
- 2—Poly Pro mixing sticks
- 2—Pairs of latex disposable gloves
Let's talk about each of these items and what their role is in an epoxy project.
Item #1: (2) Five-quart mixing containers
In every tool are two of our five-quart mixing containers. These are intended for mixing up large epoxy batches.
When mixing epoxy, you should always use a fresh, clean container—one that hasn't already been used for an epoxy batch before. The reasons for this is two-fold.
Residual epoxy components
The first reason is because of residual epoxy components. No matter how well you blend your epoxy, there will always be some residue left behind in the container. These substances comprise small amounts of either component that simply didn't blend together to induce curing.
Though having some unavoidable, you can greatly mitigate the amount left behind by scraping the sides and bottom of your mixing container with a mixing stick during blending.
Particles and non-resin other contaminants
The second reason is that any mixing container, when not being used, can gather imperceptible layers of dust and other particles, which settle on the interior surface. Because of this, it's important to make sure the container is clean and fully dry shortly before beginning an epoxy project, as contaminants can become imperfections in your epoxy batch that transfer to the finish when it cures.
For more information on the epoxy process, check out our guides to preparing an epoxy batch:
Item #2: A one-quart mixing container
In contrast to the larger containers, the one-quart mixing container included in the kit is meant for small epoxy batches. Specifically, it's intended for preparing a seal coat batch of epoxy.
What is an epoxy seal coat?
An epoxy seal coat is a thin layer of epoxy brushed onto the surface of your substrate prior to applying any more comprehensive coatings.
The purpose of a seal coat is to "seal" in the pores—visible or not—of the substrate. The thin, deliberate application of epoxy seeps into the pores, displacing the air within them and releasing it into the atmosphere. This act prepares the substrate for receiving a proper flood coating.
Why apply an epoxy seal coat?
An epoxy seal coat is necessary because epoxy has a high viscosity in its liquid form, making it difficult for air to pass through it. When a flood coat is applied to an unprepared substrate surface, air the tries to rise and escape can become trapped within the finish, leading to air bubbles.
The seal coat prevents this from happening to a meaningful extent. Then, when a large coating is poured, what few air bubbles that do happen to get stuck can be easily removed with a heat gun or torch.
Learn more about epoxy seal coats in our guide here.
Item #3: A mixing drill bit
Also included in our epoxy tool kit is a mixing drill bit to make blending large epoxy batches much easier. This drill bit can be attached to most power drills and is designed with a long shaft to be lowered deep into large mixing containers.
A perfect blend with less effort
Mixing epoxy with a power drill turns the otherwise strenuous flood coat phase into a breezy task. It's best performed on a medium speed or the setting closest to it exhibited by by your drill.
When blending epoxy with a drill, it's strongly recommended you occasionally pause to scrape the sides and bottom of the container with a mixing stick. This will dislodge any components that have started to settle to the surface and allow them to be blended into the proper batch, reducing waste and maintaining the accuracy of your original measurements.
Item #4: An epoxy heat gun
An epoxy heat gun is another item in the tool kit with an essential role, in this case the removal of air bubbles.
After pouring an epoxy flood coat or deep pour coat, the next step is nearly always air bubble removal. This occurs within a few minutes of the application and is intended to eliminate any air bubbles that may have manifested in the finish prior to curing.
Short and straighforward removal
Removing air bubbles is relatively easy. The heat gun is activated, at which point the user simply passes over the entire epoxy coating, maintaining a distance of several inches and never lingering in one spot for more than a second.
From this position, the heat from the heat gun is high enough to burst air bubbles but not so high as to cause heat damage to the epoxy itself. One done, the user can attempt to closely examine for air bubbles that were missed, and if satisfied, may move onto the next step of the project. Otherwise, an additional pass can be performed with the same steps.
Item #5: A pair of Poly Pro mixing sticks
Next in our list of tool kit components is a pair of Poly Pro mixing sticks. These mixing sticks are carefully molded for less resistance while maintaining good stirring form.
Two primary functions
The mixing sticks are not only reusable but also serve two different purposes. The first purpose is to blend together low-volume epoxy batches for which a drill would be too powerful. This typically means a seal coat batch but can also include the flood coating of a small-scale project.
The second purpose is to scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing container when blending up a large batch of epoxy. For large batches, it's typical to use a power drill, which not only makes the process much easier but ensures you don't end up mixing for too long a time. In cases like that, the mixing sticks are there to prevent the epoxy components from sticking to the sides and failing to blend.
Learn how to avoid common mixing mistakes with our supplementary guide here!
Item #6: (2) Pairs of latex disposable gloves
Last but not least in our tool kit are two pairs of latex disposable gloves. These gloves are intended to be used whenever working with epoxy resin and will provide two particular uses:
- They protect your hands from epoxy contact. While epoxy is a very mild chemical, some users can still have a negative reaction to it. These will safeguard your hands during the application process.
- They prevent skin oils and other contaminants from affecting the epoxy before it's been mixed and cured.
Epoxy is a safe, VOC-free material when cured—even for food contact! But prior to that it's necessary to take some basic precautions.
Learn more about epoxy and safety in our guide here!
Have questions? Want advice? Contact us!
If you have any questions about epoxy resin and the tools and supplies needed to apply it—or if you'd like assistance in planning an epoxy project—please reach out to us at UltraClear Epoxy—our epoxy experts are ready to assist!
You can contact us via phone or email here. During business hours, you can also text chat online with one of our resin specialists by clicking the Help button at the bottom of your screen.
In our online store, you'll find a variety of useful tools and supplies, ideal for resin projects, plus our award-winning UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy and our UltraClear Deep Pour Epoxy.
