Mercniac Posted October 12, 2020 Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 Hello, I've been trying to finish a table top with epoxy, I'm using Total Boat Table Top Epoxy. After curing, the epoxy doesn't feel right. It's not sticky, tacky or soft. Its actually smooth, shiny and very hard and I cant make a mark in it with a screwdriver, but when I run my fingernails across the top they dont glide smoothly, they kind of drag, I can feel resistance and can actually hear a faint squeak sound. This is the second brand of epoxy and the second table top that felt this way. I have measured exactly by volume and by weight and mixed thoroughly everytime and temp. during curing has been between 73 and 78 degrees. If I lightly sand it feels fine. I need to figure out what the problem is before I attempt the final pour. Any advice would be very helpful, thanks in advance for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 12, 2020 Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 This sounds normal to me. Cured poured-epoxy resin has a peculiar characteristic of smoothness that seems to interact with similar substances, like the keratin of your fingernails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted October 12, 2020 Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 So it's perfectly clear smooth and shiny. So what exactly is the problem? IIRC the coefficient of friction of epoxy is quite high, think rubber not plastic. If an epoxy surface feels slick it's probably been lubricated with wax or silicon or something else like a cleaner or oils. If you want that nice slippery feeling buff the surface with some paste wax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted October 12, 2020 Report Share Posted October 12, 2020 After letting it cure for at least a month buff it out like @Chestnut advised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted October 13, 2020 Report Share Posted October 13, 2020 Sounds about right for epoxy. Why are you wanting to use epoxy rather that other types of finish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercniac Posted October 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2020 Thanks for all of the replays and help, I guess what confused me is that the leftover epoxy in the mixing container cured very slick/slippery compared to the epoxy that i poured on the top, it cured in the same room, same temp. same conditions. About 1/4" thick in the bottom of a 4" diameter mixing container. Ill follow your advice on the buffing but I was just curious why that may be. I should have mentioned that before. Thanks again for everybody's help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercniac Posted October 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2020 Also, the reason I'm using epoxy instead of another finish is that I just want to learn how to do it correctly/successfully so thanks for the help, I'm sure I'll have more questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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