The dollar store epoxy trick that keeps failing on me

So I keep seeing these posts about using the $1.25 epoxy tubes from Dollar Tree to seal trinket trays and coasters, and every single time I've tried it, the finish stays tacky for days. Last month I did a batch of 6 coasters with those tubes, let them sit for 4 days in my garage, and they still had fingerprints in the surface. I finally figured out it's not the epoxy itself, it's that people aren't measuring the two parts evenly because the tubes squirt out different amounts. I started weighing the resin and hardener on a kitchen scale instead of eyeballing it, and my last set cured overnight. Am I the only one who went through half a dozen ruined projects before realizing this? Anyone got a better $1 method for getting that glassy finish without special tools?

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noah_walker1621d ago

The dollar store epoxies are a gamble wrapped in a bargain bin, honestly. You're not alone, half my garage floor looks like a crime scene of failed coasters from those tubes. Weighing them out is the real pro move, but the tubes themselves are still junk, they're like guessing games with extra steps. If you want the glassy finish without buying a whole setup, just prepare for a few more sacrifices to the resin gods first. Maybe try the clear craft glue method and a spray sealant, it's less fancy but way more forgiving. Your only real enemy is impatience, and those $1.25 tubes feed on it.