It is recommended that you allow the epoxy to dry at least 24 hours before you do anything on it again. After you have used it for the intended purpose, such as filling the cracks in the wood, you might be in a situation where you want it to dry faster.
You might have tried several methods and it isn’t working. There are a few tricks that you can try and you will achieve better results. Check out this article for some of these tricks.
Warm temperature
The rate at which epoxy will dry largely depends on the temperature of the place. For instance, if you have used it to cure cracks in wood, the temperature of the room will determine how soon it will dry. The colder the temperature, the longer it will take for the epoxy to dry.
In a situation where you want it to dry faster, you should put the wood in a warmer location. For instance, put the wood in a safe room, then lock all the windows and shut the door. Doing this will make the room warmer. However, you should make sure that the room temperature remains constant throughout the drying process.
Increase the temperature
You can also achieve quicker results by increasing the temperature of the location by a few degrees. The higher the temperature, the quicker the curing process. For instance, you can go a few degrees above the recommended temperature. However, to avoid ruining the project, the temperature must not be too high.
Room heaters and heat lamps are a great source of increasing the temperature of the room, depending on the size of the project. However, make sure you maintain the same room temperature throughout the drying process. A decrease in temperature level can cause other issues.
You cannot just increase the temperature a few seconds after applying the epoxy. There is a point where you can increase the temperature and you must wait for that time before you apply additional warmth to the epoxy. For instance, you should not increase the temperature when the epoxy is still in liquid form or when it is yet to reach the exothermic peak. Increasing the temperature before this stage will lead to overheating.
Follow the instruction
Except stated otherwise, the standard practice for mixing the epoxy is to mix equal quantities of hardener and epoxy. In a bid to make it dry quicker, you might be tempted to add more quantity of hardener. Doing this will not give you the desired result and it will create bigger issues.
For instance, it could lead to a sticky solution or uncured resin. This implies that you have to repeat the process if you want to achieve the desired result. By the second time, you will have to follow the instructions.
Do not interchange
There are several brands of epoxy products. Most of these products come in pairs; that is, the epoxy and the hardener. In a bid to market their products, some brands will promise you that their product dries faster.
The truth is that each manufacturer uses different solutions to make their product. These products are effective when they are paired with the ones made by the same manufacturer. Interchanging one solution with another brand that promised you a quick cure will not work. You should use only one brand.
Conclusion
The quality of epoxy is not reduced by speeding up the drying process. Leaving it to dry for at least 24 hours is recommended. Nevertheless, in a situation where you want to ship the product, you should allow it to dry for a longer duration before you package it for shipping.
