Best Epoxy Resins for Wood

If you’re looking for the best epoxy resin for your next DIY woodworking project, we’ve got you covered!

Best Epoxy Resin for Wood Projects

If you’re new to the world of epoxy resins, it can be hard figuring out which brands are reliable and which aren’t. Here is our list of the best epoxy resins for wood to get you started.

1 | ProMarine Self-Leveling Epoxy Resin

Kickstarting the list is this offering from the reliable ProMarine Supplies brand (a sister concern of ProMarine Repair), a brand that’s been around for nearly a decade now and specializes in epoxy resins.

The ProMarine Self-Leveling Epoxy Resin is designed to suit just about any surface, from artwork to bars to table tops. The resin has a self-leveling formula, entirely made up of solids, that helps get rid of irregularities such as fish eyes and bubbles, giving you a smooth finish in every project.

This formula also gives the resin impressive air release and color stability.

Additionally, the resin is blush-resistant, scratch resistant, resistant to ultraviolet (UV) rays, has low odor, is water-resistant, contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and meets Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, making it one of the safest epoxy resins to use.

Pros

Cons

2 | TotalBoat Table Top Clear Epoxy Resin

Among the leading names for mariner-crafts-related finishing products and epoxy resin, the versatile TotalBoat Table Top Clear Epoxy Resin leaves your furniture, ceramic, steel, and concrete looking shiny and glossy.

The resin is also great for art projects; you can add encapsulations, tints, and pigments to give your jewelry, coasters, and other artwork the finish you’re looking for.

In addition to being self-leveling like the ProMarine epoxy discussed above, the TotalBoat Table Top Clear Epoxy Resin is completely waterproof (its most impressive feature—when TotalBoat says 100% waterproof, they mean every cent of it), free of VOCs and BPA, and 100% food safe.

It also has a very low odor and doesn’t emit harsh fumes on application.

This resin takes 4-8 hours to dry and 16-20 hours to cure, and is extremely resistant to yellowing, blushes, bubbles, and scratching. A gallon can cover up to 12.8 square feet and is ideal for indoor usage.

Pros

Cons

3 | Deep Pour Food-Grade Epoxy Resin

This self-leveling, expertly formulated, and versatile epoxy resin comes from a brand that’s been in the industry for over six decades.

The Deep Pour Food-Grade Epoxy Resin gives your pieces a crystal-clear finish and is perfect for alcohol ink, mica powder, river tables, deep resin molds, resin dye, and pigment powder.

As the name suggests, this resin is formulated for deep pouring. Compared to the pouring thickness of a quarter or one inch that other resins come with, this one can be poured up to a thickness of two to four inches.

This resin stands out, though, because of its excellent resistance to UV rays and yellowing caused by these rays—among the best (if not the best) in the market.

The Deep Pour resin can be used on a range of surfaces, such as tabletops, countertops, and wooden furniture. You can use it for both clear and colored epoxy resin wood filler applications.

Once cured, the resin is completely free of VOCs and odors and is FDA-compliant.

Pros

Cons

4 | Beast Bond Ultra-Glossy Epoxy Resin

This professional-grade epoxy resin is an excellent option for art projects, giving you a durable, rock-hard finish that’s long-lasting and crystal clear, with minimal imperfections.

Not only is your finished project going to look spectacularly glossy sans any polishing, but it’s also going to be protected from scratches, moisture, yellowing, and other ravages of time.

Additionally, you can easily mix dyes, pigments, and colors into this self-leveling resin for your desired artistic finish.

The product comes in the form of a kit, which includes a resin, a hardener, a spatula, two measuring cups, five mixing sticks, an instruction manual, and gloves. The product is also quite safe, without any VOCs, fumes, or emissions, in addition to being non-flammable.

Pros

Cons

5 | FGCI Superclear Epoxy Pourable Resin

A favorite among the professionals, the Superclear Epoxy Pourable Resin is also from the FGCI stables, like the Deep Pour resin.

This self-leveling resin displays excellent water and scratch resistance, leaving your project with a stunning super-wet gloss finish that boasts a crystal-clear, mirror-like finish.

You can use this within any coating and step-casting applications, ranging from step-pour river tables, coffee tables, and side tables, to step-casing art and jewelry castings (colors, pigments, and dyes can be easily integrated into this resin, too).

Compared to other resins, the Superclear Epoxy Pourable Resin boasts a better resistance to yellowing thanks to the state-of-the-art additive formulation the brand uses in this product. The resin is food safe once it’s completely cured.

Pros

Cons

6 | Craft Resin Crystal Clear Epoxy Resin

This craft resin comes from the house of Janchun, a brand that specializes in epoxy resin production and other related accessories and components. With a focus on developing different kinds of resin and resin-related products, the brand is known for its quality products and great customer service.

The Craft Resin Crystal Clear Epoxy Resin is specially formulated with craft and art projects in mind, with a unique self-leveling and self-degassing formula that gives DIY projects a superb finish.

The clear resin sets rock-hard once cured, leaving your projects with a clear, durable finishing coat, while the resin’s water-like quality and natural de-foaming properties give you a solid, ripple-less finish.

The high-gloss coat, in addition to a nearly bubble-and-imperfection-free transparent finish, also enhances any colors that are on the surface.

The resin and hardener each come in 16-ounce bottles and the standard formula of mixing equal parts resin and hardener applies to this product, too.

The resin is also engineered to be safe for the artists and users who may work long hours with it—it’s non-toxic, low-odor, free of VOCs and BPA, and doesn’t emit harsh fumes. It’s also food safe, which means it can coat glassware, trays, and most other utensils used to serve food.

Thanks to UV inhibitors, the resin’s resistance to UV rays and yellowing also keeps bartops, jewelry, coasters, wooden cutting boards, acrylic pour painting, river tables, molds, geode paintings, and other artwork protected, and the colors table for a long time to come.

The resin is also good for casting, with a maximum casting size of six fluid ounces. The curing time is between 8 and 24 hours, though environmental factors may impact this period.

Pros

Cons

7 | Naked Fusion Epoxy Resin Art Resin

The Naked Fusion Epoxy Resin Art Resin is another resin that’s excellent for artwork. Extremely easy to mix with pastes, mica pigments, and alcohol inks, this resin gives you a super-glossy, clear finish while making existing colors pop out vividly.

The resin is UV resistant, cures rock hard, is self-leveling, and comes with a working time of 45 minutes. Free of BPA, VOCs, and harsh fumes, Naked Fusion resin is safe to work with and food safe.

Naked Fusion’s epoxy resin can be used for a wide range of projects involving coating, casting, and paints, such as jewelry, resin art, geode paintings, pour paintings, silicone molds, tabletops, countertops, and live edge river tables.

Pros

Cons

8 | MAS Table Top Pro Clear Epoxy Resin

Though not as popular as some of the other brands on the list, MAS’s Table Top Pro Clear Epoxy Resin is a premier, all-rounder epoxy solution that’s just as great for your wooden tabletop as it is for your marble counter or your acrylic art project.

Though designed for use by professionals, the MAS Table Top Pro Clear Epoxy Resin is beginner-friendly as well, with a detailed user guide for navigating the resin kit (which includes a foam brush and plastic spreader) and its application.

The thickest recommended layer for a single pour of this resin is a quarter of an inch, which means that deep-pour projects may take longer to finish, especially as you have to wait at least a day before pouring the next layer.

The resin is compatible with various pigments and dyes for those desiring an artistic finish to their project.

Pros

Cons

9 | ArtResin Clear Non-Toxic Epoxy Resin

As the name suggests, this one is for artists; it’s a versatile formula that works just as well with wood as it does with canvas and other mediums. It’s also a great option for 3D art (like sculptures) as it’s extremely easy to cast accurately and control, which is its standout feature.

Like most resins on this list, the ArtResin Clear Non-Toxic Epoxy Resin is self-leveling and provides a glossy, smooth finish. It is also UV resistant and resists the yellowing that comes with time and exposure.

The ArtResin epoxy resin is non-flammable, food-safe, and non-toxic, without any BPAs or fumes. A gallon can give you a coverage of around 32 square feet.

Pros

Cons

10 | Incredible Solutions Tabletop Epoxy

Rounding off our list is the Incredible Solutions Tabletop Epoxy, a fast-drying, self-leveling resin solution that’s great for 3D projects. The first layer hardens completely in as little as 12 hours, though curing still takes the standard seven days that most resin solutions take.

This epoxy resin is resistant to water, impact, and UV rays, and has no VOCs or odor, which makes it quite safe to work with. It is also resistant to blemishes, though you may have to contend with a tiny bit of blushing if you’re working at temperatures below 77℉.

The finish is quite smooth, consistently thick, glossy, and clear, with minimal bubbles, craters, fish eyes, and other imperfections.

Pros

Cons

Epoxy Resins for Wood Buyer’s Guide

With so many options at your disposal, picking out an epoxy resin for your project can get pretty confusing.

There are a few things to consider before using epoxy resin:

• Safety: Epoxy resin contains chemicals that can be harmful if inhaled or ingested. Ensure to use it in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves and protective eyewear when handling it.

• Surface preparation: The surface you are applying the resin to should be clean, dry, and free of any contaminants that could interfere with the resin’s adhesion.

• Mixing ratios: Epoxy resin typically comes in two parts that must be mixed together in the correct ratio. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing the resin to ensure it cures properly.

• Working time: Epoxy resin has a limited working time, so it is important to plan your project accordingly and work quickly once the resin has been mixed.

• Curing time: Epoxy resin takes time to cure, and the curing time can vary depending on the type of resin you are using and the ambient temperature and humidity. Make sure to allow enough time for the resin to cure before fully handling or using the finished product.

• Heat resistance: Epoxy resin is generally not very heat-resistant, so it is unsuitable for high-temperature applications.

• Yellowing: Some types of epoxy resin may turn yellow over time when exposed to UV light. To prevent this, you can use a UV-resistant epoxy resin or apply a UV-protective finish over the cured resin.

• Compatibility: Epoxy resin may not be compatible with certain materials or surfaces, so it is important to test a small area before applying it to your project.

Keeping in mind the following factors will help you pick out the best resin for your project.

Coverage

Look for a resin that gives you excellent coverage. You want the maximum coverage from your can of resin, which is ideally a small amount that can cover a larger surface. Since epoxy resin can work out to be quite expensive, good coverage can help you save a bit of money.

Ideally, a gallon of resin should cover at least 12 square feet, which is what most resin brands will offer you anyway. Don’t fall for “superior coverage”—most often, these are just hyped-up claims to market the product.

You also want to ensure that the resin pours consistently and gives you a smooth finish, without imperfections like fish eyes, bubbles, and blushes. A self-leveling epoxy resin is highly useful when you’re looking for a perfectly clear and smooth finish.

However, note that most resins, if advertised as both quick curing and self-leveling, often do only one of these functions efficiently.

Drying Time

Obviously, the longer your epoxy takes to dry, the longer you spend on the project. How long your epoxy will take to dry and cure depends on the type and amount of hardener that’s used with it.

Many products clearly state the drying and curing time on the label. Take this into consideration when picking out resin for your project.

The type of project you’re working on will also determine the ideal drying time—for an art project, you’ll want a longer drying time, while a shorter drying period is great for simple, straightforward projects.

Similarly, a shorter drying period is ideal for a semi-vertical or vertical surface so that you don’t have to deal with too much running and dripping resin.

Just like drying, curing is also important. Your project needs to be fully set (which means fully cured) to be strong, durable, and stable.

Toxicity

Resins can turn out to be storehouses of toxins, brimming with VOCs, BPA, and harmful fumes and odors. Such toxins can seriously harm your health when working with resin.

Additionally, if you’re applying the resin on a surface that constantly comes in contact with food (like a bar top, tray, or dinner table), the resin needs to be food-safe once completely cured.

Unfortunately, most resins will contain BPA and epichlorohydrin (an epoxide liquid), and sometimes, carbolic acid, too. This is because epoxy resin is a result of the reaction between BPA and epichlorohydrin.

However, many epoxy resin brands have found a way to create safe, non-toxic resin products without any harmful chemicals. Epoxied surfaces, especially those used for food, need to be as non-toxic as possible and free of such contaminants.

Viscosity (Consistency)

Viscosity, also known as consistency, refers to the thickness of a substance. The more viscous a solution, the thicker it is. Resin can be quite viscous, but the viscosity generally rests between the thickness of a gel and a liquid. The viscosity of resin usually varies with the brand and product.

A thicker resin will give you a glossier, shinier finish, but it can be hard to spread and work with. It’ll also take a while to dry and cure, and trapped air bubbles may not be able to escape from the initial layers if you’re pouring multiple layers.

A less viscous product won’t give you the same finish as a thick product, but the drying/curing time is much faster, and you can add as many layers as you want since the layers are quite thin. It’s also possible to remove bubbles much more easily in such products than in thicker products.

How hot or cold it is will also affect the product’s viscosity, so always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for storage and choose a product according to the climate in your region.

Durability

Resins have a tendency to yellow over time. They may also get scratched and worn out. Additionally, the sun’s UV rays can break down epoxies over time and cause even a clear coat to cloud over and accelerate yellowing eventually.

Durability is important, especially for artwork. Durable resins can keep your work protected and preserved for a long time, retaining the vividity and stability of the colors in the artwork.

Therefore, the product’s resistance to UV rays, water/moisture, yellowing, scratching, and impact is important. Most resins are quite resistant to all of these. To make sure that your chosen resin is durable, check for the presence of UV inhibitors.

A point to note is that most resins are water-resistant and not waterproof. Therefore, while the resin coat will repel water, you may still have to deal with permanent water rings on your resin coat unless the resin is specifically waterproof.

Epoxy Resins for Wood FAQ.

Epoxy resin is a paradox—it’s a chemical product that’s made using natural sources! This product revolutionized the art and decor world, accomplishing the objective of protecting the object while giving it a glossy, beautiful finish.

But what should you consider before using epoxy resin?

What Epoxy Resin Should I Use for Wood?

Any type of resin can be used with wood, but the two most commonly used are deep pour and tabletop epoxy resin.

The former is for deep pouring, such as when filling a gap or creating a river table, whereas the latter is simply for sealing and finishing a project, and hence, can only be poured to a depth of ⅛ inches.

Can You Use Epoxy Resin over Paint?

Epoxy resin can be applied on any fully dry surface, even if it is a painted wooden desktop or wood bed frame.

However, since oil paints and stains take a long time to dry fully, you may have to wait a while before you can apply epoxy resin over such surfaces.

Will Epoxy Resin Cure Without Hardener?

A hardener speeds up epoxy resin’s curing time, which is why most people use hardeners with resin.

However, that doesn’t mean you should add excessive amounts of hardener to your resin to get it to dry faster.

Resin and hardener should always be mixed in the 1:1 ratio; any ratio other than this will cause the resin to take extremely long to cure, or worse, not cure at all, just as it wouldn’t if there was no hardener mixed in.

The Bottom Line

And there you have it—the best epoxy resins for wood to use on everything from wood desktops to DIY coffee tables.

Key Takeaways:

However, the list also covers several other quality products. With this list, your projects are covered, whether they’re wood or ceramic or a work of art, but if they don’t, you can still make an informed choice and pick out a resin that satisfies you.