Epoxy resin is one of the most useful and versatile chemical adhesives available to the general public. Its ability to secure a variety of common materials such as wood, fabric, glass, porcelain, and even metal, makes it the obvious choice for many projects.
Unfortunately, epoxy resin has a very strong, lingering smell that many people find unpleasant.
Thankfully, you don’t have to resign yourself to the smell if you find it offensive. Follow me below to learn how to get rid of the epoxy resin smell and enjoy the many benefits of this useful product.
Table of Contents
How Do You Get Rid Of Epoxy Resin Smell?
The most effective way to get rid of the epoxy resin smell is to use an epoxy resin product that has been specifically designed to emit a low odor. Several manufacturers offer epoxy resin products that boast a low-VOC rating, which means they have a low count of volatile organic compounds that cause the undesired smell.
Since VOCs are what cause the strong smell that we associate with epoxy, resins with a low-VOC rating emit low odors and produce reduced smells.
However, odor-sensitive people will find that even low-VOC epoxy resin products produce a perceivable and characteristically unpleasant epoxy smell. Thankfully, there is more you can do to reduce or get rid of the smell.
From Amazon:
- ARTISAN APPROVED QUALITY - Unlock your artistic potential with Craft Resin. Premium clear epoxy resin and hardener allows you to create beautiful pieces with a glass-like finish and no yellowing over time. Popular for DIY art, tabletop coating, mold casting, canvas, coasters and jewelry making.
- BUBBLE-FREE, NO YELLOWING - Are you tired of dealing with the frustration of bubbles and uneven finishes in your resin projects? Our advanced formula is an innovation on the epoxy resin market. Release air bubbles automatically when the resin is warm, recommended depth 1/4 inch.
- CERTIFIED, FOOD SAFE - Craft Resin epoxy made with a minimal odor, non-toxic, free of VOCs & solvent materials - food grade epoxy resin perfectly formulated for home and professional use. Harmless to you and the environment, when used as directed.
Ventilate The Smell Away
The first thing you should do whenever you find the need to use an epoxy resin is to ensure proper ventilation around your project site.
Proper ventilation is key to reducing all manner of bad smells, and epoxy resin smell is no exception.
So, open windows if possible, turn on bathroom fans, kitchen range hood fans, etc. Anything that can help circulate airflow out of the area where you will be using the epoxy, will help you reduce its unpleasant smell.
Protect Your Face
During the curing process, the smell of epoxy resin fumes are unavoidable. Ventilating will help move the air out but you can also wear a mask to reduce the smell that is making it to your nose.
The better the mask, the better this will work but even a cheapy will go a long way smell of resin as it cures.
Covering Up The Odor
After you have completed your project using a low-VOC epoxy and ventilating the room, you may still find yourself smelling a lingering resin smell.
What you can do to get rid of this smell is to use a gentle soap wash, and clean as much of the work site as you can. This may not always work, but it certainly won’t hurt to try.
If using water on your fresh project site is not a good idea, such as when using the epoxy resin on certain types of wood, you can place some baking soda odor eliminators, such as these nifty Arm & Hammer Odor Busterz Balls (from Amazon), around the work site to soak up some of the unpleasant smell.
If you find that the stink lingers even after trying all of these tricks, just be patient. After some time you will notice the smell will begin to dissipate on its own and eventually it will disappear completely.
Is Smelling Epoxy Resin Smell Dangerous?
Many people often worry about the potential danger of smelling epoxy resin over prolonged periods, and this is a legitimate concern.
The characteristically chemical epoxy resin odor that you smell means that the product you are using is slowly releasing volatile organic compounds into the air. These compounds, if inhaled directly, can cause inflammation of the nose, throat, and lungs; which means that continuous exposure to these “fumes” can lead to respiratory problems, including asthma.
This is the primary reason why proper ventilation is so important when using epoxy products.
To further reduce your exposure to these chemical compounds, make sure to:
- Always keep all containers, resins, hardeners, gel coats, cleaners, catalysts, etc. covered or closed when not in use.
- Keep all of your equipment and workstation clean, and properly dispose of any instruments you won’t be using again as soon as you finish.
- Once the epoxy resin has been applied, you can place a layer of cellophane wrap over the resin to minimize evaporation of the volatile organic compounds, thus reducing their propagation significantly. Once the resin has dried completely, you can remove the cellophane wrap by applying a small amount of polyvinyl alcohol.
- Once the fiber and resin are applied, evaporation of the styrene can be slowed down by placing cellophane/Mylar-type plastic wrap over the fiber/resin, or later, when the resin has gelled, a layer of polyvinyl alcohol can be applied.
Last update on 2024-04-03 at 05:03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
