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There are a few different ways or should we say tools that you may utilize to get rid of those air bubbles on your epoxy resin. We would always want to make sure that our work is done the proper way, right?

Right! Some hands-on approaches would involve poking them or blowing at them so they may burst but these methods as you might agree aren’t very efficient. So for now, we are left with two choices, heat gun or torch for epoxy?

These are two effective tools that you may employ on your epoxy resin, so let’s find out about their strengths and drawbacks before you decide which one to utilize.

Heat Gun

Using a heat gun for the epoxy resin to pop those air bubbles is as DIY as one could get. And while we may have some hairdryer advocates reading this article, we’re sorry but hair dryers just won’t cut it.

A heat gun offers the right amount of heat that some would need to dry out their epoxy resins. Heat guns also offer a nice finishing touch to your epoxy, especially for those who are creating pieces of art using epoxy resin.

For some, it’s efficient and effective to use a heat gun if you pour in your resin in layers. They just offer this level of consistency to the work that many love. Also, heat guns are super-versatile tools that you may just have already lying around and can be utilized for a lot of other applications.

Aside from bursting the bubbles efficiently and the aesthetics that it brings one should decide when using a heat gun for their epoxy resin depending on the heat that they need.

How does a heat gun work? Apparently, a heat gun works much like your hairdryer but with more power. There’s a fan inside that delivers the necessary air and then a heating component then turns the air rather quickly before delivering it out of the nozzle.

So from that, you can already tell that while it may be efficient for some projects it’s not the most powerful way to acquire the heat that you are going to need. Thus, the need to discuss an alternative and an effective one too, the torch.

Torch

As mentioned, a torch brings about the most powerful source of heat that you may need to pop those air bubbles on your epoxy resin. But what are the primary reasons why people would stick with a heat gun? Maybe because there are some safety concerns involved?

Well, torch enthusiasts would tell you otherwise, and to be honest, we agree with them. Using torch for your epoxy resin is highly recommended but of course, we need to do it the right way so everyone including the project that you are working on comes out of the process – SAFE.

To give you some perspective heat guns operate at a heat of 212 degrees F to 1472 degrees F. What about torches? Well, we need to classify them too. There’s the propane-oxygen torch that can operate for as much as 3623 degrees F and the propane-butane torch that can reach 2237 degrees F.

So aside from raw heat power why should you favor using a torch as opposed to a heat gun? Well, go back to how a heat gun operates, it blows heated air into your resin, while it will get rid of the bubbles, blown air might come with, you guessed it, dust. YIKES!

A torch on the other hand would incinerate dust so you’re definitely dust free. So, which torch should you get? Well, we actually would recommend the propane torch and not the butane variety. Butane torch tends to leave some black residue on your work.

Go get one of those they use in culinary, they are quite handy, still provides the needed firepower, and are pretty easy to manage. For larger projects like tabletops, art pieces, or countertops, you may employ a bigger propane torch for epoxy resin.

Best practices when handling a torch?

When working on your epoxy resin with a torch make sure to observe proper safety precautions so you might harm yourself or burn what you’ve been working on. Here are a few tips.

• First of all, you need to be wary of your epoxy resin mixture. Take into consideration that if you mix in something like say, isopropyl alcohol into your epoxy then that’s flammable. So before torching your piece let something like alcohol evaporate first. Say 5 to 10 minutes.
• You can then allow your torch to brush the surface of what you’re working on. Keep it moving as well as in overlapping strokes so you’re sure to get it all even and get rid of the bubbles at the same time.
• Please remember to not let the flame rest only in a certain area without moving it. You will burn that specific spot for sure.
• Run your torch along a vein and heat up that epoxy effectively if you want to create a marble vein kind of aesthetic.
• Always try to work on a well-ventilated area. And clear the area of any flammable substance as much as possible.
• Those nasty bubbles might not be done developing about 60 minutes right after the initial curing process so be sure to check up on your piece if you want to get rid of those bubbles completely and not ruin all of that hard work.
• Wear a respirator mask if you want to protect yourself from any further harm. It’s not just the burning part that you need to keep in mind but also inhaling any chemicals in the process.

Heat Gun Or Torch For Epoxy

As discussed, a torch specifically a propane torch is a much effective tool if you’re looking for firepower. But a heat gun might be efficient for your needs too if you’re working on smaller epoxy resin projects.

Conclusion

So, now you know the parameters to consider on which one to use for the task at hand. Follow the best practices that we enumerated and you’ll be finishing that job in no time and safely.