Which Wood Hardener Works?

For fine woodwork or within art we typically need a Wood Hardener that goes beyond what the hardware store has to offer. Some people may experience this same need for more expensive furniture or exotic pieces within their home or collection.

Here you can find basic applications and explanation of what wood hardeners are.

While the content here is targeted more towards artists, the information definitely can help someone looking to do wood repair. Keep in mind all things are relative to what one actually needs.

Stay Away From Putty Wood Hardeners

For the artist we typically need to stay away from putty wood hardeners. This is not always true but in most cases it is. The reason why is due to the desire in retaining as much of the natural beauty of the wood as possible.

Many wood putties that act as an epoxy hardener may fill the problem area yet ruin the natural appearance. This becomes a major problem within any art design or within fine pieces that rely upon above board aesthetics.

In a pinch there is an alternative solution for small cracks or holes I will give you. Yet for larger issues we need to be looking at other solutions.

For the smaller problems you may run into many artists utilize fine wood dust in a mix of poly or clear epoxy resin. The trick here is to use wood dust from the same species of wood.

Once the dust is mixed into the binding poly or hardener it can be applied and retain a natural appearance. In this way it will hold a stain or color more true to what is desired.

A common place to see this in practice is with box joints. Where the boards meet the joint will be filled with the dust from the species of the wood used. The difference it makes in the quality of fine finish is exponential.

Single Part Hardener

There will be different needs you encounter across larger pieces of wood. One may require only one spot of a board to be treated, while at other times an entire board may need to be encased by epoxy resin.

With this said the scope of what you need to achieve is important to know. For spot hardening people often will use many of the products found on store shelves. This is fine for run of the mill fixes around the home.

When it comes to nicer items of more value these store products will fall short. The first point of failure is that these are one part premixed applications. They do not bond to wood fibers as well as advertised.

An additional issue is that these are typically made from acrylics which are dissolved into a solvent. That being said they are more susceptible to water exposure causing continued damage.

For wood artists the complications compound in that these one part products do not offer much working time. This makes working varied custom colors into the hardener problematic at best if not impossible.

Two Part Hardener

The two part wood hardener is more expensive than the single part. Yet this increase in cost varies upon brand and need. Often the difference is minimal being comparable enough to make the switch worth it.

Let me preface this by stating to pay close attention to the directions of the manufacturer. There are different processes that can be used depending on the product. While all generally follow the same flow, some may prefer a conditioner or sealing agent to be applied before a top coat of epoxy.

If a sealing agent is used its purpose is to seal the wood. These can come in two part mixes and serve as an additional bonding agent between wood and epoxy.

Nevertheless as these two part hardeners are used they add more longevity and flexibility in use. Typically the drying time can take hours to sometimes days depending on the brushed thickness or pour.

While the process is longer the outcome is substantially better in appearance and durability compared to the one part products. These hardeners are typically used by artists for the flexibility of use across many projects.

Colors are easier to add and this element often becomes a part of the overall artwork itself. Additionally one can also mix wood dust in for more localized spot applications if desired.

Weaknesses Of Epoxy Wood Hardeners

The greatest weakness these wood hardeners have comes from exposure to UV light. They simply cannot do well with prolonged exposure. Among the issues caused is the weakening of the epoxy as it breaks it down.

In recent years it has become popular to fully encase wood that is absolutely beautiful but of odd shapes or design. These then would be formed by the epoxy wood hardener for use in a table. If this is done it is imperative that this table be protected from UV exposure to retain beauty.

Another problem that can be caused is discoloration from the light. Haze or other undesired impact have been reported by many through years of use.

The only other thing to really be careful of is how one cares for the surface over time. Using some cleaner or conditioners can have ill effects.

Stay away from anything abrasive as this will mar the surface. Also using too much of some oils such as Murphy’s Oil or Mineral Oil can cause it to turn hazy. These are problems which typically are easy to avoid and preventing standing water on the surface is common sense.

While epoxy is water resistant it like most things is not designed for continued or prolonged exposure. So keep that in mind and use coasters or other like items for glasses and drinks across time.

Benefits Of Epoxy Hardeners

Of the major benefits for artists is the work time these epoxy hardeners provide. I have seen and held some amazing wood art by those who put a great deal of practice into what they do.

These hardeners can be sanded and finished much like wood. They can also be cut by saws in the same manner. There is more care that is needed in a cut to prevent adverse effects so take ones time. It is a good idea to use a chasing piece of wood behind a cut to stop accidental blowout as the blade exits the cut.

Most of the brands offered give a finished product that is quite hard. Yet I would dare not to say that it is as durable as we think it is at times. Lumber you can drop and at times get away without seeing a dent. I wouldn’t attempt this with epoxy.

Using Wood Hardeners With Stain In Art

Before reading further there is something to be aware of. How well epoxy hardeners bond to oil based stains is debated. Some have had success, others have not. It is best to use these wood hardeners over a latex based stain rather than oil for consistent success.

Nevertheless the cool thing about these wood hardeners is that the wood can be stained before or after the hardener is used. There are practical reasons for each method depending on the wood and what the artist is seeking to achieve.

Stained wood itself does not cause any harm to the epoxy and its ability to bond to the wood. Most certainly it must be dry before any hardener is applied.

Commonly you can find those who have done pours across a surface where stain was applied before the pour. Likewise for epoxy rivers in tables the same principle is used there to give variation in color between two pieces.

Yet beyond the stain is further application of colored dyes to the hardener for more effect within the art. There are many possibilities and outcomes that can be achieved as you are merely limited by your imagination.

The Hardener Will Darken Wood

In the event that an artist is staining wood to make it darker before a hardener is applied, take a break and read this. Typically epoxy wood hardeners will naturally make wood darker than you may initially imagine.

An easy way to see what it will look like, or at least to get a close idea, is to use alcohol. Wipe some across the surface of the wood and this will give you a rough guess at what the appearance will be. The alcohol will evaporate quickly leaving the surface still ready for any application.

How Do People Get That Polished Beautiful Look In Epoxy Resin?

Polishing these various epoxy resins is actually easy for those who have been around woodworking for a while. To someone that is on their first diy it can be a massive headache.

I have a brief article on sanding and wet sanding wood. It would bode well to read a bit there. To polish the epoxy you need to reach a wet sanding grit of no less than 3000. This is actually beyond what most would ever do to wood.

You can go beyond 3000 grit if you desire. Yet after this sanding a polishing compound is used and it is buffed. Personally I recommend doing this by hand unless the piece is simply too large for it to be practical.

You will not find the tools for this at the local hardware store. Shop around online and find the best products for your application. While I would recommend one know that the needs of people will vary from project to project.

Which Two Part Wood Hardener Is The Best?

The problem is that every company claims to have the best product. In reality I personally do not know which one to tell you is the best. Each are good for general application but also are better for different purposes.

Some promote Pro Marine Supplies due to having no VOC’s and shorter drying time. Yet for an artist that needs an extended drying time this may cause complication. Some self level at 1/16 of an inch while others will at ¼ of an inch.

Due to this one may be better at spot application while another is better for a pour or river. If a pour is too deep though it can cause serious complications. This may range from a cloudy appearance to over heating and blistering from reaction.

Here is my suggestion for you as I am not making a dime from promoting anyone. Seriously research what fits best to what you are looking to achieve. Forget the “who’s the best” advertisement and look at the specs of what the product will actually do.

While all are similar no two are really identical. Some popular brands are those such as SRC Crystal Clear, ArtResin, and SuperClear Epoxy Resin.

For Beginners Using Wood Hardener

In general around the house application for basic fixes the one part systems you find on store shelves would be fine. General home repair on these things do not always require special grades of products for more robust purposes.

Yet as you begin to explore these two part systems take the time to learn with them. This is especially true for more complex designs with art. You do not want to ruin a very nice piece of wood on your first try.

Be sure to also take necessary safety measures. The fumes this stuff can put off can knock you into the next world, literally. There is no reason to end up in a hospital just because you didn’t use proper ventilation or worse yet die from it.

Be careful to note any allergic reactions. This is not a kid safe or friendly product as it can cause problems for adults all too easily. Some products will melt latex gloves. Please be aware of what you are using and do not take it for granted.

Aside from these warnings, and if you take the necessary precautions for the product you select, it is a relatively safe process. Have fun exploring the art but stay within the guidelines of what can be done.