Can I Epoxy Over Particle Board


Epoxy resin counters and table tops are all the hype these days. People create so many intricate designs using an epoxy pour over. People have made it a form of art, they create beautiful countertops and coffee tables using epoxy with wood. What about pressed wood, like particle boards though? Can you use epoxy resin over particle board furniture? In this article, we will go through your questions and answer if you have ever wondered whether can I epoxy over a particle board or not.

Yes, you can epoxy over particle board if you wanted to. Epoxy resin will pretty much bond to anything with the exception of a few materials. Particle boards are made of wood and resin along with adhesives. Epoxy resin can bond with wood pretty easily, in fact, a lot of woodworkers use it as a sealer to protect the wood from moisture. Being a product of wood, particle boards can also be sealed using epoxy resin as well.

Other than sealing wood, people use epoxy resin on wood to create visual effects. You can make waves using a heat gun on epoxy resin to make it look like a sea. By mixing various pigments into the mix, you can make wood look like granite. The best part is, epoxy is pretty durable, it does not break apart so easily. So along with sealing, people pour it directly into large cracks in the wood.

Can You Epoxy Over Particle Board?

Epoxy resin is a compound that is clear and once it cures, becomes very durable. It has been in use for decades for many purposes. However, recently, it has become quite popular amongst woodworkers. You can even use it over particle board to give it additional strength and seal it off entirely. Adding pigments to the epoxy while you pour it over the particle board is a great idea to change its look entirely.

Just pour epoxy over your particle board to coat it and seal it off. You can apply additional coats of epoxy resin on your particle board furniture to give it added durability and strength since it pretty much preserves materials. People coat their woodworking projects in epoxy resin to seal particle board, preventing it from absorbing moisture.

Though that is far from the only use for epoxy these days. Epoxy art is pretty famous on the internet and attracts a lot of customers. Woodworkers use epoxy resin pours to bridge broken boards together. They add pigments to give it added aesthetics and use a heat gun to make waves in the epoxy.

When You Should Apply Epoxy Over Particle Board

Using epoxy over your particle board is a neat little trick to sealing it and providing it durability. If you have furniture that comes into contact with moisture quite often, you can always use a coat or two of epoxy to protect it. So it is great for use on tabletops, countertops, and other furniture. However, you should avoid using it in places where there can be a lot of heat. As once epoxy cures, it is basically plastic, and heat can melt it with ease.

It can handle a lot of heat before it starts melting though, so placing hot beverages on furniture coated with it should not damage it at all. This is why people make coffee tables coated with epoxy. As long as that particle board will not be used for food preparation purposes, like making a cutting board out of it, it will be fine.

Alternatives to Epoxying Over Particle Board

The best alternative to epoxying over particle board is using polyurethane. If the particle board is exposed, i.e. it is not covered in a veneer or laminate, then polyurethane is the best alternative to using epoxy. Polyurethane can strengthen the particle board and give it added strength, similar to epoxy. It goes into the cracks and seals particle boards from inside it. However, you should be careful as to not use a water based polyurethane. Always use an oil based polyurethane sealer since particle boards can swell up from even the slightest contact with moisture.

Final Thoughts

Particle boards might be weak compared to real wood, but it is very cheap. Which is why it is famously used for cabinetry, countertops, and even floor underlays. While being weak, you can coat it with epoxy and make it durable along with sealing it off from moisture. Once cured, the particle board can withstand abuse and you can spill as much water on it as you want and it will still not absorb it. Epoxying over particle board is one of the many ways you can make sure it lasts longer than normal.

Martin Swizz

Hi! This is Martin, I like to research, experiment, and learn new things related to wood carving and other kinds of woodworking.

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