Salvaging a maple slab with a failed (never hardened) epoxy pour

[ryanjg117]

I was "gifted" a large (40x70x3") maple slab, with a catch: a botched epoxy pour that never hardened.






Months (maybe years) later, the top layer of epoxy has hardened, but I'm able to break through it with a flathead screwdriver, exposing uncured/sticky epoxy that goops out.

Any idea for mechanically removing this epoxy, or chemically hardening it? I believe he knows what epoxy brand/formulation was used, so I could ask him for more details if there's a chance it could still be chemically hardened.

Alternatively, I could avoid the worst of the goop by cutting a smaller table (as shown below), it would just be a shame to discard such a huge piece.

 

[luvmytoolz]

So far as I'm aware it's pretty much impossible to "re-cure" failed resin. I would scrape and carve back all the epoxy to get back to plain wood.

 

[peter halle]

Many years ago I was thrust unwillingly into a side project of refinishing a boat and spraying new gelcoat. Despite doing everything by the book the resin never hardened. After cleaning all of the gelcoat off a d before spraying it again, a very kind professional told me to spray PVA (a mold release) on the gelcoat after spraying and that would seal it allowing it to cure. I later used that process numerous times successfully. Although I suspect that the odds of helping you out in this case, if it were me in your shoes, I would try it. You would only need a quart and a plastic spray bottle. Here is a link if you are interested. If it doesn't work, the PVA film will wash off with water easily. Good Luck!

Peter

https://www.amazon.com/Water-Based-...t&qid=1745056175&sprefix=pva+re,aps,90&sr=8-2

 

[Packard]

Several articles on the Internet on the subject. Here is my search:

Google Search

 

[Vondawg]

Ive repaired areas like you show with heating with a heat gun, small SS wire brush…down into the void, scraping and brushing, down to where it bubbles, soaking in. Then with a small stiff brush like a solder brush, brush in mixed (correctly) epoxy like West System painting the surface with a controlled amount of heat gun….it will bubble and mix in with the other and cure leaving, in my case, an area ready to re-work/re-pour. Where a “respirator” the heated epoxy gives off fumes that are not good to breath