Oh gosh. You’re cleaning out your closet and found an epoxy resin kit. You forgot you had this and want to put it to good use. But now you’re wondering does resin expire?
Can resin go bad?
Sort of. It depends on what resin you’re using.
Epoxy resins can last for a year, unopened, and properly stored. You should keep them in a dark, cool place that’s climate-controlled. A closet is a perfect place for this. Unless, of course, you’re like me and forget you’ve got it there. (Note to self…set reminder in phone…)
💡 Pro tip: Keep the kit in a plastic container in case something leaks. You don’t want to clean up a huge mess later.
⭐️ BONUS: Learn more resin storage tips
But here’s what else you need to know about resin and if it does expire.
All resin kits turn yellow eventually.
Even if you never open them. If having clear resin is important to you, buy it when you need it. Resin isn’t one of those items you should stockpile.
Once the bottles are open, you need to use them.
The chemicals in the kit oxidize once the bottle seals are broken. The hardener will turn yellow faster than it will in an unopened bottle. This will happen before the one-year expiration date.
⭐️ BONUS: Learn more about why resin turns yellow.
If your resin does expire, what should you do with it?
The good news is that if you’ve stored it appropriately, you can use it without worrying about any resin curing problems. But it will cure with a yellow tint, so you might want to save it for your projects where the resin color isn’t crucial.
Or you can color it to cover up the yellow. You can see how I used resin colors with yellowing resin.
And if you don’t want to use it?
If you’re ready to let your resin go, don’t throw it away. Meaning—don’t throw it away in your household trash. Instead, take it to a center that collects paints, old electronics, car batteries, and the like. They will dispose of resin for you.
Do other resin types expire at the same time?
Actually, they expire quicker. You should use polyester resins within six months. Same for UV resin.
Polyurethane resins are a bit trickier. Some formulas can expire as soon as 3 months from purchase.
Have more questions besides does resin expire?
Get all your resin questions answered in my beginner ebook Resin Fundamentals. For less than the cost of the resin kit, you can buy the book and read it this afternoon. Go from confused to confident with resin in only a couple of hours.
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