There are differences between deep pour epoxy resin and table top epoxy resin that anyone just getting started working with epoxy resin should be aware of.
Before you can get started with your epoxy projects you need to know which type of epoxy resin is best for the sort of projects you wish to work on.
If you are considering completing epoxy products like river tables, you have two main options; deep pour epoxy resin or table top epoxy resin.
There are, of course, other types of epoxy resin to consider, but, aside from specialty epoxy resin specifically designed for one purpose (such as river tables), there are no better options than deep pour epoxy or table top epoxy resin.
Recommended Pouring Depths Differ
The most significant factor that separates these two product types into their own respective categories is their recommend pouring depth.
Table top epoxy resin has an average recommended pouring depth of ⅛ inch, though some products may allow for a depth of twice as much.
Deep pour epoxy on the other hand allows for a pour of up to 2 inches. Specialty deep pour epoxy resin products may allow you to pour up to a depth of 4 inches per pour.
Malleability is not the Same
Another significant factor that makes these two types of epoxy resins different is their malleability after pouring while undergoing the curing process.
In other words, the amount of time that you have to work with your epoxy resin after it is poured, but before it hardens, to fix or modify it makes deep pour and table top epoxy resin two very different types of products.
Curing Times Differ
Table top epoxy resin products are designed to be poured at shallower depths than deep pour epoxy, hence it dries, hardens, and cures fully in a matter of hours to half a day or so which is a much quicker process than with deep pour epoxy resin.
Deep pour epoxy resin poured at thicknesses of 2 inches or more requires anywhere from several days to finish completely curing.
That’s why deep pour resin is the best choice for your more labor-intensive and artistic epoxy projects like river tables, and table top epoxy is the best choice for projects like making epoxies (encasing or suspending items in resin).
The Takeaway Answer
The main differences between deep pour and table top epoxy resin are their curing times, the amount that may be applied in a single pour, and how malleable they are once poured.
Deep pour epoxy resin is best for projects that require more than ¼ inch layers of epoxy, and table top epoxy is better for coating things or encasing items.