[25] Agh!! Amine Blush - Not Happy!!!

I encountered amine blush. What a nightmare for my productivity!!
In this video talk about what it is and how it affected my work, how I fixed it and the end result, so stay to the end. (It will sound like I am signing off but stay a little longer to see the result after that).
Hope this annoying thing never happens to you! But if it does, hope it is helpful for you.
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[@PsylanModel]

I have this problem with an 2:1 epoxy resin I bought off ebay. It has good uv resistance and it cures hard but the amine blush is terrible. It's also a solvent free epoxy which I think is why it happens. What I try and do is I mix the product for 3-10 mins, then pour into a new cup and let it sit for about 30 or more minutes (45 min working time). Once the resin is getting to the end of the working time I pour it onto what I want. It's not 100% foolproof but it does seem to cut back on the amine blush.

[@MauzyCreations]

Good tip. Thanks for sharing.

[@syzygy4365]

Thanks for the tip. I can't wait to try it out next time I'm brave enough to dome. I hate ruining my nice clear pieces. 🥰

[@claudettewoolley]

I live in Tasmania and I've had this problem too. After speaking to Eli Chem, and trying their suggestions of heating up just the resin and not the hardener, I tried again but I still got blush. I then did some Googling and found a lady in Scotland, and a man in USA, and Resin obsession website also, who suggested using a seedling heat mat. I have done that this week and I have had no problems for 4 large tiles. I bought a temperature gauge from Bunnings which tells me the humidity in my room, I put the fan heater on for approximately an hour before I do my resin till it hits 20+ C and leave it on for an hour afterwards. I cover my resin, with the heat mat still on, cover with a plastic container and then cardboard box, and it says up perfectly over night. Hope this helps.

[@MauzyCreations]

Claudette Woolley Wow. That's awesome information. Thank you for sharing.

[@Renegat7777]

Good video. This is common problem. But like you're telling soap with water should help. I've got this situation too, so thanks for sharing this video :)

[@janettinkler2204]

Hi I’ve had the same problem & it ruined everything I made, then I watched a video by a lady who used a reptile heat pad from Amazon so I tried it, it stopped most of it & cured the resin faster !

[@Sooz3112]

Glad you sorted it. I know resin needs a particular warm temperature to cure properly. I had amine blush, realised it was humidity causing the problem. A dehumidifier seems to have solved it x

[@SeriouslyCreative]

Hey Maureen, Nicole from Resin Art Australia facebook group. This is so helpful, thank you, and it does indeed look like the issue i've run into. Your videos look great i'm going to check them out!

[@MauzyCreations]

Hi Nicole. Glad it was helpful. When it happened to me it was very distressing!! And the company was blaming me! I had lots of people contact me privately with the same issue. And then the company actually reformulated their resin :) it helps when you know what you are dealing with. I have not had the same issue with any other resin I use.

[@MauzyCreations]

Also checking out your channel Nicole. So many subscribers!! Wow.

[@usherl250]

Funny how we learn as we go, although ive not heard of this happening. Such beautiful coasters, glad the second coat made them look perfect.

[@MauzyCreations]

Thanks Laura. It was a great relief! when it happened, I found that not alot of people in the fb groups know about this, so that's why I decided to do the video.

[@ResinitCoUk]

Well you’re lucky, because it’s just a coaster. I had problem on small sample boards with ultracast too. Today I’ve done my biggest clear bar panel 3.6m x 1.2m 16mm thick. I keep my humidity and temperature controlled very well. First coat was fine and the second coat went with amine blush.....! 🤬

[@MauzyCreations]

That's awful :(

[@ResinitCoUk]

Maureen Fitzhenry you can notice amine blush in the pot while mixing. Try to stop mixing for 30-60secs and you will be able to see that wax skin on the surface in a mixing container... ultracast is very sensitive to this so I’m not using it anymore. But this was most important time in my life glasscast10 just let me down... and even then sellers telling that I haven’t mixed material properly, ratio was wrong or it was temperature or humidity... thats just excuses because they don’t know what they selling yet

[@MauzyCreations]

@@ResinitCoUk i had that exact thing. when i contacted Elichem initially they claimed it was my mix, humitity, temp etc ... but eventually they contacted me and said they had reformulated ultracast to minimise the issue... so at least they took on customer feedback. I havnt tried the new formulation yet though.

[@廖偉翔-v3x]

After washing with warm soapy water, what process did you do to clean and dry your coaster? Thank you for sharing your video.

[@MauzyCreations]

I just wiped it clean and let it dry. I may have used a hair dryer too. But when it was dry I did another clear coat over the top.

[@jonwikan3986]

Hot water, plain dish soap, and wash your piece with a white scotch brite or brillow pad before sanding between coats and you are good. It is bad practice to sand the blush off, can contaminate your surface or you may get away with it until you don't. Or pour any second coats before the epoxy is fully dry(tacky). It is usually a big problem when humidity is increasing and temps are dropping, for instance in a workshop that isn't conditioned or even in a house. Possibly pour early in the day so the temps are rising humidity decreasing while your piece cures. Look out for thunder storms in the forecast as the humidity rises. In other words stable weather is best. All epoxies can get blush, even the non blush epoxies, although less. One can go years without cleaning the blush then suddenly disaster strikes.

[@MauzyCreations]

all good advice

[@jonwikan3986]

@@MauzyCreations I realized that I may have commented on your previous video and saw you fixing some dips and sanding before washing the probably un detectable blush, then I saw this video a few hours later and thought "ah darn too late to explain the blush thing". I noticed a problem in the surfboard DIY videos too. I also saw a lot of de-lamination problems from DIY people in the surfboard building scene. I guess someone should lay some comments on them too. Amine blush is kind of a secret, except in boat building; they know blush, especially since they often work outside which makes dew points etc.. happen much quicker but boat builders are not really worried about looks but more bonding of the next coats, since they usually paint, or or gelcoat after epoxy cleaning and sanding.

[@syzygy4365]

This makes a lot of since. It's spring where I live and in the south we have sticky nasty humidity here. I'll try out your advice. I'm glad it's more of an environment issue rather than the epoxy I'm using. I hate trying new brands now that I found one I feel is reliable. 🥰

[@jonwikan3986]

@@syzygy4365 yeah it can happen when days are warmer and the temps drop while curing and humidity rises. A heat lamp can keep things above the dew point and save the day or simply sanding and varnishing but still wash with hot water and soap between any coats and then light sanding you will be fine.

[@kayecarew4252]

I have also had this happen several times, on things from coasters to 1200 x 800 artworks (one just two days ago...grrr..). it is very frustrating that's for sure, especially when another coat is over a litre of resin...this particular artwork had 2 clear coats to get rid of dimpling due to temperature fluctuation (so I'm told), then the 3rd coat now has what looks like crazy paving all over it!! I'm so mad right now. Temperature is controlled at between 21 and 25 degrees, humidity less than 50%, items are covered for dust...just can't work out why! Thanks for the video..I'm going to try this.

[@MauzyCreations]

Oh my gosh. How absolutely infuriating!! Good luck with it.

[@mariettew-b9629]

Thanks so much for sharing this information. I’ve only heard of it through your posts in Suzana’s page. Very informative & much appreciated 👏❤️👏

[@MauzyCreations]

Mariette W-B thanks so much. I just hope it never happens to anyone!! But if it does, you are a bit more aware now of what to do...

[@grayso70]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Been going crazy trying to work out what I have been doing wrong. Really helpfull video 😊

[@MauzyCreations]

oh no, you too!! i'm so sorry!!! it really is no fun. If you are using ultracast, try putting the resin and hardener is a warm water bath for a few minutes before you pour. This has been helping me lately.

[@farahclay912]

I’m having some horrible issues with amine blushing but it happens only with one particular brand. So in your case would you say temperature was the root cause of the problem?

[@MauzyCreations]

in almost 4 years of using resin I've only ever had amine blush with one resin... so i think it had to do with the resin - yes temperature and humidity made a difference but I think the resin was more sensitive to those changes.

[@farahclay912]

@@MauzyCreations Exactly the answer I wanted to hear! Thanks.

[@shekinahglory9150]

I’m dealing with this problem right now! And it is not easy to get off at all,I started to think it might be a different issue since they seemed to make it sound easy peazy no problem,but what a problem,I put another coat and it has done it again,I am thinking I might have to buy a dehumidifier or something cause I have a ton of resin to use,it’s too expensive to just drop it and get another brand lol,glad you were able to fix yours!

[@MauzyCreations]

Shekinah Glory oh my gosh I'm so sorry to hear this!! Are you using the same resin? The manufacturer told me no one else was having this issue besides me. Truly I'm scared to use it now as it's happened 4 out of 6 times I've used it. However they did tell me recently to place the cups of resin and hardener in warm water for a few min. I tried that and didn't get amine blush that time. Give it a go and let me know how you go!

[@shekinahglory9150]

Maureen Fitzhenry Hi thanks for the tip! I will try it! I am not using the same resin,it’s called ResinPro but it also has a 1 1/2 hour working time,I’m finding out from other sources that it is more common with resins that have longer working times and usually happens with high humidity and it happened to rain overnight during curing,then second coat it rained the day before,and unfortunately we don’t have air conditioners here in Uk to control the temp,only heaters and right now that would be unbearable and my partner would never go for that lol so I’m thinking a dehumidifier might work,but I will definitely try your hot water tip! I’ll let you know how it goes! Thanks for responding! Love your work btw!

[@LilmizzMarie]

I'm never heard of this, this is awful, I've never had this happen to me. glad it ended well, the coasters are beauiful!

[@MauzyCreations]

Thank you. So glad it ended well also... when it happened, I found that not alot of people in the fb groups know about this, so that's why I decided to do the video.

[@joebrown4380]

Nice end result, I like those.

[@MauzyCreations]

thanks Joe. I appreciate you always watching my videos, thank you so much!!

[@lilleidy20]

Very helpful for coatings. learned something today. Thank you.

[@jonwikan3986]

They turned out great mate! By the way amine blush is not usually a problem for a final coat you can just wash without the abrasive pad so you don't have to re do the top coat. If that doesn't work then the amine is super bad and has penetrated into the finish or comes from moisture in your substrate(seal your substrate ie plywood) you could also let it fully cure(2-3 days), sand and then clear coat/varnish, rather than spend money on more epoxy. Finally to avoid the kind of blush or bloom that can not be washed off make sure the dew point will not be within about 3-5C below the temperature of your curing space/room. Some people use a light bulb or two shining on the project if the humidity is getting high or going to get high, say at night, because as temp drops air can not hold as much moisture and water in the air condensates(rains) on your project. Same process that happens on your lawn at night. Dew. So keep an eye on the weather, humidity levels and temps. If you want to do an overnight cure make sure you won't be within striking distance of the dew point 3-5C. So for you Aussies, Queensland is quite moist so make sure your relative humidity will be well below 90% and keep the temp of the room steady and make sure there are no big storms heading in to raise that relative humidity. You will always get a little blush but it usually you can't see it, so again always wash with hot water between coats and then sand. One more note* you can buff most epoxy after it has "fully" cured. It can be buffed just like car paint, varnish etc....to a high gloss. So yet another option besides re coating when you get blush, bugs, dust etc...

[@kristentaylor5816]

Thank you so much for this video! The same thing has just happened to me over the top of my artwork and it’s been driving me crazy trying to figure out what it was! Will try your troubleshooting suggestions - extra disappointing as I left my aircon on overnight while it cured, so thinking I might need to pump up the temp and switch it to dry next time (although it was already on 24 degrees so who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️). Thanks again, super helpful video!

[@MauzyCreations]

Oh no. That sucks big time. It is such a pain. Good luck trying to fix it, and so glad my video helped.

[@kristentaylor5816]

Also just a quick question: how can you tell when you’ve scrubbed all the amine blush off if the surface is all scratched? And do you think using a steelo pad (those wire pads with soap in them) with hot water would work?

[@MauzyCreations]

@@kristentaylor5816 I think I ended up using a steel pad as it didn't come off easy. I just guessed when I'd scrubbed enough.

[@treecycled]

I have this exact thing happening on a table top i just poured. So little information on this, but i have that exact same "sheen" look as yours. After you scoured the blush off, did you have to do anything else to the surface before your second coat? Im worried that pouring epoxy on top of a scoured surface will lock the scoured surface in, or does it just fill in the surface clear again?

[@MauzyCreations]

Hi. So sorry this has happened to you. The surface will look scratched but once you resin it the scratches go away and you have a lovely glossy finish (that's if the blush doesn't happen a second time- I had that happen 2-3 times :( ...)

[@treecycled]

@@MauzyCreations Yeah, im bringing the table inside my house for the second coat, thats for sure. It was difficult enough controlling all the other variables. Thanks for the response!

[@renathaa_]

I made some coasters that were nice and shiny, and a friend who bought it sent me pictures of after they put a glass with icy beverage on top and then the amine blushing showed up :(( I don't know if "sweating" cups can't go on top of resin coasters (I guess it wouldn't make sense though hahaha)

[@MauzyCreations]

Sweating cups should be ok... resin is technically water proof once cured. I have heard of amine blush becoming apparent afterwards though

[@leahollsson129]

Omg this has happened to me and ruined £100 worth of artwork. They sent me a new batch and I put the heating on in my house for 24 hours and it still happened. Absolutely gutted :/

[@MauzyCreations]

Leah, that's terrible :(

[@acl006]

omg i wish i’d seen this video last night! i have done 5 lazy susan’s and 4 of theme have this amine blush! i tried to fix last night by sanding!! oh dear. now i have a ripple effect on two of them and the other 3 aren’t great. i’m stuck where i don’t know what to do. i’m going to try sanding the rippled ones- then try the soapy water on abrasive cloth because i assumed the amine is still under that coat?! no clue. what a disaster. really helpful video though. glad to know it’s not just me!

[@jonwikan3986]

always hot soapy water before sanding. You are sanding the blush into the pieces. I know you are long finished by now.

[@montebella1]

I've encountered the exact same problem, and I am putting it down to moisture in the air as it's very hot here in Queensland at the moment. I am sitting here considering putting the air conditioner on and watching your plight I have decided that yes !! The airconditioning is going on. I have never encountered this problem before. I am coating placemats and they are an order too so I really hope it works - Thanks for your little video, It is most informative - Annie

[@MauzyCreations]

Sorry you've had this problem. I put out a video a few weeks ago as they have sent me a sample to try of a revised ultracast xt formula. They have listened to feedback and hopefully the issue won't happen anymore. However I have not tested it yet.

[@koaladeesresinart]

Hi, I am new to resin and also making coasters, I bought a 2.1 resin from a local dealer on ebay, I'm also Aussie from Sydney. Well I had this happen to mine.. I put out a call for help to my facebook resin group and was told it's, amine blush 😬having no idea I googled like you and it seemed indeed it was amine blush. I contacted my seller and he said it couldn't be not his product.. But it definitely is amine blush, very dish hearted, I've tried it a few times and it's, always the same.. No aircon and it's humid summer now... I'm going to get a 1.1 resin next lucky I only bough 750ml to see how I go. So yeah your not alone.. Not sure I'll risk a second coat with this stuff.. Glad you fixed yours. Cheers

[@MauzyCreations]

Omgosh good luck!! I'm in Sydney. I'm going to try stonecoat next.

[@koaladeesresinart]

@@MauzyCreations let me know how it is 👍👍

[@gilliankennedy3610]

Hi Maureen. I’ve just come across this video after googling amine blush because it’s happened to me!! I resined eight pieces and left them overnight and it’s happened to every piece including a 24”x24” canvas 😞😡 I live in Northern Ireland and was just wondering what did you use to wash your coasters? We have brillo pads which are like wire wool with a soapy substance in them so when you apply water to them they create a soapy substance. Is this too abrasive? I’m so annoyed and at a loss about what to do.

[@MauzyCreations]

Oh no! I'm so sorry!!! You need something soapy and I do think you will scratch the surface. So it will probably mean a whole new flood coat. I'm so sorry!!!! It sucks!!

[@gilliankennedy3610]

@@MauzyCreations thanks very much. It’s so annoying!! This is why I don’t use resin a lot 😠

[@MauzyCreations]

@@gilliankennedy3610 good luck.

[@paulineirving9962]

Thank you Maureen! Finally an artist who has some answers for us about this weird film on resin! I found your video relatively late, I know, but better late than never! Thanks again! Will be tackling some of my fails ASAP xxx

[@MauzyCreations]

Pauline Irving I'm so sorry you had this issue. It really stinks. If you are using ultracast xt, I have been informed by the company that they have reformulated their product to minimise amine blush issues so I'm happy they listened to customer feedback.

[@paulineirving9962]

Thanks Maureen, just glad it wasn't me! When you're fairly new to resin you just assume you've got something wrong, so, relieved! Thanks again xxx@@MauzyCreations

[@danielleadams1878]

Thank you so much

[@MauzyCreations]

Hope it helped

[@danielleadams1878]

I have had so much trouble with this and couldn't find any information about it. I thought it was my colours reacting with the resin. Was about to give up on resin. Thank you so much from New Zealand.

[@MauzyCreations]

@@danielleadams1878 I'm so glad it helped. I remember feeling so lost, confused and frustrated when it happened to me for the first time, and kept happening using the same resin but never any other resin... and the company at the time were basically telling me it was me doing something wrong. When someone in a facebook group gave me the name 'amine blush' it helped so much, that I could at least google it and learn more. And found there wasn't alot online... so just wanted to put my experience out there.

[@nahlas.3836]

Is it because of your resin type or humidity?? I have the same issue and don't know what to do!!!!😭

[@MauzyCreations]

I'm so sorry. It's only ever happened to me with one resin so I choose not to use that resin any more. I have done other resins along side this one and they didn't get amine blush. It would be due to humidity and temp egg but my other resins seem to be less sensitive.

[@nahlas.3836]

@@MauzyCreations So the main cause is humidity and diffrent resin types respond diffrently?Or Is the resin type the main cause of amine blush?? Thanks

[@MauzyCreations]

@@nahlas.3836 I'm not sure. I know that humidity and weather are a cause but I also know I've used different resins at the same time (under the same conditions) and one gets amine blush and the other is fine. So I believe the particular resin I used here is more sensitive to environmental changes. Also, the supplier if that resin did email me months later to say that they had reformulated the resin to make it less likely to get amine blush.

[@webnut1]

this has just happened to me. I've emailed the suppliers and they are picking up the remainder of the resin to do testing and sending a new batch. As you said, this resin has a 40min work time and takes 24hrs at least to harden up - it's quicker in the Summer but now it's Winter here in the UK I have put the heating on but I I work in a summer room and can't really leave it on all the time. I will try what you said and leave it until it's nearing the end of it's work time. Such a shame as it's a beautiful resin, barely any bubbles at all when working :( Edit: I've noticed that it only does it when putting a clear layer on the top. Is that when it happens to you?

[@MauzyCreations]

Hi... hmm I think so. I never use it for the design as I prefer Mastercast for that so I always use it as a clear layer. So this happened to you ! Also it's summer here and it's 4ecently occurred again to me. On a tumbler this time.

[@webnut1]

@@MauzyCreations oh no what a pain. I have also noticed that it seems to be only the clear layer. I've also just realised that the resin you are talking about - is the one I've just switched to! I've switched to totalcast which has a shorter working time. The previous resin is the 40 min work time and is a 2:1 mix. I wonder if there is a connection with the 2:1 type resins?

[@aaronfuksa2047]

And solids content...100% solids helps. Recent problem with resin flooring, white stains.

[@cbeck22]

Having the same problem on a river table. What did you use exactly to scratch the blush off?

[@MauzyCreations]

cbeck22 I washed and scrubbed using dish washing detergent and water with a scrubbing pad. It scratched up the surface so needed another coat or resin.

[@cbeck22]

Maureen Fitzhenry was the scrubbing pad like a sponge or more of a wire brillow pad?

[@MauzyCreations]

cbeck22 hi. It was a sponge with a coarse pad on it. I did try a wire one as well though. It's a tough thing to get off!

[@reanne]

I'm so glad I found your video! Have been trying to search online, some said it was amine blush but there aren't a lot of articles about epoxy. I did try your method of washing with warm soapy water and scrub, but my coasters have been sitting there for almost a week! It was really hard to scrub it off - is it because I left it too long and now it's fully cured or I just have to put in more elbow grease and scrub away?

[@MauzyCreations]

Oh no. I'm sorry this happened to you! Its a real pain! It is alot of scrubbing. I'm not sure i got all mine off to be honest. I just put another coat on and hoped for the best. I have a tray with amine blush on it and even with another coat I can still see it there :(

[@reanne]

@@MauzyCreations Thank you for the reply. I did try once to pour a coat over, but i can already see it before it starts curing! I live in a home with too many houseplants! Maybe its the humidity? I have purchased a heat mat - hopefully that will help. I did monitor my temp and humidity but it was always ok. Could it be the torching?

[@MauzyCreations]

@@reanne I think amine blush is more to do with humidity and temperature change. I don't have time to deal with a sensitive resin like that in my home craft room... it's only ever happened with one brand of epoxy so I just avoid that brand now! I figure if others can do the job right despite my less than ideal (not temperature controlled) space, then I will use those others!

[@syzygy4365]

@@MauzyCreations I wish I knew what brand purchase so I can avoid this happening again. I've worked with several, some hits and misses. I really liked hxdzxy but I always have issues with admine blush once it's time to dome. I've tried many techniques, preping the surface cleaning it, and I eventually just gave up doming my pieces all together. Lol any advice you all can share would help. 😊