Why Is Epoxy Resin So Expensive?

Epoxy resins typically cost between $40 and $60 a gallon, and because they are typically purchased in big quantities, the expenses can quickly add up. You could end up spending several hundred dollars simply on this molding material for your epoxy coating project if you don't watch out.

So, what exactly is it that makes this adhesive so pricey? In this post, in addition to answering this issue, we will also address a few other frequently asked topics regarding the cost of epoxy and its production.

Epoxy resin is a versatile material that may be incorporated into a wide variety of projects, ranging from canvas art to designer furniture. Additionally, it can be utilized for the purpose of structural improvement and visual preservation. Epoxies are used in a wide variety of industries, which could make one believe that they will become less expensive with the time. However, this is not the case; they continue to be quite pricey.

Epoxy resins are expensive due to the fact that they are manufactured using high-priced raw materials, demand skilled labor and precision, require expensive marketing, and are frequently manufactured in nations where all of the aforementioned factors cost more. In addition, the fact that these resins are marketed in vast quantities contributes to the further inflation of their prices. In this article, you will learn further about each of these reasons, and you will also find out why attempting to locate cheaper epoxies can wind up costing you a lot of additional money in the long run.

Reasons Why Is Epoxy So Expensive

They have been considering using epoxy resin in their artistic endeavors, but when they check into the price of a kit, it appears to be prohibitively expensive for them to do so. As a result, because they were mystified as to why they were priced so much, they chose to conduct some investigation in order to determine whether or not purchasing them was truly worthwhile.

When compared to other types of resins, the production cost of epoxy resins is significantly higher.

This is due to the fact that the production process is difficult and has a low margin of error, thus the raw resources needed for manufacture are priced significantly higher than the natural resources required for the production of other low-end resins.

In addition, to this, the majority of epoxy resins are subject to some kind of regulation to guarantee that they comply with FDA standards and are safe for consumption, which also contributes to the increased cost of the product. Now that we have a better understanding of the factors that contribute to the high cost of epoxy resins, let's determine whether or not the product is truly worth the money you spend on it.

Manufacturing

Epoxy resin's steep price tag can be attributed in large part to the labor-intensive production method that goes into its creation.

Epoxy resin is notoriously expensive to manufacture due, first and foremost, to the high cost of the raw materials. The raw material price alone is approximately equivalent to thirty dollars per gallon. In addition, the high cost of the raw materials is just one of the few factors that contribute to the expensive final price of epoxy.

The next step in the production of epoxy resin is the actual manufacturing process. Because of its complexity, it necessitates the use of sophisticated technology, as well as personnel that is both educated and trained, and sufficient safety gear. It is not possible for everyone to obtain this job because working in the epoxy resin production industry requires a specific amount of experience. In addition to this, the salaries are far larger than what you would receive in other fields of work.

In order to create an epoxy resin, the producer needs to make use of a variety of solvents and apply them in an exact manner. This, once again, drives up the expenses of the laborers and the materials that are needed in the production process.

The manufacturing method for the polyester resin is simpler, the raw materials are significantly less expensive, and the crew does not require as much training or experience to produce it. Epoxy resins tend to have a higher price tag, which is why cheaper polymers tend to have a lower price tag.

Complicated Process

The production of epoxy resin is a difficult and involved procedure. It is a reaction that takes place in two stages.

Epoxy resin is a thermoplastics polymer that is utilized in a broad number of applications, some of which include consumer products, industrial products, and construction materials. Resin and epoxy hardener are the two components that make up the resin's two-component system. The epoxy resin is what causes the hardening effect, and after it is combined with the hardener, both components, when allowed to dry, will have the consistency of solid plastic.

Popularity

In recent times, the use of epoxy resins has seen a meteoric rise in popularity. Because of their one-of-a-kind qualities, you may develop designs that are not only remarkable but also very resistant. There are billions of DIY and crafting tutorials available online that provide some ton of thoughts on how to manufacture epoxy coating tables, countertops, floors, and a variety of other constructs and crafts. Some examples of these constructions and crafts include:

However, the widespread use of this material has resulted in a significant increase in the demand for it, which in turn has impacted the total cost of the product. There are millions of people who wish to construct their own ocean tables or knife handles out of Pakkawood. Epoxy resins are the subject of a steady stream of new content, and this stream is only expected to increase over time. As a result, we anticipate that the price of adhesives will continue to rise in the years ahead.

High Price Raw Materials 

The vast majority of retail products have markups ranging from 200 to 300 percent. However, you can purchase these goods at a lower cost than epoxy resins even though you are paying extra for them by a much larger margin compared to the cost of producing. This is because the raw materials that are required to make these goods are significantly less expensive than the goods themselves, such as epoxy resins. For example, the manufacturing cost of a pair of Beats by Dre headphones is $14, while the retail price is $450. When you realize that it takes $225 worth of raw resources to manufacture $450 worth of greater resin, you'll see that epoxy resins aren't as pricey as you might think they are when you take all of the factors into consideration.

This also brings up another point that is much more significant, and that is reducing costs.

It is not a good idea to try to find a significant difference in cost when the high cost of a product can mostly be attributable to the cost of its raw ingredients. Consider the price of gold: this is due to the fact that gold itself is an expensive substance.

If the price of "gold" jewelry is significantly lower than the price of the majority of gold jewelry currently available, you should be wary of the authenticity of the product. Epoxy resins, for instance, that are manufactured at prices significantly lower than those prevailing in the market are frequently produced using raw ingredients of inferior quality.

Low Tolerance

Epoxy is a low-tolerance material, and any faults can result in increased expenses for the companies. Because the tolerances are typically quite narrow, this material is notoriously challenging to deal with. Because of this, it is essential to pay close attention to detail whenever combining the epoxy resin's two raw components.

If you are not accurate, the resin will not be as strong, and this could cause it to act in a manner that is different from what was intended for it to do. Even the most harmless mistakes can force businesses to incur additional costs in order to have the job done the right way. This is because they will need to order new materials and waste time waiting for those materials to be delivered.

Quantity

When we look at the remarkably high prices of the adhesives, it's easy for us to become confused; nevertheless, what we tend to forget is that we are purchasing extremely large quantities of this product. For instance, in order to finish one of our tables made of ocean-themed epoxy resin, we require several gallons of epoxy coating.

When we adjust the pricing to ounces, we receive pricing for an epoxy resin that is more accurate to the market situation. That is an enormous quantity of adhesive.

Epoxy resin typically costs between $0.40 and $0.50 per ounce on average. The fact that we need to buy a large quantity of it in order to realize the specific design we have in mind is what drives up the cost of it, despite the fact that the item itself is not very pricey. This is a point that is frequently neglected, and despite the fact that we may have the impression that epoxies are quite pricey, we find that when compared ounce for ounce with similar resins, they are not.

Required Precision 

If a composite material is inexpensive but still contains sufficient quantities of high-quality components, then its production might call for a lower level of precision. Epoxies of this kind are available for purchase, but the majority of epoxies require a high level of manufacturing precision in order to achieve the desired level of hardening and a satisfactory finish.

Acquiring precision in one's work requires a competent labor force, and such laborers in a factory typically receive a higher wage. When you add to this the batches that may need to be thrown out as a result of incorrect proportions, you get a condition in which producers are in a position where they cannot charge any less than what they already do.

This is the primary justification for why you do not want a "deal." And there's more: you should avoid cheaper adhesive not simply because it might require low raw materials and vague compositions of said raw materials, but also because it will influence the result of your construction process. The reason for this is twofold: first, it might usually have low raw materials, and second, it might contain imprecise ratios of said raw materials.

To calculate the market worth of your time, divide your weekly compensation by the total number of hours you work. This will help you realize why purchasing a cheaper epoxy will cost you more money in the long run. Consider for a moment that your time costs $20 an hour and that you purchase an epoxy that is $40 less expensive than the industry standard.

If the epoxy you used destroys a project on which you spent three hours working, you will have wasted $60. When you factor in the cost of the unused epoxy from larger batches, it is possible for the total to reach several hundred dollars. In order to avoid this, you can start by purchasing a smaller batch and practicing with some test pours.

The same is true for pigments and hardeners, as the advice is the same. Checking in small batches guarantees that you are sure of every required material before bringing the components to your project. testing in limited quantities guarantees that you are happy with every required material.

Raw Materials Are Expensive

Both ECH and BPA come at a hefty price. As was mentioned previously, epichlorohydrin (ECH) and bisphenol-A (BPA) are two examples of the raw materials that are used to manufacture epoxy resins. In spite of the high cost of both of these components, this represents the only way to produce an epoxy resin that is both robust and stable, meeting the requirements necessary for usage in sub-construction endeavors.

After doing some research on the prices of the raw materials used to make epoxy resin, I discovered that a 250-gram bag of strong bisphenol A, which is one of the primary components of epoxy resins, may cost as much as $252 dollars. This was one of the more surprising findings. If we assume that approximately 100 grams of this chemical are required to produce a three-gallon container of epoxy resin, then it is not difficult to comprehend why epoxy resin would be so expensive.

High Demand / High Marketing Costs 

When working with resin, an artist runs the danger of having fluctuating demand for their work. Epoxy resin is in high demand, which drives up its price, and you can bet that the task you do with resin will result in an even higher final cost for the project.

This can motivate you to produce even greater work, which is why it is regarded so highly that the cost of epoxy is irrelevant. It's possible that some artists and craftspeople will be tempted to go in the opposite direction and look for an epoxy that is so affordable that customers won't have to pay as much for it in order for the craftsperson to make a profit.

Because of the strong demand for the material, epoxy resins can be quite pricey. This is because it is difficult to market these resins. In theory, if there is a high demand for something, there should also be a high level of competition for that thing, which should then trigger a price war that brings the price down.

However, that doesn’t occur with adhesive because most experimental manufacturers develop poor-quality items and go out of business. However, because there are so many new companies entering the market each year, the major companies, such as Dr. Crafty and Superclear, have to spend a significant amount of money promoting and branding their goods in order to differentiate themselves from the competition. This is also attached to the expense of doing business, which causes a higher final price.

Country Of Origin

The pricing will be different depending on which country the epoxy resin came from. The price of producing epoxy in the United States is over two times more than the price of producing the same epoxy in China or Taiwan. In some countries, the costs of human resources, power, and pricing among some materials are significantly lower. There might be a little difference in quality between these resins, but the primary distinction is in the production costs that are unique to the countries from where they originate.

From clothing to smartphones, a significant portion of the goods that we in Western countries buy are produced by labor that has been outsourced to countries with relatively low rates of both living expenses and working pay. This makes sense from a financial perspective and is sustainable to an extent that it has become a generally accepted corporate practice.

In contrast, the production of epoxy in less developed nations is not as straightforward to organize as the production of T-shirts. Quality controllers in the west are able to determine whether or not a T-shirt has been suitably made. Imagine, nevertheless, that a facility in China produces an epoxy resin that is of poor quality.

In this scenario, it may be several months before the company realizes, as a result of an avalanche of unfavorable customer feedback, that a particular batch does not cure properly, does not have a clear appearance, or is prone to cracking.

The value of getting your composite material manufactured in China is overshadowed, for American enterprises, by the risk of the lack of supervision. As a consequence of this, they choose to have their goods manufactured in nations where they have a greater capacity to monitor the production process. The unfortunate reality is that this results in a greater cost of labor, electricity, and renting space, which drives up the total cost.

Scale Of Transaction 

Epoxy resins are typically purchased in very large quantities, which is the last and most straightforward mathematical explanation for why they are so expensive. If you multiply tens of dollars by a few different factors, you might very quickly end up with hundreds or thousands of dollars.

When you buy an entire year's worth of clothing all at once, the cost of each item will appear pretty high!

Are There Cheaper Alternatives To Epoxy Resins

No, there are not any cheaper alternatives to the resin that works as effectively as this material when it comes to casting. That's the quick and dirty answer to your query. There is now no known alternative to epoxy resins that can provide the same benefits and qualities that we all seek.

The epoxies can be transparent, fast- or slow-setting, high- or low-strength, flexible or not, and have varying degrees of strength. They have a high level of resistance to water and are the perfect material for casting since they can be molded into any specific form that the user desires. Epoxies that don't have any negative side effects are in a league of their own. They have been around for a very long time and can be obtained in a wide variety of different forms due to the exceptional qualities that no other type of resin possesses.

Are Expensive Epoxy Resins Better Than Cheaper Ones?

In addition to this, one of the things that they were interested in discovering was whether or not purchasing an expensive brand of epoxy resin is superior to purchasing one of the cheaper types that are now available. They did some study and discovered that more expensive resins, such as this fluid glass epoxy resin that is used for casting, allow for significantly deeper pours without causing any problems with the curing process.

For instance, this specific model supports pours that are up to four inches deep, and there's a chance it can even handle pours that are five inches deep. When compared to other, less expensive brands that can only support a maximum of 2 inches, the price difference between these options is clear.

Are Expensive Resins More Food Safe?

According to research conducted in this field, even more, affordable epoxy resin brands do not pose a threat to human health when used appropriately after being mixed and cured. They will caution you that you need to review the labels very carefully in order to ensure that the reason you're dealing with his food is secure and allowed by the FDA before you use it for anything that may be in contact with food.

Are Epoxy Resins Worth the Money

Epoxy resins are still preferred over polyester resins by this company based on the findings of their research. This is owing to the fact that epoxy resins produce less of an odor when they are cured and have a lower risk of cracking or shrinking once they are cured.

Epoxy resins, in addition to this, are far less likely to have problems curing and are not guaranteed to shrink or split once they have been cured. This is because epoxies are less prone to have curing issues. In light of this information, they believe that the cost of epoxy resins is justified.

They believe that the quality of the products they manufacture and the truth that they have less anxiety when working better makes up for the difference in price between epoxy resins and polyester resins, despite the fact that epoxy resins cost more.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many factors that contribute to the high cost of epoxy. The fact that it takes a long time to dry despite being widely used in the building industry is one of its many drawbacks. Because epoxy dries more quickly when it is in contact with heat, a quick fix would be to provide heat to the situation. Epoxy resin has a wide range of applications, including construction, industrial, and consumer, and it is required rather frequently due to the prevalence of these uses. It's possible that many of you are unaware of this, but it's also utilized in the manufacturing of fiberglass.

Epoxies are a unique type of resin that possesses qualities that are not found in any other type of resin. They charge the price that they do for a cause, and that price is reasonable given the value of the item. Because we purchase epoxy resin in such huge quantities, however, it is typically difficult for us to accurately assess the true value of the material because of the significant amount of labor that goes into its production.

Epoxy resins are products with a high utility, but their cost is more than average due to the reasons indicated above. The worth of your finished product will suffer if you go for raw materials that are less expensive. So, what exactly is the answer? Develop your project to the point where it is so useful that you can charge a greater fee.

FAQs About Epoxy Resin

Which Is Better Resin Or Epoxy?

When it comes to most jobs, epoxy resin is the superior option. In comparison to UV resin, it is more long-lasting and has a stronger resilience to heat. When compared to casting resin, the processing periods for epoxy coating resin are significantly reduced. Because the different layers of ink do not combine, they may be controlled more precisely.

When compared to casting resin, the epoxy coating has a higher resistance to the influence of mechanical forces. Epoxy coating is resistant to water and can be applied to surfaces with a rougher texture.

Can I Use Epoxy Instead Of Resin?

Epoxy is a resin, thus technically speaking, there is no distinction between them. Epoxy resin, polyester resin, and casting resin are the three types of resins that are most frequently used in do-it-yourself projects. Each of these resins has a distinct set of characteristics. Additionally, it is essential to remember that epoxy glue and epoxy resin are two different items.

In particular, there are various environmentally friendly substitutes for the resin to consider. For instance, Ecopoxy is a bio-based, organic epoxy "resin" that is manufactured expressly (and in an environmentally responsible manner) for woodworking. Other materials that can be used in place of the resin include hard plaster or concrete (in the event that you are casting), alabaster, metal, or slush latex.

What's The Difference Between Epoxy And Resin?

Epoxy glue does not require the use of a solvent, in contrast to resin adhesive, which requires the use of a solvent. Epoxy glue is well-known for its ability to dry quickly, however, the drying period for resin glue is significantly longer. The primary application for each of these two chemicals is what differentiates them from one another most clearly.

Casting Resin is typically utilized for making jewelry, molds, or figurines, whilst Epoxy Coating Resin is designed for usage in coating surface applications.

Is It Worth It To Sell Resin?

Because of the versatility of resin projects and the abundance of ideas for resin crafts that are currently trending and selling well, the resin is one of the best mediums to utilize when making handcrafted crafts to sell. On the other hand, if you go to Etsy, you'll find that resin works and furniture pieces sell for substantial prices that range anywhere from one hundred to several thousand dollars.

The market for resin art is expanding, and by 2027 it is projected to reach a value of $10.3 billion. Resin art may be purchased on Etsy for anywhere between $165 to $15,000, making it a potentially lucrative market for creative individuals who wish to earn a living off of their work.

Does Resin Scratch Easily?

It is true that the resin is fairly easy to scratch. This is especially the case if the surface was not adequately prepared, as it should have been, or if a resin of lower quality was used. It is essential to take certain precautions and make use of the appropriate materials in order to stop scratches from occurring.

Because of its composition, removing scratches from the resin is not particularly difficult, and it requires very little upkeep overall. In addition to this, the surface of the resin is nonporous, which makes it immune to stains and other forms of discoloration.