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Epoxy. The word alone sounds a little sexy, and when you hear it you should pay attention because it’s a better alternative to polyester resin. Epoxy is high-strength glue that is far superior to the majority of paste glues available on the market. Its full name is polyepoxide as it is formed by the reaction of polyamine and epoxide. The epoxide is the resin base of the reaction, while the polyamine is the hardening substance. When combined, these compounds bond together on a chemical level in a criss-crossed fashion that makes the resulting substance strong. This reaction takes some time to develop and is normally called the curing of the resin. Depending on how thinly the two substances are poured, and the mix of hardeners and resins, the curing time can vary. In some cases, heat can be applied to speed up the drying time, but normally it is cured only with time.

Epoxy is lighter, stronger and emits significantly less VOCs than polyester. Sounds good, right? Epoxy also allows for more flex strength than polyester, which means that your board can withstand greater punishment from the lip. The thing is, epoxy resin is more expensive than polyester and tougher to work with, so the masses gravitate toward the cheaper and easier alternative.

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