How to Get Resin Off Hardwood: Two Easy Methods

Working with resin can be really satisfying. Looking at the finished diy product offers a certain satisfaction. But that satisfaction can fade away quickly when you see the mess that has been made.

Spilling resin on the floor is especially common and annoying. But now that the resin has been spilled on our hardwood, what are we to do?

Wondering how to get resin off hardwood?

You can remove resin residue from hardwood using resin solvents or heat. Acetone solvents can loosen the resin. While the heat metals the resin off. Then loosen or melted resin can be then removed using a scraping tool. Whichever method is selected, safety measures need to be taken.

That is the gist of how to get rid of the resin from the hardwood floor. If you are curious about the details then follow us to the article. We have prepared multiple detailed methods of cleaning for you.

Safety First

The resin removal process can be harmful for both you and your hardwood floor. So taking necessary precautions is a must. 

Your safety

Before we start doing anything, we must ensure your safety. Whether you are removing cured epoxy resin or uncured epoxy, safety measures are absolutely necessary. 

Most epoxy resins available in the market are classified as hazardous. A quick google search will confirm that for you.

But since you have already worked with resin, and are here because of the spill. So we shall assume that you are aware of the safety precautions needed for working with resin. But resin, both cured and uncured removal from the wood floor should be done with care.

For the removal process, we will be using some harmful chemicals and dangerous tools as well.

So we highly recommend wearing rubber gloves to protect your skin. Rubber gloves are ideal but you may use leather gloves as well. For the safety of your eyes, you should wear safety goggles.

Gloves and goggles should be enough. But again, be very careful handling the resin and the chemical.

The final thing to consider is ventilation. Make sure the room you are going to work in has proper ventilation. 

Keeping The Hardwood Safe

As we already mentioned, we will be using hazardous chemicals for the cleaning process. These chemicals are not only hazardous for you, but they may also damage your wood flooring as well. 

So it is necessary for you to pick the correct solvent as our resin remover. Paint thinner and alcohol can damage your beautiful wood flooring. So do not use them.

We recommend using acetone as the solvent to clean the resin from your wood floor. Acetone is not harmful to wood. But still, test out the acetone first.

Testing the acetone on your floor before applying it wholly is a very good idea. Drop a little acetone on a small spot to be sure that it does not damage your wood flooring. 

Removing the Resin From the Hardwood Using Acetone

The first method we are going to look into is using acetone solvent. This method can be the answer to how to remove epoxy from concrete as well. 

Tools Needed

Now we have ensured the safety of both you and your wood. So we can get into gathering the needed tools. Having the right tools near you while working will make the whole process easier.

We already mentioned the necessity of rubber gloves and safety goggles. These are essential for your safety. 

Next up is the acetone solvent, which is mentioned in the name. This is the main component that will remove the epoxy resin from your floor. 

Here are some acetone solvents which we recommend: 

• Pronto 100% Pure Acetone

You will also need a clean, dry, and soft cloth for rubbing the acetone. A knife or sandpaper or any other scraping tool will also be needed. It will be used to remove the resin from the hardwood floor.

The Removal Process

The first process we are going to look into is using the acetone solvent. Let’s see how to remove resin using acetone: 

Step 1: Dampening The Cloth

We begin by dampening the clean, soft cloth in our epoxy solvent. As we already mentioned, we will be using acetone solvent.

Step 2: Rubbing The Resin

Now we have to gently rub the damp cloth on areas where the resin needs to be removed.

Step 3: Dissolving The Resin

We have to keep rubbing the acetone on the resin. Contact with the acetone will eventually loosen the resin. Enough acetone has to be used to soak the surface a bit. This is how to dissolve the cured epoxy resin.

Step 4: Removing The Resin

After the resin has loosened, we have to remove it. Using a knife or sandpaper is the best way to remove the resin. But we have to be careful about not damaging the hardwood floor with the knife. 

The areas wet with acetone will dry automatically. No need to worry about it.

Removing the Resin From the Hardwood Using Heat

The other method we are going to discuss requires heating up the resin. Applying excess heat can melt the resin.

Tools Needed

The safety tools have already been mentioned. Be sure to have gloves and safety goggles.

Next, you will need a heat gun. This is what we will be using to melt the resin off of the hardwood.

And finally, we will need a scraping tool. A knife or sandpaper will do.

The Melting Process

The process of removing resin using the heat gun is really simple. We just have to hold the heat gun on the resin we want to remove.

Wearing gloves, we have to hold the heat gun. Best if we set the temperature at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. We have to hold the gun several inches from the resin.

We have to be very careful about not burning the hardwood. So we have to constantly move the nozzle of the gun.

The heat will melt the resin off of the hardwood. Then we have to use a scraping tool to remove the resin while it is still soft.

And that’s how to clean resin off hardwood floors.

FAQs

Conclusion

And with that, we know how to get resin off the hardwood. Using acetone is the easier way. But if you have a heat gun you can use it to melt the resin off as well.

Whichever method you follow, be careful about not harming yourself or your hardwood floor. Following our instructions properly will ensure the best results.

That’s it for today!