Epoxy resin is a two-part liquid that, when combined, makes a solid and clear plastic. Epoxy tables are typically used in the garage or workshop as work surfaces.
They can be made out of any material, but we chose to use plywood because it’s inexpensive and easy to find at home centers.
Plywood is prone to cracking, especially when you drill holes into your tabletop for mounting hardware; however, you can use thicker boards like MDF (medium density fiberboard) if you want a more durable epoxy table that isn’t as likely to crack.
If you’re interested in making an epoxy table at home but don’t have access to any tools or materials mentioned here or listed on our site yet – don’t worry! You can buy everything from one place: Amazon Prime (free shipping with membership)!
How do you make an epoxy resin table at home?
- Cut the wood
- Sand the wood
- Clean the wood
- Apply resin
- Pour in the resin
- Wait until it cures, then sand and finish the table
Table of Contents
- How do you make an epoxy resin table at home?
- What materials do you need to make an epoxy table?
- How do you make a pure epoxy table?
- What kind of wood is used for epoxy table?
- How long does it take to make an epoxy table?
- How much epoxy do I need for a table top?
- What tools do you need for epoxy?
- How do you seal wood before resin?
What materials do you need to make an epoxy table?
Epoxy resin is a two-part adhesive that can be used to make tables, sculptures, and other household items. It’s easy to use and can be found at most craft stores. The table you want will depend on the size of your project and whether you are willing to spend money on it.
You need these materials:
- Epoxy Resin
- Hardener (This is a chemical that helps the epoxy cure.)
- Wood planks or boards – 1×8 pieces work well for this project because they are long enough but not too heavy in weight)
How do you make a pure epoxy table?
You’ll begin by cutting your wood to size with a table saw. To keep the edges smooth and clean, sand them with an orbital sander.
After two to three coats of fine-grit sandpaper and some elbow grease, you will be left with a beautiful, smooth tabletop. Once all of that is done, clean off any excess dust from your work area so that it doesn’t get in the way during application of epoxy resin (see below).
Now that you have your materials ready and all necessary tools assembled on hand, it’s time to set up for making an epoxy table at home!
What kind of wood is used for epoxy table?
You can use any kind of wood you want, but if you plan on making a table with a leg, I suggest that you use hardwood.
Hardwoods are more stable and don’t tend to warp as much as softwoods do. If your table is going to be used outside and in the elements, then it’s best to use cedar or redwood because they’re both resistant to decay from moisture and insects. If you want something more affordable and easy to work with, pine will work fine too!
There are many different kinds of epoxy resins available for purchase at hardware stores or online retailers like Amazon (or even Walmart), but if you want more control over how consistent your final product looks then I recommend buying pure epoxy resin instead of pre-mixes which contain other additives like fillers that add weight without improving strength or quality.
How long does it take to make an epoxy table?
The answer depends on how much time you want to spend, but there are a few factors that will affect your timeline.
First, you’ll need to figure out how much woodworking experience you have and how comfortable you are with using tools such as saws and sanding machines.
This can be a huge help in speeding up the process because tools allow for more precise cuts than just using your hands.
If you’re not familiar with these tools yet or don’t feel comfortable working with them, I recommend taking some time before starting this project to get familiar with them so that they’re not scary when it comes time for them in this project.
Second, once all the pieces have been cut out (and probably sanded), it takes some time for each piece to dry before applying the resin on top of it so that it doesn’t stick together when putting everything together later on.
The longer each piece dries before applying resin helps prevent bubbles from forming while curing; however, if there wasn’t enough ventilation during curing then bubbles may still form anyway which would mean having extra material around those areas just in case something goes wrong!
Finally, there’s also waiting around afterward until everything is fully cured before moving on to finishing touches like painting/staining/etcetera which could take hours depending on how thickly applied those materials were sprayed onto surfaces like tables made from plywood rather than solid blocks.”
How much epoxy do I need for a table top?
The amount of epoxy you need depends on the size of your table. The smaller the surface area, the less epoxy you’ll need; conversely, if you’re making a huge table, you’ll need more.
For example, using just 1 gallon of epoxy on a 48″ x 48″ x 1.5″ thick table will give it a smooth finish that’s ready to use right away without further sanding or finishing. If this sounds like too much work for you (and I can’t blame you), we recommend talking with your local hardware store about purchasing some scrap pieces from their lumber section and staining them to match your new tabletop so all you have to do is screw them together!
What tools do you need for epoxy?
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing cups
- Mixing sticks
- Plastic wrap (for covering the work surface)
- Heat gun (and a respirator if you want to use it)
- Protective clothing that covers your body and hair as well as gloves, a dust mask/respirator, goggles and face shield.
How do you seal wood before resin?
To seal the wood before you start applying resin, apply a thin coat of epoxy to the surface. Let it cure (dry) completely, then sand down the top layer of epoxy. Apply another layer and wait for it to cure. Repeat until you’ve finished applying all three coats of epoxy.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, though, the most important thing is that you have fun. If you’ve done everything correctly and followed all the steps in this article, then you should be well on your way to creating a stunning project.
I hope this guide has been useful and if you have any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments section below!