Step-by-Step Guide – How to Make an Eye-Catching Epoxy River Table For Your Spaces

The popularity of epoxy makes it extremely useful in every matter and function of your life. It was always a challenging process to make an epoxy river table. Because it is a matter of time and flowing Epoxy River between two slaps of wood is a challenging process.

I get a lot of quarries about the steps and processes involved in the resin river table. So, in this blog, we shall tell you how professionally you make epoxy resin river tables with some useful tips to save you time.

 What is an Epoxy Resin River Table?

The resin river table is a unique and visually striking piece of furniture that incorporates the use of epoxy resin to create the illusion of a flowing river embedded within a wooden tabletop. The table gets its name due to the “river” feature, which is typically a long channel filled the gap by holding two large pieces of wood with it.

The two pieces of wood are taken from the same or different wood slabs. You can make both slabs equal in size and then pour a layer of epoxy into it. You can give any customized shape or design to the wood before pouring them into the resin layer.

These epoxy river tables have been popular since 2018 in the USA, and now it is famous around the world. These tables create an exotic beauty with a river-like surface. The appealing surface of wood and resin attracts most people.

Supplies You Need Before Make River Table:

Before starting your process, make sure you have all material because it takes 4 to 7 days to make a river table. Every step takes proper time and is well cured; without this, you cannot make a strong and durable table. Here is the list of material:

• Metallic color pigments
• Liquid color pigments
• Transparent liquid color pigment
• Large Mixing cup
• Duct tape
• MDF board
• Screws
• Clamps
• Polish paste for shinning surface
• Sandpaper
• Wood oil
• Folding carpenters’ ruler
• Epoxy Resin
• Level
• Respiration mask
• Gloves
• Eye protection
• Heat gun
• Hot glue gun
• Cordless Drill
• Jig saw
• Orbital sander
• Plug router
• Orbital buffer
• LED lights

Step-by-Step Guide to Make Live Edge Epoxy River Table:

After getting all the necessary materials and tools, set up a working environment. If you have a well-ventilated area, it should be recommended, and it gives you enough space for breathing. However, the garage to work in winter and any dust-free workshop for your DIY project are highly recommended. Here is the step-by-step tutorial and guide for making river tables.

Choose Your Wood Slab

The first step involves making a river resin and choosing a wood slab. It is recommended to pick a slab from the same wood and the same sizes and make sure it is dried well.

Pick a single large piece of wood, and it did not collection of pieces. The chosen wood is strong and durable enough to stand with epoxy and resin. Most important, choose well-dried wood because if you choose a wet slab, it does not seem durable well and makes the table broke able after some uses.

Cut the Slab:

Cut your large wood slab into pieces using a heavy saw. While cutting the wood, make sure both pieces are equal in length and width. A slightly differed in it gives you a lot of trouble. While cutting wood, also make edge squares for easily fitting into a silicon mold.

Sand the Wood:

Sanding with 120-grit sandpaper makes wood flatter and smooth. It will also remove any spots that create trouble while curing. Sanding also makes your wood equal in level and gives a shining surface to.

Fill Creaks and Sealing wood:

Sanding just makes your surface smooth and equal. If there should be any big holes, cure them with casting resin. If there are any open holes before curing, make sure you seal one side of the wood with Dutch tape and start curing from the other side.

Once the crakes are Sealed, the wood with resin will make it shine and easy to stand with epoxy for later.

Make River Table Mold and Level

Before casting resin into wood slabs, it is necessary to build a mold for easy and fast curing. Assembled the mold with the MDF boards with the desired size and length.

It is not hard, as shown by its name, you need just some care, and with accuracy, you build a unique mold for your epoxy river table. Use a 12 or 15-mm MDF board in the bottom because it handles maximum weight.

The side uses a 10mm board and holds them with hot glue. If hot glue does not work well, use a screw or sanitary silicon for this.

Adjust or Clamp the Wood into the Mold:

Once you make a mold adjust the wood. Make sure you adjust the wood in the same position you finish the table. Once you adjust your table wood into the mold, use a clamp that holds the river table wood piece into the exact shape. With the clump, you also use large lumber to put weight and pressure on pieces.

Mixing Epoxy for Base Coat:

Mix base coat epoxy according to the instruction label on the gallon because every resin needs a different way of mixing. Add any color or pigment if you want to add. You can give any color of your choice and personality.

If you want to add any flowers, toys, or any other decorative piece, put it into the wood. A pigment with glow-in-dark or LED light is also suitable to give it a unique and luxurious effect on it.

Cast Deep Pour Epoxy and Let it Dry:

Once you have done with your base coat, mix well your deep pour resin and cast it on to mold. While casting, make sure you pour it into every small area of wood.

The cast resin mix 5 minutes to make it strong and durable. It also gives your epoxy resin river tables a long lifespan and a waterproof surface. Mix all your epoxy into a big box with a drill mixer or any helping material.

Once you cure the epoxy on the mold, level it with any soft brash or material. Cure epoxy leave for 1 or 2 days for a full cure. This resin takes much time to dry and is harder because it’s multiple layers of resin. Firstly it cures from the outsider, then slowly, with time, it cures from the inside and makes the surface hard and durable.

Remove the Mold and Flatten the Slab:

Once your resin is dry or hard, remove mold carefully by removing all clamps or any additional support you give to the river table slab.

Flatten is recommended to level the surface of the epoxy river with the casting wood slap. It will also remove the spot, if any, on the wood. Flatten also give a smooth and shiny surface to wood without polishing.  

Sanding Tabletop:

Sanding the epoxy tabletop is a curial step because it makes the surface more durable or finished. Use 220 grit sandpaper for a smooth surface and change the paper accordingly because it takes up to 350 grit of sand with time.

Round Edge and Cut the Resin River Table:

I always recommend around your table edge because if not, it gives a sharp surface and is dangerous to kids and other people. After curing, one of the most important questions raised was what size we needed for the river epoxy resin table.

It always depends upon the space you have and the size you want for this. It is important to measure your space before cutting the table and its usage why you should make this table.

Finish Touch to River Resin Table:

After cutting your table into an exact size, give it a finishing touch for use. The finish also takes many things to involve, like finish design, color, wood oil, and any additional coat of resin if needed.

You give a finishing touch to the table as you want it for your use. It is a customizing effect on your table and affects your fashion trend, and it also depends upon the region you live.

Mount the legs:

Legs are also an important factor to consider. It is the base of the table, and durability mostly depends upon the legs we use. I recommend using metal legs that are easily available at any local shops.

But if you use wood legs, it will take proper care and not easily repair when broken. Metal legs are available in different weights and sizes. While wood legs always need to customize, making and hard to make the exact size as always.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Conclusion:

River tables with epoxy resin are most famous in the USA and other countries, even like Bazile. Creating a river epoxy dining table is a rewarding and exciting DIY project that allows you to add any stunning and unique pieces of toys, flowers, and other small pieces during its casting.

While doing this, you have a good grip on all tools like pigments, wood, material, sandpaper, drill, and all other material used during casting.

It is essential arising of challenges during the casting and construction of the table. Wear your safety protective gear and always work in well-ventilated areas. This will ensure quality work with your well-being during working.

Once your river table is complete, maintain proper care, regular cleaning, and avoid it from direct sunlight. Let your personality shine through your captivating furniture pieces.