What is the best wood for a river table?

What kind of wood do you use for a river table?

The best material to use for an epoxy resin table is typically the flattest piece of live edge wood you can find - such as Yew, Elm, Oak or Black Walnut - that has been properly air dried so the moisture level is below 20%.

How thick should an epoxy River table be?

Most coating epoxies require thin pours of no more than 1/8 to 1/4" per application. Because many DIY epoxy river tables are much thicker than 1/8 inch, either multiple layers must be used or a thinner, slower curing epoxy must be used.

What is a river table made of?

The River Table is called a River Table because it's a table and it looks like there is a river flowing through it, they are made of wood and epoxy resin. River Tables are constructed so that the live edge of the wood forms the river banks and the resin forms the river.

How thick does the wood need to be for a river table?

If the wood slab (especially black walnut) is at least 1.6″ thick, that should be good enough make a stable epoxy table. However, a 2″ thick wood slab is best for making epoxy resin and wood tables, desks and countertops. The wood slabs need to be absolutely flat.

How to Select the Ideal Wood Slab [For Your Custom River Table]

How much does it cost to make a river table?

A river table's cost will vary based on the wood type you use and amount of epoxy you need. For a dining room table, you'll typically spend $400-$1200 on the live edge slab, and up to $1200 on the epoxy, as it costs about $80 per gallon. The average river table we build costs around $2000 before labor.

What type of epoxy do you use for a river table?

ProMarine Supplies Crystal Clear Tabletop Epoxy Resin – Your Best Choice for Wooden Countertops and River Tables. Our first pick is by far the easiest and most reliable epoxy resin on the market. ProMarine Supplies Tabletop Epoxy is a high-performance, crystal-clear epoxy coating that goes on in two easy steps.

What do you seal an epoxy River table with?

SEAL. All epoxy resins should be applied in two coats: a SEAL COAT and a FLOOD COAT. Applying a thin coat of epoxy, with a solvent-safe foam roller or chip brush, to the entire area that will be covered with resin.

What kind of wood do you use for epoxy countertops?

Wood - including plywood, butcherblock, and live edge.

What happens if you pour epoxy too thick?

If your epoxy pour is too thick, the reaction can create too much heat, resulting in a product that does not cure properly with cracks or excessive bubbles. You can pour the next layer after the previous pour has gone through its heat cycle, which is usually around 24 hours.

How much do epoxy tables sell for?

10 Foot Table – $2000-$6000. The biggest variant in cost when buying live edge tables is whether or not the table uses epoxy resin, and if so, how much. Pouring epoxy is a labor-intensive and expensive process. Epoxy resin alone costs around $80 a gallon, and that's before the labor to pour it.

How much epoxy do I need for a river table?

First you measure the Length of your wood table in inches, X (multiply) by the average width of the wood “voids” in inches, and then, X (multiply) by the rough thickness in inches. (1.5 gallons of epoxy will fill about 2.4 BF of space.)

How strong is epoxy resin table?

The epoxy-wood bond, and epoxy itself, is at least as strong as the wood. In this case, Black Walnut, which is a very strong wood. So it doesn't matter if your epoxy table is ½", 1", or 3" thick. The weak link will always be the wood.

What is needed for epoxy table?

What tape is used for river tables?

Sheathing tape, Tyvek® tape, mold release tape, and Tuck Tape are the preferred tapes to seal molds, or act as release agents when creating river tables.

What is the difference between epoxy and resin?

The main difference between both adhesive types is the drying time. Both epoxy and resin adhesives require mixing before use, but epoxy hardens much faster than resin glue. Epoxy adhesive is far more expensive compared to resin glue since it has an excellent bonding capability that surpasses all type of adhesives.

Do epoxy cutting boards scratch?

Epoxy is a hard plastic surface, and harder on cleavers and knife blades, causing them to dull faster. And finally, epoxy will over time with chopping and butchering use and heavy cleaning will eventually end up looking horrible with scuffing or clouding, thus destroying any heirloom or artistic value of your board.

How do you seal live edge wood on a river table?

Using MAS Penetrating Epoxy sealer, mix correctly at a 2:1 (two parts resin:one part hardener) into a cup and stir for 2-3 minutes. Pour mixed epoxy onto the wood and coat all sides of the wood slab using a paint brush or by rubbing it into the wood by hand with rubber gloves on.

Do you have to seal wood before epoxy?

For any porous surfaces such as wood, it is particularly important to seal the surface first. You do not need a separate product for this, rather you can simply apply a thin layer of resin to the wood and let it cure.

Can you pour resin on wood?

Covering wood in a coating of ArtResin is easy - in fact, epoxy resin takes wood next level, giving it a gorgeous looking finish and a glossy sheen that makes the colour and grain of wood absolutely glow!

How thick are live edge tables?

If you are making a tabletop with live edge slabs, the most common thickness is 2”. If you are making a wood mantel, perhaps you would like something visually thicker so you aim for a 3” slab. Charcuterie boards are increasingly popular, and wood crafters prefer a more delicate thickness of 1” thick.

How much epoxy do I need for table top?

Most common table top and bar top epoxies provide approximately 12 sq feet per mixed gallon coverage at 1/8″ thickness. When in doubt, buy more.