How To Make A Stunning River Table Without Investment Using Recycled Materials

Photo Credit: Boulder Wood Works on Etsy.com has reasonably prices tables and has received great reviews for those who are not DIY inclined!

River tables are all the rage, but what is a river table exactly? A river table consists of two basic materials: wood and epoxy resin, together with a base and/or legs of some kind. Wooden planks, and in this case recycled wooden planks, are laid lengthwise on each outer edge of the table, such that the space between the two pieces of wood is filled with epoxy resin, either colored or clear. The wood planks can be shaped on their inner edges to look more organic, and thus the section of resin looks like a river, hence the name. Epoxy resin river tables have gained popularity because of the variety of unique designs you can create when making a one-of-a-kind piece. The exotic beauty of the finished product attracts the interest of all those who see it, and it is both artful and useful!

There are many ways to design an epoxy resin river table: you can go conservative, sleek, natural, or choose to add color or even sparkle. According to River Table Guide by Resin-Expert.com you don’t have to be a professional to create your own river table. With materials readily available online, you really can create a river table in keeping with your own concept and personal style. And why not make use of materials that you’d thought about throwing out by including them in your river table?

If you are actually looking for a resin project that is an epoxy ocean coffee table, complete with a beach, I have a great source for you, that includes a great chart showing the 3 day process involved to make a gorgeous epoxy resin table. I’m a visual learner so the chart really spells it all out and makes the project easy to understand. You might even want to print the chart and include the whole family in the process. After each step is done you can cross it off. Epoxy projects do require patience though the results are worth the wait. Once you have mastered the new technique of creating an ocean epoxy resin table top, you can certainly opt to use various ocean embellishments such as: natural sand, rocks, shells, and much more. One-of-a-kind absolutely amazing resin artwork is a DIY that you can make in multiples to give as gifts or even sell! Of course if you fall in love with this idea, but don’t have the time to DIY at the moment, you might consider purchasing an inexpensive ocean theme epoxy resin table from IntoResin.

Okay, epoxy resin is so exciting it is hard to stay on track, but lets get back to the subject of this post, which is how to make an epoxy river table. Let’s do it!

Although you’ll use recycled materials for the wooden or organic part of the river table, you will need to purchase resin. The following list of materials and equipment will greatly help you get acquainted with this project and the DIY steps.

Materials:

• Natural recycled wood panels 
• TotalBoat DIY Epoxy River Table Project Kit. This River Table Set contains all pouring materials you need for an epoxy resin table. This includes a slow hardener, 10 different pigment colors, mixing tools, heat gun and polishing set. It also has instructions for your resin table.
• EcoPoxy Liquid Plastic that can make up to 2 inches of thickness. It has a crystal clear finish with a 2:1 ratio cure that is unbelievably hard. It’s a scratch and cracks resistant, as well as it won’t discolor. There is no odor and it is bio-based.
• Liquid color to create the texture and vibrant colors for your river table, you may use pigment matt blue, metallic pigment turquoise, and transparent pigment for crystal clear river tables.
• Bucket for mixing resin or large cups that measure up to 64 ounces.
• 100% Silicone Caulking and Caulking Gun. Also, silicone spray and duct tape
• You will also use an MDF board, screws, and F-clamps.
• Polishing paste for glossy surfaces, sandpaper, and wood oil.

Equipment: If you don’t have this equipment, you can ask your local carpenter to do some of the tasks needed for the job.

• You will be using a soft mallet and wood chisel to make alterations to the wooden planks.
• Measuring devices like a level, folding carpenters ruler.
• Protective equipment such as nitrile gloves, respirator mask, and eye protection.
• Heat Gun or butane torch, hot melt glue gun
• Cordless Drill, Corded Drill with a Paint Mixer.
• Cutting devices like a Jig Saw and plunge router
• To create a smooth finish, you can use an Orbital Sander, Orbital Buffer or Polisher.

Working Environment:

Make sure you are in a dust-free environment. It should also be well-ventilated and maintained at a temperature of approximately 20 degrees Celsius. Do not work in extreme temperatures or it will affect the outcome of the resin. Avoid putting the bucket of resin on the floor, because the floor is normally colder than the rest of the room. This difference in temperature will create bubbles in the resin that will be almost impossible to remove. Please look into the health risks involved in using resin to determine whether a mask of some kind in necessary to avoid inhaling toxins.

Photo Credit: Boulder Wood Works on Etsy.com has reasonably prices tables and has received great reviews for those who are not DIY inclined!

Here are the 10 basic steps necessary to make your own epoxy river table with recycled materials:

1. Choose And Prepare Your Recycled Wooden Pieces

You will want  wooden planks that look as natural as possible. You can also make 1 1/2″ thick boards from a tree trunk if you happen to have something like that lying in your yard.  Or choose wood from broken furniture or wooden pieces that have a natural look and organic edges to create a unique result.

After you’ve chosen your wooden materials, make sure to dry them properly. 

Above: Simple stools and side tables can also be made with this technique! Do seek inspiration before beginning your project.

2. Cutting Wood To Correct Length and Thickness

When your wooden pieces are ready, you can use a circular saw to cut them into the desired dimensions. If you’re planning a rectangular table, make sure the two planks that will be on either side of your “river” are exactly the same length.

Make sure the wooden planks are both flat and of equal thickness. You can use a planer to achieve this.

3. Grinding And Sanding

To promote the bonding of the resin to the wood, you must remove any bark and sand the edges. After which, dust the wood thoroughly to remove any small particle.

4. Filling and Sealing the wood

Use epoxy resin to fill gaps and cracks in the wood. You can use duct tape to prevent the resin from running off the edges of the surface. Seal the wood with resin by brushing it onto the surface thoroughly. Let it dry for at least 5 hours. After the curing period, sand any edges which will come in contact with the resin “river “. This helps the resin properly bond to the wood.

5. Creating A Mould

You will need to create a mold to hold the epoxy resin plus wooden planks as it cures. The mould is basically like a bathtub with sides and a bottom. You can use MDF board as borders and base under the wooden planks. The sides should be 10-15 mm higher than the wooden planks. Fasten the side borders to the bottom with glue or screws. You can use silicone glue to seal the edges. Be sure to apply releasing agent to the mold so that the MDF board won’t stick to the resin.

Place the wood planks into the mold in the desired position of the finished product. You can use clamps to hold the wood within the mold if necessary.

6. Pouring The Resin

According to the instructions of the epoxy resin, prepare the mixture accordingly. Use a bucket and measuring cups to follow the exact recommended ratio of the resin. If bubbles appear when mixing you can use a heat gun to remove them.

Again, according to the instructions of the resin, you can apply it to the mold in layers or all at once. If you’re using colored resin, you can make circular motions as you’re pouring the resin to create a water effect. Then you can use a wooden stick to make the pattern more defined once the resin has been poured. 

7. Demoulding And Planing

After the curing period, the mold will be removed. The tabletop is then put through a planer to even the thickness and remove bumps and excess resin. Edges are then trimmed and top edges are generally beveled. You can use a circular saw and a router saw for the two methods of trimming respectively.

8. Finishing

There are many ways to finish the wooden portions of the table. But regardless of your choice of finishing, it is important to polish the surface first to even out rough areas. One option is to use oil to finish the tabletop and protect it.

9. Attaching The Base

You can use wood or metal frames as a base for the tabletop. It is recommended that the table is screwed to the base, so it’ll be secure. Make sure to attach any screws to the wooden portion of the table, not to the epoxy resin portion. This is something to keep in mind when choosing the appropriate base for your table.

10. Enjoy The Results!

There are many resources online that can give you more tips for creating your own river table. The beauty of this project is that it is both functional and artistic, and the limitless design possibilities allow you to create a piece of furniture that you’ll be proud to have in your home. Chances are all your friends and family will want one too, so be prepared!