An epoxy table is durable, scratch-resistant, heat-resistant, and easy to clean. The best material for epoxy and river tables is typically the smoothest part of live edge wood you can get.
The best wooden planks for resin epoxy tables come from Elm, walnut oak, Yew, etc. These woods should be properly air-dried with moisture levels below twenty percent to achieve the necessary stability.
We are professional craftsmen who spend countless hours designing and creating epoxy and river tables. We created a detailed list of the best wood for an epoxy table.
What is the Best Wood for Epoxy Table?
When choosing timber for epoxy tables, go for a piece of properly dried hardwood. The popular options include oak, Black walnut, redwood, Elm, Birch, Maple, and Yew.
These woods are sturdy, and you can sand them down to reveal a gorgeous pattern for the table.
1. Wood for Resin Table
There are two types of maple wood: hard and soft. Maple can be sanded easily and takes stains exceptionally well. Red maple is popular among professional DIY woodworkers because it is gentler on tools.
It is easier to work with despite it being hardwood. Hard maple, on the other hand, is the most common live edge epoxy table because of its smooth sides.
2. Sycamore
Sycamore is among the most popular types of wood that you can use to make an epoxy table. It is one of the best choices because it has a medium-density, making it strong and sturdy without being too heavy.
Sycamore is also remarkably resistant to water, making it a great option for outdoor tables. This wood is available in golden yellow and dark brown colors.
Sycamore is a great option for epoxy tables and epoxy river tables since it is affordable and easy to work with. It is also readily available in most parts of the United States.
If you want to build your first resin table, you can do so like a pro with Sycamore wood with little practice.
3. Elm
Creating epoxy tables does not have to be stressful if you get the suitable materials and with little practice. If you are designing a table for a dining room, an elm slab is an excellent choice for an epoxy top.
Darker than sycamore, this thick wood is naturally resistant to water, making it a perfect choice for exterior epoxy tables. Elm is available in various natural colors, including light brown to dark red.
The wood can withstand the elements without being easily damaged, so you can also use it for outdoor furniture. Although Elm is a dense wood, you can easily shape it, so it is an excellent choice for inexperienced woodworkers.
4. Mahogany
Mahogany is a top-quality tropical wood with a pinkish hue that intensifies and darkens over time. Climate change does not affect this wood, so it will never shrink or warp.
It combines well with most stains and only requires a light oil coat for maintenance. Its lightness makes it effortless to work with in most tools, making it ideal for epoxy resins projects.
5. Mulberry
Mulberry is a softer wood than sycamore and Elm, but it works well for creating an epoxy table. The wood has a beautiful, rich grain, therefore appropriate for a resin table.
Mulberry is also naturally resistant to water, thus a superb choice for outdoor furniture. Mulberries come in different colors, from deep red to light pink.
Mulberry is one of the softest woods you can use to create an epoxy table, which means that it is easy to work with. It is also affordable, making it an excellent choice for newbies who are just beginning to dabble in table-making.
Still, because mulberry is a softer wood, it may not be the best choice for outdoor furniture, as it can be easily chipped or scratched.
6. Olive Wood
Olive wood is a superb option if you want to work on luxurious epoxy resin river tables, dinner tables, or other epoxy projects. The wood is well-known for its beauty, density, smooth texture, and beautiful straight grains.
Olive wood is solid but susceptible to exterior elements and insect attacks, so it’s useful for interior furniture.
7. Yew
Epoxy tables are a great way to create a beautiful and durable surface. They are an excellent choice for outdoor spaces. The best wood for epoxy tables is Yew because it is resistant to water and decay and is versatile.
You create epoxy tables by pouring epoxy resin on a wooden surface. The table is then left to harden and dry. You achieve the best results when you use high-quality wood such as Yew.
Yew has a high oil content which helps the epoxy to harden quickly and achieve its maximum strength.
8. Walnut
Black walnut is a tough, low-humidity, rot-resistant wood used to make some of the most lavish epoxy river tables. Its darker hue will blend in with any decor and is ideal for most darker epoxy resin pours.
It offers a deep, rich solid wood material that will ensure that your epoxy resin river table lasts for a long time if treated and cared for properly.
Due to its scarcity, it is one of the most pricey woods for a river table. White and red oak are the two most common types of oak wood.
White oak is tough and ideal for a sturdy epoxy dining table. It is scratch-resistant and easy to maintain. Red oak, on the other hand, is softer and easier to work with.
Factors to Consider When Buying Wood for Epoxy Tables
You do not walk into a workshop and buy any wood you can find to create an epoxy table. Consider the following factors to help you pick a wood suitable for your unique project.
Flatness
When building an epoxy table, you need to use a plank of wood you can sand down to get a super smooth surface. Although you can sand any wood, some wood species are easier to sand than others.
When you visit workshops, most epoxy tables are made of oak, gallery, birch, Elm, etc., because you can find these woods as flat living edge pieces.
Wood Stability/ Strength
When buying wood for epoxy river tables, go for sturdy and stable wood to ensure the wood has the necessary stability for maximum durability.
The most durable woods that resist moisture are Oak, Redwood, walnut, Olive wood, etc. Consider such woods for your epoxy resin table, and you’ll be glad you did.
Moisture Content
consider the moisture content of the wood. Even if you choose strong but wet wood, your table won’t be strong enough. Go for a sturdy hardwood that has been properly dried for more than one year to ensure moisture content is less than 20%.
You can buy a moisture meter to measure the moisture content of the wood before using it on your epoxy river table and epoxy table.
Though you’ll pay extra cash for a moisture meter, it will pay off in the long run, making the process more dependable.
Is there a Difference Between Live Edge and Epoxy Tables?
Yes. A river table is a wood epoxy table constructed from two slabs of live edge wood. The slabs are sometimes the same slab because they’re so similar.
The epoxy is poured down the center, and a color pigment is added. The epoxy hardens and fills the gap between the two slabs, making the epoxy look like a flowing river.
On the other hand, an epoxy table is a live edge wood plank with epoxy resin poured on it and allowed to cure. Use high-quality resin to stop the resin from shrinking when curing.
Where to Get Wood for an Epoxy Table?
You can get wood for epoxy tables from your local workshop store or order online from credible sources.
It would be best if you were cautious to avoid the frustration of buying knock-off woods. Check the wood grain, color, and texture to tell if the wood is authentic.
How Thick Should an Epoxy Wood Table be?
The wood’s thickness for an epoxy table depends on your preferences. However, the rule of the thumb is to go with a 3/4 inch for big tables and just over one inch for small and medium-sized tables.
How Strong is an Epoxy Wood Table?
Epoxy resin tables are extremely strong and long-lasting. Due to their incredible strength and resilience, they are used in commercial settings.
An epoxy resin table is a fantastic choice if you want a table that’ll stand the test of time and withstand years of heavy use.
What Materials do You Need to Make an Epoxy Table?
You’ll need the following materials when building an epoxy table.
- Liquid color pigment
- Metallic color pigment
- Transparent Liquid color pigment for crystal clear epoxy Tables
- Silicone Spray
- Wood epoxy resin
- Duck Tape
- MDF Board
- F-Clamps
- Soft Mallet and Wood Chisel
- Polishing paste for glossy surfaces
- Calibrated Huge mixing cups or Bucket for mixing resin
- A hundred percent Silicone Caulking
- Caulking Gun
- Screwdriver to make the mold as tight as you can
Conclusion
The best wood for an epoxy table should be stable and strong to create a durable table you can pass down to the next generation.
The wood should also be flat with natural edges and moisture content below twenty percent. The hardwood should be properly air-dried for more than a year to ensure the moisture level is acceptable.
Different types of wood exist. You get the best results when using slabs from hardwoods such as Yew, Mulberry, Oak, Olive, Sycamore, etc.