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 stability.
I am a professional craftsman who spends countless hours designing and creating epoxy and river tables. I 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, making it a light wood for shelves.
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 a hardwood among the most popular types 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 wood for Adirondack chairs and outdoor tables. This wood is available in golden yellow, and dark brown colors.
Sycamore is a great option for epoxy and 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 water-resistant, making it a perfect choice for exterior epoxy tables. Elm is available in various natural colors, including light brown and 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 resin projects.
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5. Mulberry
Mulberry is a softer wood than sycamore and Elm, but it works well to create an epoxy table. The wood has a beautiful, rich grain, which is 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, making it easy to work with. It is also affordable, making it an excellent choice for newbies 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 to work on luxurious epoxy resin river tables, dinner tables, or other epoxy projects. Wood is well-known for its beauty, density, smooth texture, and 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 versatile and 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 using 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 that makes 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 long if treated and cared for properly.
Due to its scarcity, walnut 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; 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 sturdy hardwood that has been properly dried for over a 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 an 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 centre, adding a colour pigment. 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.
Read also: best lumber for raised beds.
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 wood. Check the wood grain, color, and texture to determine whether 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 thumb is to go with a 3/4 inch for big tables and just over one inch for small and medium-sized tables.
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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 one that’ll withstand the test of time and withstand years of heavy use.
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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 Buckets for mixing resin
- A hundred percent Silicone Caulking
- Caulking Gun
- Screwdriver to make the mold as tight as you can
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Will My Epoxy Resin Bond To The Wood?
Epoxy resin is a highly effective adhesive that can bond with wood and almost any other material. To improve its adhesion capacity, a thinner resin can be used to penetrate the natural pores of the wood, while a thicker and more viscous resin can create a suitable surface layer.
What To Do If Your Resin Is Shrinking
If you face excessive resin shrinkage during the curing process, it could be due to using low-cost or inferior-quality resin. Mahogany is resistant to shrinking, making it an excellent choice for epoxy tables or wood for window sill exteriors. If concerned about the epoxy resin’s reaction with different woods, test it on a scrap piece first. Opting for a high-quality, reliable product will ensure optimal results during the curing process.
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Can I polyurethane over epoxy?
Yes, you can polyurethane over epoxy, but there are some important considerations. Before applying polyurethane, ensure that the epoxy is well cured. Lightly sand the epoxy surface to create a rough texture for better adhesion of the polyurethane. Test a small area first to ensure compatibility and desired results between the two finishes considering the differences in epoxy vs polyurethane properties.
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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 over a year to ensure an acceptable moisture level.
Different types of wood exist. You get the best results using slabs from hardwoods such as Yew, Mulberry, Oak, Olive, Sycamore, etc.