DIY Resin River Coffee Table
As a woodworker, I have an ever-growing bucket list of projects I want to build at some point in my career… and at the top of that list is a resin river table. While resin river tables have been made time and time again, one thing I noticed was that many of these projects are made with industrial tools in big shops. So, I decided to challenge myself to create one using handheld power tools and accessories that can be found in my local home improvement store. Even cooler, to help make this happen, I partnered up with my amazing friends at Bernzomatic and got to work!
How To Make A Resin River Table
This project is sponsored by Bernzomatic and includes affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy, click here.
Want to see this build in action? Check out the video tutorial on my YouTube channel!
Here’s the thing… you don’t need an industrial sized, fully-equipped workshop to make cool things. In fact, I originally wanted to create this project using three power tools (circular saw, drill, and a sander), but made a mistake when pouring and ended up having to use a powered hand planer as well. But, if you can keep your resin from leaking under your slabs, you can totally get away with using three power tools for this project!
Here’s how I made this project happen with a few hand powered tools!
What I Used:
Tools
Circular Saw
Drill
Sander & Sandpaper
Power Planer (Optional)
Bernzomatic ST2200 Detail Torch for Hobby and Household Use
Bernzomatic B4500 Heat Shrink Torch for Large Surface Areas
Bernzomatic Propane Torch
Caulking Gun
Foam Brush
Tape Measure
Wood Clamps
Respirator
Gloves
Mixing Bucket & Materials for Resin
Materials
(2) Live Edge Slabs
Melamine Board(s)
Silicone Caulking
Screws
Tyvek Tape
Deep Pour Epoxy
(use code DIYHUNTRESS for 10% off)
Table Top Epoxy
Epoxy Pigment
Coffee Table Bases/Legs
The Steps:
- Measure and cut your slabs to size. I got my hands on two stunning walnut slabs from Jeff Mack Supplies a while back and knew that they would be perfect for this build! I cut the live edge off of two of my slabs to leave one clean edge. I did this using a circular saw and a straight edge. I made sure to cut the slabs a little longer and a little wider than my final dimensions to allow for room to trim them later.
2. Next, it was time to build the form for the pour. I used my circular saw and straight edge to cut my melamine board into four side pieces and the base of the form.
3. Once the form was cut, it was time to seal it using Tyveck tape. This will help prevent the resin from sticking to the melamine.
4. Next, I attached the side pieces to the bottom of the mold using screws. I pre-drilled to prevent the melamine from cracking.
5. I then used silicone caulk to fill the gaps along the perimeter of the form. If you don’t have a caulking gun, this can be done using a squeeze bottle!
6. Once I was done caulking, I let the form sit aside and dry. While it dried, I prepped my slabs for the pour by sanding away any loose bark or debris from the slabs.
7. To help prevent the resin from leaking too far under the slabs, I used the same silicone caulking to add a bead of caulk around the low spots in the wood (if you have a planer, this step can be avoided by pre-flattening the slab before the pour).
8. Next, I placed the slabs inside of the form to prep for the pour. I made sure to clamp them down to prevent them from floating once the resin was added.
9. I then used a vacuum to clean the mold of any debris.
10. I then checked for any cracks or openings that would cause the resin to leak, and used the silicone caulking to seal them.
11. Once it was time to prep for the pour, I used a table top resin on a foam brush to seal the bark and help prevent bubbles from forming in the pour during the cure.
12. I then used my Bernzomatic ST2200 Detail Torch for Hobby and Household Use and hovered it over the surface of the resin to pop any small bubbles that might have formed.
13. After letting that sit for a few hours, it was time for the big pour. I calculated how much volume I needed by measuring four different widths of the river, averaging those together, and then multiplying it by the depth and length of the pour (since volume= length x width x height).
I then mixed up as much resin as I needed in a big container according the instructions on the label.
I also added black pigment to make the river appear jet black. You can choose whatever pigment you’d like!
14. Next, I made sure my slabs were level and then poured the deep pour epoxy into the river opening and any cracks that needed to be filled. Make sure to follow instructions on your resin container for how deep you can pour at once. I was a little ambitious and my resin shrunk when curing, so be careful!
15. After pouring the resin, I used my Bernzomatic B4500 Heat Shrink Torch for Large Surface Areas to remove as many bubbles from the resin as possible. This is important because I don’t want the resin to cure with bubbles in it.
I then kept an eye on the pour and occasionally had to use my Bernzomatic ST2200 Detail Torch for Hobby and Household Use to remove random bubbles as it cured.
16. Because my resin shrunk a bit, I had to come back to the project a day later and repeat steps 13 – 15 until I was happy with the depth of my pour.
17. After letting the resin cure according to the label on the product I used, I then removed the mold from the table slabs.
18. At this point, I realized that I had a major leak on the bottom of the slab, so I used my powered hand planer to remove the bulk of the resin.
19. I then used a sander to smooth out the rest of the table. I started with 120 grit sandpaper and worked my way to 400 grit before finishing the table.
20. I then sealed the entire table with a furniture finish.
21. Last step was to add the legs!
I still can’t believe I made this table using tools I found at my local home improvement store! It looks like it came out of a legitimate woodworking shop!
I’m so excited about this project and even more excited at how amazing it turned out!
It fits perfectly in our little hang space!
Want to save this project for later? Make sure to Pin It!
Can’t wait to push the limits of my little shop some more and see what I can do! Until then, friends… Happy DIY’ing!
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what do you think?
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18 COMMENTS
Tushar
3 years agoHi Sam
The coffee table made a combination of resin and walnut slab looks stunning. It perfectly matches with your cushion.
What I like best is the way you develop this piece of art. You are using all handheld power tools available at your workshop. It will be an inspiring work for every DIYer who loves woodworking like me.
Wish that we get more post like this near future.
Before quite, I like to introduce some woodworking tools, which I described in my blog – https://toolsmirror.com/. I hope you will enjoy reading.
Many Thanks
Tushar
3 years agoHi Sam
The coffee table made a combination of resin and walnut slab looks stunning. It perfectly matches with your cushion.
What I like best is the way you develop this piece of art. You are using all handheld power tools available at your workshop. It will be an inspiring work for every DIYer who loves woodworking like me.
Wish that we get more post like this near future.
Many Thanks
Kelsey
3 years agoThank you so much for sharing a tutorial using hand tools. It’s been on my list of things to make for so long, now I just need to find some time so I can make my own table! One question, what kind of furniture finish did you use? Or what types would you recommend? Keep up the amazing work Sam!
Sam
3 years ago AUTHORSo glad this was helpful! I used Rubio Monocoat for this table. Thank you!
Aaron
3 years agoThis looks amazing! Can’t wait to try this out. I had also been looking for a tutorial than didn’t require an industrial planer!
Would love to see a slowed down version of you using the electric planer. I recently bought one and struggle to not just carve out big chunks as well as get snipes.
Sam
3 years ago AUTHORSo happy this helped! My best advice is to stop the planer about half way through your piece and then start again on the other side to meet. Snipe usually happens when the blade is being dragged over the end of a piece. Hope that helps!
Vicky
3 years agoOh wow this is amazing, I have a few resin decorated chopping board I use as photo props and they look gorgeous, you are so talented! I love the final result // https://kabukirune.com
Missouri Girl
3 years agoFantastic tutorial and beautiful piece!
Sam
3 years ago AUTHORThank you!
Elain
3 years agoReally cool table! It’s going on my list of stuff to try!
Sam
3 years ago AUTHORThank you – that makes me so happy! Hope you’ll share when you make one!
Van
3 years agohi . Thank you . all the way from Philippines ! , Love your videos !
Ryan
3 years agoDo you remember how many gallons of deep pour epoxy resin you had to go through? I see your trick about taking the average width and multiplying by the length and depth but then what? Take that total of inches and divide by 64 ounces?
Rachel
3 years agoHi Sam,
I’ve been wanting to get started in carpentry and creating my own pieces. I’ve been really enjoying your videos but I was wondering if you had any advice for someone getting started. I don’t have a workshop or many tools, in your opinion what would be the best equipment to start off with?
Thanks 😊,
Rachel
Cody
3 years agoThat’s the exact coloring and look as the table I’m wanting to make! And I’m happy to see a tutorial with more basic tools! Where did you get the legs that you used??
James Collins
2 years agoIncredible! You have presented it so beautifully, I will try it at home and I hope your youtube instructions will come in handy if there is any problem.
Shantel
2 years agoHi Sam! I love love LOVE this project and I’m currently preparing to make my own. Just waiting for the restock of the slabs. Anyway, I was wondering what the final dimensions of your table were? Thanks so much fir this post!
Air Compressor Savvy
2 years agoIncredible! You have presented it so beautifully, I will try it at home and I hope your youtube instructions will come in handy if there is any problem.