- Workshop Equipment
- Epoxy resin
Epoxy resin
Epoxy resins have long been used as adhesives in woodworking. Relatively new, however, is the use as a casting resin to make table tops and other furniture components. We offer an extensive range of Woodresin brand epoxy resins. You will also find Woodresin's colour pastes, concentrates, pigments and other effect agents for use with the resins as well as the necessary accessories for processing in our range.
Epoxy resin belongs to the group of synthetic resins (other representatives are, for example, the polyester resins found in many lacquers). The various epoxy resins are used on an industrial scale for very many applications, but for the woodworker only a few specific uses are of interest. They can be applied in thin layers as a surface agent, used to make small decorative elements for furniture in suitable moulds, or used to make larger components by casting. Such components include tabletops made from solid planks (often with tree edges, cracks and other imperfections) by pouring them with epoxy or casting them in a mould. Provided with a suitable table frame, you thus obtain a so-called rivertable.
Epoxy resins are usually used as two-component systems: The resin is mixed with a hardener so that a thermosetting plastic is produced after curing. Unlike other manufacturers, Woodresin always uses the same epoxy resin to enable the casting of different layer thicknesses. The maximum layer thickness that can be achieved is determined by the use of different hardeners.
In general, epoxy resins should have certain properties for use in conjunction with wood. They should be crystal clear for most applications. Especially for outdoor use, they must also be sufficiently UV-stable to protect against yellowing and cracking. For medium and large layer thicknesses, they should have good deaeration properties so that no air bubbles show in the finished workpiece. In addition to these general requirements, some resins have properties that make them particularly suitable for certain purposes: There are resins that are food-safe and those that are particularly heat-resistant compared to normal resins. All Woodresin products meet the basic requirements to a particular degree, and the range includes both food-safe and heat-resistant resins.
In principle, the processing of epoxy resins in the casting process is not particularly difficult from a technical point of view and also requires only a small amount of basic equipment in terms of tools and working materials. However, close attention to a few factors is essential, and the quality of the finished workpiece depends on the care taken during casting and the final surface treatment.
The production of a rivertable or other workpieces from cast epoxy resin requires increased care and a certain amount of effort in some work steps, but the necessary tools and work equipment are usually either already available in a normal wood workshop or can be acquired with little investment.
Many smaller jewellery objects and handicrafts already develop a beautiful effect with clear, colourless epoxy resin. Even a rivertable with a transparent middle part made of resin can look very attractive, especially if you put pebbles or similar on the bottom of the 'river'.
However, if you want to add colour to your pieces, we also offer a versatile range of effect materials that are perfectly matched to Woodresin's epoxy resins. For example, there are colour pastes that can be used to colour the resin opaquely - and in a wide range of shades closely based on the RAL system. Alternatively, there are various liquid colour concentrates and the extremely colour-strong, highly pigmented alcohol inks with which you can colour the resin transparently.
Particularly striking effects can be achieved with Woodresin's colour pigments: Metallic and pearlescent effects, but also noctilucent colour pigments and those with colour changes in the resin(flip-flop effect).
There are many instructions on the internet, in magazines and books on how to make a so-called Rivertable. A rivertable is a table with an irregular band of epoxy resin running through the tabletop between two wooden planks, resembling a river. The following is not intended to replace these detailed instructions, but to give the beginner a first overview. In any case, the processing instructions of the resin manufacturer should be observed and followed exactly. Especially with regard to the mixing ratio and the drying and curing time, they are decisive and cannot be replaced by general information.
1. construction of the mould:
The first step in the production of a Rivertable is the construction of a mould, which consists of four side walls and a bottom. Usually coated chipboard is used for this, which is cut to size and screwed together. The joints must be sealed and a release agent applied to the inside of the mould. It is important to have a precise construction of the mould and to place it absolutely level before pouring the resin.
2. sealing:
The tabletop of a Rivertable is made of planks (often with a tree edge) and epoxy resin. The planks are usually sanded. However, they can also be left untreated if a rustic look is desired. In any case, the wood should be sealed with a thin layer of epoxy so that any escaping gases do not cause bubbles in the resin.
3. fixing the planks:
After sealing, the planks are fixed to the bottom of the mould. This is usually done by placing them in a thin layer of still liquid resin, which is poured onto the bottom. When this layer has dried, it holds the planks to the floor. In this way, the wood is prevented from rising upwards when the resin is poured into the mould.
4. pouring the resin:
After mixing the required amounts of resin and hardener together (be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions) and adding effect agents as desired, pour the resin mixture into the mould. The maximum layer thickness must be observed. It may be necessary to pour in several layers. Again, follow the manufacturer's instructions. If the maximum thickness is exceeded, the resin may heat up excessively. The resulting bubbling and discolouration can undo all the painstaking preparatory work - the workpiece is spoilt.
5. stripping:
After the resin has cured , the tabletop is stripped: the screws are removed from the mould, the mould is dismantled and the blank is removed.
Surface finish:
Finally, the table top issanded, polished and cleaned to obtain a high-quality surface. The finished tabletop is then mounted on a purchased or self-made base frame . This should be suitably stable, as a top made of a strong plank and larger quantities of epoxy resin can weigh a considerable amount.