Today, there are many materials from which aesthetic and practical furniture can be obtained, and epoxy has recently become one of them. With the help of wood and this glue, quite interesting designer tables and shelves are made. Next, we will tell you all about the technical process.
Until recently, this two-component adhesive was widely used mainly for the reliable connection of various materials, then it began to be used as a component for self-leveling floors. At the same time, such properties as low abrasion of the surface, high strength, and durability were noted. Further, separate transparent stamps began to be used for very interesting dioramas, where epoxy resin with dyes imitated water. Moreover, the creators made entire tables depicting various landscapes. Perhaps it was these experiments that prompted the creation of designer furniture made of wood and epoxy glue.
Epoxy resin can be molded into any shape
The main thing that can be noted as the advantage of the above-mentioned polymer resin is the ability to give it any shape due to fluidity in the liquid state and plasticity at the stage of hardening.. In addition, the cured glue is quite easily processed, in particular: it is ground and polished, if necessary, it can be drilled, grooved in it. There are both completely transparent marks after hardening, and having a red, brown, yellowish or whitish color to the full depth. In this case, in a liquid consistency, it is allowed to add various components that improve or simply change the properties of the composition. The main positive property of the adhesive is the absence of shrinkage due to the fact that the composition hardens solely due to a chemical reaction, and, as a result, a flat surface plane is maintained.
Now let's talk about the disadvantages. The fact that cured epoxy is easy to work with can sometimes also be a disadvantage, since the surface is easily scratched. Otherwise, the wear resistance of this material is very high. Another factor preventing the widespread use of glue for furniture production is its price, which is quite impressive and allows you to create only single design products. Brands that differ in absolute transparency after solidification are considered especially expensive. And, of course, do not forget about the toxicity of polymer resin fumes, work with which should be carried out in well-ventilated areas and always in a respirator.
To date, there are a lot of brands of domestic and foreign production. In fact, anything is suitable for making furniture, if you do not have special requirements for the result, however, if you want to combine wood with epoxy, you definitely need transparent compositions. Otherwise, you will not be able to show the beauty of the wood fibers in the depth of the fill. As a rule, among imported options, you should pay attention to the brand YD-128 with a high degree of transparency. Also performed well MG-Epox-Strong used for pouring and obtaining transparent optical products. If you need to get a color coating, use MG Epox White- this type is distinguished by a milky white color.
For pouring, glue of a liquid consistency is required
All of the above options are a two-component glue of a liquid consistency, which, in fact, is what you need for pouring, since pasty is not suitable for this purpose. It should be noted that different brands can be quite successfully combined with each other; in this case, milky inclusions of one type of glue can be enclosed in the thickness of a transparent fill. It will look especially impressive when adding dyes and in combination with wood inclusions. The main thing is not to mix too large portions, because in this case the reaction with the hardener heats up the composition, due to which it polymerizes faster.
There are 5 states of glue. If it has a liquid base, its consistency will be appropriate after mixing with the hardener, such an epoxy resin should have good fluidity. It is she who is recommended to fill in the manufacture of a furniture panel, whether it be a shelving shelf or a future chest of drawers. A thicker version, similar to honey or molasses, is suitable for gluing and for layering. Thickened to the point where fluidity is almost completely absent and individual parts are poorly separated, it is sometimes suitable as a putty. Further, the glue begins to resemble rubber, or plasticine, however, it remains very sticky, which does not interfere with giving it an arbitrary shape with a stick or wire. And finally, the last state is completely hardened.
As mentioned above, 2 types of glue are used for the manufacture of furniture - transparent and matte, and each of them can be colored. Now we will look at both options in more detail. For various combinations with wood or other inclusions, it is best to use transparent mixtures, especially those used for optical castings. In this case, even through a thick layer of glue, every detail of the inclusion will be clearly visible, whether it be wood trimming fibers or metal elements (for example, old badges or gears). When adding a special dye, the transparency decreases somewhat, but not completely, but the fill gets a rich color.
From colored epoxy, you can create interesting interior items
If you want to get a high-quality colored mixture, add color from the same manufacturer that made the adhesive mass.
Color mixtures are initially somewhat cloudy, they can be called rather translucent, and they are unsuitable as the main fill covering the wood. The reason is simple - any inclusions simply will not be visible. But you can do the opposite and fill in such all kinds of cavities in the cut of wood, voids from knots, the passages of woodworms that have opened on the cut. Luminescent dye, combined with glue, will look especially impressive. Then the slightest illumination will be enough for the furniture panel or countertop to glow by itself.
Such a combination as epoxy and wood has proven itself well for the simple reason that a perfectly smooth surface is obtained, and at the same time, the pouring consumption is relatively small. The main volume is occupied by wood, which is covered on all sides by a thin layer of polymer resin. However, be prepared for the fact that the expense will still be noticeable. It is easy to calculate that 100 grams of glue will take 100 grams of glue per 10 square centimeters of filling with a thickness of 1 centimeter. Accordingly, 10 liters of composition will be needed per 1 square meter, and 20 liters per 1x2 meter countertop. And this is only for the top layer, but if you make a thicker layer of epoxy in order to immerse wood trimmings or a board shield into it, then you will need at least 2 times more mixture.
There are quite a few subtleties of using glue. In particular, an interesting effect can be achieved by adding a little water to the composition. In this place, milky-white stains are formed, similar to a nebula. That is, with small drops of water, you can get beautiful inclusions in the painted epoxy. You can make a multi-color coating by portionwise pouring portions painted with different colors or separating them with small thin plastic barriers. But such fills should be thin enough, no more than 0.5 centimeters, but on top you will need another, transparent layer. You can color the composition with ordinary dry gouache, as well as ink for writing (including paste from ballpoint pen refills), oil and nitro paints.
Epoxy has a very strong adhesion to almost all materials, in other words, if you choose the wrong formwork, the glue will stick to it tightly. The only thing that epoxy does not stick to is plexiglass, the main thing is that there are no scratches and chips on it. Also, some craftsmen recommend using strips and sheets of polished aluminum. If you want to finish the table only from above, the epoxy resin is poured into the formwork fixed along the side edges of the panel. Accordingly, the ends of the countertop will not be covered with glue.
If you need to cover only the surface of the countertop with resin, you should make a formwork
It is a completely different matter if you need a thickness of a transparent polymer, inside which, like an insect in amber, a saw cut of wood or its individual fragments will be enclosed. In this case, the inclusions should be fixed with a conventional starch paste on the base, which will serve as a large sheet of Plexiglas. If you want the wood to be in the middle of the epoxy, fix the inclusion on the sides of the formwork. The walls of the mold must be attached to the base sheet only from the outside, so that they can be easily detached after the mixture has completely solidified.
We knead and pour epoxy - we make a transparent or colored panel
It is noteworthy that the reaction after mixing the main component of the adhesive with the hardener is accompanied by heating the composition. And the larger the serving volume, the stronger the heating, the faster the epoxy sets. Therefore, it is recommended to use only small containers. Some experts advise adding acetone to the main component, about 10% of the total volume, and only before mixing with the hardener. This will reduce heat and prolong the curing process of the composition. You can also influence the hardening process by slowing it down somewhat by cooling the dishes. With a sharp cooling, the solidification in the future will proceed very slowly, over several days.
Furniture made of transparent epoxy resin is of two types - massive cast or assembled from prefabricated panels. In the first case, the stools look like pedestals, the tables look more like thick slabs, while the second option is closer to the classic pieces of furniture. But whichever type you choose, before the wood and the mixed epoxy are bonded, the base must be perfectly level with a spirit level, which is easy to do by hand. Otherwise, the mixture will flow to the lower edge. To set the horizontal, you can put wedges under the edges, and under the middle of the plank of different thicknesses, so that the Plexiglas sheet does not sag. A table made of wood also needs to be leveled by placing thin liners under the legs.
Now we are preparing the filling. To do this, you will need a small container, approximately 0.5 liters, maximum 1 liter, as well as a kneading stick. Measurements should be included in the kit, if they are not, prepare cups with divisions applied to them. We take the main component, measure out a certain amount of it, sufficient to obtain a thin layer. If the epoxy table will have a large area, prepare several containers at once to knead the amount that will create a layer about 0.5 centimeters thick. Open all windows to allow fresh air into the room.
Be sure to put on special clothes with which the threads will not fall, put your hair under a hat or scarf, put on gloves on your hands. It is highly undesirable that hairs, eyelashes, villi get into the composition. In order for products made of wood and transparent epoxy resin to be free of bubbles, if extra inclusions are found after emptying the container with the composition into the formwork, slightly heat such an area with a hairdryer, the air should escape. Solidification takes several days, especially if the fill forms several layers. Further, to smooth the countertop, we carefully grind and polish the surface with the finest sandpaper and felt with special pastes.
The atmosphere in the house provides it with comfort and compliance with your tastes. However, not always furniture stores can offer something that suits your vision of the interior. Yes, and standard solutions are by no means what suits people who strive for individual design. It’s easier, of course, to order an exclusive and pay money for it. But it is much more interesting to realize the idea yourself. For example, for countertops, it makes it possible to create any creative surface, moreover, unique and unrepeatable. Of course, you will have to work hard. But epoxy is a fairly simple material to work with, and it will not be difficult to master the basics of handling it.
Material advantages
What makes epoxy resin especially good for pouring countertops is that it retains its original volume when it dries. Lacquer, for example, dries by evaporating the liquid it contains. As a result, its layer shrinks, which often creates problems. The curing of the resin is caused by a chemical reaction. And if you need a lens design, you will get it. Moreover, it will not be subject to chips, deletions, or deformations. And just a flat surface will remain flat, without sagging as it dries.
Another advantage that epoxy resin has is the price. The material is cheaper than others designed to create durable surfaces. The cost on average ranges between 200 and 280 rubles per kilogram. And if you need bulk epoxy, the price will drop to 180-190, depending on the global batch.
Success Guarantee: Preparation
To mix the material, you will need dishes (the volume depends on how much epoxy you need), a mixing stick and two measuring containers. Before mixing, you need to carefully study the instructions: the proportions of the components are different and depend on the manufacturer. They must be strictly observed, otherwise the material will harden poorly.
Epoxy is measured first, and then the resin hardener. You need to pour it into the base, and not vice versa. The combined materials are kneaded as thoroughly as possible, the quality of solidification also depends on this. Upon reaching homogeneity, it is required to wait until the resin reaches the desired consistency, after which it can be used for its intended purpose.
What stage to use for what
Epoxy for countertops comes in several thicknesses, and each is suitable for a different purpose.
- Liquid stage: the composition flows freely from the stick. The ideal state for pouring shapes - at this stage, all corners and depressions will be filled.
- Density like "liquid honey". Drains from the probe more viscous, lingering at the tip. Exactly what you need to create drops and lenses. It is also suitable for filling soft shapes, for example, for a round tabletop.
- Stage "thick honey". It is practically not suitable for pouring, but it is impeccable as an adhesive - the previous consistency will drain.
- The next stage, in which the resin is separated from the total mass with difficulty, is of little use for any purpose. Either they don’t bring it to it, or they wait for even more thickening.
- The rubber phase allows you to create bizarre shapes, like modeling from plasticine. True, in order for the epoxy resin for the countertop to retain its shape, it will have to be fixed in the desired position, otherwise it will straighten out.
The last stage is the hard one. When the epoxy reaches it, your countertop can be considered finished.
Process details
Before you make an epoxy countertop, take care not to add to your work in the future. In particular, cover the table you are working on or the floor under the workbench with polyethylene - the leaked resin is removed with great effort.
Until the surface dries, it will collect all the dust. Consider coverage in advance. For example, low racks on which a film "roof" will be stretched.
Water must not get into the resin or hardener. Including from the air, so you should not work with high humidity. A certain temperature regime is also required: if the room is less than 22 Celsius, you risk getting a poorly frozen countertop. Solidification can be accelerated by increasing the temperature, for example, by placing the product on a radiator. It is not worth warming with a hair dryer: the resin will boil and give a huge number of bubbles.
If a bubble appears near the surface when the countertop epoxy is just being poured, it can be blown on through a cocktail straw, a thin syringe, or even the body of a ballpoint pen. The balloon will burst without ruining the craft.
Nuances of use
A do-it-yourself epoxy resin worktop has its own characteristics in operation. Firstly, the material tends to turn yellow from sunlight, and sometimes from heat. If you are planning to put a table in a south room or kitchen, as well as in an unprotected garden gazebo, buy a base with a UV filter.
Secondly, flakes or grains sometimes form in the countertop from the cold. You can return it to its original appearance by warming up to 40-60 degrees.
Thirdly, epoxy resin for countertops used in kitchens is not very suitable at all, since it can emit toxins from heating. If you want to put such a table in the kitchen - cover the surface with a protective transparent varnish. Best of all - designed for yachts.
Table top mold
You will need it if you want to make it completely from epoxy, without using anything as a supporting surface. For the form, you can take the glass of the desired size. It is thoroughly washed, wiped dry and degreased with acetone. Then the surface is rubbed with wax mastic, which after a third of an hour is polished with a dry rag. The sides can be made from if you want perfectly smooth edges of the table top, buy polished ones. The inner surface is treated with a mixture of turpentine and paraffin. They are attached to the glass with window putty.
All of these procedures are required so that the epoxy for the countertop does not stick to the mold, and the finished product can be easily removed from it. However, if you intend to insert the surface into the "frame", you do not need to worry about the smoothness of the cuts. in this case, the sides can be assembled from any material at hand and layered with polyethylene or rubber - epoxy does not stick to them.
Otherwise, everything is simple: a solution is prepared, brought to the desired consistency and poured. To obtain a varied structure, you can tint the resin with water-insoluble dyes or add inclusions to it - small pebbles, fragments of colored glass, etc.
coin idea
It is not necessary to make a countertop only from this material. Epoxy resin for countertops makes it possible to use a variety of additional elements. For example, having an old, but strong countertop, you can make it actually new, and very unusual. The surface is cleaned; you can paint it in the right color. Old coins are cleaned with a special solution. The tabletop is evenly laid, low curbs are stuffed along the edges. Coins are laid out inside the "box". There is no need to fasten them. It remains to fill the mold with epoxy and wait for it to set. This idea is especially good for a bar counter.
wood plus resin
A very elegant solution would be to combine epoxy with natural wood. Either an ordinary countertop is knocked together from boards with caverns, or they are artistically cut out on the finished one. The surface is polished to smoothness; fluorescent dyes are added to the diluted resin. The composition is filled with all cleaned cavities. After drying, the tabletop is covered in several layers with intermediate sanding. An unusual and colorful table is ready!
Modern and non-standard furniture manufacturing techniques are becoming more and more in demand. For example, a table made of wood and epoxy can be an excellent alternative to conventional products. With the right approach, you can create real designer things. This can be a great idea to start your own business. First of all, you need to figure out how to make a table out of epoxy and wood with your own hands and where to start.
Our business valuation:
Starting investments - from 100,000 rubles.
Market saturation is average.
The complexity of starting a business is 4/10.
Features of tables made of wood and epoxy resin
Epoxy resin furniture has a unique appearance and transforms the home environment. The working surface of the table made of epoxy material has the following advantages:
- Excellent performance.
- Affordable price.
- Humidity resistance.
- Simple care.
- Variety of design solutions.
Epoxy resin is a transparent substance with a 3D effect. When solidified, this substance solidifies and retains the desired shape. Epoxy resin comes in different states. Some are suitable for working on flat surfaces. When dried, the composition retains its original volume. The advantage of the material is its price. Approximately 200-280 rubles per kg.
Types of tables made of epoxy resin
With epoxy resin, different forms of wood can be used. It can be saw cuts, trimming boards, logs and old wood. The design of the product can be supplemented with spruce branches, pebbles, shells, corks and coins.
It is worth noting the following design options:
- To make a glowing table, you can add luminescent powder to the resin.
- Resin is used as a finishing option for countertops to fill in imperfections.
- The table-river made of epoxy resin looks spectacular. The role of the coastline is played by wood of an unusual configuration. It turns out the effect of a river flowing over the surface. This uses an insert of poured resin between two pieces of wood.
- An interesting solution could be a table filled with epoxy resin. In this case, resin is used as a canvas, and wood as an additional decor.
Tables - rivers were first invented by Greg Klassen, but the designer uses glass and black walnut as the material. Epoxy resin technology requires care and diligence.
How to make a table?
To make money on the manufacture of unusual tables, it is worth understanding what the technology of their production consists of. To make a table out of wood and epoxy, you need a base.
The manufacturing process includes the following steps:
- As a base, you can take a piece of wood or plywood. In the latter case, the product can be given any shape. The future tabletop can be round or oval.
- In order for the fill to remain on the surface, the sides should be attached to the base. They may be plastic.
- The base must be dry and clean. Then you need to lay out the design blanks on the surface.
- Then the table is filled with epoxy resin. If the thickness of the countertop is not more than 0.5 cm, then the liquid mass is poured immediately.
- If the thickness is greater, then the filling is carried out in several stages.
- After pouring the first layer, you need to wait two days. Then the procedure is repeated.
If bubbles appear in the process, they are dispersed with a hot hair dryer. To avoid the occurrence of bubbles, it is necessary to process each workpiece with resin. After the layers have hardened, the sides must be removed and the edges and surface sanded.
Epoxy can be used to renew old furniture. To do this, you need to clean the surface, remove the varnish, apply a layer of paint, and then fill with resin. It takes a week to complete the polymerization process.
You can do a partial fill. Flaws in wood can be natural, that is, the surface is eaten away by bark beetles and fungus. They can also be made artificially. When pouring the mixture, the holes on the reverse side can be sealed with mounting tape so that the resin does not leak out.
Features of the business of manufacturing tables based on epoxy resin
Before starting a business in the manufacture of epoxy resin tables, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the specifics of this production. First of all, you will need to rent a room with an area of at least 50 sq.m. There are no special requirements for the premises. But it is important to consider that it is often necessary to make countertops of a non-standard configuration.
Equipment
Therefore, you need to choose the right tools and equipment. It is worth stocking up on the following inventory:
- High power cutter.
- Jigsaw for cutting sheets.
- Grinder machine.
The obligatory equipment of the mini-workshop is the assembly table. To make a table from solid wood and epoxy, you will also need a certain consumable. These are sanding skins, a glue gun, trimmers and clamps.
Suppliers
Raw materials and suppliers are also important. You can purchase chipboard panels, plywood or wood sheets. It is worth considering different offers and choosing the most acceptable option. Elm saw cuts, as well as ash and oak boards are suitable for production. In addition to wood suppliers, you need to find good sellers of resins, varnishes and oils. For some designs, you may need the services of a welder and carpentry workshops, where basic processing is carried out - sawing and grinding.
Despite the seeming simplicity of such furniture, special skills and knowledge are required for the manufacture of countertops. You may have to take a special course in carpentry. The sales market deserves special attention. Manufacturers often work directly with furniture companies.
Expenses
The amount of costs depends on the volume of production. The price of a table made of epoxy resin and wood is most often three times higher than its cost.
At the stage of starting a business, expenses can be as follows:
- The purchase of materials is 50-200 thousand rubles.
- Payment for renting a room - 15-20 thousand rubles.
- Conducting an inexpensive advertising campaign - 3-10 thousand rubles.
The approximate cost of finished tables per linear meter varies from 12,000 rubles. By calculating the number of products manufactured in meters per day, you can find out the revenue and profitability. The approximate value of profitability is not less than 40%. You can buy a table made of epoxy resin and good quality wood at a price of 30 to 100 thousand rubles. The cost depends on the material used and the craftsmanship. 25-30 thousand can cost a small coffee table, and the price for a dining table can exceed 110 thousand.
You can find customers through social networks. networks or ads on Avito. With a large production, you can create your own website. It is not the best option to sell products through furniture boutiques, where they can get lost among the variety of all kinds of products.
The nuances of the production of tables at home
Before you start making epoxy and wood tables at home, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the intricacies of the process. It is important to decide on the choice of epoxy resin. This product should be transparent and have a low viscosity. This will provide excellent fluidity and dense filling even in hard-to-reach places. Due to the transparency of the resin, you can achieve different effects:
- Pour all kinds of decor items - dry leaves, stones, pictures and shells.
- Organize original lighting.
- Tinted resin.
The room must be well ventilated. You can create forced ventilation. The temperature should not exceed 22 degrees. Dust and high levels of humidity can ruin a slab and epoxy table.
For formwork, you will also need a certain material. The form or formwork is made of plexiglass, plastic or plywood. You will also need release agents, such as wax.
To mix the epoxy resin, you will need a special bowl, a stirring stick and two measuring containers. Read the instructions before mixing. The proportions of the components may vary depending on the manufacturer. First you need to measure the resin, and then the special hardener. Then you need to wait until the resin reaches a suitable consistency. The composition in a liquid state is suitable for filling all corners and depressions. The thick consistency is used as an adhesive.
To make a high quality epoxy table, it is recommended to follow some rules:
- Resin does not harden well at high humidity. Condensation can get in from the air. To prevent an unpleasant phenomenon, you can hang a film over the countertop.
- The mixture will harden faster if the countertop is placed on the battery. It is impossible to heat from above, as the surface may become uneven.
- It is necessary to prepare personal protective equipment - a respirator, goggles and gloves.
- From exposure to ultraviolet rays, the countertop may turn yellow.
- All horizontal surfaces in the area of "resin damage" must be covered with polyethylene.
- If the bubbles do not come out well, then it is recommended to warm the surface with a building hair dryer or inject acetone from the spray gun. These manipulations will reduce surface tension.
With the help of epoxy resin, you can make real masterpieces of art. This substance is not afraid of high temperatures, it is quite strong under physical impact, and even when completely solidified, it is not dangerous for humans, at least if it is not gnawed with teeth))
Today we will talk specifically about the manufacture of furniture, or rather, how you can make a cool coffee table. As an addition, so to speak, of a unique design and appearance, the author decided to pour an uncut board into epoxy resin. You just need to choose an interesting shape. However, instead of a board, you can use various roots, tree branches, and so on. Stopping on a tree is also not necessary; stones, flowers, and even hay or reeds are perfect for such purposes. It all depends on your imagination.
Materials and tools for making a coffee table that the author needed:
List of materials:
- uncut board;
- epoxy for pouring;
- finished legs or materials for their manufacture;
- self-tapping screws or screws for wood;
- wood stain;
- materials for the manufacture of molds.
List of tools:
- ;
- sandpaper of various grain sizes;
- ;
- welding, (for the manufacture of legs);
- rubber gloves;
- hacksaw for wood and more.
Table making process:
Step one. Making the mold and preparing the resin
The most difficult thing in the manufacture of the table will be the creation of the form. Here you will need sheets of fiberboard, acrylic or other similar material. You will need to make a rectangular box. The most important thing here is that the joints are not missed and the walls are not deformed during pouring.
You can assemble the shape with the help of clamps, but this is the simplest and easiest option. You just have to glue all the joints with masking tape or other tape so that they do not let the epoxy through.
It is important to set the form clearly horizontally, use the building level (you can download the application on your smartphone). If this is not done, the thickness of the tabletop will not be the same, and this will lead to the fact that the table will be crooked.
If we figured out the form, now we prepare the resin. The author decided to give it a turquoise hue. To do this, add the right amount of dye to the resin and stir thoroughly. It is enough to add a couple of drops of dye, if you overdo it, the resin will not be transparent. The author makes the color to match the style of water. At the same time, it is not necessary to add a hardener. All components can be weighed by weight using an electronic balance. Wear rubber gloves and avoid getting resin on bare skin.
Step two. We prepare wood
Prepare the right piece of board that you think will look good on the table. Cut off the excess, carefully process the surface with an orbital sander or by hand. Since the wood at the cut point will be white, it can be painted for beauty, for this we use a stain of a suitable color.
Step three. Mixing and pouring epoxy
Mix the resin with the hardener in strictly specified proportions. Lay the board prepared in advance in the form in the right place. The form must be lubricated with beeswax or some kind of fat so that the epoxy does not stick to the walls. Also, some practice the use of oilcloth. Now let's start pouring, there is no need to rush here, work in a respirator, since epoxy fumes are toxic. Try to carry out work in a warm room or preheat the resin a little in advance, as it is more fluid when heated.
After pouring, you will probably have such a problem as air bubbles. It is not so difficult to drive them out, for these purposes you will need a hair dryer. Simply heat the resin where the bubble has formed. The resin will then become more liquid, and the bubble will come to the surface.
In order for the resin to dry well and dry at all, it must be applied in several layers. We apply the first layer, wait until it dries, and only then apply the next. The number of coats and drying time depends on the thickness of the tabletop. It can take weeks for the resin to completely dry... In some ways, "drying" is speeded up by a little more hardener.
The 2.5 cm layer of resin dried for the author for about two weeks.
Step four. We remove the form
When the resin is completely dry, the mold can be removed. At the same time, do not rush, as during rough work, the countertop can easily be damaged. If the form has been well greased, the product should be easily removed from it. The author did something wrong in this case, and the form had to be broken with a chisel and a hammer. As a result, the tabletop was damaged.
Step five. Table top sanding
The next step is grinding, however, it is inevitable in the manufacture of any furniture. Your task will be to obtain a perfectly smooth and even surface. Of course, this task can be handled manually, but it is better to use automated tools. Here the author came to the aid of an orbital sander. The grit you will need is 60, 100, 120, 150, 220, 320, 420.
We use large sandpaper to remove various defects, to level the surface, and so on. Gradually reducing the grit, we remove rough scratches and polish the surface.
When working, a lot of dust is generated, this dust is very harmful to health both when inhaled and when it comes into contact with the skin. Wear long sleeves and eye and respiratory protection.
It happens that in some places the resin may not completely harden, this happens with poor-quality mixing with a hardener. In this case, the problem area is heated with a hair dryer and the uncured resin is cleaned off. Instead, we fill in a new one, with a hardener. Also, so that the resin does not stick, it can be cleaned with acetone. But here be careful, as this substance is very toxic and flammable, besides, it has a strong smell.
Step six. The top layer of the tabletop
To obtain complete transparency of the countertop, we apply a layer of varnish on it, a more professional solution would be to use polyurethane. Pre-treat the entire surface thoroughly with sandpaper so that the coating adheres well to the surface. As for the number of layers, there should be at least two. We apply the first layer, wait until it dries, and grind with fine sandpaper. Then we apply a second layer, and then similarly a third, if necessary.
Step seven. Making table legs
To make the legs, you will need steel rods, bend them in the form of the letter "P". Weld the plates to the opposite side, with the help of which the legs will be attached to the countertop. The author makes the plates in the form of the letter "G". After drilling the holes for the screws in the plates, the legs will be ready and they can be installed. Before installation, you can also paint the legs. The author paints them with a spray can of black paint. Before painting, carefully sand the metal with sandpaper so that the paint fits well.
Transparent epoxy resin is a versatile material that allows you to make an original table, jewelry, 3D floors. See how to create it yourself.
Transparent resin: types and their characteristics
For home creativity, epoxy is most often used. But in addition to making jewelry and souvenirs from it, this material is used to create polymer floors with a fashionable 3D effect. Due to this, the lower part of the room resembles the ocean with its underwater inhabitants, flowering fields and everything you could wish for.
The self-leveling floor is multi-level, one of the layers is a special canvas on which a pattern is applied using color printing technique. What plot is captured there, this will be on self-leveling floors. Their surface consists of transparent resin, so the image on the canvas is clearly visible.
Epoxy resin products are durable, water and sun resistant. One of the most popular Magic Crystal-3D epoxy resins. It is used to create jewelry, decorative items, 3D fills and glossy finishes.
Also, Epoxy CR 100 epoxy resin is used to create polymer floors, which is characterized by antistatic, wear resistance, good chemical resistance.
Epoxy resin is sold with a solvent. Usually these two substances are mixed in a ratio of 2:1 immediately before use.
The second type of resin is acrylic. It is also used to create a self-leveling floor, souvenirs. Acrylic resin is used for the manufacture of bathtubs, waterfalls and artificial reservoirs, molds for casting products. Artificial stone is made from this material, including artificial marble.
Perhaps you have heard about transparent designer sinks and bathtubs. For them, this type of resin is used.
Also, transparent polyester resin is used to create sanitary products. But this type of polymer is most often used in industrial production, and not in home production. Transparent polymer resin is used in the automotive industry, shipbuilding industry, auto-tuning. Fiberglass, known to almost everyone, is made from polymer resins.
The most popular for home art is epoxy, as it is cheaper than acrylic. But for the production of small items of jewelry, it is better to take acrylic, which does not pick up air bubbles, like epoxy. However, there are subtleties that will help prevent this trouble when working with cheaper material. You will soon learn about them.
How to make an epoxy resin countertop?
If you need to update the old one, then take on an interesting idea. To implement it, you will need:
- coins;
- epoxy resin with a thickener;
- pliers;
- ticks;
- water-based varnish;
- autogen;
- wooden slats;
- glue.
The most difficult thing is to bend the coins, cut them. Pincers and pliers will help you, as well as male power. But if any of this is not there, do not make the side ends on the tabletop, place the coins only at the top, it will still turn out beautifully.
Coins will need to be washed. There are several ways to do this:
- Pour Cola drink into the pan, lower the coins, put on fire. The solution will boil and clean your money. You can simply fill the coins with this drink, do not heat it, but leave it overnight. By morning they will be clean.
- Put the pot with coins and water on the fire. When the liquid boils, add some vinegar and soda. The solution will foam, so add enough water to fill the pot no more than half way.
- Use a special cleanser called Tarn-X. It is bred in water according to the instructions, not in food utensils, coins are lowered there. The container must be carefully twisted over the sink in order to evenly moisten the money and thus wash them.
- Here's how to make the tabletop itself. Spread coins on its surface, after which you need to fill them with a mixture of epoxy resin with a thickener. But before that, you need to prepare.
- If you do not want to mess around for a long time, lay cellophane under the surface to be treated, and you can pour the resin. But after mixing with a thickener, you need to leave the mass for a while so that it hardens a little, not too liquid.
- In any case, it will flow down a little, so in order to save the solution, you need to periodically collect these drops with a spatula, apply where there is little resin. But even if this is not done, the worn resin will be on the cellophane, which at the end of the work you just need to throw away.
- You can first make an edging for the countertop from wooden slats or bars, then place the coins, fill with epoxy.
- Don't be disappointed if you see air bubbles on the surface being created. We drive them out with an autogenous flame.
- Now you need to let the product dry completely, it will take a couple of days. At this time, the main thing is that no one touches the surface, dust and animal hair do not settle.
- After the resin has completely dried, cover the surface with a water-based varnish, after it dries, the new product is ready for use.
If you are interested in this process and there is a whole piggy bank of coins, or maybe the old denomination of metal money remains, then make a self-leveling floor, for example, in the bathroom or in the kitchen.
Epoxy resin jewelry: bracelet and brooch
See how to make a stylish bracelet out of this material.
For him, take:
- a set consisting of epoxy resin with a thickener;
- silicone mold for the bracelet;
- plastic cup;
- toothpick;
- stick (can be from ice cream);
- scissors;
- dried flowers;
- disposable syringes.
Pour 2 parts resin and 1 part thickener into a glass.
Use disposable syringes to measure the exact amount of thickener and epoxy. To form as few air bubbles as possible, mix these compounds slowly.
If air bubbles still remain, let the mixture stand for a while so that they disappear. But do not bring it to a strong thickening.
Pour the sticky mixture into the bracelet mold. Put dried flowers cut with scissors there, helping yourself with a toothpick. You can also pierce air bubbles with them so that it comes out.
Leave the bracelet to harden for a day, then carefully remove it from the mold and try on a new fashion accessory.
Instead of dried flowers, you can decorate the bracelet with buttons of a beautiful color.
If you want to make a brooch in the shape of a butterfly, then watch the next master class.
For her you will need:
- dry butterfly bought in a store;
- scissors;
- epoxy resin with solvent;
- two toothpicks;
- gloves;
- aqua varnish;
- brooch mechanism.
- Cut the butterfly into 5 parts: separating the wings and body. Cover these parts with aqua varnish first on the reverse side.
- Lay the blanks on the surface covered with foil. For this, a tile is suitable, on which the package is put on and fixed.
- Lubricate with varnish and the front side of the butterfly. While it dries, dilute the epoxy with the solvent, stirring slowly.
- Place the container in a warm place so that the solution thickens a little and does not drip from the workpieces when pouring. Cover them with a small layer, smear it on the surface with a toothpick.
- We wait until the parts dry, then cover them with an epoxy mixture from the back. We also wait for this layer to dry, after which we dilute the third portion of the solution, set it aside so that it thickens well, but is plastic. This will make it easy to glue the wings to the body, which you will do. At the same time, give the wings the desired position.
- With the remaining solution, attach a metal mechanism to the back of the brooch. Remove the jewelry, covering it from dust so that the solution is completely dry.
How to make a pendant: 2 master classes
See what other wonderful resin jewelry you can make yourself.
You will need:
- epoxy resin with hardener;
- metal form;
- disposable cups and spoons;
- small scissors;
- mandarin;
- stained glass paint;
- varnish for fixing Fimo Vernis brillante;
- stained glass paint;
- sandpaper;
- fastening for a brooch;
- silicone compound Alcor.
Peel the tangerine. Take the most beautiful slice, carefully, catching the skin with scissors, remove it from one side. On the other hand, a pin will subsequently be attached, not to a slice, but to a blank from it.
Make 2 slices in this way, put them in a mold. Knead the silicone compound, pour it into the prepared container. Let the silicone dry.
Now you can remove the slices from the container, throw them away, and rinse the form itself in cold water. If the edges of the recesses are uneven, trim them with scissors.
After a day, the silicone will completely harden, then you can pour the prepared epoxy solution into the mold. When the workpiece is dry, sand it a little with fine sandpaper or an engraver. Attach a brooch clasp to the back of the workpiece, paint the tangerine with orange stained glass paint. First apply 1 layer, then the second. After they dry, go over the surface with varnish.
Here are some wonderful tangerine-shaped epoxy decorations that can be made if you are diligent.
If you want to learn how to make a round pendant, then check out another tutorial. For it you will need:
- dried flowers;
- molds for filling a round shape;
- epoxy resin;
- thickener;
- disposable plastic cups;
- tweezers;
- scissors;
- sandpaper;
- polishing paste;
- felt nozzle;
- pendant accessories.
If you do not have round molds, then take a plastic ball. It needs to be cut in half, lubricated inside with petroleum jelly. After pouring the resin, seal the cut with plasticine so that it does not flow out.
In the absence of purchased dried flowers, make them yourself from a presented bouquet. Bulk flowers, such as roses, dry by tying the stems, lowering the buds down. If you want to dry individual petals, then put them between the pages of an old book. Fragile voluminous flowers are dried in a container into which semolina is poured.
It is important to dry these blanks well, because if the process is not done well, the flower or part of it will eventually rot while in the pendant. In order for the plant to retain its color for as long as possible, take an epoxy resin that protects from ultraviolet radiation.
Collect a mini-bouquet by gluing flowers, petals, leaves with epoxy mixed with a thickener.
When it hardens, carefully place this little bunch into a round mold or half a plastic ball. A freshly prepared solution of the epoxy mixture must be left for 2-3 minutes so that air comes out and its bubbles do not spoil the appearance of the product. Now you can pour the resin into the mold, wait until it thickens.
Until such a ball is obtained, it will not be quite even in shape. To fix this, first go over the surface with coarse-grained sandpaper, then with fine-grained sandpaper. It is better to do this in water so that there is no dust, and the process goes faster.
The next step is polishing. For this, polish for plastic or for headlights, bought at a motorist store, is well suited. Apply it to the felt nozzle, walk around the workpiece from all sides.
Here's how to make the pendant next. To attach the chain to the balloon, take a cap and a pin.
Put a pin on the hat, use round-nose pliers to fold it into a loop. Glue this blank to the pendant with epoxy.
It remains to attach the chain and wear such an unusual pendant with pleasure.
And now we invite you to sit comfortably in a chair, watch an informative story on how to make a ring out of wood and epoxy.
These two materials are also the main characters of the next video. From it you will learn how to make a table in a similar technique.
