Looking to add an eye-catching piece to your home? Why not try your hand at creating a unique resin coffee table? In this post, I’ll share my process of making a one-of-a-kind epoxy resin table and provide tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.
I will also reference the materials I used to design and create an epoxy resin coffee table inspired by my favorite 90s cartoon, Courage the Cowardly Dog.
Step 1: Design and Gather
Start by sketching out your table design. I recommend doing this digitally, so you can easily scale your image and transfer it later. I use an app called Concepts on my Samsung tablet, but Procreate is a great option for Apple users. Keep in mind the dimensions of your space and determine the size and shape you’d like to create. Determine colors and textures that compliment your room.
Once you’ve finalized your design, you’ll want to gather your materials. Below is a materials list to start with, but feel free to add additional items depending on your design:
- 1/4-inch plywood or MDF board
- Epoxy resin and disposable measuring cups
- Primer paint
- Acrylic paints and brushes (optional)
- Mica powder (optional)
- Jigsaw or hand saw
- Heat gun or butane torch
- Sandpaper in various grits
- Table legs
- A leveler
- Protective respiratory mask and gloves
Step 2: Prepare Your Surface
Now it’s time to bring your vision to life. If you’ve sketched your design digitally, you can enlarge it to your desired size and print it using heat transfer paper. This is an easy way to get your sketch onto your plywood. You can also redraw your design on your plywood using a pencil.
After you’ve transferred your image or outlined your shape onto your sheet of plywood, you’ll want to cut it out using your tool of choice. Sand down the edges after cutting to ensure a smooth finish, then apply a coat of primer to prepare the surface for painting.
I suggest applying at least two coats, as your underlying sketch may bleed through. Two coats will ensure the plywood will not absorb the resin. If using an MDF board, you may not need the additional priming.
Step 3: Add a Splash of Color (Optional)
You can now begin painting your design if you’re going for a colorful character or art piece.
Step 4: Pouring the Resin
Once your paint is dry, you can move on to the resin pouring. Make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area and get your protective gear on. You’ll also want to protect your floors from any resin spills. Then prop your primed wood surface up and ensure that it is flat and leveled. This will help the resin to flow evenly on its own.
Pro Tip #1 – Always keep a stack of used shipping boxes and newspapers on hand for resin projects.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing your epoxy resin. Be sure to accurately measure and mix to avoid any issues with curing later on. A food scale is a great way to measure your part A and part B precisely by weight.
If your design requires it, you’ll want to mix in Mica powder at this stage to add color to your resin. You can achieve various results using different combinations of Mica powder including marbling effects, metallic gradients, and much more.
Pro Tip #2 – Be patient and steady while stirring your resin. This will help to reduce the amount of air bubbles you’ll need to eliminate after pouring.
Pour the resin onto the prepared surface of your table and incorporate any additional coloring techniques. Allow the resin to spill over the edges of your surface and onto your protected floor. That is the nature of the beast!
Once poured, use a heat gun or torch to remove any air bubbles trapped in your layer of resin for a smooth finish. Take your time and continuously move your heat source to keep from scorching your resin.
Step 5: Curing and Finishing
Let your resin table to cure in a dust-free environment for the time recommended by the manufacturer, typically 24-48 hours.
Once fully cured, you can sand down any drips that have set on the underside of your tabletop with sandpaper to achieve a smooth surface. Apply a final coat of polyurethane to seal and protect the bottom. After it has dried, you’re ready to affix your table legs.
Marvel at your awesome work and enjoy your unique resin coffee table!
Additional Tips and Tricks
- Temperature Control: Keep your workspace at an optimal temperature of 75ºF-85ºF to ensure proper curing of the epoxy resin. It’s also ideal to store your resin at a temperature between 65°F and 85°F.
- Removing Dust: Dust always seems to find its way into curing resin. Keep a straight pin or sewing needle handy. This is an easy way to remove it without disrupting the resin as it is curing.
- Less Mess – Adding reusable silicone mixing cups to your supply list is a great way to avoid waste and make for easy cleanup. You can wait for any excess resin in the cup to cure and pop it out for reuse.
- Patience is a Virtue: Working with epoxy resin requires a lot of patience. The more you work with it and try to understand it the sooner you’ll be able to master this amazing craft.
Watch Full 3D Resin Table Tutorial
To see how I made my Freaky Fred epoxy resin table, you can watch the full tutorial on my Youtube channel.
