Essential Equipment for Resin Table Casting

Set up your workspace with robust gloves, accurate mixing scales, plenty of mixing sticks, and formwork materials to ensure smooth application. Lay out all resins, pigments, and safety gear before starting, and keep your instructions close to hand. Preparation and organisation minimise errors and create safer, cleaner results.

Step 1: Prepare the Surface and Workspace

Start by ensuring that both your wooden surface and resin working area are perfectly dry, stable, and free of dust. Any moisture or oily residue can interfere with proper adhesion or cause milky resin finishes. Level the workpiece so that the resin distributes evenly, especially when making river tables or filling freeform voids.

Seal any knots or cracks in your timber with a clear primer or a thin resin layer. This will prevent trapped bubbles from surfacing during the main pour. Always set up in a well-ventilated but dust-free room, and protect yourself with gloves and eye protection from the outset.

Step 3: Measure, Mix, and Add Pigments

Thoroughly read the mixing instructions for your chosen resin product and weigh each component with precision. Small deviations compromise strength, clarity, or curing. Add pigments or colour powders slowly, mixing until fully dispersed but avoiding over-mixing which introduces excess bubbles.

Mix with care to avoid bubbles. For deep pours up to 5cm or 10cm, choose a formula such as EpoxyTable 5-Five or Epoxytable 10-Ten; for shallower work, Trasparente is ideal.

Step 5: Finishing, Demoulding, and Polishing

Once fully cured, carefully remove your table from the formwork, taking extra care with edges. Some edges may require gentle sanding or trimming to achieve your desired outline. Clean with a soft cloth and apply a dedicated resin polish or the finishing kit included in some starter packs for a pristine, scratch-resistant sheen.

If imperfections or raised dust appear, further sanding and multiple grades of polishing pads can restore clarity. Allow the finished piece to condition for several days before subjecting it to heavy use.

Visual Guide: Flawless Table Resin Finishing

Showcase the clarity and depth that’s possible with slow, careful pouring and proper polishing. Edge finishing and sanding bring out the shine—use fine-grit pads and polishing cream for best effect. Examine your results under natural light for the truest appearance of your table’s surface.