How to Epoxy a Table — Step-by-Step with John’s Urban Timber

One of today's special projects is fixing up a live-edge table slab that came in from a customer in really rough shape. Somebody attempted epoxy work on it before the wood was properly dried, so it was 1½ inches thick on one end, 3½ inches thick on the other, and curved. I flattened it out using our wide surfacing sander and set up the Bridgeport mill with a custom mixing paddle to mix resin and hardener at low RPM so it doesn't create a vortex that sucks air bubbles into the mixture. Before pouring, I take a bristle brush and wet all the live-edge contours so the epoxy flows evenly over all nuances and seals the wood. After pouring, I use a heat gun to gently release micro-bubbles. My #1 advice for anyone wanting to do epoxy work: Don't make your prize dining room table your learning curve! Start with scrap wood, pick one brand of epoxy and stick with it, learn how it reacts, and practice on scrap before tackling your dream project.