Poured Resin Coffee Table

Continuing my adventures with Epoxy Resin, I decided it was time to make something a bit bigger.

Most of the materials used in this project I already had knocking around so I will estimate costs

I was on Facebook and this Garden table and bench set came up for sale locally in Helensville, I got it for the princely sum of $80 NZ. It was poorly put together, but I only wanted it for the wood

For this project I used the top of just one of the benches (the second one back)

This is all 2 inch thick Macrocarpia and normally is quite expensive, however I estimate that I have used $15 worth at the price I got it

I cut 2 equal size slabs approx 700mm long (and 200mm wide decided by the seat size)

I taped around the top surface so I could epoxy seal the edges and underside, I used packing tape for masking, this proved to be a mistake as the adhesive peeled off and had to be sanded down for the rest of the project I used paper masking tape

The second picture shows the sealed pieces (one is upside down)

I set the 2 pieces of wood resin side down on a melamine backed chipboard, and boxed in with two offcuts.

This was rescued from a skip, it was probably an old wardrobe.

Once in position I taped all the gaps I could find (the resin made sure that I quickly found any I missed)

I then poured a thin coat of blue tinted resin as a base

Once this had dried I set in some Schist pebbles (which is appropriate as my wife often says that I'm full of schist!)

Unfortunately forgot to take any pictures of this

I had done about 4 x 10mm pours and had done one early (5am) before I went to work, but I had an Airbnb guest and she let chickens into the garage, not only did they poop everywhere but one decided that the warm setting resin was the ideal place to roost!!

I got home that evening to find a stuck solid chook, unfortunately I was unable to free her alive and I thought that the whole thing was ruined.

With nothing to lose I used an abrasive wheel on my grinder to try to remove the damage.

I then did a re-pour

I wasn't totally happy with the repour as I could still see marks from the grind out, I guess that they are probably not noticable to the casual viewer but I know that they are there.

To disguise them I put a small amount of gold glitter in the centre section before the final pour, I was quite pleased with how it turned out in the end

I then released it from the mould using a couple of wooden wedges (tbh I was quite surprised how easily it came apart)

I had a 4x4 fence post that had a lovely grain in it so I cut it into quarters on my table saw and then tapered the legs as I didn't want them too chunky (this was done by eye with a couple of pencil marks on the saw bed) they seemed to turn out ok.

I then sanded them down and gave them a coat of epoxy (3 sides the 4th will be done after it has dried)

(For info This was all done prior to the table top being poured)

I wasn't absolutely sure how I was going to attach the legs, I didn't want bolts or nails through the top so I had to have a bit of a think and this is my solution -- your mileage may vary

First I had a whole bunch of these M12 coach bolts, I got these free as a friend had bought them for gate hinges and then realised he needed M10 instead, so I cut the heads off to leave me a piece of threaded bar

I drilled an 11 mm hole in the end of each leg and wound in the cut off bolts using vice grips, the bolts cut their own thread and I left about 40mm hanging out

To screw the legs in I drilled a 19mm hole to accept the M12 nut I also counter drilled an 11mm hole in the centre to accept the rest of the threaded bar

I pressed the nuts in using a G-Clamp

Not the clearest picture but screwed the legs in position, I will mask up and do one last pour which will both secure the nuts in position and wick up the threaded bar to secure the legs

As I said the resin will find any leaks!! I had to screw on a couple of side pieces (with foam recycled from a La-Z-Boy recycle I am doing concurrently) to prevent the last pour escaping -- as it is I have a slightly re-resined garage floor!!

I removed all the masking tape and cleaned up all the edges with a sharp knife and 1200 grit paper then using an artists brush painted a thin coat of resin on all the sanded edges to restore their shine.

And that's it -- done ready to go out in the garden

The resin was $20NZ per litre and I used 8 litres (would have been less if I hadn't had the grind out and a couple of spills)

The bolts were free but I guess $2 each

the wood was $15

The Pebbles $4

a bit of sandpaper of various grades and a couple of $2 Dollar Shop paint brushes

So all up about $200NZ

(plus about 16 hours work!!)