RESIN TABLE TOP

I originally made a top back in 1970 so I decided to make one for the condo we have in Florida. The top was made out of 2" X 6" with 1"x 6" screwed on the underside. First any design you want is routered into the top. The top is then burned with a torch and wire brushed to give it a texture finish. I used "Mylar" film to first dam around the edge then poured the resin. After I built it up a thickness I pored a last coat and covered it with the "Mylar" stretched over a wood frame. I used a rubber roller to push out any bubbles. Let it set up a day then popped off the "Mylar". Back in 1970 the top was called "spool reel top" because they were originally made from cable spool reels. Anything can be set under the plastic. Check to make sure the plastic doesn't hurt what you want to imbed.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CAST
• RESIN
• TABLE
• TOP

[damram4169]

I made one top for up north for outside use. It didn't hold up under the sun and rain. My suggestion is to only use the resin for indoor use. The top shown is used inside a screened area in Florida out of the sun and rain. The Florida top is still in perfect shape after a year. Also a top I did in 1972 lasted 25 years as a coffee table in the house. It was a old ship hatch cover. The wife wanted something new so that went out the door

[damram4169]

The bubbles on all the pours of resin except the final pour will float up and pop. On the last pour when you place the Mylar over the top you will have bubbles trapped under it. you will use a roller to roll out the bubbles to the edge of the top. I used a rubber roller around 3" wide I bought at a craft store.

[damram4169]

I have poured blocks of the casting resin with items imbedded in the blocks. I has to sand the blocks down with finner and finner sand paper and then I buffed it. I don't know about sanding the table top. the plastic is thin and thats a lot of sanding.

[damram4169]

The only suggestion I have is that I used to work at the VA hospital in the carpenter shop. Originally the tops were out of a stone composition material (very hard) they started using a plastic composition top on the order of (corian tops) they are sold for kitchens also..

[beachnative420]

@beachnative420 if it gets colder than 48F it will crack at it's thickest points. Be advised always leave the A/C or heater on and you will be fine. The table this guy made would cost over $3500 at Twombly's

[beachnative420]

@exotikk1 With polyester you can control the catalyzation rate meaning add less hardner. Most manufacuteres suggest adding 1% hardner just add less. I worked for Florida's best resin table factory in Coca Beach called Twombly's Nautical Furniture making seashell tales, WWII hatchcovers and just about anything you can think of. BTW what is the drawback to using wood and polyester? Answer: the difference in coeffience in contraction. What does that mean? It means they contract at differnt rates

[exotikk1]

How did you prevent air bubbles from forming?

[Mncat30]

Can you grind this stuff down and polish it with a buffer?

[DotsUp28]

Beautiful work. I have been trying to find info on epoxy table tops as used for laboratory tables. They are usually exposy resin, black, and an inch thick or so (google: lab table). Do you have any experience here? There isn't much info on DIY of this style. Everything I've found is clear epoxy. Thank you!