An unusual tabletop that embodies creative design ideas will be an expressive highlight of the interior. It successfully combines the natural warmth of natural wood and the glossy shine of modern polymer - epoxy resin. Original table will successfully complement the interior space. If you follow the manufacturing recommendations, a wooden tabletop made by yourself will delight the owners with its strength, aesthetics, and durability.
Realization of creative ideas
A cozy interior consists of many details. An important place among them is beautiful furniture. Factory attributes often do not meet the requirements for individual design. A successful alternative is to create non-standard designs that give the space special expressiveness.
The insatiable desire to surround oneself with original things pushes one to independently create utilitarian objects. Creative embodiment design ideas It will become original, made of wood in tandem with epoxy resin. An exclusive interior attribute will become a highlight kitchen space, dining room, living room country house, terrace or summerhouse.
Universal polymer: advantages of use
Practical calculation and artistic flair will allow you to create with your own hands unique item interior The base of the poured countertop is epoxy resin. Available material attracts many advantages, among them:
- moisture resistance;
- retention of shape after hardening;
- profitable price;
- resistance to deformation.
In small-scale production and at home, the process of cold curing of components is used. The transparent layer obtained after curing does not change color scheme, does not chip, durable, non-toxic. Under the filling you can place all kinds of designer little things - coins, buttons, pebbles, wine corks.
Attention! Epoxy countertops should be used with caution in kitchen environments. Do not place hot objects on it. The best option- cover a wooden tabletop protective varnish: This will keep it away from the hot pan or pan.
Proper preparation: the key to success
When making a wooden tabletop, care must be taken. The surface on which the workpiece lies, the floor, must be covered with polyethylene: leaked resin is difficult to remove.
The next stage is preparation wooden surface. Removing dirt, sanding uneven surfaces, priming. A dry surface absorbs dust. It will help protect it from the smallest lint. polyethylene film. It is easy to string on several pegs.
Special equipment will help prevent the smallest fluff from getting onto the countertop. To work you need to prepare:
- disposable painting suit;
- latex gloves;
- protective cap.
Before mixing the components, you should carefully study the instructions: it is important to follow the proportions recommended by the manufacturer.
Density levels
Changing the combination of the main components affects the characteristics of the polymer. The following stages of resin hardening are distinguished:
- liquid;
- medium thickness;
- hard;
- rubbery.
The liquid consistency is optimal for filling any shape: the liquid mixture perfectly fills various recesses and depressions of the table top. The viscous consistency, approximately reminiscent of thick honey, is suitable for forming lenses and drops.
Manufacturing stages
First they measure required amount epoxy, then hardener. To obtain the desired shade, dye is added, and fluorescent pigments are added for spectacular shine. The components are thoroughly mixed: the homogeneity of the mixture contributes to better hardening. Important nuance: No moisture should get into the mixture. High humidity indoors will interfere with the manufacture of countertops.
The critical stage is applying the mixture to the surface. Complete curing takes approximately 15 minutes. Annoying flaws that often disrupt the aesthetics of the product are air bubbles. A hair dryer will help remove them: just slightly warm the surface with it. You can get rid of a small bubble using a syringe or cocktail tube. After correcting the errors, the tabletop is left in the room for 48 hours.
The final stage is 3-fold coating polyurethane varnish. The process must be alternated with grinding.
Attention! A designer creation may change shade (turn yellow from sunlight). If you plan to place the attribute indoors on the south side, it is advisable to coat the surface of the garden gazebo with varnish with a UV filter.
Wood and polymer - beauty is in the details
A successful duet of natural wood and epoxy resin will be an excellent solution for interior decoration. To realize creative ideas, boards with caverns are used. Alternative option- cutting intricate grooves on a finished wooden tabletop. Tabletops framed in polymer resin have many advantages, including:
- external aesthetics;
- unique design;
- waterproof;
- abrasion resistance.
Creative ideas coupled with with skillful hands will transform a familiar tabletop into an unusual interior attribute, giving the space individuality, charm, and expressive color.
Epoxy resin is a substance known to everyone, anyone at least a little familiar with the economy. The material appeared on the market in the last century and has long won the sympathy of craftsmen.
Resin is an absolutely universal substance and is used in many areas of construction, repair and household management.
Modern science does not stand still and “epoxy” receives new compositions and, accordingly, new possibilities for application. However, one thing remains unchanged - the substance is never used in its pure form, it is combined with a hardener, which makes it very reliable.
There are many variations of this material on the market; manufacturers do everything so that customers can choose the composition and volume of the substance they need.
Resin composition
The resin itself is a synthetic compound that is effectively used only in combination with a hardener, which helps complete the polymerization process of the substance.
This process is decisive in terms of what properties and characteristics the material has. For this reason, we can say with complete confidence that the resin is not used as an independent substance.
As different formulations are combined with different hardeners, substances with very different properties may appear.
For example, some may even be harder than metal, while some, on the contrary, are soft and may resemble rubber in consistency or something like that.
Hardening of “epoxy” can occur in a fairly wide temperature range from -10°C to 200°C. This largely depends on the type of hardener composition. In this case, the finished material can be divided into 2 types of hardening - cold and hot.
Cold-curing epoxy resin (glue) is more often used for domestic purposes or in industries where thermal exposure is unacceptable.
Hot curing can be used to create products that are subject to various types of loads, including temperature and mechanical.
This is done so that during polymerization of the substance a more dense substance is formed. crystal cell, which will increase the hardness of the substance.
Hardener for resin, used depending on the required proportions and substances contained. The polymerization process under the influence of a hardening agent is final and cannot be reversible under the influence of various solvents or water.
It is important to remember that the finished material is a polymer, which determines the need to maintain the correct proportions to obtain it.
If the amount of resin or hardener is not correct, the finished product will lose its properties and may be susceptible to environmental influences, such as:
- Moisture;
- Temperature;
- Chemical substances.
Do not forget that the speed of the curing process is affected only by the temperature and type of the curing component itself.
The opinion that the final result can be achieved due to the amount of hardener is erroneous.
The accelerator of the polymerization process is temperature. It turns out that increasing the reaction temperature by just 10°C can accelerate solidification several times, depending on the type of substance.
This allows the development of formulations that can operate at a wide range of temperatures, while the polymerization process can take place under a variety of conditions.
Resin Application
Since the time epoxy resin began to be actively used, its scope of application has remained the same.
Only the compositions and properties of the components have changed and finished materials. Resin is used in many industrial sectors such as:
- Electronics;
- Electrical Engineering;
- Aviation;
- Automotive manufacturing;
- Mechanical engineering;
- Shipbuilding;
- Production of fiberglass.
In these engineering industries, “epoxy” is used as an impregnation for glass fabrics and glass fibers, as well as for joining various elements.
Floor coverings - resin can have insulating properties. It is used in the construction of swimming pools or basements.
Production of paint and varnish products - moisture resistance and strength, allows the use of resin in finishing materials.
Photo of epoxy resin
New modern Construction Materials appear on the market every day, and there are so many ideas for decorating your home with handmade items.
We've collected some interesting ideas, how you can make a countertop with epoxy resin and give it an original and unique appearance, as well as decorate the interior of your home.. 
Materials for making countertops
We will show you the creation process step by step. epoxy countertop with his own hand, with creative ideas and craft skills. The tabletop is made of coins, looks great and will decorate any interior. For this purpose, you can use coins of any countries that you still have after traveling. To do this you will need coins, epoxy resin glue, and a ruler. 
To create a product, the coins must be the same size. They must be thoroughly cleaned of oxides and dirt. Can be used for this special means, which will cope with this task in a few seconds. 
Place the first row of coins on the countertop. If you have a rounded edge, you will need to bend the coins using simple tools steel ring and pliers. 
Use a long ruler or building level along the countertop to make sure your coin surface is level and that the coins will stay in place and won't fall off. Using glue, we glue the coins onto the surface of our tabletop. 
Continue gluing coins until the entire surface is covered. 
We cover the floor with a polyethylene protective layer to avoid damage flooring. We install our tabletop on a stand so that we can move it freely around the perimeter of the product. 
Make sure we have enough glue, then pour it onto the central part of the tabletop and carefully spread it over the surface using a wooden or plastic spatula. 
Epoxy resin should cover the surface of the tabletop with a thickness of at least 4-6 mm. 
Work very well with the ends of the product; you need to cover them well with resin. 
In order for the remaining air to escape when pouring the resin, we heat the surface manually gas burner.
After removing the air, leave the surface for 2-3 days, this is necessary for the epoxy resin to dry completely. After 3 days you received the original fabulous tabletop. 
Jewelry created using epoxy resin and mold is amazingly original appearance. This master class will present step-by-step instruction, supplemented with photographs and detailed description each stage. By repeating all the steps of the master, you can independently create a unique decoration that attracts the attention of others.
So, for work we will need:
- epoxy resin;
- silicone molds that are combined with epoxy resin;
- disposable gloves, plastic cups, syringes, sticks for mixing ingredients;
- decorative elements: shells, colored pebbles, dried flowers;
- powder, stained glass paints and gold leaf;
In order not to stain the table surface, it is better to do the work on a regular file. A hemispherical pendant will look beautiful if you add dandelions to it. For work, we will need two dandelions, so that later we can compare how they look in the finished version.
Before work, carefully rinse all molds prepared in advance and wipe them dry with a cloth. Wear disposable gloves to protect your skin from unwanted damage. After this, pour resin and hardener into plastic cups. In the future, it will be convenient to draw them into a syringe. Carry out all jewelry making steps in a well-ventilated room.
Measure out the required amount of epoxy resin and pour it into a clean a plastic cup. Using a syringe, draw up the hardener and add it to the resin cup. Different manufacturers indicate different proportions required to obtain the result. Therefore, first read the instructions on the package. It is important to carefully follow all manufacturers' recommendations for work. The quality and beauty of the finished craft directly depends on the accuracy of the calculations. If you mixed epoxy resin and hardener, but the mixture does not harden, then the proportions are off. This can also happen due to insufficient thorough mixing of the ingredients.
If the syringe has rubber insert, then the hardener will not splash. The resulting mixture is mixed with pre-prepared wooden chopsticks. You can use skewers for kebabs. The solution should be stirred for ten minutes in a circular motion.
The dandelion fits very neatly into the mold. Parachutes that interfere with work can be removed using tweezers.
After mixing the ingredients, leave the resin for half an hour. This time is enough for all chemical processes to take place. You can see that a chemical reaction is taking place by the state of the glass. It will heat up. It is not recommended to work with epoxy resin in hot weather, as the reaction proceeds quite violently and the resin completely hardens within half an hour. Although, different manufacturers They offer epoxy resins of different quality.
Carefully, in a thin stream, pour epoxy resin over the dandelion placed in the mold.
After hardening, the resin will settle a little. Therefore, it should be poured into the mold with a small margin (convexity).
Now let's try to make beautiful rings from glass washed by the sea.
So, take some resin, lay out the pebbles and fill them with the mixture in the same way as when working with a hemisphere. A small bulge should form.
You can make earrings with dandelion parachutes. Pour a small amount of resin and spread it carefully using a stick. This step will thicken the resin slightly. This will help the parachutes stay in the position in which they were stowed.
Make a bouquet.
Pour some resin on top to create a bulge. If you work very carefully, then minimal sanding of the product will be required in the future.
A truncated ball is created in a similar way. Fill half of the mold with resin.
Using a toothpick or needle, place the required number of parachutes.
Pour epoxy resin into the mold.
Now let's try to make a beautiful bracelet decorated with shells. Pour resin into a special bracelet mold. At this point, the epoxy resin became even thicker. This is what we need. Add pebbles and shells to the mold. The crushed shells will stick to the walls, giving the impression of being suspended.
About half an hour ago a new batch of resin was prepared. It should be poured into the mold from above. This must be done with extreme care to avoid the formation of bubbles. What to do if bubbles appear? Preheat the oven to 80 degrees and place the mold with resin there. Leave in the oven until the temperature increases to 204 degrees. After this, the bubbles will come out.
Make sure that the mold is in a level position during operation. Otherwise, the resin will harden at an angle. Remember that the more carefully you work with epoxy resin, the less sanding you will have to do on the finished product.
Now leave the mold for a day until it dries completely. To prevent debris from getting onto the surface of the future product, cover the mold with a box or lid.
While the bracelet is drying, you can make a pendant. Let's start by creating the main background. To do this, apply to the workpiece liquid plastic. Cover it up polymer clay, rolled out into a thin layer. The resulting composition is baked in the oven. After cooling, you can start working.
Pour a couple of drops of resin onto the surface. Using tweezers, a composition is made from dried leaves or flowers. In this case, the resin is the glue. She will not allow the composition to budge. Fresh flowers should not be used to create the composition. Over time, they will turn black and lose their appearance.
There is a holder on the back surface of the pendant. It should also be placed in a mold to create flat surface. It is not necessary to think through the composition in advance. You can create masterpieces by improvising.
The result is a unique picture. The craft needs to be dried. When it dries, a second layer of resin is poured, forming a bulge.
After a day, the bracelet hardened and can be taken out of the mold. This top part products.
Rings, earrings and pendants are created in a similar way.
Beautiful hemisphere decorated with dandelion.
Unusual truncated transparent balls with parachutes.
You can also make small decorative hemispheres.
Previously made rings decorated with sea glass.
In order to give the epoxy resin a bright shade, you can add a little powder or stained glass paints. If you decide to use stained glass paints, add very little to the resin. Otherwise, the proportions between the resin and hardener may be disrupted. Ready product will not harden, but will become sticky.
If you add gold leaf, you get very unusual jewelry.
And these are beautiful lenses decorated with dandelion parachutes.
The reverse side after drying remained flush with the edges.
This is the reverse side of the pendant, which was obtained after the resin hardened.
It should be sanded carefully. To avoid breathing dust, you can use a respirator.
After grinding, this is the back part of the hemisphere.
All sharp and uneven edges must be carefully sanded after the resin has cured.
We do the same with the bracelet. You can use a special manicure machine.
If you work carefully, then minimal sanding will be required in the future.
Sanded edges can be varnished. The varnish layer should be very thin.
After it dries, you can enjoy the result of the work done.
A very beautiful frame was chosen for the pendant, which is decorated with a miniature steel butterfly.
Epoxy resin for pouring countertops: which one to choose and which hardeners are best to use in the manufacture and repair of furniture.
Almost every woodworkers and craftsman forum is filled with criticism of ED-20 resin, through which people not only wasted money, but also ruined the original material. The main disadvantage of domestic epoxy (at a low price) is its high degree of viscosity (not all air bubbles come out), and over time the material tends to lose transparency and acquire a yellowish tint.
What is the best resin to choose for making a transparent tabletop? For coffee tables and desks, you can use acrylic resins intended for floors or bathtubs. For example, if the thickness of the fill does not exceed 3 mm, QTP-1130 is suitable; it has a high degree of transparency, as well as self-leveling properties. There are different reviews about the popular composition "Art-Eco", for some it does not harden completely and gives a yellowish tint in the light. Others respond positively. However, for thin layers
, such a resin will most likely fit without problems, especially if you add a little more hardener. “Art-Eco” has good colors; if you want to have a transparent layer with some tint, then their use is 100% justified. For more complex worktops, such as when work in progress
with filler (lids, coins, herbarium), a proven option is CHS Epoxy 520 resin together with hardener 921OP. This is the most popular option. 520 resin is also often replaced by Crystal Glass, but it is more fluid and more suitable for thin layers, although it is somewhat better in transparency (but not much). The proportions are 2:1, that is, one part of the resin is one hardener.
Probably 520 epoxy is the best option, although it is often criticized.
Not a bad resin MG-EPOX-STRONG and in general everything from Epox.
Tests for photoresistance show that Russian PEO-610KE resin and imported EpoxAcast 690 do not turn yellow at all. So if the table will be standing in the sun, then these options are worth considering for the tabletop. It is also worth considering one important point
– the quality of formulations often differs due to expiration dates (in stores they re-stick labels), counterfeits, and simply due to manufacturing defects.
Errors when filling
Use electronic scales when determining proportions. First, pour in the resin, weigh it, then, based on this weight, calculate the proportions of the hardener, and then pour it in.
After mixing, pour into another container. If you get stains or uncured areas when pouring, this means that the epoxy resin and hardener were mixed unevenly. This usually occurs due to sticking to the sides of the container, so better composition pour several times from one bottle to another, stirring for a long time each time.
Mix with a spatula or thick spatula without removing from the mixture. To avoid bubbles, mix the epoxy with the hardener with a thick mixer, being careful not to bring it to the surface.
So many spend a long time looking for which epoxy resin to choose for filling the countertop, but it is not the composition that is to blame, but the mistakes that the master makes, for example, when mixing components.
