A table in the form of a river. Epoxy resin slab tables

Tables have always been considered an integral part of the interior and occupied an almost dominant role, since we need them not only as an interior item, but also as a very comfortable surface that serves as a workplace for us.

An object: Glass Rivers And Lakes Flow Across Beautiful Tables
Country: United States of America (Washington)
Design: Greg Klassen(Greg Klassen)
Size: 52x19x33

Glass rivers on your table

They come in different shapes and sizes, in our time there is an immense amount of materials from which they are made, but the dominant role is played by wood. Glass Rivers And Lakes Flow Across Beautiful Tables - Glass Rivers And Lakes Flow Across Beautiful Tables. A very intriguing title that gives free rein to our imaginations. This is the desk of the Washington artist and furniture designer Greg Klassen, who created this stylish table with a river flowing through it. The perfect combination of natural and industrial forms. Basically, tables are made of maple, sometimes with the addition of walnut or birch bark. The river flowing along the table is made of glass, and the legs are made of steel.

Truly unique furniture is hard to find, Greg Klassen, the man who designs and creates all of his pieces from start to finish. For the convenience of your home, tables with glass rivers are designed in different sizes; in proportion to the size of the countertop, rivers flowing through the table change shape and size. A perfectly cut glass layer covering the river allows it to remain 100% functional, although at first glance it looks too beautiful to be useful. The table surfaces with water imitation and amazing texture will give you a pleasure to work; water you can rely on).

In the modern design of rooms, extraordinary and exclusive interior items are increasingly used, capable of focusing on themselves all the attention of the people present in the room. This original interior solution includes tables decorated with epoxy resin.

You can do this interesting thing with your own hands, turning an ordinary piece of furniture into a genuine work of art.

Properties

In furniture production, epoxy resins are not used in their pure form, since the magical qualities of epoxy are manifested as a result of its contact with a special hardener. By changing the ratio of these two parts to be joined, you can get a composition of different consistency. Depending on the purpose for which it will be used, it can be:

• liquid essence,
• stringy or rubbery substance;
• solid substance;
• high-strength base.

The process of making any furniture with decor using epoxy resin involves coating the wooden base with this polymer and thoroughly polishing the product after the resin has hardened, as a result, a product with high wear resistance will be obtained. The general properties of the entire composition will depend on the correct ratio of ingredients. The wrong amount of hardener can significantly reduce the strength of the finished product, as well as its resistance to the environment and household products. Therefore, it is so important when preparing a mixture for work to comply with the ratios recommended by the polymer manufacturer, most often these indicators are 1: 1.

According to the method of use, epoxy can be hot cured or cold cured. When creating pieces of furniture at home, the second type is most often used.

Advantages and disadvantages

Compared to conventional natural wood tables, epoxy treated tables have a number of advantages:

• the resin composition, when dried, has practically no shrinkage, holds its shape well, retains its original color, does not deform and is not subject to mechanical damage;
• the exclusivity of each product and limitless design options;
• the ability to use various additional materials for decoration (coins, tree cuts, shells, stones, starfish, etc.);
• the ability to add multi-colored dyes to the mixture, including phosphorescent paints;

• impermeability to moisture and dampness;
• excellent tolerance to cleaning chemicals.

The main disadvantage of these tables is the very high cost of the product. To cover one copy, depending on the size and shape of the product, it can take up to several tens of liters of polymer substance. Another possible unpleasant drawback is the presence of air bubbles that form in the epoxy mixture as a result of non-compliance with instructions and technologies during production.

Manufacturing process

The very first and one of the most important steps in preparing a wooden structure for epoxy resin casting is the thorough removal of dust and all other contaminants from the wood surface. After that, the surface of the table, which will be poured, must be primed. If this is not done, then the resin, absorbed into the porous wood, forms air bubbles, which will spoil the appearance of the product.

Only after the preparation stage is completed, the required amount of a mixture of epoxy resin and hardener is prepared. At this stage, the most important thing is strict adherence to the proportions indicated in the instructions for use. Depending on the chosen design, dyes or additional decorative materials can be added to the finished mixture. Next, the resulting mixture is applied to the prepared wooden surface.

If a certain design from additional materials is conceived on the tabletop, then they must be placed on the table surface even before pouring. Moreover, light materials, such as wine corks or shells, must first be glued to the surface in accordance with the intended pattern. It is necessary, so that during pouring the mixture they do not float, thus turning a thoughtful composition into a messy and uninteresting structure. If unwanted air bubbles appear during the filling process, they can be removed with a construction hair dryer, directing a stream of hot air to the problem area.

The mixture will begin to set in fifteen minutes, but the final stage, namely, the grinding of the product, can be started only after the resin has completely hardened. It is advisable to keep the product for a week, since after this period it is already completely stable and will be ready for use.

After sanding, it is advisable to cover the product in several layers with a protective varnish. This will prevent the release of toxic substances into the atmosphere, which in small quantities may be contained in resin compositions.

Variety of options

To create a table with an original tabletop decorated with epoxy resin, you can take absolutely any tree species, including a variety of debris, saw cuts, chips and even sawdust, as long as everything, even the smallest particles of the future tabletop, are thoroughly dried. Old and rough wood looks amazing in epoxy resin. For decoration, you can also successfully use sea and river shells, pebbles, dry herbs and flowers, coins, and other inclusions that can give the product a special originality or a certain theme. And by mixing luminescent dyes with epoxy resin, you will create a magical glow effect.

A tree eaten by bark beetles or damaged by damp looks very unusual in resin. Natural damage, filled with epoxy with the addition of dye or luminous paint, can create unrealistically beautiful cosmic patterns on the countertop. All kinds of holes, cracks and paths in the wood can be created artificially, creating your own pattern. All small holes are filled with the prepared mortar using a construction trowel. After hardening, remove excess resin using a sander.

The process of making a tabletop using the pouring method is the most expensive and time consuming, and also requires special care in work. It is used in the manufacture of countertops with attachments, as well as to create original designs with fantastic ideas and unusual solutions. For example, a famous American designer Greg Klassen, who creates original models of tables with "natural landscapes". The "river" or "lake" frozen in the tabletops of his amazing tables amaze with their grandeur and incredible beauty.

For information on how to make a wooden table with a river from epoxy resin with your own hands, see the next video.

All tables are the same only in that they usually have a table top and legs. Otherwise, they are very different. Different shapes, materials and even ideas for making. The industry produces large quantities of comfortable and inexpensive standard furniture.

But the most interesting examples are presented to us by designers. They not only change shape and finish, but even create their own unique techniques for making objects. The talented artist Greg Klassen lives in Washington.

He is young, has a theologian degree, but works as a carpenter. The furniture he created is distinguished by natural beauty and naturalness. Greg tries not just to make a household item out of a log, but to see the natural beauty of the material and emphasize, enhance it with his skill.

The American artist's design table is like a river. To obtain this effect, the author uses wood defects. A knotty board cannot be used to make traditional furniture as it will crack easily under stress. But for an original product, it will come in handy.

Greg separates the array along the natural fiber line in the areas of weak adhesion. Having a large number of different inclusions, a thick board easily breaks, exposing uneven edges.

The second component for creating the image of the river on the countertop is blue glass. It is it that, in places of tight fit, creates transparent shallows and tints the uneven edges of the board, turning them into steep banks and whirlpools.

It looks like a round unusual table. Added quality material on the sides. This is necessary for the strength of the product. The legs are machined from solid wood that can support heavy loads. Everything is covered with a colorless matt varnish. This protects the wood from wood pests and the destruction of moist air. At the same time, its natural appearance is preserved.

At the bottom of the river, a metal sheet frame is visible, which serves as a support for the table top and holds the entire structure. The glass is laid in a groove, precisely shaped according to its shape, and glued with transparent glue, which gives an additional effect of water.

The second method of attaching the glass, when it is inserted into the groove, adds steep banks to the river. The surface of the table in this version is uneven, but peculiar.

A creative table in an avant-garde style. So it was made of rectangular legs from a metal corner. It is enough to change the design of the product, and the glass waters belong to a different era.

A deep mountain lake of volcanic origin. The steep banks drop off almost vertically and look hard and rocky. One must have an unusual gift in order to see such beauty in a simple hemp with a loose core and create it.

Notice how natural everything looks. It was like lava flooding the mountainside in waves. Then the bowels cooled down, and the water filled the cavity of the former crater.

A fragment of another masterpiece is in the workshop. The knots prepared for polishing are visible, the fixtures and the floor glow through the artificial water.

Artist's workshop. The new design table is already partly finished. The contours of the glass are outlined and a sample will be made along the marked line. The glossy surface, like real water, reflects light and surrounding objects, giving them a bluish tint.

Even in defects, you can see beauty and create miracles.

Slab - a cut of a tree trunk, the edges of which remain intact in the finished product. The term was borrowed by the carpentry sphere from the stone processing industry. Initially, slabs were called monolithic slabs, which were obtained by sawing stone blocks. In the woodworking industry, slabs are called a solid longitudinal cut of a tree - an array that excludes gluing and other types of joints.

The nude section demonstrates the unique natural structure of the material - color transitions, small knots, natural outgrowths - suveli and mouth guards. When processing a slab, the natural cut lines are preserved - the free geometry of the slab follows the natural curves of the tree trunk. The edge is not only not leveled, but also additionally emphasize its natural original relief.

Most often, slabs are made from the lower part of the tree - it is distinguished by its large width and increased strength. Cuts in places where the trunk bends and branches are especially appreciated. The thickness of the wooden slab, as a rule, is 5-15 cm. Slabs from solid woods - elm, oak, larch, walnut, poplar, acacia, mahogany, ebony, rosewood, teak, wenge, merbau and others - look most impressive.

The material is used for the manufacture of unique designer furniture and interior items: massive tables, kitchen countertops, chairs, benches, nightstands, bar counters, shelves, headboards, shelves, window sills, lamp bases. Manufacturing of products from slabs is singled out in a separate design direction Live edge - "living edge", "natural edge". It implies an emphasized miraculousness and emphasis on the uniqueness of wood.

Today there is a slabomania on the furniture market. Slab interior items create an atmosphere of native closeness to nature, therefore they are immensely popular among residents of megacities. Live edge elements look organically in loft and eco interior styles. They are also used as accents in minimalism, eclecticism, rustic and ethnic interiors.

Especially popular are the combined tables made of slab and figured cut glass or a layer of epoxy resin, made in the style of Live edge, called the "flowing river". Slab tables look extremely impressive in the interiors of offices and meeting rooms, as dining, coffee and magazine models.

The author of the idea is a furniture designer from the USA Greg Klassen. When creating the tables, he used waste from sawmills and construction sites - wood with defects that does not meet the standards of furniture production. He turned the apparent shortcomings of the material into advantages. Intricate patterns made of glass imitated river beds with curvy banks and crystal clear waters.

Each river table is unique. It is logical that the price tag in this case is also exclusively "space". However, the master never hid the technology of making his masterpieces, so the river table became common property. Almost anyone can do it if they wish.

Stages of self-production of a table from a slab of wood with a fill

Instrument preparation

In order to make a river table from solid wood with your own hands, you do not need professional equipment and skills. You will need:

• manual frezer;
• table circular saw;
• eccentric sander;
• electric drill.

Material selection

As a base, a slab made of elm, or elm, is especially popular - it is durable, does not rot, lends itself well to processing, has a dark brown core, a light underbore and a moire texture of wood. The residual moisture content of the massif should not exceed 10%. Pre-heat-treated wood takes on an even richer and brighter shade.

The cheapest resins - such as ED-20 - are capricious in work, viscous, have a yellowish tint. A good value for money epoxy - a two-component cold curing compound Cristal: colorless and optically clear. Due to the low viscosity of the composition, bubbles come out of its volume by themselves.

The resin can be given any color using special tinting pastes. At the same time, it is not recommended to choose water-based formulations, as they contribute to the formation of bubbles.

Wood preparation and processing

Depending on the function of the table, size and sketch. The slab is milled, after which the traces of the cutter are carefully sanded with a belt sander and polished. The natural curvature of the edges is preserved as much as possible.

After that, the slab planes, which will be installed parallel to each other, are aligned with a hand mill with a special carriage. At this stage, the largest irregularities are removed and boards of the same thickness are obtained.

After that, the formwork is made from a chipboard sheet. The joints of the materials are coated with transparent silicone sealant so that epoxy does not flow between them. To prevent the resin from getting on the outer surface of the countertop, the edges of the slabs are glued with masking tape.

After that, the "bed" of the river is primed with a thin layer of epoxy. Thus, the pores are closed and the wood is stabilized. The resin is prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions.

In order to prevent air bubbles from forming in the voids, epoxy is poured in small doses - in layers ~ 1 cm thick every 24 hours. If air bubbles form on the surface, they are heated with a construction hairdryer and they burst. Gelation time of Cristal epoxy - 60 minutes, full polymerization - 1 day, full cure - 5 days. After that, the formwork is dismantled.

At the final stage, the tabletop is sanded with a step-by-step grain reduction - from P40 to P320. Before final grinding and polishing, the legs are screwed to the product. Final sanding of wood - with grain Р600, resin - Р1500. After that, the wood is coated with a protective oil, usually in 2 layers. Its shade is selected taking into account the type of wood and the color of the "river". After drying, the tabletop is rubbed with lint-free textiles.

Loft style table in slab of oak and epoxy

The cost of the finished table will depend on the selected material (beech, oak, elm) and will average 50-70 thousand rubles. Budget ones can be found in our catalog.

If you want to make yourself a unique table, you can take a closer look at this homemade product. The author made a cool coffee table with a stream in the middle. Of course, the stream is not real, it is emulated by pebbles filled with epoxy. You will definitely surprise your guests with such furniture. By the way, if you wish, you can make a backlight for the central part of the table.

The author used the following materials and tools:
- American black walnut;
- plywood 18 mm thick;
- pebbles from the river or other stones;
- spray with polyurethane;
- Spray Laquer;
- black and red paint;
- hot glue;
- melamine;
- screws M6;
- screwdriver;
- Grinder;
- clamps;
- mitral saw and more.

Table making process:

Step one. Making legs
The author makes the legs for the table from plywood. Since it is quite thin, several layers will need to be glued together. As a result, one leg of the author consists of 6 layers of plywood. Thoroughly coat the blanks with glue, clamp them with clamps and let them dry. The legs are 35 cm long.

On each side there are 4 blanks, which are then glued into a square. It is on these two squares that the table stands.

Step two. Preparing the countertop
Making a countertop is the most painstaking task. The author used American black walnut as a base. Just take a wide board or glued wood board and draw two curved lines through the center, which will represent the banks of your river. If you wish, you can make lakes, river inflows and so on on your countertop, it all depends on your imagination.

Then, using a jigsaw or other device, we cut out that part of the wood where the river will be.
Further, on the other hand, the author makes a groove along the "coastline" into which a sheet of thin plywood is installed. The bottom can be glued, it is necessary so that the resin does not leak out during pouring. When the glue is dry, the bottom can be painted black so that it does not stand out at the bottom of the river.

Step three. We put stones and fill the "river"
First of all, prepare the stones that will lie at the bottom of the "river". If you can't find them anywhere, you can get them at the pet store. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry to prevent small particles from getting into the resin and making it cloudy.

Before pouring, you must carefully seal all gaps so that the resin does not leak out. The author used hot glue to fix the pebbles and seal the cracks. You can also use your imagination and add shells and other details to the stones. That's all, you can fill in, for these purposes you can use a transparent epoxy resin of good quality. Other types of substances are also suitable. The most important thing is to try not to create air bubbles during the casting.

Step four. Attaching the legs
Due to the fact that the nut is constantly expanding and narrowing, depending on the temperature, the legs cannot be glued with glue, as they will quickly fall off. In this regard, the author decided to make the legs removable. To do this, we cut out quadrangles in the legs, and then we mount nuts in the cut out fragment (or similar from another tree). Next, this square with nuts is glued to the tabletop. As a result, the quadrilateral goes into the groove cut in the leg and the leg is attracted by screws.

Step five. Grinding the table
Preparing the table for grinding. To do this, we need to remove the "formwork", and also cut the edges straight to align them.

At this step, we arm ourselves with grinding tools and grind the surface of the table. We need to align everything, to make the surface perfectly smooth. To get the job done faster, the author tried using a planer, but this resulted in large chunks of resin chipping off. In this regard, the chips had to be filled with resin and then polished again.
The author began sanding with 80 grit sandpaper, then switched to 240 grit and then 1200 grit.

Step six. Painting and fastening of fittings
The author paints the back of the table in the middle black. This will hide the plywood and also clean up the look. To paint the area evenly, we limit the areas with masking tape. Do not paint over the areas where the connecting quads will be located.

We glue the parts for attaching the legs to their places and press down well. We are waiting for the glue to dry completely.

The author also paints the "sides" of the legs black for beauty. You can also varnish the legs if you wish.

Step seven. Final table grinding
After sanding the table with 1200 grit paper, the author decided to bring the plane to perfection. A special polishing powder was used. It is mixed with water and then, with the help of a cloth, the surface is brought to a perfect smoothness.

Step eight. Table cover
To protect the table, as well as to make the water "transparent", the author took a lot of effort. First of all, the author applied a satin polyurethane with a brush. After that, the table looked good, the river became transparent, but the brush marks were clearly visible on the table. As a result, after drying of the coating, it was re-sanded. Then the author used polyurethane from a spray, but this did not give the desired result, and the coating was sanded again. At the end, another layer of polyurethane was applied and this was the end of the work.