How to make a table of epoxy resin: manufacturing features

Interior design of the house or apartment is always paid special attention. At registration of premises every detail is taken into account: finishing materials, color accents, decorative, operational elements. Furniture plays an important role in creating the right atmosphere. With its help, you can easily upgrade the room, for example, to add creativity, add a touch of luxury to the decoration, it is enough to set an epoxy resin table in the room.

Material Features

Epoxy is a multicomponent chemical. These oligomers, which contain epoxy groups, when mixed with a hardener, form crosslinked polymers. In pure form it looks like a clear liquid. It has many shades - from white to wine red. It was first developed in France by chemist Pierre Castan in 1936, and in 1938 he filed the first application for a patent.

In a short time, the material has become popular. It began to be used in industry: aircraft manufacturing, automotive, construction, in the production of electronics, electrical engineering, in other industries, including space. In everyday life, the raw materials are used for various purposes, crafts are made of it, and decorations are used to manufacture and repair furniture.

One of the main features of a substance is that it is not used in its pure form. Its properties appear after connection with a hardener, on the type of which such characteristics as strength, density, rigidity, elasticity depend. The components are mixed at room temperature, the proportions depend on the manufacturer, usually indicated in the instructions for use.

Cured resin is considered harmless, but in the liquid state can cause serious harm to health, cause damage to the respiratory system, skin burns. When working with raw materials, you should use personal protective equipment: gloves, respirator, goggles, paint overalls.

Advantages and disadvantages

The table made of epoxy impresses with its original, exquisite look. The finished product is produced by applying a synthetic substance to a wooden base. The demand for material in the production of furniture is explained not only by its aesthetic, but also practical characteristics. Among the main advantages of dining, coffee table can be identified:

• long service life;
• resistance to mechanical damage;
• good wear resistance;
• moisture resistance;
• high strength;
• the exclusivity of each individual subject;
• when using various dyes it is possible to receive any shade;
• the ability to use different materials for decoration.

The disadvantages of furniture products include:

• the cost of copyright works is quite high;
• increased requirements for production technology, a small error leads to uncorrectable defects;
• Contact with fire releases harmful substances.

To prevent the release of toxins, the kitchen table should be additionally covered with a layer of varnish.

Recommendations for working with epoxy resin

Work with the material is quite simple. To do this, do not need special skills and abilities, the presence of professional tools. The main requirement is technology compliance. However, to prevent common mistakes, you should heed the advice and recommendations of experts:

1. Strict compliance with safety regulations.
2. Mandatory use of personal protective equipment.
3. If a liquid substance gets on the skin, the affected area of ​​the body is immediately rubbed with alcohol and hands washed.
4. If the epoxy accidentally gets into the eyes, areas of the mucous membrane, you should seek help from a health facility.
5. The surface on which the work is carried out, it is recommended to cover with plastic wrap. Plain paper will not protect the substrate from negative effects.
6. You should not work in a room with high humidity and air temperature less than +22 ° C, in this case, the freezing will occur slowly.
7. The ingress of moisture, as in the individual components, and in the mixture.
8. So that the hardened resin does not yellow with time under the action of the sun's rays, you can buy a substance that contains a UV filter.
9. It should be remembered that under the action of low temperatures, the hardened material stratifies.
10. When uneven mixing on the finished product after drying may appear stains, uncured places.
11. If after alignment bubbles remain in the layer of the mixture, then the surface needs to be warmed slightly with a building dryer, without stopping for a long time in one place.

How to choose a resin

For work use different types of epoxy. The choice of a particular brand depends on many factors. First of all, the budget allocated for this purpose is taken into account. Also important parameters such as transparency, the period of solidification. Depending on the type of table, its thickness, the presence of decorative elements, choose a specific composition. Consider a few common options:

• ED-20. The only advantage is the low cost. Skilled craftsmen do not recommend its use for the manufacture of furniture. It has an increased viscosity, after curing air bubbles are noticeable on the surface, over time, the transparent appearance is lost, the substance turns yellow.
• EpoxyMaster The composition is characterized by low viscosity. Allows you to work with large objects, pour one layer up to 5 cm thick. This variety has good fluidity, self-leveling, penetrates into hard-to-reach places.
• QTP-1130. Transparent material that is suitable for the manufacture of a written, coffee table, if the thickness of the fill does not exceed 3 mm.
• PEO - 610KE. Under the action of sunlight and heat does not lose its transparency.
• Art Eco. Manufacturers produce a wide range of different colors. Fill produce only thin layers. However, a yellowish tint may appear in the light.
• CHS Epoxy 520. One of the most popular types used in the production of tables. Allows you to pour decorative items, such as coins, cork, herbarium.

How to cook

You can make not only a coffee table or a desk from epoxy, but also a kitchen worktop, bar counter, chair, stool, and other items of furniture. Having decided on the type of future product, choosing the appropriate brand of chemical substance, the beginning master always has a question about how to make a solution with his own hands.

Epoxy is usually sold with a hardener that triggers a chemical reaction. These two components must be mixed in the right proportion. Each manufacturer has different parameters, so before starting work you should read the instructions, perform all actions strictly on it.

For mixing the components will require two dimensional containers. First, measure the resin. If a color is used, it should be added and thoroughly mixed before adding hardener, preheated to a temperature of + 30-35 ° C, but no more, so as not to spoil the mixture.

A hardener is added to the prepared composition in a ratio that is specified by the manufacturer. The resulting material is slowly and thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous mass. In the presence of bubbles, they are gently blown out with a building dryer. It is worth remembering that the finished mixture has a limited useful life for pouring.

Density features

One of the important characteristics of a material is its viscosity. Consistency affects the final result. The choice of thickness depends on many parameters, such as the decor used, the type of work performed. For some purposes, choose liquid formulations, for others - viscous. There are several states of matter, each of which is used for different purposes:

• Liquid. The ready weight easily flows down from a stick. The resin spreads well, penetrates all hard-to-reach places, fills all cavities, pits, corners, and permeates wood.
• Semi-fluid. The consistency is thicker and more bulky. It is used to fill round tops, if necessary, allows you to create a decor.
• Thick. This mixture is not suitable for casting. It is used for restoration work, for repair of vertical surfaces, as an adhesive.

Some craftsmen, trying to save money, use chemical additives to increase turnover. For example, adding to the mixture the usual solvent for varnishes in a volume of 5% of the total mass, the yield increases by 60%, however, the strength of the composition decreases by 35%.

A safer way to reduce viscosity is to heat the components. In this case, the components are heated separately at a temperature not exceeding 50 ° C. In some cases, on the contrary, it is necessary to make the substance more viscous. To do this, use special powder fillers, for example, wood flour.

Epoxy resin applications

The material has unique characteristics, and finished products are exclusive, flawless. Substance allows you to create objects of almost any shape. The covering well fixes decorative elements: traffic jams, coins, shells, stones. When using various investments of the master create volumetric surfaces.

Apply epoxy in the manufacture of the table can be either as a restoration material, or as the main or integral part in the manufacture of a new product. In the second version, there are three main types of furniture:

1. Of epoxy resin. It is made of pure composition by pouring into the mold. May include decorative ornaments.
2. Wood and its derivatives, coated with a mixture. In this case, the chemical is used as a protective layer.
3. Combined. Wooden fragments alternate with parts cast from resin.

Worktop without support surface

The design has no basis, it is completely poured out of epoxy resin. Characterized by a unique, spectacular view. It can be completely transparent, differ in an interesting color, include decorative elements. The shape of the subject depends on the experience and imagination of the master. The finished product is often decorated with LED, neon lighting.

Even with self-made tabletop is quite expensive. For its pouring it is necessary to build a formwork that will give the resin the intended shape of the object. To do this, use glass, which is very thoroughly cleaned and degreased. When assembling the formwork, special attention is paid to joints, the presence of cracks and other defects.

Having calculated the volume of the form, proceed to the calculation of the quantity of the substance necessary for the work. Based on the data obtained, prepare the mixture. Before pouring, the internal surfaces of the formwork are treated with a release agent that will not allow the epoxy to contact the glass. Then pour the mixture, wait until it hardens.

Tabletop resin and various supporting elements

In contrast to the previous version, in the manufacture of a product, the composition is poured onto a support base. It can be standard, telescopic, decorative. In the first case, the support is represented by the central pillar, consists of four legs and tsarg. In the second - the height of the table is adjusted using special mechanisms. In the third - the most diverse and original designs are used.

If the worktop is poured without using wood, from pure epoxy, then the master faces a difficult question related to the installation of the cover on the supporting elements. For this purpose, either special recesses are formed, which are formed at the stage of preparation of the formwork, or they make supports and tsargs a part of the table top, putting their upper parts into the prepared form.

After pouring the epoxy resin, the solidification of the substance the whole structure becomes one. However, it should be borne in mind that the ES in its pure form will not be able to withstand heavy loads. To increase the strength of the material, fiberglass is added to it. When fastening metal supports, it is possible to provide for the presence of metal plates with a welded pin inside the cover.

Wooden table with filling and epoxy

Wood furniture itself has a very interesting and beautiful look, able to decorate any interior. But the flight of design ideas is limitless. The presence of epoxy unique properties inspires the masters, who use in their work all the achievements of science, to create unsurpassed products.

If in the manufacture of the table to add decorative content, you get an exclusive product. Different materials are used as investments: marble chips, semiprecious stones, pebbles, spindles, shells, pieces of wood eaten by bark beetles. But true masterpieces are obtained by using memorable souvenirs.

Original furniture may consist of a variety of investments. Products with 3D images, pictures look interesting. Experienced designers do not lose sight of such a structural element as the legs. If metal supports are coated with paints based on polyester and epoxy resins, then wooden supports are additionally decorated.

Slab and resin table

In the manufacture of unique furniture used slabs. These are longitudinal cuts which make of a whole tree trunk. Most often, the plates are represented by oak, elm, poplar. Such cuts allow you to fully unleash the full potential of wood, its structure. Preparations for work can be ordered and purchased at any sawmill.

In the manufacture of furniture used in various sizes and shapes of the cuts, their combination. The tabletop can consist of one plate, located in the center, and include two or more evenly distributed elements. The finished product will always have an original look, as the texture and pattern, as well as fingerprints, are unique and inimitable.

Massive tables, table tops, cabinets, bar counters, small coffee tables are made of slab. Work with materials will require the presence of carpentry equipment and special skills. If there are none, then it is better to seek help from specialists who will cut the wood to the required size.

Table "river"

In fact, this is a variation of the previous version. In this case, two slabs are laid in such a way that a space is formed between them that looks like a river bed. Due to the characteristic look, the item got its name. However, for the work can also be used solid wood, various wood-based panels.

Between the laid elements epoxy resin is poured in blue, sometimes it is completely transparent, has a green tint. It all depends on the intention of the author. Some craftsmen add phosphorus to the mixture, so that the product glows at night. Also, artificial fish, snags, and other interesting elements are used as decor.

Technology of self-made table

Work on the manufacture of parts and the collection of the table begins with the selection of suitable materials. Using the example of the following workshop, you can see how easy it is to make a small coffee table with your own hands. Having spent a minimum of improvised means and time, it is possible to receive the real design furniture.

Manufacturing of support structure

One of the important stages in the process of work. For the future table to be strong and stable, it will be necessary to prepare two wooden circles of different diameters - one for the support, the second for the table top. Their thickness should be at least 1 cm. The connecting element will be a plastic pipe. You will also need epoxy-based glue for fixing the rack, the resin itself for pouring, the furniture border. As a decorative filler, you can take any material at will. Original and stylish under the fill layer will look metal beer caps.

Now the design must be assembled. Put a smaller circle on the floor, mark the center and glue the pipe. On the seamy side of the lid, we also determine the center, lubricate the attachment site with glue and impose a table top on the upper end of the rack. The surface of the table degreased and primed.

Preparing Formwork and Filling

First, we do the first fitting - we lay out a few covers on the edge of the tabletop. This is necessary to accurately determine the thickness of the furniture tape. Decorative items should be buried in epoxy resin at least half of its size. After selecting the appropriate fill height, glue the tape and lay the lid pattern up. This is the final calculation, so you need to carefully consider the figure.

The back side of each part is coated with glue and leaning against the surface. It is necessary to work very carefully, since even the slightest leakage of the adhesive mixture will be visible through the transparent fill layer.

Resin pouring rules

The final and most important stage in the manufacture of the coffee table - pouring epoxy resin. The prepared composition begin to pour in from the middle. It will spread over the surface itself, aligning itself under its own weight. If the tabletop area is large, you can slightly retreat from the center to the edges.

When the epoxy reaches the edges of the furniture tape, it should be carefully leveled with a spatula. В места возникших пустот и неровностей добавляем немного смеси.Formed bubbles pierce with a toothpick or remove with a hair dryer. Having finished solution to the necessary consistence, it is possible to create various decorative elements. From more epoxy make droplets, lenses, mold complementary elements. Then the surface is covered with polyethylene, left to dry completely for several hours. This eliminates the formation of defects, dust.

Product Care Rules

Properly poured resin on the countertop will create a perfectly flat surface. To extend the quality characteristics, it is necessary to carefully treat the product and ensure timely care. It is necessary to completely eliminate contact with high-temperature objects. You can not put on a table hot pots, boiled kettle. It is guaranteed to melt.

For cleaning, you can use soap detergents, sponges, soft rags. Aggressive mixtures with abrasive particles should be excluded. When in contact with them, the surface will dim, lose shine.

Conclusion

A table made of epoxy will decorate any interior, will bring in it an element of luxury. It is not necessary to acquire a new product, with the help of the material you can give a second life to the old furniture. To work with the substance does not require special skills, the main thing is to follow safety precautions, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer, take into account the recommendations of experts.