I’m excited to share the journey of creating my epoxy dining table and chairs, a project that has been nearly two years in the making. It all began when I purchased a beautiful slab of white oak, measuring 8 feet long and 3 feet wide at its widest point, with the intention of crafting a stunning dining room table. At the time, I was juggling various other projects and didn’t have the opportunity to begin working on it until a couple of months ago.
The process started with constructing the two pedestals for the base. Coincidentally, during this time, a neighboring lot was being cleared, which included two live oak trees that were destined for disposal. I managed to persuade the contractor to let me take them, and I cut two sections from one of the logs to turn on my lathe. Unfortunately, while working on the first pedestal, I required hand surgery, a result of 30 years in the trades, which left me with a brace on my right hand for six weeks. It was challenging to remain idle, but as soon as I was able, I returned to the lathe. Fortunately, I only needed my right hand to hold the back end of the chisel, so I was able to complete the pedestals during my recovery.
Once the brace was off and I regained sufficient mobility in my hand, I proceeded to build the rest of the project. I connected the pedestals, completed the bases, designed and constructed the chairs, and began preparing the white oak slab for epoxy.
Preparing the slab is a project in itself. First, I cut the slab lengthwise down the center. Next, I crafted a water-tight form out of melamine to hold the slab pieces while pouring the epoxy. This step was crucial, as any leaks would spell disaster for the project. I then poured in 9 gallons of epoxy mixed with black and brown mica powder, which created a stunning design.
After allowing the tabletop to cure for the recommended three days, I was left with a rough slab measuring 3 by 8 feet. Planing it down to size presented another challenge, as I don’t own a surface planer large enough for the job. Instead, I used a router sled set up on a straight and level table. Following that, I spent two full days sanding to achieve a smooth finish before applying the final clear flood coat.
Originally, the table was designed to be 8 feet long; however, I soon realized that my dining room wasn't spacious enough, and the lighting wasn’t quite right for such a long table. To accommodate everyday use, I cut it down to 6 feet. When hosting guests, I can easily add the 2-foot extension, complete with its own base, creating a temporary 8-foot table with just two additional chairs.
This project has truly been a labor of love. I find great joy in working with both epoxy and wood, and I look forward to creating more furniture using this fantastic material.
Steven Howard - Owner