Live edge epoxy river table - durability?

[GrumpyDad]

Does anyone in these forums have experience using products like what is pictured below?

While I would probably target something a bit more subtle, I love the look of a stream flowing down the middle of the table, and think it would be cool to hide certain things like crayfish, frogs, etc in the 'stream' and then have it illuminated. Im concerned though, does it scratch easily and if there are any other drawbacks.

 

[EbS-P]

I’ve done enough live edge slab work to know what is involved to get a flat table. If you’re not buy an already dried and flattened slab you are in for a bit of work. The only way to get it truly flat is to use a router sled. I did enough research to know that your first time pouring epoxy won’t come out anything like you see in the pictures. Bubbles are your enemy and you need to know how long the pour will take and what working time you have.

Now it’s fairly durable. But will scratch. I’m pretty good at learning diy skills. I managed to get a 52” Alaskan mill built and milled a lot of board feet of live edge slab but never took it as far as epoxy. If going the route of a big table it certainly needs metal braces too.

 

[GrumpyDad]

I’ve done enough live edge slab work to know what is involved to get a flat table. If you’re not buy an already dried and flattened slab you are in for a bit of work. The only way to get it truly flat is to use a router sled. I did enough research to know that your first time pouring epoxy won’t come out anything like you see in the pictures. Bubbles are your enemy and you need to know how long the pour will take and what working time you have.

Now it’s fairly durable. But will scratch. I’m pretty good at learning diy skills. I managed to get a 52” Alaskan mill built and milled a lot of board feet of live edge slab but never took it as far as epoxy. If going the route of a big table it certainly needs metal braces too.

Yea I'd probably have someone do it to be honest. I thought about doing it myself but I just don't have the time to learn something new and try to nail a long table well. Good to know to keep an eye on the flatness and sub structure under the table. I'm rather opposed to metal legs. I've seen people use wooden before with metal under the table for support. Not common but doable. Also barrels I've seen used as legs.

 

[EbS-P]

Yea I'd probably have someone do it to be honest. I thought about doing it myself but I just don't have the time to learn something new and try to nail a long table well. Good to know to keep an eye on the flatness and sub structure under the table. I'm rather opposed to metal legs. I've seen people use wooden before with metal under the table for support. Not common but doable. Also barrels I've seen used as legs.

The supports are generally embedded C channel with screw-in nut serts

Legs https://flowyline.com/collections/metal-table-legs-1

I used saw horses. To save money and time. They don’t look great

 

[Woody Stover]

There's a guy here that does them. At one point I sold him some old barn beams I got ahold of.

Live Edge Slab | Wood Slab King | United States

Wood Slab King builds live edge tables to last generations

www.woodslabking.com

 

[GrumpyDad]

There's a guy here that does them. At one point I sold him some old barn beams I got ahold of.

Live Edge Slab | Wood Slab King | United States

Wood Slab King builds live edge tables to last generations

www.woodslabking.com

Nice, I see that he uses a nice thick material

 

[EbS-P]

To be honest you can do a lot with a power plane and a belt sander and lots of time. Plates wobble in a few places. But I don’t care that much when a kid throws a tantrum with a fork in their hand and

 

[GrumpyDad]

To be honest you can do a lot with a power plane and a belt sander and lots of time. Plates wobble in a few places. But I don’t care that much when a kid throws a tantrum with a fork in their hand and

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I can get some nice walnut, oak, whatever pretty cheap around here. A fraction at what having someone make me a table would cost. I might consider giving an end table a go. Plane/sand it real nice both halves, do the epoxy middle and see what it looks like after a few months of heavy use, then decide if I want to make a dining table, have someone make it for me or scratch the idea all together for one solid (and much more) expensive piece.

Edit: Im on a diet,...not really craving much that I would normally eat otherwise. Except PIE. You had to put that picture in there.

 

[EbS-P]

I think the epoxy is a genius way to use what would otherwise be live edge scrap. I think a good skill builder would just to do a poured epoxy top (no river)

As I recall the pie looked much better than it tasted. Store bought cyst and filling. But the kids didn’t care.

 

[GrumpyDad]

The supports are generally embedded C channel with screw-in nut serts

Legs https://flowyline.com/collections/metal-table-legs-1

I used saw horses. To save money and time. They don’t look great

I just looked at those legs. Those would work! I'd need to paint them brown though.

 

[EbS-P]

I just looked at those legs. Those would work! I'd need to paint them brown though.

I’m not a fan of the black either. I’m going to get a set of 4 and only use three (or at least try too). As I didn’t flatten the bottom so it will likely not be level on 4. I didn’t read enough to see if they have leveling feet.

 

[GrumpyDad]

I’m not a fan of the black either. I’m going to get a set of 4 and only use three (or at least try too). As I didn’t flatten the bottom so it will likely not be level on 4. I didn’t read enough to see if they have leveling feet.

yea they do come with leveling feet.
"...and come equipped with adjustable levelers hidden well in the feet."