Building Wood and Resin River-Style Tables E-Book

Bradlyn Zimmerman

• Herausgeber: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 119

Beschreibung

Make your live edge river table dreams come true! A classy and unique addition to any space, river tables combine artistic elegance with everyday functionality, and this beginner-friendly guide will show you everything you need to know to accomplish these stunning pieces yourself. Featuring detailed overviews and tutorials for every step of the process from start to finish, you'll learn how select the wood, prepare the slab, prepare and pour the epoxy resin, trim and sand the table, and so much more to equip yourself with all the skills and knowledge you need to make your own river or waterfall table! Also included is an inspirational gallery of more than 100 river tables made by real people of all experience and skill levels. A complete guide that demystifies the stunning craft of building live edge river tables, this book is an absolute must-have to learn how to make it happen and do it yourself!

Leseprobe

© 2022 by Bradlyn Zimmerman and Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552.

Building Wood and Resin River-Style Tables is an original work, first published in 2022 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holders.

Print ISBN 978-1-63741-124-7

ISBN 978-1-4971-0302-3

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022940457

To learn more about the other great books from Fox Chapel Publishing, or to find a retailer near you, call toll-free 800-457-9112 or visit us at www.FoxChapelPublishing.com.

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to [email protected].

Table of Contents

Introduction

Overview of Building a River-Style Table

Gallery

Tools and Materials

Safety

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Live Edge Furniture

CHAPTER 2

Selecting Live Edge Slabs

CHAPTER 3

Preparing Live Edge Slabs for Pouring Epoxy

CHAPTER 4

Making an Epoxy Table Form

CHAPTER 5

Preparing and Coloring Epoxy

CHAPTER 6

Pouring a River-Style Table

CHAPTER 7

Cutting, Sanding, and Machining the Tabletop

CHAPTER 8

Making, Mounting, and Finishing Table Legs

CHAPTER 9

Finishing the Tabletop

About the Author

Photo Credits

Introduction

I began crafting river-style tables in the early 2010s as a hobby. Pretty soon, that hobby expanded into a thriving business. Sharing my craft with customers has been a great joy over the years, and I am excited to now share it with a wider audience.

Often, people are somewhat intimidated by the prospect of working with epoxy, building a mold, and the other things that go along with building a river-style table. But it is much easier than it seems. In this book, I use methods that are great for a beginner, using materials and tools readily available at any local hardware store.

I will walk you through the steps to make your own one-of-a-kind river-style table. We will cover everything from start to finish, including an introductory history of live edge furniture, how to source and select live edge slabs, mixing and coloring your epoxy, and of course, constructing your table. Once we are done, you will have a functional piece of art that you created with your own two hands!

While completing the projects in this book will take a great deal of care and attention to detail, I wanted to make sure that they are approachable to beginners. I know that most people do not have a shop full of specialty, professional-grade tools and that start-up costs can quickly get expensive. For that reason, I have kept simplicity in mind. We will be using only the most essential tools. Even if you do not own so much as a hammer, this book is designed to keep your costs at a minimum.

In this book, I will cover creating a coffee table, dining table, and end table. No matter which project you decide to tackle, keep in mind that these chapters outline how I make river-style tables. There is no singular “right” way. These are just the ways I found work best for me after a decade of making river-style tables. Feel free to experiment and make the table your own. As long as you adhere to the basic concepts taught in this book, you cannot go wrong!

Above all else, remember to have fun!

- Bradlyn Zimmerman

“The workshop to me always means great atmosphere, working, smell of wood, dust and, at the end of the day, you’ve created something.”

- DAVID LINLEY

Overview of Building a River-Style Table

While there are many steps to creating a river-style table, the overall process can be summed up by the timeline below. Once you get started, you’ll be surprised at just how quickly you create a beautiful, unique finished product!

Prepare the Slabs

Remove bark

Cut your board

Create your vision

Mix and Pour Epoxy

Let epoxy set in container

Add color and mix

Pour into river

Make Table Legs

Cut lumber to size and shape

Drill counter sink holes

Install metal inserts in bottom of table

Build the Form

Apply sheathing tape

Caulk a barrier

Add end boards

Sand the Tabletop

Start with belt sander

Orbital sander, 80-grit

Smooth with progressively higher grits

Finish, Buff, and Mount Legs

Apply oil to table surface

Buff surface

Secure legs

Gallery

In this book, you will find step-by-step instructions to building your own one-of-a-kind river-style table. But the tables detailed within are not the only ways to make a river-style table. This gallery showcases works from artisans that you can use for inspiration when crafting your own table. Best of all, each of these pieces can be made using the concepts taught in this book!

Bradlyn Zimmerman | TheOleWoodShack

Pennsylvania, United States

I started my business, TheOleWoodShack, as a side hobby in my dad’s workshop. At the time, my dad and I made handcrafted wood chairs for my uncle’s furniture company. In the early 2010s, we started making a few live edge tables. With the scrap cutoffs, I started making shelving and other small pieces. These sold surprisingly well. After a few years, I began making live edge river-style tables and selling them to clients. I am thankful that I have been able to turn my hobby into a successful business. It brings me great joy to share this craft with my customers, and now, you!

The Berkshire Table

This table was created by using two slabs of cedar. The curving design on these slabs allowed us to encase epoxy on the edges, giving the table a beautiful, flowing effect. With all the cracks and decay in these slabs, we needed to carefully make sure they were all perfectly filled to create a smooth finish for the law office that is now its home.

Dimensions: 108" x 48" (274.3 x 121.9cm)

Tabletop: dark cedar

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: steel X-beam

Finish: hardwax oil

Vegas Mesa

For this table, our client selected two beautiful slabs of claro walnut. We then coordinated the epoxy color to match the chairs and tie the whole dining set together.

Dimensions: 120" x 48" (304.8 x 121.9cm)

Tabletop: claro walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Misty Blues

Figured maple is one of my favorite woods. The way the wood shimmers as the light moves across it is stunning. This wood paired with a blue river is a style that fits perfectly together.

Dimensions: 96" x 42" (243.8 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: figured maple

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: Z-style steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Pacifica

Working with our client on this table, we selected some slabs from a slab supplier in Massachusetts. Then, in Pennsylvania, we transformed the slabs into the table it is today, adding waves and movement between the two maple slabs. From there, the table went to its home in California near the Pacific Ocean.

Dimensions: 72" x 48" (182.9 x 121.9cm)

Tabletop: figured maple

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder and white dye

Leg Construction/Material: steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Black Onyx

This small dining table is perfect for any home. Black epoxy along with black walnut always gives a classic look to fit many home styles.

Dimensions: 60" x 48" (152.4 x 121.9cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Welke Walnut

This was one of the first large river-style tables we made. In building the table, we learned the challenges of moving such a large slab with only two people!

Dimensions: 108" x 48" (274.3 x 121.9cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: solid black dye

Leg Construction/Material: handcrafted steel

Finish: hardwax oil

Jackson Teal

Our client was looking for a unique black walnut desk. After visiting my live edge supplier, we settled on two slabs with beautiful crotch figuring, giving this desk a one-of-a-kind beauty.

Dimensions: 50" x 36" (127 x 91.4cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: U-style steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Englander

Black walnut is a popular choice for river-style tables. This table, along with a matching bench, makes a beautiful dining set. The large knot in the dining table slab creates a flowing river that stuns along with the character in the wood!

Dimensions: 72" x 42" (182.9 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: V-style steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Texas Maple

In this table, we did a smoky gray epoxy color. By adding just a touch of black pigment, the result was a faint gray hue moving throughout the epoxy.

Dimensions: 72" x 48" (182.9 x 121.9cm)

Tabletop: maple

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: steel hexagon base

Finish: hardwax oil

English Elm

To start with this table, we worked with a sawmill in Massachusetts and found a set of elm with lots of flowing grain patterns. Adding a deep teal blue makes it a one-of-a-kind dining set.

Dimensions: 84" x 42" (213.4 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: English elm

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: U-style steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Anderson Gray

This river-style table has a unique coloring in the epoxy. The client wanted the epoxy to match his cabinets, so we used the same paint code and added it with the epoxy.

Dimensions: 84" x 42" (213.4 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: dye

Leg Construction/Material: steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Vibrant Blue

This table uses mica powder to create a bright blue effect in the river. Coupled with the variations of light and dark in the maple slabs, it has a striking effect!

Dimensions: 72" x 40" (182.9 x 101.6cm)

Tabletop: maple

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: 3" x 3" (7.6 x 7.6cm) steel square tube

Finish: hardwax oil

Pittsburgh Steel

Metallic gray epoxy can be used with most any wood. This client from Pittsburgh chose some sturdy steel legs to go along with the gray epoxy look.

Dimensions: 72" x 42" (182.9 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: beech

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: U-style steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Figured Maple Ice

Figured maple has beautiful live edges. To preserve that beauty, we used transparent tint to give the river some color, but not so much that the burls and knots in the live edge were hidden from view.

Dimensions: 84" x 42" (213.4 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: maple

Epoxy Coloring Method: tint dye

Leg Construction/Material: H-style steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Mappa Coffee

Mappa burl is a species of poplar. Its high number of burls is what makes it unique. This piece was especially thick, which adds to the depth of the epoxy and the overall look of the piece.

Dimensions: 50" x 30" (127 x 76.2cm)

Tabletop: mappa burl

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

Claro Walnut Credenza

Our client was redoing the entrance area of their house—including a desk, credenza and cabinet. They wanted the live edge slab to flow from the credenza into the cabinet. So, we poured a slab long enough to make doors for both the credenza and the cabinet at once. After they cured, we cut them into doors.

Dimensions: 70" x 32" x 20" (177.8 x 81.3 x 50.8cm)

Credenza: claro walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Finish: hardwax oil

Green Emerald

This slab had a large void on one side. Instead of filling that with the same color as the river, we mixed up some solid black epoxy to give some contrast to the void and showcase it in a different color.

Dimensions: 84" x 42" (213.4 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: 3" x 3" (7.6 x 7.6cm) steel square tube

Finish: hand-rubbed oil

Walnut Beam

For this table, we did everything as we normally would. We made sure to get slabs large enough that there would be enough excess wood to create a 4x4 beam to finish out the look of this modern farmhouse-style table.

Dimensions: 96" x 42" (243.8 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: X-style steel base with wood beam

Finish: hardwax oil

Triangle Black Walnut

For this table, we made a more unusual shape than the typical rectangle. Along with that, we paired it with some slim, curving brushed-steel legs for an elegant touch to this piece.

Dimensions: 38" x 38" (96.5 x 96.5cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: aluminum

Finish: hardwax oil

Nokon Walnut

The client for this table was looking for a blue, but with a touch of purple to make this piece a bit different. After several mixtures of mica blues and purple, we achieved the shade that they were looking for.

Dimensions: 84" x 48" (213.4 x 121.9cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: steel

Finish: hardwax oil

Walnut Waves

Our client was looking for a timeless, classic river-style table to add to their home. The end result was this gorgeous black walnut dining table featuring a blue river.

Dimensions: 60" x 48" (152.4 x 121.9cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: steel

Finish: hardwax oil

Lava Canyon

This table was built for a functional sit/stand desk. The shades of yellow, orange, and red make this lava river eye-catching and unique.

Dimensions: 60" x 42" (152.4 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: adjustable base

Finish: hardwax oil

Marble Claro

This table was made using two unique marbled claro walnut slabs. Paired with a smoky semitranslucent epoxy, we were still able to showcase the beautiful live edges on these slabs.

Dimensions: 84" x 48" (213.4 x 121.9cm)

Tabletop: claro walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: tint dye

Leg Construction/Material: steel X with wooden beam

Finish: hardwax oil

Black Walnut Coffee Table

A coffee table like this one is the perfect piece to start out with. Easy to handle, low cost, but still very functional.

Dimensions: 30" x 20" (76.2 x 50.8cm)

Tabletop: black walnut

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: V-style steel base

Finish: hardwax oil

White Waterfalls

The waterfall edge is one of my favorite touches when you want to add something different to a piece. It is one of the more technical parts of a table like this, but when finished will make it a statement piece in any room. In this book, you will be shown how to make this exact table.

Dimensions: 60" x 42" (152.4 x 106.7cm)

Tabletop: maple

Epoxy Coloring Method: mica powder

Leg Construction/Material: U-style wooden leg

Finish: hardwax oil