Live Edge Resin Table. How to Transform Reclaimed Live Edge Into a Piece of Art!

Reclaimed, extremely old, Red Cedar wood turned into a resin live edge table! The markings are amazing, the colors, the shape. Rescued from swamp in AR I was very lucky getting this piece! I love how it turned out!

Step 1: Finding the Right Reclaimed Wood

In order to make a live edge table you have to have the right wood. The older the tree the better. I personally like my slabs cut to where they are round because I add resin to most of mine. I got lucky finding this extremely old cedar. It was already cut for the most part. A county club had taken it from the swamp after it fell due to a storm. The grounds keeper let me take my pick and even helped me load it onto the truck. 1st step done!

Step 2: Chainsaw

I use a chainsaw to cut my live edge wood. Before you cut in make sure you know how thick you want your table. You also want to make sure the wood it stable, you don't want it moving while your chainsawing.

Step 3: Sanding and Cleaning Out the Nasty Stuff

Your live edge slab will have bugs, fungus, etc. Here comes the not so pretty part of preparing this beautiful wood. ;) I use my dremel tool to brush away a lot the rot and fungus in the middle. Many bugs will come out on their own after all the sanding and cutting start.

Step 4: Sand, Sand, and Sand Again

Start sanding with 40 grit sandpaper if your slab is uneven. You can start with 60 grit if your slab is flattened enough. You sand every inch of slab going with grain. I go from 40 grit sandpaper to 120 grit sandpaper. The sanding will show off all the amazing markings and colors. It will also help you shape you slab if need be.

Step 5: Resin Pour

I do my resin pour before I'm completely done with sanding because I usually will have to sand it again anyways. Tape off your hole and the entire underneath of slab. You can use painters tape or a stronger tape (there are a few choices on amazon). Make sure your slab is dust free and in an area that's around 70 degrees. Mix your resin and mix it well! I add powders and other things to my resin for custom orders but you do not have to. Let dry for 24 hours.

Step 6: Sand Again!

After resin has dried, take off tape, sand everything down flat. I put resin in all the creases and cracks as well and it really shows after sanding. I usually do layers of resin as well, so I would be repeating this process about 3 more times.

Step 7: Buffing

Finally you get to add some oil and buff away. Love this part! You get to see just how pretty you slab is and all your hard work was worth it. My finish is tried and true wood finish. I apply a few coats after each have dried.

Step 8: Add Legs

Your done! Find some metal legs on Amazon and screw them in. Make sure you pick the color, length, and style that goes best with your table. And yea! You have one amazing live edge resin table!

Step 9: Add Ins;)

Things I added to the resin in this table:
Resin ice silver
Macaw Powder
And a bit of glow
The glow has to be charged by the sun during day for it to really glow at night. I poured it 1st so just the bottom of " river " would glow. Added just a tiny bit of powder and resin ice to my last pour.