Epoxy and Wood Coasters
Introduction: Epoxy and Wood Coasters
I tired many different methods to make epoxy and wood coasters. There was a fairly big learning curve. I feel that these are the best of the coasters I made and I wanted to share the process.
Allie Nichols- PATHS Woodworking
Supplies
Tape Measure
Combination Square
Pencil
Heat Gun
Table Saw
Dado Blade
Safety Glasses
Measuring Cups & Mixing Stick
Sandpaper & Sander
Masking Tape
Two Part Epoxy
Epoxy Dye
Walnut Oil
Clean up rags
Gloves
Tooth Pick
Step 1: Choose Your Wood
Choose your piece of wood for your project, I chose 3⁄4” walnut.
Cut your wood to at least 17” inches long with a width of 4” inches.
Step 2: Plane Your Wood
After you get your choice of wood run it through a planer and bring it down to a thickness of ½ an inch or thicker or just a little thinner if you want.
Step 3: Make Your Groves
Take your wood over to a table saw, lower or raise the blade to a little over half the depth of the board and run it across to get a thickness of groves/dado through your board that you like. This is the area where the epoxy will go.
You can choose to make 1 grove or you can make more.
Step 4: Epoxy and Supplies
You will need a two part epoxy, two measuring cups, a mixing cup, and masking tape a stir stick for the next part.
Step 5: Tape the Edges
Tape off the ends of your wood to make sure no epoxy spills out. Be sure the tape is secure.
Step 6: Mix Your Epoxy
Add equal parts of part A and part B of the epoxy and pour them into your mixing cup. Follow the directions on the epoxy container. (I used about 2oz of each). Add your color of choice and mix till combined evenly.
Step 7: Pour Your Epoxy
Slowly pour the epoxy into your groves. 76
Make sure you are on a flat surface and your epoxy is even throughout the board.
Be as neat as possible.
Step 8: Wipe It Clean
Make sure you wipe any epoxy off that is not in the right place so you don't have to sand a lot afterwards.
Step 9:
Use a heat gun or a blow dryer to remove as many bubbles as possible. Keep the heat gun back a little bit so none of the epoxy gets blown out.
Step 10: Add Swirls
Add white drops of dye to the wet epoxy, use a toothpick to spread it around to make lines and swirls. Use the white cautiously you can always add more but can not take it away.
Let dry on a flat surface for at least 24 hrs.
Step 11: Sand the Coasters
Next sand just the wood and clean up the edges, try not to touch the epoxy with the sander so it doesn’t get scratched. If the epoxy is sitting higher or lower than the wood you can sand over the epoxy but it scratches it and will be harder to see the swirls.
You can put masking tape on top of the epoxy so it does not get sanded. You can also hand sand the coasters.
Step 12: Set Up the Stop Block
Put a block of wood 4” inches away from the blade of the table saw clamp it in place , This stop block will make sure all coasters are the same size.
Step 13: Cut Coasters to Size
Making sure your board is sitting flush with the back of the saw and is clamped down if needed. Then cut straight down to make a clean cut.
Step 14: Clean Up the Edges
You can sand down the edges of your coasters to clean them up . You can also sand the back a little to thin the coasters out.
Step 15: Final Step Oil It
Use a tack rag to clean off any dust . Apply oil, stain, or finish of your choice to your coasters. I used walnut oil for mine.
Step 16: Finished Project
Now you are all done and can keep them or give it to someone as a gift. 76