Turn a slice of raw wood into a durable coffee table! This guide follows my process for finishing a cross-cut maple "cookie" with epoxy resin and attaching hairpin legs.

This live-edge piece of wood had some holes on top that I wanted to fill, and something had to be done to hold the bark on. So I decided to use bartop epoxy resin to finish the whole piece.

This clear glossy finish is ultra durable and cold beverage-friendly. The epoxy completely seals the surface, keeping water out!

Epoxy resin doesn't stand up to high heat, so use coasters for coffee and cocoa and never put a hot pan or dish directly on the table.

This 150 year-old slab of maple came from my parents' property in Connecticut. I was told the spalting (pigmented ring patterns caused by fungi) made this wood very desirable.

Before beginning the transformation from slice to table, this cookie dried out in my parents' barn for about two years.

The supplies used for this project include, but are not limited to:

  • wood slab, reclaimed wood, or other planar surface
  • belt/oscillating/orbital sander
  • varying grits of sandpaper
  • hairpin legs and matching screws
  • drill and wood bits
  • polyurethane wood finish and foam brushes
  • Liquin or other finish for raw steel legs
  • bar/table top epoxy
  • mixing containers
  • stir sticks and/or mixing dril accessory
  • plastic drop sheet
  • masking/packing tape
  • E6000 or hot melt adhesive
  • rubber gloves
  • dust-free curing area above 75 degrees F
  • scrap cardboard
  • eye protection
This project is very messy and uses materials capable of causing permanent property damage and bodily harm. Follow all the manufacturer's instructions and safety warnings.

This guide was first published on Nov 04, 2014. It was last updated on Nov 04, 2014.

This page (Overview) was last updated on Oct 28, 2014.

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