July 2022

5 Epoxy River Table Tips for Beginners

Over the past few years, the boys and I have shown you some of the most incredible epoxy builds, and we thought it’s time to share some of our fantastic knowledge with you. I’ve gotten a ton of questions from yinz on how the hell we manage to build these epoxy river tables, and now it’s time to reveal our secrets. Well, these aren’t secrets, but it sounds more mysterious that way. So buckle up and get ready to take some notes so you can build your own SICK epoxy river table. Watch the full video to become a master at epoxy river tables.

Tips for Building the Sickest Epoxy River Table EVER

Epoxy nightmares, be gone! John Malecki offers five tips for building river tables

I’m obviously not going to reveal all the tips here for you — that’s why we made that entire video. BUT, I will give you a little sneak peek into the tips, so you are even more prepared once you start building.

Perfectly Cutting a Slab

Cutting a slab perfectly in half can be an incredible challenge but can be done with a simple tape measure and chalk box. First, take the tape measure to one end of the table and map out where the middle is, then repeat that on the other end. Next, use the chalk box to create a straight line across the entire table.

Measure the Perfect Amount of Resin

Finding the perfect amount of resin is something we get a ton of questions on. To know how much resin you will need for your build, measure the distance between your wood slabs and find the average of those measurements. Then find the river’s depth so you can use a volume calculator to see the amount of resin needed.

Surfacing Your River Table

River tables need to be surfaced, which can be done in multiple ways. One thing a lot of people overlook is pre-surfacing, but it’s just as crucial as surfacing. We do it with our CNC machine, not to save time, but the CNC gives us a more uniform piece to put into our project.

Choosing the Right Mold Size

This one is short and sweet — make sure you oversize your boxes and molds. We run into the problem all the time where we decide on a size for our table, make a mold of that size, and forget that the table still needs to be cleaned up. So, to avoid all of the mix-ups, we’ve made it a standard to make our molds oversized.

Eliminating Bubbles

To eliminate bubbles, it’s a lot easier than you think. First step: read the damn label. Next step: make sure you are using the correct type of resin for your specific build. Not all epoxy is made the same, so you have to make sure you are using the right kind for what you want to do. If you use the wrong resin, it can overheat, crack, and bubble.

Tools and Materials

Find out John Malecki’s go-to tools and how he gets his high-quality meats to stay healthy while working long days

I’ve listed my favorite materials for just about every build below, specifically for the epoxy builds. However, I wanted to highlight Butcher Box because they not only offer the most high-quality meats that nourish my family and me, the meats are also delivered right to your door. Sometimes it can be challenging to eat healthy while I’m in the shop all day, but with Butcher Box, it’s a no-brainer.

ButcherBox gives customers access to high-quality meat at an affordable price, and you never pay for shipping. With ButcherBox, you get 100% grass-fed & grass-finished beef, free-range organic chicken, heritage breed pork, and more delivered to your doorstep, saving you time and money. No matter where you live, every family now has access to high-quality cuts of meat at the most affordable prices! New members will receive one pack of bacon in every box for the LIFETIME of their membership.