This wasn’t some polished YouTube build. It was me, in a tiny apartment, with no clue what I was doing—just a slab of wood, a bucket of epoxy, and blind optimism. I made a lot of mistakes. But I also ended up with something I was proud of. If you’re thinking about trying your first epoxy resin table as a beginner, here’s the real story.
Why I Even Tried This (and What I Thought Would Happen)
I was obsessed with river tables but had no tools, no workshop — just a dream
I kept seeing these stunning tables online—swirling resin, glowing colors, live edge wood. I wanted one. I couldn’t afford one. So I thought: I’ll make it.
I figured how hard could it be?
Spoiler: harder than I thought. But also way more rewarding than I expected. There’s something about watching resin flow into place that’s just... addictive.
My goal: a coffee table that didn’t look like I built it blindfolded
I wasn’t aiming for perfection. I just wanted something functional and cool enough to make me want to try again.
What I Used (And What I Should Have Bought Instead)
My actual supply list (including the cheap mistakes)
I grabbed the first deep pour epoxy I saw on Amazon, some painter’s tape, and a random slab of wood from a local shop.
Mistake #1: I didn’t check moisture content. If I had found the wood prep guide sooner, it would’ve saved me.
Mistake #2: I bought the cheapest resin I could find. Don’t do that. This is the deep pour epoxy I recommend now.
The mold was a mess — here’s what worked better
I built my mold out of scrap plywood and packing tape. It leaked. Everywhere. What finally worked? Melamine board, sealed edges, and Tyvek tape. Life saver. (Or just follow what I outlined in this mold blog.)
Why I started with a small piece and not a giant dining table (thankfully)
I wanted to go big. Everyone does. But trust me—start small. My first project was a side table. When I messed up? It wasn’t a $1,000 loss.
The Messy Middle: My First Pour, My First Panic Attack
Mixing epoxy felt like a race against time
Once you start mixing, it’s go time. No breaks. No hesitation. Just pour. I had bubbles forming while I was still trying to figure out how to hold the bucket. I break this down more in the technical FAQ section.
Bubbles everywhere — heat gun saved me
I didn’t own a torch. I used a cheap heat gun, waved it over the resin, and it worked—mostly. Some bubbles stayed. But at least it didn’t foam up. More on this topic in this blog.
Forgot to level the form. Table turned into a slanty river 🤦
This is the one mistake I see beginners make over and over. Level. Your. Mold. I ended up with a resin wave on one side and a desert on the other.
Left it overnight and hoped for a miracle
Sometimes that’s all you can do.
The Big Reveal (And the Sanding Saga That Nearly Broke Me)
Peeling off the mold was weirdly satisfying
The resin had cured. The slab was solid. It was ugly—but it was mine.
The surface looked like it had seen better days
Cratered, bumpy, scratched. But I could tell there was something beautiful under all the roughness.
Spent more time sanding than I spent building
Start at 80 grit. Then 120. Then 220. Then 320. Then wet sand if you’re going glossy. It’s a process. Put on a long playlist. Or read what I did in this polishing blog.
But when the finish hit? Magic. Total magic.
That moment when the oil hits the grain and the resin starts to shine—that’s what hooks you. That’s the payoff.
If You’re a Beginner, Start Here
Keep it small. A side table is your best friend
You’ll learn everything you need to know without blowing your budget. I explain why in this blog about my first build.
Practice mixing on scrap first
Get a feel for the resin before you touch your real piece. It cures fast, and there’s no redo button.
Don’t cheap out on resin — it matters
A $30 epoxy kit might work for a keychain. Not for a table. Look for deep pour formulas from real makers. I wrote about the differences in this epoxy comparison blog.
Sanding will test your patience, so plan a playlist
No way around it. Just commit and enjoy the process.
It’s not about perfection — it’s about learning
Your first build won’t be flawless. Mine sure wasn’t. But it was mine.
I Didn’t Need Perfection. I Needed Momentum.
One table turned into this entire journey
That first pour led to dozens more. Bigger builds. Commissions. Custom work. But it all started with one wobbly side table in a tiny apartment. If you’re wondering if it’s still worth getting into, I answered that in this blog.
Start scrappy. Start small. Just start.
Everything else you can figure out along the way.
Thanks for taking the time to read—I really appreciate it. I hope something in my process (or my mistakes) helps you along the way. If you want a custom piece or hit a wall building your own, feel free to drop a comment or reach out—happy to help. Have a blessed day!
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