One of the best things about epoxy resin is its versatility, along with the fact that it works so well with so many different types of materials.
Wood is one of these. There are many ways you can use epoxy resin in woodwork, ranging from epoxy resin wood art to hang on your wall and admire, to practical uses such as epoxy resin as wood filler.
Why use epoxy resin for wood?
There is a whole host of reasons why epoxy resin is a perfect match for wood. For a start, it’s easy to work with. To make up your epoxy resin, all you need to do is mix two different solutions.
Then, get a window of opportunity of up to about 30 minutes before the combined solutions harden to form epoxy resin. You can use this time to tweak your project before the resin sets hard.
Epoxy resin is a strong and durable substance, hardening completely between 24 and 72 hours after it’s mixed. This means you can rely on it to reinforce or bond your woodwork for years to come.
You can also add some colour to your woodworking project by using epoxy resin with pigment added.
One thing that we love about epoxy resin is that it leaves a clear sheen on top of wood, allowing its natural beauty to shine through. This glossy layer will also protect your wood from damage and provide a waterproof coating too.
Finally, epoxy resin is an affordable way to treat your woodwork, requiring little skill and rewarding you with a beautiful finish with just a little effort.
Have we won you over? Of course we have, so let’s take a look at a selection of some of the many uses of epoxy resin as a wood finish and for strengthening and repair.
The basics
For any epoxy resin project, the basic equipment you’ll need are:
- Disposable gloves
- Safety glasses
- Face mask
- Plastic stirrer
- Measuring cup
- Ultra Clear Epoxy Resin Part A
- Epoxy Hardener Clearpox Part B
- Hairdryer, heat gun or toothpicks to remove bubbles for craft projects
To make life simple, you can get epoxy resin, epoxy hardener, a measuring cup and stirrer all in one place with our Ultra Clear Epoxy Resin Kit.
For strengthening and repair
Epoxy resin is known for its strong and durable finish, so there are many ways you can use it for any job involving strengthening and repair.
Filling holes
Wood is a beautiful and natural material, all the more so since each piece is unique. But this can mean that it contains imperfections like holes and cracks. For a barely noticeable repair, fill small holes with clear epoxy resin and sand the surface down once the resin has hardened.
For bigger holes and cracks, fill them with a combination of fine sawdust and epoxy resin, and sand down when set.
Strengthening wood
Any wood that has been exposed to the elements is going to bear some signs of weakness. Instead of replacing a worn piece of wood, cover it with a layer of clear epoxy resin to protect it from further damage while still allowing its natural beauty to shine through.
You can even add natural coloured pigments to boost its colour and give it a new lease of life.
Joinery
Many woodwork projects involve joining two or more pieces of wood together. You can do this with screws or glue, of course, but you could also join your wood with clear epoxy resin.
It’s a strong, reliable bond that’s long-lasting, and it looks good too. And because it’s clear, any small amounts spilt on your wood won’t spoil its look.
Epoxy resin wood crafts
There are many epoxy resin wood projects for beginners that are straightforward and don’t take a lot of specialist skill. Here’s our selection to get you started.
Coasters
DIY wood coasters are a great little project for an amateur woodworker or someone who’s new to the joys of epoxy resin.
The beauty of this type of project is that you can use up almost any scrap wood you have lying around. Smooth it down by sanding, then for standard size coasters, cut pieces to 10 x 10 cm with a depth of about 4 mm.
Then prepare your epoxy resin according to the packet instructions and cover your coasters with a beautiful, clear finish.
Chopping boards
A wooden chopping board is another simple yet rewarding project that even beginners can tackle. In fact, it’s even easier, as you only need to cut one piece of wood.
Just like the coasters project, once you’ve sanded your wood and cut out its basic shape, you can finish it with a layer of protective epoxy resin to guard against damage and provide a waterproof layer.
Jewellery
For anyone dipping their toe into the world of arts, crafts and epoxy resin, wooden jewellery is a good place to start.
You can buy the separate components you’ll need like beads, pendants, chains and clasps from a craft supplier and coat the wooden pieces with epoxy resin for an attractive sheen.
Or if you are more experienced with woodwork, you can design and create rings, bracelets and pendants yourself, finishing them with clear epoxy resin for a stylish look.
Wood bowls
An epoxy resin wood bowl is a satisfying project for anyone handy with some basic woodworking equipment.
Once you’ve created your basic shape, you can finish your wood bowl off by covering it with a clear layer of epoxy resin. This will give it a waterproof finish, making it a practical item that’s brimming with natural beauty too.
Wood art
The only limit is your imagination when it comes to using epoxy resin for wood art.
Create your own piece of wooden art from scratch using techniques such as wood burning to create shading and texture, or use an existing piece and cover with epoxy resin for a protective and attractive glossy seal.
River tables
Epoxy resin river tables truly have the ‘wow factor’ when it comes to homemade arts and crafts.
This kind of project is more suitable for someone with handiwork experience…and it’s certainly something to aspire to you when you’re just starting out!
Take a look at our ultimate guide to making a river table for step-by-step instructions.
Shop your epoxy resin supplies
Creating wooden items for the home or for decorative purposes is a pleasure, and it’s so easy too when you have the right equipment to hand.
Take a look at our online shop for your epoxy resin supplies. We’ve got everything you need for your beautiful and hardwearing wood and epoxy resin projects.
And if you need any help or advice, contact our team. We’re here to get you started on a lifetime of creative fun!