How We Build a River Table: From Dream to Delivery

Epoxy river tables have a magic about them — a perfect blend of nature and craftsmanship, raw organic beauty and glossy modern elegance. But building one isn’t just about pouring resin between slabs of wood. It’s an art form, a technical process, and a collaboration between us and you, the client.

Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes to show you every step that goes into bringing a custom epoxy river table to life.

1. Concept + Collaboration

Every project begins with a conversation.

We sit down with you (in person or virtually) to talk about:

• Size and dimensions: Dining table? Desk? Coffee table?

• Wood species: Walnut, maple, oak, and others each bring a different tone and character.

• River style: Do you envision a wild, natural flow? A clean, straight line?

• Epoxy color: Crystal clear, smoky black, deep ocean blue, or even something pearlescent.

• Base design: Custom steel bases, live edge legs, or minimalist wood frames — we design to match your style.

We’ll sketch a few ideas or create 3D renders to help you visualize the final piece. This is also when we finalize timelines and pricing.

2. Material Selection

Once we have a clear design plan, we source the perfect slabs.

We handpick wood that's:

• Air- or kiln-dried to proper moisture content

• Free of major structural defects (or we plan repairs into the design)

• Full of interesting grain, knots, and natural character

At this stage, you’ll often get a selection of slabs to approve — and we’ll even mock up possible layouts for your river.

3. Preparation and Layout

Here’s where the real work starts:

• Flatten and prep the slabs: We joint, plane, and flatten the wood to ensure everything sits level.

• Trim and shape: We cut the slabs to size and carve out the river channel if needed.

• Mockup: We dry-fit the slabs into the mold to visualize flow, gap width, and orientation. Adjustments happen here to make sure the river looks just right.

4. Building the Mold

A custom mold is built to the exact dimensions of the table.

• Made from melamine or HDPE (to prevent epoxy sticking)

• Fully sealed with caulk to eliminate leaks

• Slabs are securely clamped in place

• We also apply mold release to make the demolding process smoother later

5. The Pour: Epoxy Time

The star of the show!

• Seal Coat: First, we brush a thin layer of epoxy over the wood to prevent bubbles from escaping during the main pour.

• Mix and Pour: We mix high-grade epoxy resin with pigments or dyes, ensuring a perfect blend. The resin is poured slowly to reduce bubbles.

• Layering (if needed): For thicker pours, we do multiple layers to avoid overheating and cracking.

During this phase, we monitor for bubbles, torching or vacuuming them out as needed.

Cure time: usually 3–7 days depending on resin brand, thickness, and environment.

6. De-Molding and Flattening

Once the epoxy has cured:

• The piece is popped out of the mold.

• We send it through the CNC router (or carefully hand-flatten) to ensure a dead-flat surface.

• Edges are trimmed clean.

• Small defects (tiny air bubbles or voids) are patched with clear epoxy.

7. Sanding + Finishing

A labor of love.

We sand through multiple grits (starting around 80 grit and going all the way up to 600, sometimes even higher) to achieve a silky smooth finish.

If you want a "mirror-like" epoxy gloss, we also:

• Polish the resin

• Apply a fine buffing compound

• Wax the surface for additional depth

Otherwise, a more natural matte or satin finish can be applied with high-end oils or hardwax finishes that protect while enhancing the wood’s character.

8. Attaching the Base

Once the tabletop is perfected, we install the custom base:

• Carefully measured and aligned for perfect balance

• Secured with threaded inserts (never just wood screws — we build for longevity)

• Protective pads added to prevent floor damage

9. Delivery and Install

Finally, it’s time for delivery day.

Depending on the size of the piece, we either deliver personally or work with trusted white-glove carriers. Once on-site:

• We bring the table in

• Assemble it if needed

• Level it perfectly

• Give you care instructions to keep it stunning for decades

Watching a client’s face light up when they see their custom table for the first time? That’s why we do what we do.

Ready to Build Your Dream Table?

Whether you’re dreaming of a wild live-edge river table or a sleek, modern design, we can bring it to life — every curve, every color, every detail.

Let’s start the conversation. Contact us here.