Crafting Masterpieces: The Art and Science of Epoxy Resin Furniture
For over a century, furniture makers have relied on epoxies and resins as the fusing medium for their most exclusive, one-of-a-kind tables and decor items. That’s because from castings and flood coatings, to plant stands and river tables, the durability and water resistance of epoxies and resins make it possible to create striking arrays of long-lasting furnishings from natural materials like timber, leaves, and seashells without the worry of them ever degrading.
Not all epoxies are the same, though. Differences in viscosity, clarity, and even colour blending properties all make for widely different finishes, each resulting in a perfectly unique outcome, and knowing what to expect from these vastly different commercial offerings is an essential part of achieving the desired outcome every time.
Bring Your Creativity to Life with High-Quality Epoxy Resins
Ask any chippie, bespoke woodworker or artisan, and they’ll proudly tell you that their clients expect more from custom tables and decor items than just uniqueness. They want them to be as resilient as they are captivating and high-quality, Australian-made crystal clear epoxy resins are the key to some of the most stunning designs imaginable, with the strength and stability to endure years of heavy use.
Unlike the polyurethane glues and casting resins used to craft wooden tables, furnishings, and accouterments, woodworking epoxy resin offers a range of easy-working, hard-wearing characteristics that include:
- Shorter working, and quicker drying and curing times, as well as minimal shrinkage;
- More viscous consistency, with better adhesion properties;
- Greater resistance to water and rough handling, as well as mechanical influences;
- Superior resistance to UV exposure and temperature extremes; and,
- Lower tensile strength which, after curing, increases the finished product’s toughness and malleability.
With their ability to penetrate and infuse all types of timber and fibrous materials, the microstructural bonds formed by a fast-curing epoxy resin for wood are stronger than the combined strength of the resin and the materials used with them. And for artisans who already have a vision of what they want to create with timber, a high-quality wood epoxy resin has all the qualities necessary to construct a durable, one-of-a-kind original.
Attributes That Make Epoxy Resin Furnishings Standout
From their ability to produce glass-like, high gloss finishes, to the long-lasting, wear-resistant surfaces they provide when fully cured, wood epoxy resins are recognized for a wide range of attributes that make them such an obvious choice for timber furnishings. Their strength gives them a clear advantage in versatility and usability, culminating in a range of properties that include:
- A natural weight reduction. Regardless of the size of your decor items, when compared to models made entirely from natural wood, epoxy resin variants weigh less, making moving heavy tables and other furnishings a noticeably less strenuous activity.
- Uncommon flexibility. Although epoxy resin furnishings don’t compromise on tensile strength, their flexibility allows them to absorb, and ultimately resist damage from the kinds of harsh impacts that would otherwise ruin their all-natural timber equivalents.
- Chemical stability. The chemical stability of epoxy resins gives them the advantage when it comes to perfect curing properties on all kinds of smooth or rough surfaces, without the possibility of cracking or fading.
- Damage-proof durability. When fully cured, a non-porous epoxy resin provides the perfect protective layer against damaging stains, spills, and moisture that could result in timber damage, or mold or mildew buildup.
- Low-cost elegance. While the use of epoxy resins invariably means an increased outlay in time and material, the complementary increase in durability and uniqueness over ordinary wood or veneer furnishings are a favoured proposition for most artisans and DIYers.
Ultimately, not only do the tables, stands, and accouterments made with epoxy resins excel aesthetically, but they’re also easier to clean and maintain than ordinary wood furnishings. They don’t require any special wood varnishes or cleaners to retain a like-new finish at all times, and you can use any regular strength glass cleaner, or soap and water with a gentle rag to bring out the full array of colours that only a resin-made furnishing can display.
Popular Resin Formulations That Offer the Best Effects
Make no mistake: when it comes to custom furnishings that are as beautiful as they are strong, epoxy resins are more than just a popular alternative. And no matter if you’re crafting a centrepiece river table for your living room, or a set of custom epoxy chairs for your office, the selection of epoxy resin coatings that are formulated exclusively for timber are able to achieve the most impressive range of effects imaginable, including:
- Pure Glass resin and hardener. With their low viscosity and leisurely 60-minute working time, self-leveling Pure Glass crystal clear epoxy formulations are ideal for colour blending with a variety of pigments, and offer excellent clarity and transparency when cured.
- River Cast resin and hardener. Slow-curing River Cast resins offer a 280-minute pot life, are water-white in colour, and are designed especially to give superior bubble dispersion properties for thick river table and wood turning pours, or filling larger voids and cracks in timber.
- Castaway Ultra Clear resin and hardener. Castaway Ultra Clear is the low viscosity, low colour/high clarity epoxy resin Australia trusts for pigment blended artwork, and for thin casting applications with medium curing speeds.
Whether it’s a super clear, food-safe epoxy to bring out the best hues of some of Australia’s most exotic timber types, or just want to create a simple table surface that’s sturdy but cleans up easily, you can rest assured that there’s a resin designed to do precisely what you need it to.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, epoxy resins are able to transform even the most ordinary pieces of timber into stable, stunning works of art. No other medium has the ability to encapsulate and preserve the way resins can, and today’s modern formulations are better than ever.
Australian-made crystal clear epoxy resins are among the best on the market for one-of-a-kind creations. They give you the freedom to produce wooden furnishings that wouldn’t be possible otherwise, and to do it at a cost that you can’t help appreciating.
A Living Room Designed for Chit-Chat and Entertaining: Things to Consider When Choosing a Wooden Table
Whether you have just moved into a new place and want to make it look modern and up-to-date or you are in the process of jazzing up your living room as to create a new, softer design direction, you need to choose every piece of furniture piece carefully.
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Traditional Sofas: Add Timeless Beauty to Any Living Room
The traditional furniture style will always stay in fashion no matter how the trends change. Elegant, classy and sophisticated, this style has the power to make any room look perfect without much decorating effort.
If you’re one of those people who enjoy playing it safe with this type of interior decor, then surely you’re looking for the right pieces of furniture for your living room. Symmetry and balance is the first thing that people think of when it comes to traditionally decorated living rooms. When thinking about a traditionally decorated living room what immediately comes to mind is a large fireplace, mirrors, classic pieces of furniture such as traditional sofas and armchairs, and grand chandeliers.
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Choosing an Armchair: Get a Stylish & Comfy Me-Time Corner
An armchair is a versatile piece of furniture that can play many different functions in your home – from providing a place for you to curl up with a book to being the perfect finishing touch to your living room seating or a bold accent to brighten a dull corner. According to design experts, placing an armchair in a room can be an alternative to painting a feature wall or hanging artwork by adding personality to the space. Read More
How to Choose Outdoor Dining Furniture to Fit Your Needs & Style
Having a backyard or a patio is a wonderful thing. You can spend some time outside and still be in the comfort of your home. However, most people don’t really step outside when it comes to dining. Do you have a spacious backyard and feel like using it properly? Maybe you want to add some furniture that would allow you to relax, eat and chill with your loved ones? Read More
The Daybed: A Multi-Functional Piece of Furniture You’re Sure to Love
Now that social distancing and staying at home are one of the main ways to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus, we’re starting to realize how important the furniture in our home is and the level of comfort it provides. While sure, aesthetics is also an important factor, it doesn’t really make much of a difference whether you’ll be powering through your 40-hour workweek sitting on a blue or beige sofa.
A couple of months ago I purchased a fancy day bed in a modern design with button diamond tufts which I intended to use in my home office mainly as a decorative piece. Little did I know that it would soon turn into an accent piece in my living room! Thanks to their hybrid design, daybeds are something between a sofa and a bed, so by getting one you get to reap the benefits of both. Here are some of them. Read More
Go Nordic All the Way: Room Designs to Get You Inspired
Moving into a new place is both exciting and challenging. When I started thinking about relocating and starting fresh with my family, the first challenge that popped into my head was furnishing. However, I was determined to design my home in a simpler way than ever before. That is when I discovered Scandinavian design and all the principles that come with it. Simplicity, minimalism and function are at the core of this style which has become one of the most popular choices all around the world. Fortunately, I did follow it and learned firsthand how great it looks and how functional it really is, so, let me to walk you through a few room designs that will surely get you inspired. Let’s begin!
How Our Adjustable Electric Bed Has Made Us a Better and Happier Couple
A good night’s sleep is essential for being energized and well-rested, but sometimes even if you do sleep the recommended 7-9 hours, you might not wake up refreshed and at your best. Unfortunately, I’m talking from personal experience here. A couple of months ago, I was waking up more and more tired every morning because my husband was snoring all night long and I was frequently waking up during the night. He had tried different solutions and snoring devices but unfortunately, nothing helped.
Ergonomic Furniture: Invest in Your Workers’ Mental and Physical Health
Today’s society brings people, chairs and desks closer together than ever before. Most people spend at least 8 hours at work, strapped to their chair. So, it is only natural that each worker should share a good working relationship with his/her chair. That being said, one great way for the employees to stay healthy and productive is to include ergonomic supplies in the form of chairs into the picture.
Designer Modular Lounge: The Reasons Behind the Trend
When it comes to arranging and rearranging our living room spaces, as the most frequented in a home both by homeowners and visitors, often we would like to have more say in the interior décor to be able to pull off that personalised look in the comfort we want.
Luckily, the variety of designer modular lounge provides exactly that, your share of LEGO fun in your very own living room. Who said LEGO is just for kids?! Also called sectional sofas, modular lounges available in different styles, from traditional to modern, provide a great deal of freedom with the way you arrange your seating.
Stackable Dining Chairs: Make Efficient Use of Your Restaurant’s Space
When it comes to restaurant dining chairs, there’s an unlimited number of options to choose from. In terms of style, most of them can be divided into classic or modern, and simple or complex. As most restaurant owners already have a good idea of how they want their place to look like, settling for a particular style isn’t that difficult. What’s a lot more difficult though, is choosing seating that will make efficient use of the space in your venue.
Considering how chairs are the single most common element in a restaurant’s venue, they can literally overtake the entire space unless you come up with a good seating scheme. While it’s only normal that you’d want to seat as many guests as possible, overcrowding the venue with chairs can create a suffocating atmosphere. As a result, instead of fitting more guests, the packed space will drive them away.
So, how can you as a restaurant owner fit more seats without restricting freedom of movement? One good solution for that would be to use stackable dining chairs. Long and gone are the days when restaurants used cheap plastic folding chairs to save space. Unlike folding chairs, stackable dining chairs have a higher aesthetic value and come with all the features needed to keep guests comfortable. They can be made from a wide range of materials such as metal, plastic or wood, be upholstered and include a curved back and armrests which increase comfort.
In other words, stackable dining chairs can be as stylish and functional as traditional chairs, with the advantage of being easy to store away when not in use. When you don’t need them, a number of these chairs can be stacked vertically and still take up the space of only a single chair. This, of course, is very beneficial for restaurants as it allows them to increase their amount of free floor space and still have a stash of extra seats on disposal should there be an influx of guests, like for instance on weekend nights.
While it’s definitely convenient to have these chairs stacked on top of one another, are they actually easy to move? Most stacking chairs are meant to be portable and therefore are usually built from lightweight materials. As they weigh less than traditional chairs, they are a lot easier to move for staff. When closing time comes along, the staff can easily put up the chairs on the tables and properly clean and vacuum the floor.
Learn the Language of Scandi Design & Let Your Living Room Speak It
If you are a person who enjoys the simple, but beautiful things in life, then you will surely appreciate the simplicity of the Scandinavian style in your living room. The very chic look that blends the past, modern and contemporary look originated in Northern Europe, in Finland, Sweeden and Norway. It attracted the attention of people all over the world due to its hygge decor, fine craftsmanship and the high dose of elegance it can bring to any home. And among the basic features of this style which are the clean lines, the spaciousness, the simple accents, the decorative details and the usage of as much natural light as possible, relying on wood as the main material emerges on top of the list.