Guide · custom or DIY
Custom Resin Table or a DIY Kit?
In cash, yes. In time and risk, no: a river needs litres of casting resin poured in layers at 18 to 20°C, then a router sled and a sander to flatten and finish it. Small pieces are a fair first project; a dining table is a maker's job.
An honest comparison: the money, the time, the tools and the risk.
Free, no obligation. One Irish maker gets your design, not a list.
- 18–20°Cthe room temperature resin wants
- 2–5 cma layer, never deeper
- 7–14 daysbefore it's finished
- 10+ litresof resin in a long river
Design your table
Design your resin table
Eight quick questions. The sketch changes as you pick. When you send it, one Irish resin table maker gets your design and comes back to you with a price.
Step 1 of 3
Step 2 of 3
Drawing your table. This takes 20 to 50 seconds.
Your request is already through, so you can close this page if you need to.
That's an AI concept, not a drawing to build from. Every slab is different: the maker shows you the real boards before anything is cut.
We couldn't do this one. Some photos don't work: a clearer, wider shot in daylight usually does.
Your request is in: you'll still get a call with a price.
Side by side
Kit or maker, honestly
| A DIY kit | An Irish maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | Less: resin by the litre, plus a slab | More: slab, resin, hours and a base |
| Time | Weeks: layers, curing, flattening, sanding | None of yours |
| Tools | A mould, a router sled, a sander, clamps | The maker's |
| Space | A room at a steady 18 to 20°C for a week or two | The maker's workshop |
| Risk | Leaks, bubbles, overheating, an uneven top | The maker's problem |
| Result | Yours, flaws and all | Flat, finished, on a proper base |
Work out the resin before you buy a kit: litres = length (m) × width (m) × depth (mm). A river 2 m long, 15 cm wide and 40 mm deep is about 12 litres, and you'll want a little more for leaks and a flood coat.
When DIY makes sense
Good first projects, and hard ones
- Good first projects: a side table, a small coffee table, clear resin in the cracks of a slab you already have, a serving board.
- Leave to a maker: a dining table, a wide or deep river, a single big slab, anything that has to be dead flat.
If you do it yourself: nitrile gloves, eye protection and good ventilation, a sealed mould, a steady 18 to 20°C, and never more than the resin's stated depth in one pour. Mixed resin left in the pot can overheat: move it outside.
Resin tables
More on resin tables
Every table is made to order around real slabs. Start with the one you want.
Resin coffee tablesThe way most people start. Irish made, about 90 cm: €450–€550.Coffee tables →
River tablesTwo live edge slabs with resin poured between them. A 2.5 m river dining table: €4,000–€5,100.River tables →
Epoxy resin for tablesCasting resin, pour depths, curing, heat, scratches and yellowing.Resin facts →
Wood for resin tablesOak, ash, elm, walnut and spalted beech: which Irish slabs, and what each costs.Wood choices →
Care and maintenanceCleaning, mats, sunlight, oiling the wood and polishing out scratches.Care →
Resin dining tablesTables for 4 to 10. Live edge for 6 in oak: €1,800–€3,200 before resin.Dining tables →Questions
Questions we get asked
Is a DIY resin table cheaper?
In cash, yes. In time and risk, no: a river needs litres of casting resin poured in layers at 18 to 20°C, then a router sled and a sander to flatten and finish it. Small pieces are a fair first project; a dining table is a maker's job.
How much resin do I need for a river table?
Litres = length (m) × width (m) × depth (mm). A 2 m × 15 cm × 40 mm river is about 12 litres.
Why did my resin crack or go yellow?
Usually it was poured too deep at once and overheated, or the room was too warm. Pour in layers at 18 to 20°C.
Can a maker finish a table I started?
Some will flatten and finish a top you poured. Send photos and ask.
Who makes my table?
One Irish resin table maker. Your design goes to one maker only, never a list. They contact you, show you slabs and give you a price. Nothing is ordered until you say yes.
Design your resin table
One Irish maker gets your design and comes back with a price. Nothing is ordered until you say yes.