River tables · Ireland
River Tables, Made in Ireland
A river table is two live edge slabs set apart with resin poured between them, so the resin runs the length of the table like a river. A 2.5 m river dining table in Irish spalted beech costs €4,000–€5,100.
How a resin river table is made, how much resin it takes, the colours, and what it costs.
Free, no obligation. One Irish maker gets your design, not a list.
- €4,000–€5,100a 2.5 m river dining table
- 2–5 cmof resin a pour, in layers
- 7–14 daysfor the resin to fully cure
- 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.
How it's made
How a river table is made
| Stage | What happens | How long |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The slab | Dried hardwood slabs are chosen, cut to length and flattened. Bark and soft edges come off back to sound wood. | Depends on the slab |
| 2. The mould | The slabs are set apart in a sealed mould, usually melamine with release tape or wax, so the resin can't leak or stick. | Part of the making days |
| 3. The pour | Casting resin goes in layers of about 2 to 5 cm. Deeper in one go and it overheats: it can boil, yellow or crack. | 12 to 72 hours between layers |
| 4. The cure | The resin hardens fully before anyone flattens it. | 7 to 14 days to full cure |
| 5. Flattening and sanding | A router sled takes the top flat, then the sanding goes up through the grits to a fine finish. | Part of the 5 to 8 days of making |
| 6. Finish and base | Oil or hardwax oil on the wood, a polish or topcoat on the resin, then the legs or frame. | Part of the making days |
The live edges are the point: the resin follows the natural shape of the trees on both sides. That's why two river tables are never alike, and why you should see the slabs before you order.
The resin
How much resin a river takes
How much resin does a river table need?
Litres of resin = length (m) × width of the river (m) × depth (mm). A river 2 m long, 15 cm wide and 40 mm deep holds about 12 litres.
That's why a full river costs more than a clear seam, and why a wide, deep river in a long table is the dearest kind of resin table. Some makers cut the resin down with a core in the middle of the channel.
The resin is a casting (deep pour) epoxy, not a coating epoxy. More on the resin, heat and yellowing.
Price guide
What river tables cost
Irish-made tables, with the slab, the making, the finish and a base. The base also on its own.
| Table | Typical price | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| River dining table, 2.5 m, Irish timber and resin | €4,000–€5,100 | The length, the resin colour, the base |
| Live edge dining table for 6, oak | €1,800–€3,200 | One wide slab or two joined. Resin on top of this |
| Live edge dining table for 8, oak | €2,800–€4,500 | Wide, long slabs are scarce |
| Walnut dining table for 6 | €2,500–€4,500 | Walnut slabs cost 50 to 80% more than oak or ash |
| Welded steel frame | €200–€450 | U, trapeze or box shape, the finish |
| Solid timber trestle base | €350–€700 | The timber and the joints |
A guide to Irish-made tables. Your price comes from the maker once the slab is chosen. Nothing is ordered until you say yes.
Resin tables
More on resin tables
Every table is made to order around real slabs. Start with the one you want.
Resin dining tablesTables for 4 to 10. Live edge for 6 in oak: €1,800–€3,200 before resin.Dining tables →
Resin coffee tablesThe way most people start. Irish made, about 90 cm: €450–€550.Coffee tables →
Wood for resin tablesOak, ash, elm, walnut and spalted beech: which Irish slabs, and what each costs.Wood choices →
Epoxy resin for tablesCasting resin, pour depths, curing, heat, scratches and yellowing.Resin facts →
Care and maintenanceCleaning, mats, sunlight, oiling the wood and polishing out scratches.Care →
Custom or a DIY kitWhat a kit really takes, and which tables are worth doing yourself.Custom or DIY →Questions
Questions we get asked
What is a river table?
Two live edge slabs set apart with resin poured between them, so the resin runs the length of the table like a river.
How much is a river table in Ireland?
A 2.5 m river dining table in Irish timber, with resin and timber legs, is €4,000–€5,100. Coffee tables with resin are €450–€550.
What wood is used for river tables?
Any dry hardwood with a good live edge: oak, ash, elm, walnut and spalted beech are the usual ones in Ireland.
Does the resin in a river table crack?
Not when it's poured right: in layers of about 2 to 5 cm, at 18 to 20°C, into dry wood. Pouring too deep at once is what makes resin overheat, yellow or crack.
Can a river table go outside?
Not as a rule. Casting resins are made for indoor furniture: sun and frost work on both the resin and the wood. A covered, shaded spot is the most you should ask of one.
How long does a river table take?
The making is 2 to 3 days for a simple slab table and 5 to 8 days for complex work. Resin adds its own time: each pour waits 12 to 72 hours before the next, and a deep pour needs 7 to 14 days to fully cure.
Design your resin table
One Irish maker gets your design and comes back with a price. Nothing is ordered until you say yes.