Build A Custom Table Top Using Epoxy Resin & LED Lights
Y’all this has got to be one of the coolest DIY’s I have ever done!
And it all started because of a broken patio tabletop.
This gorgeous patio set was purchased a little while back and the glass on the coffee table portion completely shattered, along with my heart.
Lucky for me my DIY partner in crime decided this was a great opportunity to kick this outdoor furniture up a notch with a DIY table top using wood, epoxy, and wait for it…..LED lights!
This project is sponsored by Upstart Epoxy, see our privacy policies here
Epoxy Table Supplies:
- Upstart Epoxy Resin Kit
- 2×6 Wood Boards
- 1 ¾ Pocket Screws
- Wood Glue
- 1/2 Plastic Tubing
- Led Strip Lights
- Scrap Plywood
- Construction Grade Hot Glue/Caulk
How To Build an Epoxy Table with LED Lights:
Building the Table Top Base
Start by cutting a scrap piece of plywood the size of the tabletop that is being covered.
This will serve as the base for the custom epoxy tabletop.
Paint the plywood white or black in case it can be seen through the resin.
Next, cut down scrap 2×6 boards to the length of the plywood plus 4” so that there will be some overhang.
Also cut two smaller pieces to be the “ends” where the epoxy will go.
Once the tabletop boards are cut to size, drill pocket holes on one of the long sides of the boards.
Use pocket screws and wood glue to connect the tabletop boards together.
Now it’s time to attach the new coffee tabletop to the plywood.
Flip the entire tabletop upside down and drilled 2” screws into the bottom of the plywood attaching it to the wooden top.
The reason we are using plywood instead of simply running 2 2×4’s across the base is because the plywood sheet will act as a mold for the epoxy center once it is poured.
Adding LED Lights to Table
Now that the top is attached to the plywood, drill two holes in the section where the epoxy will go.
This is where the plastic tube and LED lights will run.
The plastic tube will protect the LED lights from the epoxy and make it easy if they ever need to be replaced.
I am not going to lie to you it took a little bit of creativity to get the LED strips into the tube….
We had to tape one end of the strand to weed whip string and carefully pull them all the way through the tube.
This took a couple of tries and once we got the LED strip to come out the other end, we broke out in a happy dance.
After a short victory dance break, we inserted the tube into the predrilled holes.
To secure the gaps and tube use construction grade hot glue.
Apply it just like you would caulk, around the entire “molds” edges and up the four corners, also use it to tack down the tube.
Finishing the Tabletop
While the glue cures, paint or stain the wood tabletop.
We used Minwax Hickory gel stain, It’s one of my favorite rich colored stains.
Adding Epoxy to the Tabletop
Once the hot glue is cured, it is time for the fun part… epoxy!
How much epoxy you need will depend on your project.
Upstart Epoxy has an easy-to-use epoxy coverage calculator on their website.
The kit included Part A, Part B, stirrers, plastic measuring cups, gloves, and we also got metallic powders to give the epoxy a little extra
If you are not using an entire bottle of both part A & B you will need to measure out an equal amount of both parts.
Once you have them measured combine both epoxy parts together into a large plastic bowl or container.
After both parts are combined into the container mix them together with a stirrer to gently but completely combine both parts together.
Be careful to scrape the edges of the bucket and take your time mixing.
Epoxy Tip: The better the parts are mixed together the clearer and less bubbly the end result will be!
After both epoxy parts are completely combined mix in the metallic powder and continue mixing.
When the two epoxy parts and the powder are well mixed, pour the epoxy into the mold portion of the table top.
This Epoxy is self leveling which makes it easy to work with.
Fill the mold with enough epoxy to be even with the wood tabletop, then double-checked the levelness of the tabletop.
If there are any bubbles in your epoxy you can use a heat gun to get rid of them.
This next part is the hardest part of the whole project, waiting for the epoxy to cure.
We let the epoxy cure for 24 hours before we plugged in the LED lights to test out the table.
DIY Epoxy Table With LED Lights Reveal
Drumroll please…. It turned out even better than we imagined!
The LED lights shine right through the epoxy and really accentuate the metallic powder.
It looks absolutely amazing and it is definitely the coolest outdoor coffee table I have ever seen.
This Upstart Epoxy was so simple to use and very beginner-friendly.
Now I am searching the house for other things I can use epoxy on.
Let me know what you think of our new DIY epoxy table with
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