By Graham Smith December 1, 2023
The Slab
Started with a walnut slab from a guy I found on Facebook Marketplace
Cutting and Mold Setup
I ripped the slab lengthwise into two pieces and arranged them with live edges facing inward to form the river channel. Built a melamine mold to contain the pour, removed all bark, and sealed the live edges with shellac to prevent dye from bleeding into the grain.
Resin Pour
Poured the black-dyed epoxy in two layers to avoid overheating and cracking. Weighted the slabs with paint cans during cure to prevent floating.
Flattening and Finishing
After demolding, I trimmed the edges square and flattened both sides using a router sled. Sanded through progressive grits to bring out the depth in the walnut and resin.
Final Assembly
Mounted the top on adjustable-height legs for use as either a sitting or standing desk (though, shown here just on top of a folding table I used as a worktable for the project).
