Epoxy Table Tops
 

I am not a veteran, but far from a rookie. This project ate my lunch! I was asked to make a beer pong table covered in beer caps with epoxy poured over the top. I made sure each cap had a glue seal to the table top. I let the "recommended" glue cure for way longer than it needed. I did the super conservative step and made test pieces so I didn't waste epoxy. Just a real ass kicker. Nearly every problem showed its face. I am not 100% happy with it, but I know the client will love it. It's one of those deals where you have to call it good and walk away. Not my nature, but if I spend another dime on this I will probably get hammered and light it on fire in the driveway!

Thanks for letting me vent. Here are a few pics!


Test pieces
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Test piece fish eye nightmare.......
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2nd to last coat
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Crazy bubbles out of no where!
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I sent an email to the company asking what the F$$$ is up with this nonsense. I saw this same reaction the last layer I poured. It ended up curing with the most odd orange peel I have ever seen. Oddly enough it was smooth and consistent enough to not throw me into full retard mode.

Again, thanks for letting me vent. My poor Camaro has spent 4 days outside while I finish this money pit.

Last one I poorer got tons of bubble coming out of the wood it was made of. He truck I used was a few thin coats to start with to get thing sealed up good. You have to babysit it till its dry and use a torch to heat up the air bubbles and they will float up and pop. If you poor it too thick, it hardens before they make it to the surface

Looks awesome! Hard to be a perfectionist with this project using bottle caps because the epoxy won’t fill under the caps. That’s where those bubbles are coming from, the air escaping from under the cap. I’m a Painting contractor, we’ve done side jobs like this and it’s nearly impossible to make it perfect because of the nature of bottle caps. Even when you think you’ve created a tight seal by gluing the parameters.. Sounds silly, but it’s true.

Think if your in a pool of water with a little boat. Flip the boat and put your head underneath. As you try and submerge yourself and the boat (assuming it’s air tight) there willl always be air trapped.

I’ve tried both thick and thinned epoxy, doesn’t matter. Those little shit bubbles come up every time. Lol

What you did is about as good as it gets.
My theory to making it bubble free would be to poke a small hole in the top of every cap...but if you’re doing it with a client..it would be hard for them to justify the price you would need to charge..there’s a lotta caps involved!

I’ve had good luck with a heat gun, mine goes to 1600 and I prefer it over a torch. I can see the beer caps being a pain in the ass. I wonder if you could do it in two pours. First just to seal the caps to the table and seal the air under the cap. Second to finish them? Hmmm

I plan to put a bar in my basement and would like to do a creative top.

Here is a oak mantle I did.