Ideally, for your last pour, you should probably keep the resin clear, as this will help you to keep the color and style of the wood. When your final layer is finished curing, you'll need to remove it from the acrylic mold, which you can do using a hammer and chisel. The sides should come off easily enough by themselves.
Even if you managed a perfect pour, and you don't have any bumps because you didn't like the acrylic with tape, you'll still need to sand your new creation. The good news is that you can do this with a relatively simple orbital sander. Make sure that you have grit or sandpaper options in 60, 100, 120, 150, 220, and various other sizes. The smallest grit will remove material from the top of your table, which is essential for getting rid of any mistakes.
If you wanted a perfect table to sell online, then you might need more of a hardcore sander. However, if you're using the table yourself, you should get by perfectly well with an orbital sander. Just make sure that whatever you do, you don't forget about wearing protection. You should have both your safety goggles and respirator masks on at all times during this part of the process. By the time you're finished sanding, you're likely to be covered in dust.
If you're worried about an extensive cleaning up process, a good way to simplify things is to wear long sleeves. Remember, sanding isn't exactly the best part of making your table, and it requires a lot of patience. However, if you stick with it, you should have a fantastic finished product.
A good way to make sure that your sanding goes as smoothly as possible is to take some time feeling over the resin before you start standing. If you notice a soft or sticky spot, tape of the side, and pour a thin layer of resin onto the spot. This will help to encase the sticky spot. If you accidentally sand over one of these spots instead, you'll have to heat up the spot manually and chisel the smeared resin out of the layer. Acetone can be a good way to remove any sticky residue until you get to a solid layer in your table, or you can try nail polish remover instead.
Once you're finished chipping out and removing your mistakes, you can sand down the entire table until everything blends properly together. Some areas will require a lighter touch than others, and it's important to be careful as you go. You can always finish any problem spots with an extra layer of resin.
Finishing and Adding Legs To the Wood and Resin Coffee Table
To complete the table, clean the surface with a vacuum and tack cloth, then use wood conditioner and stain to finish the wood. Once everything is dry, you can go over the table again with a polyacrylic base. Ideally, you'll want a spray finish, as this will help to give you a more balanced look throughout the entire table.
Based on the type of table design you're trying to create, you may not want to be able to see the legs of your table through the resin. This might mean that you choose a three-legged table or something else entirely. Whatever you decide to buy for your legs, make sure that you clean the pieces before you attach them to your table, then place them to wherever you want them and screw them in carefully.
