Epoxy resin is such a highly versatile substance. Because of its initial liquid state that allows to flow freely onto surfaces and into molds, it can conform to nearly any shape before becoming the crystal-clear, rock-solid material it's so well known for.
Because of this malleable property, a wide variety of distinct projects are possible using epoxy. In this article, we'll showcase 8 different types of projects that people have made using UltraClear Epoxy products.
Why UltraClear? The case for a premium epoxy resin.
Before starting any creative endeavor, it's important to have the right materials at hand. Gathering up the tools and supplies you'll need for an epoxy project is no different. But some thing matter more than others. For instance, there are a lot of viable power drills you can use to mix epoxy resin, but there are only a small number of high-quality epoxy products that won't disappoint in the end.
The "Budget Brand" conundrum
Nowadays, it's easy to find epoxy resin offerings online and in stores. On marketplaces especially, where 3rd party sellers can offer their wares, numerous epoxy brands have popped up. Many of these brands have a surprisingly low price, making them an appealing option. But what isn't clear at first glance is how these brands are able to provide such an attractive cost. These are what we call "budget brands".
Budget brands are epoxy brands that can be purchased cheap, but have compromised formulas, either with cheaper or missing ingredients, sometimes replaced by filler materials that aren't conducive to a strong, clear finish. The quality of the resin itself is subpar, but in a way that isn't evident until the user attempts to apply it and allow it to cure. This can result in a loss of time, money, and motivation.
Budget brand dealers are often selling epoxy resins that have been imported from foreign regions with lower standards and quality assurance. Because importing allows dealers to bypass some of the basic regulations present for manufacturers based in the U.S., these products can make it into a person's home or business without scrutinization. For resin newcomers who aren't familiar enough to recognize these products, this is a serious problem.
Premium resin options for creators of all skill levels
To avoid the budget brand issue, stick with credible, established brands like UltraClear Epoxy which offer high-quality resin products.
At UltraClear, we provide premium-grade epoxy resins designed for users of any skill level and projects of any scale.
You'll find our unique epoxy products on the following pages:
UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy
Our UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy is the original UltraClear resin, and it's still the most used option today.
Among epoxies, this one has the highest physical strength and a convenient self-leveling nature that levels out to an ideal layer thickness for sealing. It's the perfect choice for the vast majority of epoxy projects, including conventional bar tops, countertops, and table tops.
UltraClear Deep Pour Epoxy
Our UltraClear Deep Pour Epoxy is a variant that allows for much thicker layers by removing the self-leveling property and making the epoxy much less viscous. It's not as sturdy as Bar & Table Top Epoxy, but that allows for much higher depth without concern for the presence of imperfections such as air bubbles.
Deep Pour Epoxy is typically used for things like river tables and projects involving large resin molds. For enhanced durability, a deep pour project can be given a final topcoat of UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy, ensuring a crystal-clear finish with the highest possible protection.
UltraClear Art & Craft Epoxy
Our UltraClear Art & Craft Epoxy is specially formulated for resin art projects. It's slightly less viscous than the Bar Top Epoxy but not as much as Deep Pour Epoxy.
We recommend this for many resin art projects, though for deep, thick resin molds, the Deep Pour Epoxy may be more suitable.
8 Project Types People Have Made With UltraClear Epoxy
From classic to unconventional, we'll be checking out 8 different epoxy project types UltraClear users have made with our epoxy resin products.
Here's a list of what to expect below:
- Conventional bar tops
- Kitchen countertops
- River tables
- Embedment coffee tables
- Themed end tables
- Resin wall art
- Epoxy serving trays
- Shelving
Project Type #1: Conventional bar tops
The first and most iconic project example we have here is the conventional epoxy bar top.
A conventional bar top is simply one with a standard, flat substrate onto which a sealant layer of epoxy resin is applied. Bar tops like this are usually made from wood, but can be created with a wide variety of different substrate materials.
The allure of epoxy, in turn, is how well it protects any surface it's been applied to. A comprehensive coating of epoxy provides:
- Physical strength/durability
- Waterproofing
- Chemical resistance
- Convenience (low maintenance, easy to clean)
There are also niche benefits that other sealants don't bestow. For instance, epoxy doesn't require resealing. While most sealants (such as tung oil or lacquer) need to be reapplied now and then, epoxy will stay strong and clear for many years.
For conventional bar tops, the ideal epoxy is our UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy.
Project Type #2: Kitchen countertops
Much like the conventional bar top, an epoxy kitchen countertop tends to be made from a level, flat substrate surface. Whether you're renovating older countertops or bringing in something entirely new, epoxy is one of the best possible countertop sealants.
Because kitchen countertops are often exposed to so many more potentially damaging elements—chemicals, oil/grease, strong cleaners, etc.—it's important that they have a suitable finish to adequately preserve them. And epoxy makes this possible to achieve.
Once again, the ideal epoxy for an epoxy kitchen countertop is usually UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy.
Project Type #3: River tables
When it comes to eye-catching project types, few are more alluring than the epoxy river table. This type of project involves pouring a vein of epoxy between pieces of substrate material to produce a river-like image within the table top.
A river vein is often made using UltraClear Deep Pour Epoxy, though small veins can be filled in with our Bar Top Epoxy. Typically, the river vein is tinted with epoxy colorants, then the entire project is given a final clear topcoating of UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy.
Though the most common form of a river vein epoxy project is the river table, it's also possible to employ this technique for other furniture and fixture, such as countertops and trays and resin art.
For achieving a clean, crystal-clear river vein, most project will need UltraClear Deep Pour Epoxy.
Project Type #4: Embedment coffee tables
In most rooms, if there's a coffee table present, it's the centerpiece of the decor, enhance the ambient decor—which makes a prime choice for epoxy-related modifications. Thus, our 4th project type in this article is the embedment coffee table.
An embedment coffee table is just our name for any coffee table that has an epoxy coating with a layer of embedded objects sealed within the resin finish. These objects can be of almost any type, though some items are unsuited and should be avoided.
Coffee tables are great candidates for an epoxy finish for a few reasons:
- They're highly receptive to customization. You can try just about anything with your designs.
- They're smaller than the usual epoxy projects. a great way to develop your skills and create something beautiful at the same time.
- Unlike fixtures (i.e, countertops, bar tops), coffee tables are somewhat portable. This means you could craft an epoxy coffee table with a seasonal theme, then store it whenever the aesthetic no longer in season.
Coffee tables can make use of either/both of our UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy and Deep Pour Epoxy products.
Project Type #5: Themed end tables
Perhaps the smallest table option for an epoxy coating is an end table. And what better way to enhance one of those than with a themed epoxy finish?
A themed epoxy end table is one that has a cohesive set of aesthetic elements that add to a greater design. For instance, one popular theme for end tables is an ocean or beach theme. To create this, the user adds natural elements such as pebbles, seashells, sand, etc., along with pigmented epoxy to represent the water/waves. This can be smoothed out at the end with a clear topcoating of epoxy to seal the entire table top surface.
A themed epoxy end table can be made with just Table Top Epoxy or Deep Pour Epoxy, or they can be combined as needed.
Project Type #6: Resin wall art
In most places, walls are relatively plain, making them a great place to add different types of art tailored to your preferences/goals. For that reason, resin wall art makes the list.
Resin wall art is essentially just any type of resin art that would like nice hanging on affixed to a wall. The easiest way to make resin art is to simply coat a traditional piece with epoxy. The epoxy embellishes the natural colors of anything seal within, making them stand out more.
A concept with few limitations
With that said, there's no end to the potential here, as the concept extends endlessly in each direction. Some people create geode wall art, generating a geode-like resin finish by mixing and matching different pigments and colors within and customized mold. You might consider using a resin mold to embed different objects within a layer of epoxy to produce interesting patterns.
The art certainly doesn't have to be abstract, though. For instance, one users might seal in memorabilia or related souvenirs and photos to create a beautiful montage of friends, family, or past events to reminisce over. You can also create different types of imagery using epoxy and pigments, such as to create stained-glass-like representations of nature (trees, water, the sun or sky), or use actual objects from nature to create an interesting theme, much like the end tables mentioned earlier.
Resin art in general can make great use of our UltraClear Art & Craft Epoxy, but it can sometimes also fare well with our Deep Pour Epoxy when extra thick resin layers are needed.
Project Type #7: Epoxy serving trays
An epoxy serving tray is just what it sounds like, a tray with an epoxy finish that can be used to serve drinks and other consumables, or to just transfer items from one place to another.
A serving tray can be fully decorated prior to the epoxy finish, or the epoxy finish itself can be the main appeal, using pigments or dyes to product stunning hues.
For this type of project, any of the three epoxies we've mentioned are suitable.
Project Type #8: Shelving
Last on our list is a less common but still remarkable fixture project—shelving.
Epoxy shelves are quite straightforward. Acquire the substrate material (the shelves) and have them shaped as desired, then apply an epoxy coating to them and let them cure. Mount them to the wall, and you have a beautiful piece of decor for your home or business.
Most shelves will are best sealed with UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy.
Epoxy resin: Not invincible—but as close as you can get.
As with any material, epoxy resin has both pros and cons. But no other sealant has so few weaknesses, and that's what puts epoxy above all other options when it comes to being a finish for high-traffic fixtures and furniture such as countertops, table tops, and bar tops. This is especially true for premium epoxy resins, such as our UltraClear products.
You can find our UltraClear Epoxy products on the following pages:
- UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy: The classic choice for bar tops, countertops, and table tops. Rock-solid, waterproof, and crystal-clear.
- UltraClear Deep Pour Epoxy: Our deep pour casting resin. Ideal for thick layers, such as those needed for river tables.
- UltraClear Art & Craft Epoxy: Our arts and crafts resin, designed for smaller artistic endeavors which typically involve resin molds and require a bit more fluidity than bar top epoxy.
With high chemical and physical resistance, epoxy can withstand and endure many forms of wear and tear without breaking a sweat or showcasing any cosmetic damage.
Plus, in addition to its ease of application, it also requires little upkeep to maintain its pristine appearance. With a high-quality epoxy finish, you can expect a minimum lifespan of 7 years, with no need for reapplication. Beyond that, it's a breeze to renew that coating, requiring only a light sanding and a fresh layer of epoxy.
