DIY Pecky Cypress Table

In this tutorial, learn to build a DIY Pecky Cypress table using epoxy resin.  I show you various woodworking tips and techniques to make this build easier.. 

Tools I Used

• Epoxy Resin
• Oil and Urethane TopCoat
• Wood Carving Chisel Set
• Shop Vacuum
• Dust Deputy
• Orbital Sander
• Belt Sander
• Table Saw
• Japanese Finish Saw
• Biscuit Joiner
• Pocket Hole Jig
• Electric Hand Planer
• Benchtop Planer
• Bar Clamps
• Drill/Driver Combo
• Brad Nailer
• Wood Glue
• Silver Foil Tape
• Premium Tack Cloths
• GoPro Hero

Video Tutorial

There are many things which are difficult to explain with words and images, so be sure to checkout the video tutorial below.

Introduction

It is October and Christmas is only a few months away. 

During Christmas, the adults in our family pick names to exchange gifts.

I knew my mother in law wanted a new dining table, so I made sure to pick her name to build her an epoxy resin dining table using pecky sinker cypress.

Pecky Cypress Table Design

I searched for cypress table ideas for about a day. The unique look of pecky cypress quickly grabbed my attention.  

This wood is fairly common in my part of the country (South Louisiana) & I thought it would be a great choice of wood for this epoxy resin dining table.  

The wood is not only beautiful and unique, but it also has a lot of historical/geographical significance.

Ultimately, my Mother-in-law would appreciate the historical value.

Find Pecky Sinker Cypress Wood

I called a friend of mine who knows the best places to purchase reclaimed wood in the New Orleans area and he referred me to Riverside Lumber.

I visited Riverside Lumber the following day and noticed they not only had sinker cypress, but they also had pecky cypress.

Charles at Riverside Lumber was very helpful during my visits.
I would highly recommend them if you live in the area and in need of exotic or any type of lumber.

“Pecky” refers to a fungus that causes hollow tubes to run vertically throughout the tree.  
The fungus grows while the tree is alive and only germinates when the tree is around 125 years old.  
Ultimately, the fungus dies when the tree dies.

Preparing the Pecky Sinker Cypress Wood

First, I decided to purchase these 2 pecky cypress slabs to build the resin dining table.

However, I later realized I needed an additional slab after my wife informed me 2 slabs were not wide enough to make a suitable table.  Off to get another I went.

I also brought the first 2 pieces back with me to get planed down b/c the slabs were about 2.5” too wide for my planer.  I didn’t realize this when I purchased the first 2 slabs (smh).

The pieces didn’t need to be planed down to any exact depth, but I wanted the surface as flat as possible b/c they were very rough and uneven.

Here are the 3 pieces for the pecky sinker cypress dining table.

Clean Pecky Sinker Cypress Wood

The next step for this resin dining table project was to remove the soft/damaged wood from the pockets..

I accomplished this by scraping as much of the wood out as possible with my wood carving tools.

Needless to say, this was quite a time-consuming process.

Many of the soft pockets caused by the fungus were much deeper and longer than I anticipated.

First, I scraped each pocket on both sides of each board and used my shop vac to remove the debris.  

It may have been easier to use an air compressor and blow-out each pocket after scraping.

Next, I used my belt sander and orbital sander to get both sides of each pecky cypress board as smooth as possible.  

I started with 150 grit sand paper on the belt sander and finished with 220 grit sand paper on the orbital sander.

Flat Surface and Straight Sides

After the pecky cypress boards were sanded and cleaned, it was time to square the sides of the boards in preparation for them to be joined together. 

I need to upgrade my table saw soon with a larger table saw to make ripping long pieces of material easier.

I don’t have a jointer, so I used my table saw to rip an equal amount off of each board to make the table 36” wide (each board would be 12” long).  

This worked out really well b/c 2 boards were 14” wide and 1 board was 15” wide.

First, I ripped 2” off 1 side of the first board, 1” on each side of the second board & 3” on one side of the last board.

Next, I saved the 3” board I ripped off of the last board to use on the table legs (more on this later).  

I didn’t care if the outer edges of the table were perfectly straight b/c it is a reclaimed resin dining table.

Biscuit Joiner

The 3 pecky cypress slabs lined-up nicely, but I was concerned about which joinery method would be best to use on the pecky sinker cypress table.

Some of the ‘pecky pockets’ in the wood tunneled the length of the board and close to the edge.  

I figured the strength of the table would be at risk if I used pocket holes to join the pieces near one of these tunnels.

In turn, I decided to use biscuits to join the 3 slabs b/c I can place the biscuits in solid parts of each board & the width of the #20 biscuits provided extra stability.

Most importantly, I had an excuse to go buy a new tool b/c I did not own a biscuit joiner.

Biscuit Spacing and Placement

First, it took me a while to figure out where to put the biscuits and how many to use. 

Ultimately, I decided to use 6 biscuits per join (12 total).

There were a few biscuits that were visible on the underside of the table, but that was the best I could do.

Then, I clamped the pieces and let the glue dry overnight. 

Also, I played with my new tool for about 2 hours.

Repair Creases between Pecky Cypress Boards

There were very minor creases between the pecky sinker cypress boards where I joined them together.

So, I lightly sanded the surface of the pecky sinker cypress table one more time.

First, I mixed the sawdust in the bag with glue in a clear plastic cup to a putty-like consistency.

This was so easy that I was able to talk to my wife on the phone and mix at the same time..  Imagine that, a male doing 2 things at once.

Next, I liberally spread the mixture over the creases and gently wiped off the excess with a popsicle stick because it was the closest thing within arm’s reach.

Remove Excess Glue

First, I lightly sanded the resin dining table surface of the pecky cypress table one more time to remove the excess glue/dust mixture and the creases disappeared.

Next, squared off the each end of the table with my circular saw to make it an even 76” long.

I used a damp towel to wipe the surface in order to raise the grain of the wood a small amount and lightly sanded again with 220 grit sandpaper.

Then, I vacuumed the pecky sinker cypress table surface again and used a tack cloth to make sure I get all the loose debris.

Ultimately, I used 2 tack cloths to wipe down this table while making sure to use a clean side of the cloth for each wipe.

Seal an Epoxy Resin Dining Table

Now to the tedious part.  I flipped the pecky sinker cypress table top over and began taping the indentations and pockets with HVAC foil tape.  

The idea was to pool the epoxy resin at the bottom to fill the cavities and prevent the epoxy resin from dripping through when poured on the top.

Use HVAC Table to Seal Epoxy Resin Table Bottom

I chose this tape for 3 reasons:

1.) I had an extra roll laying around my shop.

2.) It sticks really well to any surface & it is really strong.

3.) I didn’t know any better.

Instead of tape, a plastic sheet secured tightly to the bottom of this table should work as I’ve read epoxy doesn’t adhere to plastic.

Taping Process

However, I didn’t feel like running around the house or the big box stores searching for plastic and figuring out a way to secure it to the bottom to prevent sagging.

This process took me roughly 2 hours, which isn’t too long.  

It just seemed like this took FOREVER probably b/c I was excited to start using the epoxy.

I made sure each pocket in the wood was covered completely even if the cavity seemed contained.

As I mentioned previously, many of the pockets formed channels in the middle of the wood that ran from one side to the other.  

Also, I used a flexible plastic spreader to flatten the tape on the wood.

Straight Edge Mistake

This information will be included in a future step, but it is worth mentioning now to save time.  

The ends of the table top had open cavities so I decided to create a straight edge with the tape.  

Essentially, this was a MISTAKE.

When the epoxy resin is poured the weight of the epoxy causes the tape to ‘sag’ a bit, which causes the edge to buckle inwards (towards the table).

I recommend using a plastic strip to form the edge &/or tape secured to the bottom to ensure the epoxy resin pools.  

Don’t worry about creating an edge if the sides or ends of the table don’t have pockets where epoxy could leak out.  

Rather, let the epoxy resin roll off the table during the pour.

Prevent Epoxy Resin from Sagging

Before I move on to the next step, it is worth mentioning a subtle mistake I made that could have easily been prevented and saved me a ton of time.

I poured the epoxy resin on the table while it was resting on saw horses.  

Furthermore, I did this b/c I wanted to make sure there were no major leaks through the bottom.

Ultimately, I should have trusted my taping skills (if there is such a thing) and placed the table on a flat surface (work table) covered in a plastic sheet.  

This would have saved a lot of sagging and less material to fill the pockets.

Which Table Top Epoxy Resin is Best?

ProMarine Epoxy Resin is best for a table top.  Moreover, it is quality material and inexpensive on Amazon.  

I used this epoxy resin for this project as it is cheaper than Pro Marine. 

However, I prefer Pro Marine.  

Ultimately, this is a 1 gallon kit (1/2 gallon of resin & 1/2 gallon of hardener) and I used 3 of these for this project.

I had no idea how much resin/hardener I was going to need for this project before I started.

In turn, I bought 4 kits (totaling 4 gallons), but I only needed 3.

Keep in mind, this wood had a LOT of cavities/pockets – more than the typical Pecky Sinker Cypress slab I have seen.

Epoxy Resin Tip

The best advice I can give regarding using resin/hardener is follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

As you know, most men tend to glance over instructions and sort of figure it out as you go (I definitely fall into this category).

Keep in mind, you WILL have problems if you do don’t follow the instructions with any resin/hardener.

Epoxy Resin Mixing

I started by mixing 1:1 ratio of resin/hardener that totaled 8 ounces. 

Also, I knew this was a very small amount, but I wanted to make sure I got the hang of it before jumping to 10oz, 12oz or even 20oz mixtures.  

This step is VERY important as most underestimate the amount of mixing this stuff needs. 

Ultimately, I mixed (no whipping as this will create bubbles, which creates more work later) until the material was clear.

Epoxy Resin Pours

From reading the instructions, I decided it would be best to apply the epoxy resin mixture in 3 stages.

I will refer back to these 3 stages often – here is a brief explanation of each.

Seal Coat

This coat would basically ‘wet’ the entire surface of the table top and seal any potential air pockets in the wood.  

The mixture is poured onto the surface and then worked into the surface with a rubber squeegee.

There should not be any material build-up with this coat.  

If the seal coat goes on too thick, air bubbles can get trapped in the cured epoxy.

Fill Coat

This coat will fill the cavities/pockets in order to achieve a level surface.  Also, this stage is specific to this type of wood.  

If this was a flat surface, this would be accomplished in stage 1.

Flood Coat

This is the final coat and should be poured in the middle of the table and settle outwards (towards the ends).  

Also, this coat self-levels (no squeegee wiping) up to 1/8” thick.  

If you desire more than 1/8” thick, multiple coats need to be applied at least 4 hours apart.

Additionally, a squeegee or foam brush may be used to ‘guide’ the material around the surface, but no wiping.

Epoxy Resin Seal Coat

The pictures below depict the seal coat.  Essentially, 8oz basically covers 1/3 of the epoxy resin dining table.

Some of the material in the seal coat dripped into the cavities, so I used a blow torch 6 to 10 inches away from the surface.

After I finished the epoxy resin seal coat, I used a brush to ‘seal’ the edges of the resin dining table. 

Also, this can also be done after pouring the epoxy resin flood coat, but either way works.

Below is a picture of the resin dining table after the seal coat.

Epoxy Resin Fill Coat  

I did the first fill coat immediately after I applied the seal coat and I increased the mixture from 8oz to 16oz.

Also, I used a squeegee during this stage as well to guide the material into the cavities and fill them.

This took some time b/c I did experience minor sagging with the tape in some spots. 

I had to do the fill coat twice to get the pockets level before I applied the flood coat.  I let this coat dry for 24 hours.

Since I let this coat dry for more than 4 hours & I wanted to achieve a flat, uniform surface, it was time to sand.

First, I started with a 120 grit belt sander to knock down buildups.

Next, I used an orbital sander with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.

Finally, I wiped the surface down with a tac cloth after wiping the table with acetone. 

Also, I was worried after I sanded the epoxy b/c it turns to a hazy white color and imperfections are more visible.  However, this goes away once the flood coat is applied.

Epoxy Resin Flood Coat

It was time for the flood coat (stage 3) and I was really excited to see how this was going to turn out.

Additionally, I was a bit nervous since this was my first epoxy resin dining table project.  

First, I mixed the flood coat in 2 batches.

Also, smaller epoxy resin batches make mixing easier.

Next, I poured the flood coat slowly to make sure it covered the half of the table top.

The material is rather thick so it merges nicely together.  

Additionally, it runs over the sides (as planned) so be sure to put down plastic to protect the floors.

As soon as I poured the first batch for half of the pecky sinker cypress table, I began mixing the second batch.

Ultimately, I wanted it to blend/merge well together.  

Then, I took a brush and gently wiped each of the 4 sides of the table to spread the material and prevent any drips from hardening.

Ultimately, I only put on one flood coat as I really didn’t see a reason to add more thickness.

As a quick tip, I recommend to find a way to protect the table from dust and debris.

I used a blow torch to remove the epoxy resin bubbles as I did in a previous step.

Remove Tape

After allowing the pecky sinker cypress table to dry for 48 hours, it was time to remove the tape from the underside of the pecky sinker cypress table, sand, and stain.

I picked the table up and flipped it over onto the white picnic table.

I recommend to get help before attempting to flip the table over by yourself.  

Also, I’m 6’7” and I have long arms so I was able to grip the table fairly well.

This is the only reason I attempted this step without help.

In addition, it took me about 1 hour to completely remove the tape.

A few small pieces stuck to the epoxy on the underside, but the belt sander removed the pieces easily.

Overall, I’m happy with the way this tape performed during this project considering I chose to use it b/c it was laying around my shop.

I used the belt sander to smooth the underside of the pecky sinker cypress table and used a brush to wipe off the dust.  

Finishing Underside of Epoxy Resin Dining Table

I used Oil & Urethane sealer/topcoat to seal the bottom of the pecky sinker cypress table.

The goal was to bring out the grain a bit without sacrificing the natural color of the wood.  

I would have used this coat on the top of the table if I planned to keep the table, but my mother-in-law preferred the shiny/glossy finish of epoxy.

Apply Oil and Urethane

Again, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using stain or sealers.

On the first coat, I made sure to get inside the pockets in the wood as they had a few on the underside of the table that did not protrude through the top.

I had to use a q-tip in some of the pecky cypress cavities to make sure everything was covered.

I lightly sanded the table with 220 grit by hand and applied the 2nd coat.

Pecky Cypress Table Bottom

On to the table supports.  I actually found a few table support designs that caught my eye online.

However, the plans called for holes to be drilled in the table top which I did not want to do.  

I decided to use no plans and rely on my imagination..

My mother-in-law likes farmhouse & country style furniture, so that is the style I hoped to make.

Milling Resin Dining Table Support Wood

Most wood from the big box stores needs to be lightly sanded in order for the stain to properly penetrate the surface.

First, I ran each side through my planer as the wood was sort of in rough shape anyway.  

Also, this helped form a 4 straight edges on the wood instead of random rounded edges.

I wasn’t concerned about getting the wood perfectly flat/straight b/c the character of the Farmhouse table would hide many imperfections.

Farmhouse Dining Table Bottom

I notched each leg for a cross-support brace on both support legs.

The ‘H’ design looked a bit plain and boring.  

So, I measured to cut 4-45degree support arms for each support bracket.  8 support arms total.

I glued each piece in place and used my nail gun to secure them in place.

Next, I pre-drilled 4 pilot holes in each brace and used screws to secure the 45 degree braces in place.

I filled all holes with wood filler.

Once the wood filler dried, I sanded down the excess with both my orbital sander and belt sander.

How to Distress Wood

First, I scraped the wood with the grain using a flat head screwdriver.

Next, I dented the wood using a hammer, a hammer with a screw, and a hammer with a roofing tail.

Also, I used a very small drill bit to put holes in the wood.

After I gave the pecky cypress wood a fairly good beating, I clamped each support brace together to find any uneven spots.

Ultimately, this would cause me heartache later on when its time for the table top be put on.  

Luckily, I didn’t have that many noticeable uneven spots.

I used my Japanese finish saw to trim off some of the uneven spots.

Next, I lightly sanded both support braces again with 220 grit sandpaper before attaching the foot pads.

Dining Table Leg Pads

I had a few pieces of cedar leftover from a previous project that I decided to use as the footpads for each brace.

First, I trmmed each one with my table saw. 

Next, I drilled pilot holes to prevent splintering.

Then, I applied glue and attached them.

Cross Support

I decided to use an upright 2×4 to tie the 2 support braces together.  

My electric hand planer made quick work of the rough 2×4’s on both sides.

Also, I used my Kreg Jig to drill 2 pocket holes per side of the 2×4.

Next, I attached the 2×4 to the bottom of each support brace & filled the pocket holes with paint grade pocket plugs and glue.  

Once the glue dried, I used my Japanese finish saw to remove the protruding plugs and sanded down to a smooth finish.

Apply Finish

First, I put a lot of thought into what color stain to use on the pecky sinker cypress table braces.

I really had no idea b/c the wood on the table is medium & very dark brown in the cavities, so the table braces need to be one of those colors.

My wife is really good at picking out colors and she recommended I use an ebony or antique black.

Wiping Stain

The Pro Series wiping stain by Minwax was my stain of choice.

Essentially, I needed a stain that would be ‘thicker’ in order to prevent dripping.

In addition, it provided me with more control over the staining process.  

I used staining cloth & a chip brush to reach the crevices.

Next, I applied the stain to approximately half of 1 support brace and wiped it down.  

I repeated this process 3 more times.  

Also, this stuff goes on really well and it only needed 1 coat.

Farmhouse Dining Table Bottom

I used the wood I ripped from the original pieces of pecky cypress for the table braces.  

Earlier in the project, I wiped these scraps with a paint brush from some excess epoxy.  

They are about the size of a standard 1×3.  

I used glue and my brad nailer to secure the piece.

Level Dining Table

Time to put the pecky cypress table on the support braces to see how it fit.  There were a few wobbly spots that were easily fixed with wooden shims.

I marked the shims with a black line at the cutoff point.

Then, I placed an ‘X’ of the side that needed to be discarded.

Next, I used my Japanese finish saw to gently saw the shims at the line I marked.

I secured the shims with glue and brad nails.

 

Removable Epoxy Resin Dining Table

The pecky cypress table needed to be removable, so I had to get creative.

I chose to make an outline of the upper 4×4 out of 1x2s and glue them in place.

Next, I placed the table on top of the braces and measured all 4 sides to ensure there was equal distance between the front/back and left/right.

Then, I traced the outline of the braces on the underside of the table once they were positioned correctly.

Lastly, I cut the 1x2s to size, glued them in position, and stained them to blend in with the support braces.

I was actually very surprised how securely this fit and how well it worked out.

Epoxy Resin Dining Table Delivery

The finished pecky sinker cypress resin dining table looked great!

I delivered the table to my mother-in-law and she was very happy. 
This epoxy resin dining table is definitely unique with a touch of local history as well.

Conclusion

I hope you learned how to build an epoxy resin dining table with pecky sinker cypress wood.
Also, visit my DIY walnut dining table and DIY glow in the dark table projects projects.