WOOD AND EPOXY RESIN: Two materials. One finish.

River tables and other wood-epoxy surfaces have specific requirements for surface treatment. In this article, you will learn why many professionals choose 2K oils for this purpose and what advantages OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C offers.

River table made of wood and epoxy resin with an oiled surface and distinctive wood grain

Why OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C is convincing for river tables and wood-epoxy surfaces

Wood-epoxy surfaces bring two worlds together: while wood has an open-pored, absorbent surface, cured epoxy resin is a dense, non-absorbent material. This creates special requirements for sanding and surface treatment.

The sanding dilemma

For a high-quality epoxy surface, final sanding with grits from P240 to P400 or higher is often chosen. While this benefits the resin visually, it simultaneously reduces the wood's absorbency.

The finer the surface is sanded, the less oil the wood can absorb. This is precisely the particular challenge with river tables and other wood-epoxy combinations.

Why many professionals choose 2K oils

2K oils are frequently used for wood-epoxy projects. Adding a hardener creates a chemically cross-linking oil-hardener system. This additionally increases the resistance of the wood surface - an advantage that is particularly valued for high-quality river tables and other wood-epoxy projects.

This makes it possible to combine the epoxy resin's requirements for fine sanding with the wood's requirements for protection and durability.

Sanding a wood-epoxy surface in preparation for oil treatment of a river table

What happens on the epoxy resin?

While the oil penetrates the wood surface and provides its protective effect there, it cannot penetrate the cured epoxy resin. The oil therefore initially remains as a thin film on the surface.

In professional practice, the oil is nevertheless usually applied over the entire wood and epoxy resin surface. All excess is then carefully removed, and the epoxy resin areas in particular are thoroughly polished.

Careful polishing removes excess oil residue from the epoxy resin areas. The system's protective effect develops in the wood. At the same time, treating the entire surface contributes to a harmonious visual blend of the wood and resin.

Applying OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C to a wood-epoxy surface

Why is the epoxy resin oiled as well?

Treating the entire surface creates a harmonious overall appearance. Clear, pigment-free oils intensify the natural color of the wood and emphasize its grain and structure, while the epoxy resin largely retains its transparency and depth.

Oiling the resin as well and then polishing the resin areas reduces differences in sheen. This makes the wood and epoxy resin look like one continuous surface, both visually and to the touch.

The result is a homogeneous, matt to satin-matt surface without distracting transitions between the wood and epoxy resin.

Polishing an oiled river table surface made of wood and epoxy resin

The right solution for wood-epoxy surfaces

This is exactly where OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C in combination with OLI-NATURA Hardener demonstrates its strengths. The oil-hardener system is applied at a ratio of 5 : 1 and forms a chemically cross-linking oil matrix that increases the resistance of the wood surface - even with the fine sanding commonly found in the wood-epoxy sector.

Another advantage is the system's high transparency. Since OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C is formulated without wax content, the transparency, depth effect and brilliance of the epoxy resin are largely retained. This is particularly appreciated by many applicators for clear or transparently colored river tables.

At the same time, the oil can be applied over the entire wood and epoxy resin surface. After carefully removing and polishing away the excess on the epoxy resin areas, a visually and tactilely homogeneous surface is created without distracting transitions between the wood and resin.

This enables OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C to combine the requirements of wood and epoxy resin in one continuous surface treatment concept.

OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C and Hardener for river tables and wood-epoxy surfaces

Suitable for

  • River tables
  • Epoxy resin tables
  • Wood-epoxy countertops
  • Designer furniture with resin inlays
  • Counters and contract furniture
  • Lichtenberg and resin projects

Professional tip for pigmented oils

Application over the entire surface is particularly recommended for pigment-free oil systems. With pigmented oils, epoxy resin areas should be protected or masked off to avoid impairing the transparency, depth effect and brilliance of the resin.

B L A C K L A B E L

Worktop-Oil 2C
Pre-configured 2K system

500 ml Worktop-Oil + 100 ml Hardener. Developed for river tables, epoxy resin tables and high-quality wood-epoxy surfaces.

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