WOOD AND EPOXY RESIN: Two materials. One finish.

River tables and other wood-epoxy surfaces place special demands on surface treatment. In this article, you will learn why many professionals rely on 2K oils and what advantages OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C offers.

River Table made of wood and epoxy resin with an oiled surface and striking wood grain

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

With wood-epoxy surfaces, two worlds collide: while wood has an open-pored, absorbent surface, cured epoxy resin is a dense, non-absorbent material. This creates specific demands for sanding and surface treatment.

The conflict of goals in sanding

For a high-quality epoxy surface, final sanding steps of P240 to P400 or higher are often chosen. While this benefits the resin aesthetically, it simultaneously reduces the wood's absorbency.

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

Why many professionals use 2-component oils

For wood-epoxy projects, 2-component oils are often used. Adding a hardener creates a chemically cross-linking oil-hardener system. This further increases the resistance of the wood surface – an advantage particularly valued for high-quality river tables and other wood-epoxy projects.

This allows the epoxy resin's requirements for fine sanding to be combined 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 to the epoxy resin?

While the oil penetrates the wood surface and develops 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. Afterwards, all excess is carefully removed, and the epoxy resin areas, in particular, are thoroughly polished.

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

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

Why is the epoxy resin also oiled?

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

By co-oiling and subsequently polishing the resin areas, differences in gloss can be reduced. This makes wood and epoxy resin appear and feel like a coherent surface.

The result is a homogeneous, matt to semi-matt surface without disruptive transitions between 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 precisely where OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C in combination with OLI-NATURA Hardener demonstrates its strengths. The oil-hardener system is processed in a 5:1 ratio and forms a chemically cross-linking oil matrix that increases the resistance of the wood surface – even with the fine sanding frequently encountered in wood-epoxy applications.

Another advantage is the high transparency of the system. Since OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C is formulated without wax components, the transparency, depth effect, and brilliance of the epoxy resin are largely preserved. This is particularly appreciated by many processors of 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 off excess oil from the epoxy resin areas, an optically and haptically homogeneous surface is created without disruptive transitions between wood and resin.

Thus, OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil 2C combines the requirements of wood and epoxy resin in a consistent surface 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 primarily recommended for pigment-free oil systems. For pigmented oils, epoxy resin areas should be protected or masked off to avoid compromising the transparency, depth effect, and brilliance of the resin.

B L A C K L A B E L

Worktop-Oil 2C
Pre-packaged 2C 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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