Practical Products for Painting Furniture

For me, half the fun in creating is teaching others to do it as well.  So today I want to share a product that I have been using to protect the artwork that I create for more practical purposes, like tabletops.

When I create tables, I want them to be used.  But used tables can get spilled on and get dirty.  So, how do you create a surface that can be cleaned without worrying about scratching or ruining the artwork?

I found this product last year when creating a mixed media mural for my kids elementary school.  We needed a surface that kids could touch but that would not allow them access to the cut paper images that we created.

We found Parks Super Glaze Epoxy Resin and it is a game changer! (seriously, this is not a paid promotion, I just really can't believe the results from using this product).


It basically creates a 1/4 inch thick clear surface that is virtually indestructable.  I can paint my tables or other surfaces that will eventually see heavy wear and tear, even adding cut paper or other mixed media additions, and then add the resin to seal it all in place.  I actually think the resin makes the artwork look even better--it brightens it up and it looks amazing!

Epoxy resin is a two part liquid that when combined creates a chemical reaction that hardens into a clear solid.  It is the most annoying part of creating my art (its kinda smelly, and I need to wear gloves and be careful because you can't really clean it up, and there are timed components that need to be precise, which are at odds with my artist brain)- but there is no arguing with the end result.

This is the table top I'm working on right now. For this project we took it off its base for ease of transport.  When its done it will be reattached.

I used acrylic paint, india ink, and I also used cut papers for detail and texture.  

When I was ready to mix the resin and cure the final piece, I laid it out over a small table.  It was important that the edges of the table top that I am working on are bigger than the stand it is resting on.  If the resin connected the tabletop to the stand, it would be difficult, possibly impossible to separate them.  So I used a small side side table for balance and I placed the whole thing over a large dropcloth.  

Since I also wanted to protect the side edges, I used masking tape to catch extra epoxy resin around the bottom before I poured the resin over the whole table top.

 I mixed the resin with its activator (both part of the box set), followed the instructions, and used a rubber spreader to spread the resin and let it dry.  That part of the process is a little bit stressful and can be messy, so I didn't take any pictures.  

About an hour into the curing process, I removed the tape and spread out any drips along the bottom edge.  After that, I let it sit with no interference for at least 8 hours. When it was finally dry, I noticed that there were some spots that had not been completely covered, so I added a second layer, and waited 8 more hours.  

It takes a full 72 hours to be completely cured.  Once it was completely cured, I sanded the hardened drip marks along the bottom edge and delivered it to its new home.

Here it is, back on its stand and ready to be used!