DIY Resin Ocean Serving Tray

Recently I’ve been obsessed with making resin ocean trays. They only take a few hours to make and are such awesome gifts! Ready to learn how to make your own?

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Want more projects like this one? Visit my website & YouTube channel!

Website: www.diyhuntress.com

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/diyhuntress

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Materials:

MAS Table Top Epoxy
Live Edge Wood

Woodworking Tools:

Miter Saw
Sander
Chisel
Cutting Board Oil

Epoxy Resin Tools:

Dark Blue Fluid Acrylic Paint
Medium Blue Fluid Acrylic Paint
Light Blue Acrylic Paint
White Mixol Pigment

Epoxy Mixing Tools:

Heat Gun
Propane Detail Torch

For this project, I chose to use a small, leftover piece of live edge wood that I had in my workshop. To prep it for this project, I had to first cut it to size and then remove the bark from the live edge using a chisel.

Next, I used a forstner bit to drill a handle for my board. This step is optional, but adds a fun little detail!

After removing the bark and drilling my hole for my handle, I sanded the board to a 120 grit to prepare it for the resin pour.

Next, it was time to prep the piece for the pour. I covered a work surface in a temperature-regulated room with plastic and then taped off sections of the board that I didn't want covered in resin such as the sides and the underside of the handle.

Next, it was time to prep the resin. I mixed one large batch of table top resin and then split it into five cups with five different colors: clear, white, dark blue, medium blue, light blue.

I started my pour by adding the different variations of colors. Dark first, then medium, then light. I blended the harsh lines between these colors together using a popsicle stick and the heat gun (see video for process in action).

Next, I added one small section of clear resin to break up the colors.

Next, I added a line of white pigment using a popsicle stick.

After the resin pour was done, I used a heat gun to push the white pigment into the colored pigment to make waves. I also applied some heat from a small propane torch to help create small patterns, or cells, in the white resin.

Safety Tip: Make sure to not overheat the resin because it can smoke and burn. Instead, add small bouts of heat at a time.

There were a few bald spots after the resin pour, so I used a paint brush to distribute the resin to these spots.

After letting the first layer dry, I repeated the resin pour to create a second layer of waves.

After letting the board cure, I removed the painter's tape and sanded the board.

Last step was to finish the board with a cutting board oil!

Last step was to enjoy my new serving tray!