A tabletop that glows in the dark is not only original, but also practical. Especially if the table with it is installed in the garden, in a gazebo or near a window. The light effect created by the luminescent coating can last up to 12 hours.
In this article we will not fully describe the process of making the table itself, but will focus only on how to make the tabletop luminescent (luminous). The process of making a luminous coating is extremely simple, but there are some points in this matter that should be taken into account in advance.
Materials and tools
In terms of materials, you will need the tabletop itself (in our case, we used cypress boards, which had inherent flaws in the form of resin chambers), as well as a transparent epoxy resin and organic fluorescent powder. So that you don’t have to look for it in stores, we’ll give you a link to a very high-quality option with free shipping. This powder can remain glowing for 7 to 12 hours and will last faithfully for 7-10 years.
We will also need masking tape and disposable cups. In addition, the surface will need to be varnished at the final stage.
Tools: semicircular chisel, sander (or sandpaper), knife and a pair of brushes.
Preparation
In our case, the preparation process consisted of cleaning the natural resin chambers of the cypress tree from the remains of dried resin. For this we used a regular screwdriver and blower. But if you use a ready-made tabletop, you will have to cut the chambers yourself using a semicircular chisel. We would recommend cutting depth from one to one and a half centimeters. In this case, the resulting hollows will contain more luminescent composition, and, consequently, the glow will be brighter and longer.
Cypress has fairly deep chambers that in some places form through holes in the 25 mm boards we took.
Of course, the surface must be sanded, and then acrylic plates must be secured to the ends so that the applied luminescent composition does not leak out. The edges of the tabletop can also be covered with masking tape.
To prepare a luminescent composition, you need to mix the components of the epoxy resin in disposable tableware. It is most convenient to use 200-gram paper cups, but you can also use half-liter ones. We poured half a glass of resin and separately half a glass of hardener. Powder was added to each of them and stirred.
After combining the two resin components in one glass, you have approximately 5-7 minutes to fill the hollows made and processed on the countertop with the resulting composition. For our tabletop measuring 100 by 50 cm with deep hollows (which you can see above in the photo) it took two liters of epoxy resin and 100 grams of fluorescent powder. It’s better not to skimp on it and add more to make the glow brighter.
Now everything is ready to apply the luminescent composition.
Application of the composition
The resulting composition should be carefully poured into the slits and hollows made with a chisel. It's important to note that the epoxy will soak into the wood, so you'll need to add at least a second coat.
The whole process took us about an hour. After which we waited about 12 more hours, allowing the epoxy to harden properly.
Further work consisted of trimming the edges of the tabletop to get rid of unevenness and resin deposits, as well as sanding. In order to achieve a dotted effect, we had to use a sander to remove a fairly large layer of the surface where the epoxy had gotten outside the grooves.
The final stage is processing the edges and coating the surface with two layers of varnish.
We all know very well that shawls, termites, bark beetles and other “lovers” of wooden food are one of the main destroyers of roofs, furniture, wooden floors, etc.
If you find the right approach to the damaged material and process it a little, you can get an excellent original glowing table, which, for example, on some sites costs about $780-800. So let's get started.
1. To make such a table, try to choose boards that are most damaged by bark beetles. But, most importantly, do not forget to treat all the material with chemical or heat treatment. Otherwise, the bugs will not stop and will continue to do their gnawing business. Fig.1
2. After this, plan the board on all sides. And then cut the pieces. Which will be equal to the length of the table. Rice. 2
3. If you want to get a wide tabletop, then here you will have to join several boards together. This procedure is performed using wood glue and tenons. The glue must be applied along the entire length of the board. Once you have done this, tighten the boards with clamps and let them dry. Rice. 3
4. All passages along which the woodworms moved must be treated by removing dust and rot (for this it is recommended to simply blow it out with compressed air). Rice. 4
5. Next, you need to sand the surface of the countertop itself to such a state that it is smooth and even.
6. The next stage is preparing the countertop for pouring with epoxy resin. Be sure to place wax paper under the bottom side of the tabletop itself, and make a special plexiglass side on the sides. This procedure is mandatory, since bugs can make through passages.
7. Next you need to prepare the resin for pouring. To do this, it is tedious to measure out a certain amount of resin and hardener. You need to add phosphor powder to the epoxy resin (it is what provides the glow in the dark). As for the amount of phosphor itself, there are no certain proportions. You have to guess, so to speak. After you have already mixed the resin and phosphor, you need to use a flash on the resin, and then in a dark room look at the density of the glow itself. If you like everything and it fits, add hardener. Rice. 5
8. Now fill all the holes with epoxy resin. Due to its viscosity, it will not spread on the table, so it is recommended to level it with a ruler immediately after pouring.
9. Even after the resin has hardened, in any case, irregularities will remain on the surface. To do this, simply sand all defects thoroughly. Initially, use coarse sandpaper, and then move on to fine grain (somewhere from 80 to 400).
10. The edge of the table is best treated manual router. Rice. 6
11. Well, the most crucial moment is finishing your table. Open the tabletop with varnish, and when it dries, sand it with fine sand. sandpaper(1200 grit). This procedure needs to be carried out a couple of times so that the table shines well.
12. Due to the fact that the wood used is damaged and rotten, so that the legs are securely fastened, we use sheet material. To do this you need with reverse side tabletops, drill special holes for the nuts, then apply glue to the plates and glue them to the tabletop. Rice. 7
13. It is best to use welded metal legs, and use bolts to secure them. Rice. 8
That's all. Your table is ready. But know that it will only glow in the evening or at night. Rice. 9
Let there be light! Always and everywhere! Transparent, white, blue. Let it illuminate our path to a miracle. May it warm our peace. The path is bright for those who keep it, their thoughts and dreams are bright. Let there be light to those who give goodness, who seek the light of purity.
And here comes the light: soft, mysterious, calm, evening. Reminds me of a night cricket in the fragrant raspberry bushes, chirping about the peaceful, kind, eternal and illuminating its message with a gentle flicker. So that you can not only hear, but also see that EVERYTHING WILL BE GOOD! Well, everyone is already aware, of course, that creativity is the most The best way come to good in the right and pleasant way! This incredible tabletop is so easy to make thanks to modern materials. Of course for work surface kitchen table best option- this is a table top made of natural stone, here you can choose the best option for yourself. You have chosen, installed, prepared to eat - now you can relax, taste a pleasant meal at the glowing table.
This is a swamp cypress board with very noticeable cracks, which the author of this work used. Unfortunately, I did not find the original source, as there were a lot of reposts. If anyone knows, I would be glad to have a hint and, of course, I will point out the master.
From the photographs you can see that the master prepares the selected board by sanding it with an orbital sander. And then he covers it with a special mixture.
This is a mixture of epoxy resin and luminescent paint based on phosphor, which, by the way, come in different colors and can work wonders. It must be poured into the cracks so many times that the solution completely fills them. The tree absorbs liquid, so you need to wait until it gets drunk and stops absorbing the substance that glows in the evening.
Video for clarity. Creative success!
From the presented master class, you will learn how to make a luminous table yourself, which furniture stores costs a lot of money, and thanks to this information you can do it for mere pennies. Today, it is becoming increasingly fashionable to make furniture with your own hands, as well as various interior delights, that is, people are looking for uniqueness in the things that surround them, some need it for self-realization and gaining self-confidence, while others just love doing this business .
And so, to make a luminous table, you will need old boards eaten by bark beetle. It is the old and rotten ones, eaten by worms and other bugs, that are needed in order to fill these cavities with a special luminous solution. Now let's take a closer look at everything and figure out what the author needed.
Materials
- board (old and eaten by bark beetle)
- epoxy resin
- metal legs
- metal plate 2 pcs
- wood glue
- nuts
- bolts
Tools
- jigsaw
- drill
- brush
- clamp
- ruler
- screwdriver
- container for mixing components
The process of creating a glowing table.
And since it was already said above, the author took old and rotten boards eaten by pests, it is clear that he did not buy them on the construction market 😉 The master went over the boards thoroughly with a plane and coarse sandpaper. Then the author selected and sawed the boards he needed to size so that they were the same size. 
The resulting boards should then be combined into a single tabletop, this action The master does this as follows: he coats the side parts of the boards with wood glue, and then tightens them with clamps and leaves them to dry. 
Then, after the tabletop has dried and is ready, it should be blown with compressed air, namely all the cracks and wormholes, so that no dust remains in them and possible pests.
Afterwards, you should go over the surface with sandpaper; you need to do everything extremely carefully, because the board is very delicate. And so the surface of the tabletop is prepared and it’s time to prepare the luminous solution and fill the cavities of the table with it.
Preparation of the solution: for this you will need epoxy resin, hardener and phosphor powder, it will glow. Everyone chooses the proportions of the mixture themselves; you can check the glow in the following way: give a bright flash to the mixture and turn off the light to see how the solution glows. Next, the author fills the cavities, having previously placed wax paper under the tabletop, because the passages can be through. 
After completing this operation, the master left the tabletop to dry. And then I processed the edge of the table with a hand router. 
Due to the fact that the board is rather weak in terms of density and integrity, the author screws these nuts onto the back of the tabletop. 
Misses glue metal plate and glues it. 
And in this way he screws the legs to the table. Well, the table itself is ready. 
Such a table will fit into any even the most sophisticated and expensive interior, and the cost of this table itself is absolutely cheap, but in stores such tables cost about $1000, can you imagine 😉 So take it this material note, and in order not to lose touch with us and our website, join our group
