The Art of Epoxy in Rustic Furniture: Our Journey to Better Solutions

At Refined Rustic Furniture, epoxy is an essential part of our daily craftsmanship. When working with natural wood, especially salvaged pieces, you often encounter character marks like knots, splits, and voids that tell the story of the tree's life. While these features add character, they sometimes need reinforcement – that's where epoxy becomes invaluable.

Evolution of Our Process

Over the years, we've experimented extensively with various epoxy products and filling techniques. Each project presents unique challenges, from tiny knotholes to substantial splits that run the length of a slab. Through this experience, we've refined our approach to achieve both structural integrity and aesthetic beauty.

Working with Epoxy

Here's what we've learned about working with epoxy effectively:

• Application Techniques: Using fine-tip bottles or wooden stir sticks helps work the epoxy deep into cracks and crevasses. The initial water-like consistency is actually beneficial, allowing deep penetration into wood pores for better stability.

• Timing Matters: Different projects require different curing times. We adjust our approach based on the specific needs of each piece.

• Filling Methods: For through-holes, we tape the bottom of the slab and gradually pour until full. It's best to slightly overfill and sand down later for a perfect finish.

• Sanding Tips:

  • Start with 100-150 grit sandpaper

  • Work in light layers to avoid heating the epoxy

  • Progress to finer grits for the final finish

  • Sand the entire piece for consistent texture

Our Switch to Nerpa Epoxy

Recently, we made the switch to Nerpa Epoxy, and it's transformed our finishing process. As a locally-produced product from Calgary, it aligns perfectly with our commitment to supporting local businesses. But more importantly, it's gentler on our artisans' hands while delivering exceptional results.

We chose Nerpa because they share our values of transparency and authenticity. Their background in chemistry and chemical engineering brings scientific rigor to their manufacturing process, resulting in a product that meets our high standards for both performance and safety.

Why Quality Epoxy Matters

When working with premium salvaged wood, the choice of epoxy is crucial. A quality epoxy doesn't just fill voids – it:

• Stabilizes the wood to prevent further splitting

• Enhances the natural beauty of the grain

• Creates striking visual effects, especially in live edge pieces

• Provides long-lasting durability

• Ensures a professional finish

Supporting Local Innovation

By partnering with Nerpa, we're not just getting a superior product – we're supporting a local company committed to environmental responsibility and innovation. Their focus on sustainable manufacturing and exceptional customer service mirrors our own commitment to quality and environmental stewardship.

Whether we're crafting a dining table with a river of epoxy or stabilizing a split in a live-edge bench, our choice of materials matters. We're proud to work with products that help us deliver furniture that's both beautiful and built to last.

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