What wood works best for a Resin Table?
Choosing the right wood is the foundation of a strong, beautiful resin table. Olive wood is one of the most striking options you can use, but it has some special characteristics you need to understand first.
Decide how the table will be used
Start by thinking about where the table will live and how hard it will be used. A busy family dining table needs dense, durable hardwood that resists dents and movement, while a decorative coffee or console table can prioritize wild grain and character over extreme toughness. For outdoor or sun‑exposed spaces, prioritize woods and finishes that tolerate humidity and temperature swings and pair them with UV‑resistant resin.
For resin tables, dense hardwoods are usually the safest choice. They move less with humidity changes, bond more reliably with epoxy, and resist daily wear better than softwoods. Softwoods can work for budget projects, but they are more prone to dents, warping, and uneven resin absorption, so they demand more sealing and are best left to smaller, low‑stress pieces.
Key criteria when choosing wood
When you choose a slab or board, look at three things: stability, moisture content, and defects. Aim for kiln‑dried wood with low moisture (often around furniture standards in your region) so it does not shrink and crack after you pour resin. Check for major cracks, loose knots, insect damage, and rot; some defects add character, but anything loose, punky, or crumbling will either need to be removed, consolidated, or filled before pouring.
Resin tables really shine when paired with wood that has dramatic grain, live edges, voids, and knots the resin can flow around. Dark woods like walnut contrast beautifully with light or metallic resin, while pale woods like maple or ash pair well with bold, bright resin colors. Think about how the resin color will interact with the wood, whether you want contrast (dark wood, light resin) or harmony (similar tones for a more subtle, organic look).
Olive wood is a standout choice because of its swirling, high‑contrast grain and rich golden‑brown color with darker streaks. Each slab looks unique, which makes an olive wood resin table feel truly one‑of‑a‑kind and almost sculptural. Olive is also naturally hard and dense, so a properly dried slab can handle daily use while the resin highlights all those natural curves and voids. At Desert Hardwoods we have a great selection of Olive Wood Cookies
Things to watch with olive wood
Olive wood has a relatively high oil content, which helps it resist moisture but can slightly complicate gluing and resin bonding if the surface is greasy or freshly planed. Before pouring, it helps to thoroughly degrease the surface with an appropriate solvent, let it dry, then seal any very porous or end‑grain areas with a thin resin seal coat. Because olive is dense and often sold in smaller, expensive slabs, plan your design carefully, support it with a robust base, and factor its weight and cost into your project.
Matching resin and wood preparation
Regardless of species, properly preparing the wood matters as much as choosing the right slab. Flatten the slab, remove all loose material, and fill major cracks or voids before the main pour so they don’t leak or trap large bubbles. A thin seal coat over the entire surface reduces air bubbles (outgassing) from the wood into the resin and helps keep color, clarity, and edges crisp in the final table.
When possible, look for sustainably harvested, salvaged, or reclaimed slabs rather than freshly cut tropical timber. Local sawmills, specialty slab yards, and reputable online sellers can provide kiln‑dried hardwood slabs suitable for resin work, including olive wood if it grows or is imported in your region. Ask about moisture content, drying method, and how the slab has been stored so you know you are starting with stable material before investing time and resin.