Sand the wood going with the grain to create the smoothest surface.

Use a mini vacuum or brush to remove the excess dust, if you’d like.

The tape only needs to go along the edges of the back of the wood.

If you’re covering the table in plastic, consider using painter’s tape to secure the plastic to the table so it doesn’t move around. Use a couple of layers of cardboard or plastic, just in case.

Metal cans or cups from the kitchen that are the same height are great options.

Avoid mixing the epoxy in an area that’s chilly, or below 65 °F (18 °C), for the best results.

Most companies will sell the resin and hardener together. Plastic cups are great to use because their indentations make the resin and hardener easier to measure. The ratios will be labeled on the package and are often either 1:1, 2:1, or 4:1. Wear gloves to make sure your skin doesn’t come in contact with the resin and hardener.

Either pour the resin into the hardener or the hardener into the resin, whichever is easiest.

If you do see air bubbles forming while you’re stirring, don’t worry—these can be removed later on using heat.

Pour the epoxy onto the wood as soon as you mix it because it doesn’t have a lot of time before it starts to harden. It doesn’t matter how you pour the epoxy on the wood during the first layer, just as long as it covers the whole piece of wood. Some people like to pour a large pile of epoxy in the middle of the wood and spread it out, while others pour thin streams of epoxy all around the entire piece of wood.

Wipe off any excess epoxy from the sides using the foam brush.

Continue moving the heat source instead of holding it in one place or you could burn the epoxy.

If you see more air bubbles within the first 30 minutes, use your desired heat source to pop them if possible.

If you don’t have a spatula to use, any other straight, hard surface will work to drag the epoxy across the wood evenly. Pour enough epoxy to cover the edges of the wood as well, wiping up any excess or drips using the foam brush. Using a foam brush to drag the final coat of epoxy over the wood won’t create as even of a surface as a plastic spreader or other hard, flat object.

Avoid touching or moving the wood as the epoxy is hardening to make sure it isn’t messed up.