How to Make a Fall Football Charcuterie Board
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Let's face it - there's something special about the start of football season, especially with a good resin charcuterie board. It's like the ultimate flex at any gathering. You walk in, plop down your masterpiece filled with snacks, and suddenly you're the star of the party. But before you get there, there's a little elbow grease (and patience) required. Creating a resin charcuterie board is part art, part science, and part "What did I just get myself into?" But don't worry. We've partnered with Jose de Leija from JD Woodcraft Designs and already gone through the process (and the emotional roller coaster), so you don't have to.
So, if you've ever wondered how to make a football themed charcuterie board with resin, Jose has outlined all the steps he took below - let's dive into it!
The Materials:
Preparing the Walnut for Its Glow-Up
Every good project starts with prep. In this case, it's not you mentally preparing yourself for the inevitable mess, but prepping the wood. For this board, Jose used claro walnut. Why? Because it's beautiful, and if we're going to spend hours on something, it better look good in the end!
Step 1: Prepping the Claro Walnut Board
Take your walnut and give it the spa treatment. Wipe it down with a damp cloth like you're apologizing in advance for what it's about to go through. If you see rough patches, lightly sand them so the epoxy doesn't throw a tantrum and refuse to bond later. Think of it like exfoliating - it hurts now, but it'll pay off later.
Step 2: Creating an Epoxy Barrier (Because Nobody Likes a Runny Board)
Next, you're going to create a dam to keep the resin in check. (Yes, we know, we all need a dam sometimes.) Jose used silicone on the underside of the walnut, sealing it up. Then, clamp the board down. The last thing you want is for it to shift while you're pouring the resin. After that, use polyplastic strips to create walls around the wood and seal those edges with even more silicone. In this process, silicone is your best friend. Actually, silicone might be your only friend by the time you're done.
Now that you've trapped your walnut, it's time to start mixing.
Pouring the First Epoxy Layer
You've prepped the wood, built your walls, and now it's time to mix the resin. For this project, we recommend using Table Top Epoxy because it's reliable, durable, and is the perfect surface coating epoxy to help make those figurines and encapsulated objects stick.
Step 3: Mixing Table Top Epoxy & Mica Powder
Take your resin and hardener and mix them together in a 1:1 ratio. Not sure how much you'll need for your specific resin charcuterie board? Use this epoxy calculator.
When mixing epoxy resin, be sure to stir in a calm and consistent motion, being mindful not to introduce too much air into the mixture otherwise you'll end up with more microbubbles than you planned on. You can watch the full Table Top Epoxy instructional video here.
Add a touch of black mica powder to give it a cool earthy aesthetic.
Step 4: Removing Bubbles (A.K.A Destroying Your Tiny Enemies)
Now that you've poured the epoxy, it's time to tackle those pesky air bubbles. No one invited them, and if you're not careful when mixing, you may get more than you planned for. Grab a torch or heat gun and glide the flame over the surface like a pyromaniac with a purpose. Be sure to keep your heat source moving constantly as to not overheat the resin.
Now while the base layer of epoxy is starting to become tacky, it's time to get creative. For this board, Jose wanted to commemorate the start of the NFL season, so he added all things football!
Adding a Football Design - Because Charcuterie Boards Need Sports Too
Listen, Jose and the Promise Team thought about using real turf for this football-themed charcuterie board. But guess what? Turf and epoxy don't really mix. So, when that brilliant idea tanked, we turned to Plan B. Don't be afraid to pivot when things go wrong. Working with epoxy is all about being fluid.
Step 5: Spray Painting a Stencil on Foam Craft Sheets
Jose decided to use a foam craft sheet and a stencil to recreate the football field. Pro tip: If you spray-paint the stencil onto foam, you won't have to deal with the paint bleeding everywhere.
Step 6: Adding the "Turf" and Sealing with Epoxy
After placing the foam turf onto the board, pour Table Top Epoxy to seal it all in. It's like giving the board a protective coat of armor.
Step 7: Figurine Time (Yes, We're Doing This)
To really drive home the football theme, Jose threw in some mini figurines. Think tiny athletes running across your charcuterie spread. Once they are placed, lock them down with more Table Top Epoxy because nobody wants to eats salami next to a floating figurine.
Now that all the fun stuff is in place, it's time to take the plunge and pour the Deep Pour Epoxy. Deep breath - you got this.
Pouring the Deep Pour Epoxy: The Big One
Deep Pour Epoxy is like the heavyweight champion of resins. It's big, dramatic, and demands respect. You'll need to pour a lot of it, but don't worry - we're here for the emotional support.
Step 8: Mixing and Pouring Deep Pour Epoxy
For this specific resin charcuterie board, Jose mixed up 96 fl oz total of Deep Pour Epoxy. Trust us, that sounds like a lot, but your board deserves the best. You'll then pour your mixture over the walnut and design elements until everything is fully encapsulated in resin. And then, you guessed it - more waiting for it to cure.
Once the resin sets, remove the clamps and dams.
Finishing Touches: Making Your Board Look Like It Belongs in a Museum (Or at Least a Pinterest Board)
Now that the epoxy is fully cured, it's time to finish the board. This is where it all comes together - and also where you'll need to flex your woodworking muscles.
Step 9: Cutting the Board (Squaring It Off Like a Pro)
Take your table saw and square up the edges of your board. This part is pretty straightforward. Cutting the board makes if feel real, like you've actually created something. And you have!
Step 10: Sanding. Lots and Lots of Sanding
Here's where the real fun begins: sanding. Jose recommends starting with an 80 grit, slowly working your way up through 120, 150, and finally 180. Yes, it's a lot of sanding, but this is how you get that perfect, buttery-smooth finish. It's also where you question your life choices, but hey, beauty requires sacrifice.
Step 11: Addressing Tiny Imperfections
If you have any little cavities on the underside of your board we've got you covered. Grab some Fast Cure Resin to patch them up. It cures in 1 hour so you won't have to wait long. Crisis averted.
Step 12: Raising the Grain
Before you start the final sanding, spray the board with water to raise the grain. This might sound counterintuitive, but it helps make the final sanding smoother. So go ahead and give your board a quick spritz.
Step 13: Sanding From 180 to 1000 Grit
Your hands will hate you, but that's okay. You'll want to slowly sand your resin charcuterie board using the following grit progression: 180, 240, 320, 400, 600, 800, and finally 1,000. It's annoying, but this is where the magic happens.
Step 14: Wet Sanding (Because It Can Always Get Smoother)
Wet sanding starts at 500 grit and goes up to 4,000. This is where the resin turns from "decent" to "mirror finish". Also, where you might lose feeling in your fingertips. Worth it.
Step 15: Cleaning & Polishing
Once the sanding is done, it's time to polish. You can use 3M rubbing compound, followed by 3M polishing compound to get that glossy, glassy-like surface. You can also use the Promise Epoxy Cleaner & Polishing system for the same results. If you're anything like us, you'll stare at your reflection in the resin and wonder why you don't look this smooth in real life.
The Final Step: Adding Odies Oil (Because Even Wood Needs Moisturizer)
Step 16: Applying the Oil
Finally, go ahead and treat the walnut with Odies Oil. Rub it in like you're moisturizing dry skin, and then wipe off the excess. The oil brings out the richness of the walnut and protects the wood for the long haul.
The Finished Resin Charcuterie Board: It's Party Time
After all that sanding, pouring, and polishing, your resin charcuterie board is finally complete. Not only does it look amazing, but it's also functional (you know for all those fancy cheeses and snacks you pretend to like). So go ahead, show it off, and maybe - just maybe - drop a hint that you made it yourself.
Learn more about Jose and his work by visiting his website!