How I Saved My $5000 Epoxy Table From Disaster

I built a live edge epoxy river table for my in-laws but some big mistakes were made. Was I able to fix them? // Grab a set of woodworking plans for 20% off using code KZbin20 : craftedworksho...
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[@craftedworkshop]

Grab a set of woodworking plans for 20% off using code KZbin20 : craftedworkshop.com/store

[@WoodworkingTop535]

Thank you for sharing the videos, it's very interesting

[@Phobosandpanic]

Great to see a furniture build video again, feels like old times! I really enjoyed the tiny house, new shop, and van build series, but the furniture builds are always my favourite. Fantastic work as always, lovely table

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks so much, glad to be back!

[@accrevoke]

The table is absolutely beautiful! Especially the lighter colour next to the epoxy river, the gradient really elevates the overall look!

[@craftedworkshop]

The colors really turned out amazing on the top, really sells the "river" look. Thanks!

[@TheOrangeMaster]

I completely forgot that you actually do wood working projects, I am totally vested in the whole tiny house building and shop remodel and then this new shop move and remodel... but yay, this was a pleasure to watch!

[@craftedworkshop]

Hah, hopefully you liked it because I’m planning to get heavily back into woodworking now that the shop is looking good.

[@mrkev2591]

Was the $5k mistake buying that robo shop vac? 😂 Would love to see a review on that thing

[@craftedworkshop]

Hah, even though it's dumb as a box of rocks, it does help keep my shop clean. I definitely plan to do a video about it so stay tuned!

[@HauntedSidhe]

The table came out beautiful! Great job!

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks a lot!

[@northeastoutrider2124]

I purchased the same robo-vac after a lot of deliberation over the price. I have to say that I have not regrated the cost since its first use. I let it go after the end of each shop day and it does an amazing job. I'm amazed at how fine of particulate it picks up as well as screws and larger wood chip. Love it...

[@Gazman299]

I know it's just a matter of taste and to each their own, but I can't wait for the epoxy table era to come to an end :-) With all of that beautiful wood that you forked out for I just don't understand why the table isn't solid wood. Beautiful solid wood with zero knots. I will say that you do great work, do a very good job on the videos, and are easy to listen to. Thank you for all of the content.

[@Ogilla]

I don't mind epoxy when it's used with parsimony, but I do hate the mediocre table everyone's making now, which is just 2 pieces of slabs bound by a large amount of epoxy in the middle. It's even worst when the epoxy is blue or some other colour that takes all the attention off the wood.

[@craftedworkshop]

I get it and am personally way over the bright colored epoxy. I personally like how black epoxy can help make a live edge piece more usable day to day. Live edges really aren't great for certain dining tables in certain spaces. I also think the black epoxy gives the piece a little more of a modern touch.

[@craftedworkshop]

I do also prefer a smaller epoxy section but this is what my in-laws wanted so that's what I built!

[@Ogilla]

@@craftedworkshop Black epoxy definitively pairs well with almost anything! You did a great job, don't get me wrong, I'm just not found of tables that have as much epoxy as they contain wood.

[@Gazman299]

@@craftedworkshop Agree about the modern touch. Good point.

[@reptileman262]

I used paste wax instead of mold release and worked like a charm. Much smaller than a table but still effective.

[@craftedworkshop]

Good idea, I'll have to give that a shot.

[@wrenchdoozer]

I can't believe you destroyed the melamine river (or escarpment) in the thumbnail. Seriously though, nice build.

[@craftedworkshop]

lol, I think it looks just slightly better with the melamine removed. Thanks!

[@gaffyh1745]

Crazy idea, but you have a CNC, could you not make a mount for it to hold the orbital sander, then run the same or a more dense pass that you did for the flattening? Could automate and produce a more even finish right?

[@craftedworkshop]

That is definitely interesting, I've never seen anyone program a CNC to run a sander but I feel like that could potentially work?

[@Thejakegee]

Beautifully simple table. Nice work, dude.

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks a lot!

[@marymigliore3396]

Wow, that table is beautiful !! Great Job !!!!!

[@markusheitmann]

@07:41 Total boat, baby!

[@mikesvwcorrado]

Honk honk

[@craftedworkshop]

Gotta love 'em!

[@remcojansen5923]

so what was de 5000 mistake? did you destroy a 5000 dollar table before so you had to make this one? Looks like it all worked out fine ;) only the form sticked somewhat

[@MisterKisster]

I think he calculated lost time . Most likely click bait though.

[@paulschreiber]

@@MisterKisster Yeah. Dumb clickbait.

[@craftedworkshop]

The table is valued at $5,000. If I hadn't been able to fix my mistake, it would have been worthless. Hence a $5,000 mistake that I was thankfully able to fix.

[@SuicideNeil]

@@craftedworkshop What mistake? The form sticking isn't a mistake, it's pretty normal- every wood worker doing epoxy tables has this issue and it never ruins the table, you just machine away the pieces of stuck form with a cnc, which is exactly what you did. It's click bait- search your feelings, you know it to be true...

[@BaneBoy2424]

@@craftedworkshopbut what was the mistake is what he’s asking? Melamine sticking to the epoxy doesn’t seem to be reasonable enough. That happens to people all the time. Just say it was clickbait without saying it’s clickbait lol

[@did4h2k]

07:15 how come 33 liters (you buy by the liter) be more complicated than 8.7 gallons? asking for a friend ;)

[@craftedworkshop]

This epoxy comes in 1.5 gallons kits. Just easier in my head!

[@MCsCreations]

Stunning table, Johnny! Fantastic work!!! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@kimnewburn1]

Tape all the side and end frames along with the bottom and you’ll never have an issue again. Tape is your friend

[@funkyjohnhuie]

Great video! I hadn't realized how much I missed the regular woodworking videos. Awesome to see this content back!

[@craftedworkshop]

Glad you enjoyed it, more to come!

[@mcaruso44]

Really cool looking table. The sapwood on either side of the epoxy gives it a glowing, black hole effect

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks, I really love the way it turned out too!

[@jimrosson6702]

Great video the table looks amazing great job.

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks Jim!

[@firefighter9901]

Great cat like reflexes with that camera.... Thanks for explaining the best way to mesure epoxy.

[@robrdavis]

Looks great!

[@johnmigl3601]

Ready for the robot video. Have one for the inside was looking for one to use in the shop.

[@craftedworkshop]

Coming soon!

[@sapelesteve]

Mistakes and all, that was a terrific build & beautiful table! 👍👍

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks Steve!

[@debybrooke157]

Wow! that's absolutely gorgeous! great job on this one!!

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks mama, really happy with the way it turned out!

[@TotalBoat]

The table turned out absolutely beautiful!

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks, couldn't have done it without your epoxy!

[@Stillworks]

Pretty looking table dude. I’ve stuck melamine many tens of times so you’re not alone. Video edit idea for next time, try it and see if you like it: when you have a long sequence that you speed up more than 10x (like the one when you are doing the final sand on the top), add like 3 frames of trails (a filter) and see if you like the result. It just makes the super sped-up action look more visually interesting. Take or leave it, either way - nice build buddy.

[@shanaproctor100]

Would love a review of the robo vacuum!

[@craftedworkshop]

Definitely, thanks!

[@w.cardenas8181]

The tiny house came up nice , I loved watching it .

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks a lot!

[@sullivanwagner1996]

Keep the furniture coming!🙌

[@david_diff]

Is this a sign to buy a festool 😂

[@aaronblackford981]

Maybe that’s his 5k mistake. Those damn things are stupid good but stupid expensive

[@craftedworkshop]

Buying more Festool is always the answer 😂

[@yoregd7109]

Захочешь переведешь . Может этот ролик ты выложил ради контента. Была идея, появилась проблема, решил проблему. Но иакмного людей англоязычных делилаи похожие столы. Мне как не понимающему все ньюнсы анлийского языка, сложнее повторить твой опыт. У Вас же есть Blacktail Studio, он же на понятном языке показывает как работать с такими, непростыми материалами. Результат Твоего творчества тоже прекрасен, твоя мастерская богата разными машинами, твоё творчество должно быть не меньшего уровня ) Главное практикуйся. Всего хорошего, молодец!.

[@JMC8415]

Use some nicer fasteners than zinc plated bolts! Could at least use some stainless button heads with some more appropriately sized washers!

[@craftedworkshop]

Honest question: why bother? Unless you’re lying underneath the table, you’ll never seen the hardware. I’d agree on pieces with exposed hardware but it seems largely unnecessary on hidden hardware.

[@JMC8415]

@@craftedworkshop I think it's a "I want to do better than the last time" sort of thing with me. A constant state of progress. Fasteners are something that is cheap to take to the next level.

[@byromscustomwoodworks]

You should have put tape on the entire mold. It still amazes me how many people don’t do that and spend forever having to remove stuck melamine. Also there are much better brands of epoxy for deep pours

[@brianwood5220]

Beautiful Table. But I have to admit to finding it a little dull for my taste. I had expected it to have a semi gloss finish. Thanks for sharing.

[@craftedworkshop]

I prefer a matte finish but you could certainly go semi gloss easily enough.

[@kevinwatson5833]

Add a thin layer of clear epoxy the the edges and it will stop the bubbles forming on the wood edges

[@popshuvfrontnosegrindrever4308]

So this is basically a video from the bald guy

[@craftedworkshop]

I'll take that as a compliment considering Cam is one of the most successful creators in the woodworking space.

[@Intrepid_Explorer]

Johnny Sins.

[@MisterKisster]

Another way to calculate the amount of epoxy is to dump sand in the space needing to be filled with play sand. This works well for molds.

[@craftedworkshop]

This definitely works but I absolutely hate sand and feel like I'd never be able to clean up all of the sand from the form.

[@texacajundiy]

your epoxy stuck because it got too hot for CRC. basically melted it into the epoxy. If you are going to use CRC let first layer cure for like 12 hours then pour 2nd. I prefer the Alumalite mold release. Friend uses Smooth-on, he likes it. Also, paint the slab edges with a layer of epoxy(like regular 5:1) to about 3-4" into the slab on top and bottom, will mostly kill the bubbles.

[@craftedworkshop]

Good tips, thanks!

[@ZackPyle]

Some of Cam's N3 nano finish would be really good here

[@craftedworkshop]

I’m planning to add it but have to let the Rubio fully cure first, which takes about a week. I’ll post about it when I do!

[@c.a.g.1977]

Awesome table, Johnny, your inlaws will be pretty pleased with it!

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks, I think they'll love it!

[@glenlongstreet7]

Frekote comes in gallon cans. We applied it with a cloth. Wear Gloves.

[@craftedworkshop]

Good to know!

[@royunderwood7514]

Great work!

[@craftedworkshop]

Thank you!

[@Manson04]

Does a dried slab absorb moisture from the air?

[@vaughnmaurt5013]

Great table ! And thank you for just saying you’re raising the grain and not like so common these days on YT …”water popping”

[@craftedworkshop]

Hah, not sure where that terminology came from but I’ve always know it as raising the grain. Thanks!

[@glenlongstreet7]

Free Kote Mold Release. Very spendy, but it is the best. Made by Loctite. I don't use this anymore because I am old.

[@craftedworkshop]

I'll check it out! Do you spray it on? I'm seeing a few different versions.

[@aaronblackford981]

I kinda knew that the older epoxy wouldn’t react the way expected, overheating for how we use the Mel panels for forms. Plastic is plastic at some point. Some much lower point even though harder without heat. It’s sometimes just like wood. Some woods play well with water to a point. Some never do. Some just deal with it if you do. Plastics do the same depending on layers of diff plastics as you can put different layers into a same bottle or dish but they interact with each other differently at diff temps or moistures.

[@craftedworkshop]

I think the biggest factor was the thickness of the pour, which was pushing the 2 inch max TotalBoat recommends. Hopefully I can avoid this kind of thing in the future!

[@aaronblackford981]

@@craftedworkshop okay. Opinions can disagree. Who knows tbh. But ty for yours

[@0bikkuri0]

What is a freedom unit?

[@Kanthalas]

Yup, 100% the melamine stuck due to the heat from the epoxy. You'll need to pour it in smaller increments (pour the next layer when it gets gummy or wait till hard, sand and do the next layer) or keep the epoxy colder (more fans, water cooled table, AC, etc).

[@craftedworkshop]

Yup, planning to get much bigger fans and crank the AC on the next pour. Thanks for the tips!

[@Twinkie1960]

nice job dude 👍🏼

[@bohmsaw]

Do you think you left it to cure long enough? From watching epoxy videos from blacktail studio he leaves it cure for weeks on end before unmolding and handling

[@craftedworkshop]

It was about seven days, which I think is plenty, especially considering it went exothermic. It was rock hard and machined cleanly.

[@timzeller1541]

Excellent job considering the melamine gave you a hard time. Your presentations always show how I can improve ways in my ability.

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks, I was glad the fix ended up being simple enough.

[@roym.1141]

Most mold release sprays are absolute garbage and are intended to use on actual silicone molds. The best thing I've found is a combination of pertoleum jelly and carnuba wax buffed onto the melamine.

[@craftedworkshop]

Good tips! A few people have recommended paste wax but I think some more thorough testing might be in order here.

[@StephenTimperley]

About crapped myself at 25:15

[@ralphbenson9682]

You mention your favorite pencil and white lead but they aren't in your Amazon store. What is the brand?

[@tomahoks]

Pica

[@craftedworkshop]

Sorry about that, it's a Pica Dry pencil : amzn.to/4bTwTqO

[@danielduda6487]

Instead of the 320 paper, use a red M3 pad then wipe and recoat with Rubio.

[@OliverU]

wait... what? u converted cu inches to liter to gallons? wtf?? o.O

[@craftedworkshop]

I figured a lot of folks would want to see the liters measurement, I could have gone directly to gallons obviously.

[@OliverU]

@@craftedworkshop ahh okay, fanservice! thats nice :) thank you! but i think cu inches - gallons - liter is less confusing :D

[@rejkonrad634]

Whats the point of fixing the larger holes on one leg but not the other? shouldnt you have gone back and fixed it on the first one since it otherwise defeats the point?

[@craftedworkshop]

I will, just needed to get the finished shots so I could get the video out.

[@BWIL2515]

Well you're a liar no mention of how it cost you i stayed for the whole video though i guess you accomplished your objective and that's the last video i will watch from you the craftsmanship was great that is enough

[@craftedworkshop]

The table is valued at $5,000. If I hadn't been able to fix my mistake, it would have been worthless. Hence a $5,000 mistake that I was thankfully able to fix.

[@SteveKuznetsov]

Each leg only puts one set of bolts into the walnut - so any wood movement would just go out from the center, no? The epoxy is stable. Not sure you needed to make those holes larger.

[@craftedworkshop]

Yea, I wasn't 100% sure and figured I'd err on the side of caution.

[@jonsanchez55]

Why not use the track saw to cut the chamfered edge?

[@craftedworkshop]

It won’t do a 60 degree chamfer. I could have done that and done a 45 degree chamfer, which I’ve done in the past.

[@jonsanchez55]

@@craftedworkshop 30° from the other side?

[@craftedworkshop]

@@jonsanchez55 I would have had to run the track saw on the edge of the table to achieve that, would be super sketchy.

[@jonsanchez55]

@@craftedworkshop I never said it'd be safe! 😂

[@craftedworkshop]

@@jonsanchez55 could also cut it by running it on edge through the table saw if you want to make things really spicy! 🌶️😂

[@ChrisPage68]

Is that Freedom Gallons or Actual Gallons? 😜

[@craftedworkshop]

lol!

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@jerrywoodlee2345]

I think the table turned out great.

[@craftedworkshop]

Thank you!

[@Omega86641]

Why didn't you tape the bottom?

[@craftedworkshop]

You technically shouldn't need to with a melamine form, since it's inherently nonstick. It was the excess heat that caused issues here.

[@spicematthews8034]

So from metric to imperial to "freedom" units...what the hell is that? Can you explain what they are and why they're called that please?

[@craftedworkshop]

Freedom units was a joke since we use imperial measurements here in the US.

[@flamabl1]

A lot easier to chamfer that edge with your track saw. And no it isn't hard to get an even reveal.

[@craftedworkshop]

The track saw only works up to 45 degrees. I've done that before but that 60 degree chamfer really adds to the effect of lightening the visual weight.

[@flamabl1]

@@craftedworkshop Ahh I see. Still might want to do it as a relief cut. That bit looks crazy.

[@Infoulnessyeshallknowthem]

Use car wax as a mold release

[@craftedworkshop]

Good tip!

[@parkman29]

Whitetail Studios

[@JeanRoi]

Hmm that was some work.

[@tjerkheringa937]

You could have thought this one through a bit better. It would have saved you a ton of money

[@craftedworkshop]

How so? I didn't really lose any money since I was able to fix my mistake.

[@tjerkheringa937]

@@craftedworkshop You used twice the required amount of epoxy

[@juiceplanet147]

Good episode...live emotional reactions are missing from all these types of videos. I know voiceovers are the protocol, but someone has to be the wolf.

[@beanieweenie9543]

The title is a bit dramatic.

[@matthewwright57]

This is what you get for making river tables. Karma.

[@glenlongstreet7]

There must be something better than melamine. PVC maybe?

[@craftedworkshop]

Some people use HDPE but it's insanely expensive if you aren't building the same size table over and over again.

[@nimblybimbly4002]

Jumped on board the Blacktail clickbait train. Bummer.

[@craftedworkshop]

Is it clickbait if it's true? Thankfully, it ended up being a pretty easy save but that didn't make it any less stressful in the moment.

[@SuicideNeil]

@@craftedworkshop It was never true and you know it- stop pretending you didn't just need to machine away the melamine with the cnc like every other woodworker in the situatiuon has done. The more you double-down on this non-issue the more dishonest and disingenous you look. If the epoxy cracked or the white coating melted so badly it leeched deeply into the epoxy, sure, but otherwise... nope.

[@ResinEssenceByCheri]

Walk, talk, caulk. Get it?

[@toddajmoon]

Robot video, yes.

[@craftedworkshop]

Sweet, thanks for the input!

[@glenlongstreet7]

If you don't have the tool do the job, buy it or don't do the job. Don't be cheap, it will cost you in the long run.

[@craftedworkshop]

I don’t think this really applies for something like a wide belt sander. I’d be looking at $20k to purchase one and it would be an extremely involved process to set it up in my shop. It’d also be hard to run pieces this large through the machine by myself.

[@DamianM_M]

$5k for a table and you give these silver screws for black legs? lol

[@joshstroud6823]

Wow, I really thought there was going to be some huge drama given the title. Instead it’s just a normal epoxy build with regular epoxy build problems. Btw at the time of the comment the title is “ I almost ruined a 5000 table” as I assume it will probably later be changed. It’s not even really click bait it’s just a half ass lie.

[@jirizarr_21]

That fix was fairly simple. The title made it sound like a much bigger disaster. I have noticed a few makers doing this lately. No a fan of the clickbait titles.

[@craftedworkshop]

Felt like a disaster when I was building it! This had never happened on my epoxy projects.

[@emirrp]

I don't really like epoxy tables to be honest. Plastic tables like that also feels wrong in so many ways.

[@yossid422]

Ya

[@bighammer3464]

You didn’t nearly ruin anything. Epoxy sticking to the table is normal and not even a big issue.

[@craftedworkshop]

Never happened to me and was incredibly stressful in the moment.

[@Flounder125]

No, what is ruined is people thinking some wood and expoy is worth 5k

[@andyknappenberger7512]

Great content but the way you say everything gets old really really fast.

[@kammiloo1991]

Fine video, but annoying clickbait title.

[@craftedworkshop]

Believe me, I get it. Just testing things out to see if I can get better views with different title styles.

[@BrentMcMurray]

So what was the almost $5000 mistakes? Clickbait much

[@stephensayers4998]

First day on youtube?