Fake or Fine Woodworking?

In this video I build a dining table and make every woodworking mistake possible. Check out your local Rockler store or order online: bit.ly/485M1k1
This dining table is made from cheap 4x4 douglas fir construction lumber. We’ll be gluing up two panels of 4x4s and stacking them to make the wood blank for the table. Then we’ll use my Avid CNC to cut an upside down pyramid shape for the table top. Then we’ll make a Japanese style wood table base and stain the wood black.
// ROCKLER PRODUCTS
FREE SHIPPING CODE: modustrial
Store Finder: bit.ly/485M1k1
Slab Flattening Jig: bit.ly/401jJFf
Parallel Clamps: bit.ly/3TtRXgl
Parallel Clamp Blocks: bit.ly/3BNlP1m
Glue Spreader Kit: bit.ly/3XIDDDh
Festool Miter Saw: bit.ly/4f6KpZn
Bandy Clamps: bit.ly/4dRDwdv
Panel Cart: bit.ly/486UEe7
AVID CNC: bit.ly/32V2sys
00:00 Introduction
01:11 Panel Glue-up
02:19 Flatten Wood Panels with CNC
04:14 Flatten Wood Panels with Router Jig
04:56 Sacked Panel Glue-up
06:43 3D Carving Table Top on CNC
10:19 Wood Inlay
12:09 Table Base Design
12:46 Making Table Base
19:04 Rockler Ad Read
20:36 Making Table Base (continued)
24:18 Hardwood Trim for Table Top
25:48 Assembling Table Base
26:32 Making Hardware for Base
27:09 Assembling Table
28:09 Applying Finish

[@likethetelescope]

The mahogany square inlay is too stunning to put on the bottom, should have added one on top to match! Great video

[@modustrial]

Thanks!

[@jeinnerabdel]

Seeing so many mistakes happening is what makes channels like yours more authentic. Sh!t happens to all of us yet you find a solution. That's a good example for me! Keep up the amazing work you do!

[@modustrial]

I appreciate that!

[@ayrtonthompson750]

Watching the mistakes on the cnc reminded me of all the mistakes I have made on mine, I mainly cut aluminium though so it’s a bit harder to patch up haha

[@Trainwreck1123]

The 2nd crash at about 9:30 is due to what is called a dogleg rapid. Basically there's 3 general ways a machine can move to a given point. It can do a synchronized move where each axis arrives at the target destination at the same time, it can do an independent move which is basically 3 separate moves (this is generally how machines home by default), or it can do a "dogleg" move where each axis moves to the target point as fast as possible. Dogleg rapids are generally the default and have caused problems for many a machinist over the years. Most posts will have an option to output rapids as g1 instead of g0 which is a quick way to avoid the issue all together.

[@modustrial]

Ah, good to know!

[@daranadine7711]

Thank you for sharing, I love learning new concepts

[@adamshinbrot]

The Douglas Fir top is going to expand and contract with ambient heat and humidity across the grain; in other words the overall width of the table top is going to change over time. This is going to be a problem for the end pieces of mahogany trim, which are not going to change in length over time, or not much, anyway. With hardwood that had been kiln dried this would still be a problem, but with Douglas Fir that is considerably moister than hardwood, it's definitely a problem and the miters in the mahogany border are going to open up. How do I know this? I built a Douglas Fir table with dovetailed breadboard ends (to attempt to avoid the above problem) and there is indeed considerable movement. Somedays the breadboard ends are proud of the edges of the top, sometimes they are shorter. Not a particularly attractive solution, but at least it was intended. (s) The Voice of Doom

[@Wendifur_]

The Mahogany trim really brings out the shape of the table. It was there to cover a mistake but it seems to be made for it. Looks great

[@Drago_Whooves]

There are no mistakes, just happy accidents.

[@steveogilvie5203]

A bunch of 5 gallon pails full of water is a great way to hold large pieces flat while gluing them together.

[@bigstick6332]

Great job. Love how you show the whole thing, goofs and all yet still make an awesome product. Cheers.

[@modustrial]

Thank you!

[@matttolman9392]

First of all I love your channel. You generally wing a few things in your videos that are questionable but will probably be ok in the end. But the mahogany border has not increased the durability of the table, and in fact sealed the fate of it. They fall off on the ends of that table in 1-2 years max, possibly next week, do to the movement of the Douglas fir. I would also be concerned about that "locked in" inlay on the bottom either causing the table to warp over time or potentially cracking the table in the winter when the Douglas fir shrink and the mahogany cannot, but does have those nice side pieces you put in to push off of. All fixable when they happen though, unless it cracks, so that's good. In any case, I'm a subscriber and wish you the best!

[@vettencle]

Glad I’m not the only one who sees those pieces running perpendicular to the end grain being a problem with the wood movement

[@modustrial]

Time will tell... In the spirit of sharing I will be sure to do a follow-up video if it does explode 😜

[@nielscremer599]

I swear it's a must for a KZbin woodworker to have imposter syndrome at this point. All y'all do is cry about some comments someone made. Relax, you guys do great work and we love it

[@dsldsl1980]

Let's build a table from cheap wood... then buys 5k worth of tools from Rockler hahaha... love it

[@modustrial]

🤣🤣🤣 fair.

[@davidroddini1512]

Love the project! Did a great job covering the mistakes. And congrats to Cam!

[@modustrial]

Thank you!

[@jpkanter1]

Love the way the table turned out. Little concerned about the trim glued on the end grain due to wood movement and one suggestion about finishing, I've learned that it's easier to apply finish before assembly. Great work!

[@kappagrapes]

"the satisfying finishing pass" - wow you're not kidding! That's satisfying as heck! Congrats and best wishes to the lucky couple, and I hope they enjoy their awesome-looking table. That bit where you have to nip off a bit of the wood because it's getting in the way of the leg reminds me of a time when I did up a whole 3D model of some shelves to go under the stairs in a loft apartment, got the shelves in place, started putting them together, and realized I forgot to leave room for a human being to get in behind them and screw in the last support... couldn't just put them together out in the open because they had to tuck in behind the beam of the stairs in a funny way... to this day those shelves are lovely, very useful, and still missing a cross-brace in the back.

[@ADVBear]

The table looks amazing. The only thing I didn't like was the rounded dowels in a different tone covering the screw holes on the legs. But that's just a detail, and I definitely love the finished piece. You always deliver, man. Cheers!

[@lookbelow1]

I just recently saw a cool trick for the pieces not to slide when you're doing a glue up. You either scrape some abrasive material from a sanding disc (like a 50 grit sand paper) in between your 2 pieces, or you put some salt (the salt will dissolve over time depending on the type of glue). This will prevent the pieces from sliding all over and staying on your marks.

[@modustrial]

The salt trick is a good one, but I always worry it could create a gap during the glue up

[@RRRRRRandy]

Good choice on the lag bolts. The table is stunningly beautiful and I love the contrasting wooden dowels! Terrific!

[@adriennedull332]

Congratulations to Camm. I don’t do woodworking but love to watch the process… thanks for keeping it real.

[@MCsCreations]

Stunning table, man! Truly amazing work!!! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@modustrial]

Thanks! You too!

[@nelsonjeffries3547]

I love how you're showing the rough parts of your passion......makes the finished product thst much cooler

[@jonathanhall7903]

I surely do enjoy your content! Your comedy of errors and mistakes became an encyclopedia of wisdom.

[@modustrial]

Thank you! That's the goal 🙂

[@arch1107]

beautiful table, the inlay in the bottom, it would have been nice to do it on the top, with same wood or with copper inlay

[@modustrial]

That would be cool!

[@jimrosson6702]

Table turned out awesome great job. Congrats on Cam 🎉🍾. Thanks for sharing

[@ChronicallyZanny]

CONGRATS CAMMMMM (and I hope he feels better!)

[@BoudicasQuest]

I think you made the right call when it came to the lag bolts. I follow The Samurai Carpenter who works almost exclusively in that style, and the level of precision required is insane. This table is GORGEOUS, and I want to heartily congratulate your cameraman! What a lovely gift!

[@modustrial]

Thanks!

[@kevinjfallon]

Really nice design! Imagine same design with a variety of exotic wood!!!!!

[@Kaodusanya]

imagine the cost

[@c.a.chambers68]

That is a beauty of a table - love love love this one 😃👍🏻

[@modustrial]

Thank you!

[@artistic_spaz3724]

It was cool to see you use more widely accessible materials for a build and a couple tools that are available to the average Joe as well

[@markwarner5554]

I used to have a lot of problems with routing long, shallow tapers in hard maple and the wood wanting to chip out. So I invested in some whiteside spiral carbide pattern bits, and that pretty much solved it.

[@katspeace5550]

Beautiful Table and definitely Woodworking at it's finest! Gotta FAFO what'll work and what doesn't sometimes. Awesome Video as Always 🔥🤘🏼🔥

[@modustrial]

Thanks much!

[@poppamad979]

Living in a timber frame home with Douglas Fir posts and beams as well as Doug Fir doors and trim all over, I have learned one thing. Douglas Fir is a pain in the butt to work with. The blow outs when trying to plane or rout something can take hours worth of work and turn it into a complete mess. Very impressed with how you dealt with this challenging wood species. It looks amazing in my home and that table would be awesome, but my level of patience with Doug Fir has run its course over the years. Thanks for sharing.

[@modustrial]

Yea, the lumber is cheap, but you definitely invest with your time trying to work with it...

[@erc1971erc1971]

I build dioramas - stuff like you do on a much, much smaller scale. We all have those cursed projects that you just have to muscle through with sheer stubbornness and get them finished! Turned out great in the end. I love my 3D printer BTW - they are an absolutely amazing tool to have in the workshop. And - congratulations to the future Mr. and Mrs. Cam!

[@Wsfletcher]

Nice surprise! Thank you Mike

[@anthonyfreeman5858]

Hey, that table turned out great, even with all the “Hiccups” during the making of it. Nice finish really makes it a beautiful table. Nice work.

[@jeinnerabdel]

That Asturias song when you were giving the last details... EXQUISITE!

[@JJAH28]

Beautiful table.....very nice job! Much better than the cheap table my wife and I had when we started out along with our other Ikea furniture. Congrats Cam!

[@modustrial]

Thank you!

[@j2theay]

dude, love the design and finished product. turned out awesome!

[@ragnarocking]

that is one beautiful table.

[@modustrial]

Thanks much!

[@johnnig3589]

hey it's not about how many times you stumble, it's about how you get back up. Love the work, and keep playing with that CNC ;)

[@household_cracker]

I think it's admirable to let go of your own ego and make sure the joints are strong. With that said, I do think you are a skilled woodworker and I would very much like to see a project without any glue, nails or screws.

[@modustrial]

Thank you!

[@krishm2478]

Now that's a honest KZbin video. The end result was nothing short of great.

[@modustrial]

Thank you!

[@jenford7078]

That sure beats the melamine over chipboard with brass-plated tubular leg dining table I had the first 10 years of marriage! Beautiful design and finished piece, and I wish Cam and his "woman" a long and happy union!

[@leegarner4111]

That is beautiful,well done,you know your tools and your wood.

[@teddluke534]

You can never have too many clamps. 😊 Congrats to Cameraman Cam!

[@marvindy5561]

❤ love the craftsmanship, such a fan!!!

[@benhynum9879]

this makes me want to blow the dust off of my cnc and create some new dust.

[@modustrial]

Go for it!

[@BeeBeeBae]

Looks great, Congrats Cam

[@ScottyDrake]

If you're routing an edge detail or flush-cutting with a template, watch your grain. If it looks like you're going to get tear-out, stop. Pick up your router, set it down at the far end of the edge, and rout from right to left. It's called a climb cut, and I have no doubt there are a number of KZbin videos on the subject.

[@bakerfx4968]

I’m still new into woodworking so I pretty much exclusively use cheap pine softwood and I get less tear out when I go the wrong direction with the router lol. You get a bit more burning but definitely less tear out on cheaper softwood.

[@zenithgroove]

Thank you for also sharing the mistakes made along the way and not only the good things

[@bobromero2485]

That table is awesome!

[@coop_coop007]

He who never made a mistake never made anything. It looks really nice. Good job.

[@kylegilbertson2401]

I love the e-stop button on my Shapeoko 5 pro.

Beautiful table. This is an amazing weding gift.

[@urieaaron]

I was programming a robot as an electrician at a GM facility. I set a point for a spot weld, then moved up, over, and back down on the other side to set another point. After setting several more points, I ran a test at too high a speed. The robot took a shortcut between the first two points and punched a hole through the rear quarter panel of a car body.

[@modustrial]

yikes!

[@plsmithed]

Came out gorgeous Mike! If they had lag screws hundreds of years ago, I'm sure they would have used them too

[@kschleic9053]

Making the tabletop from 4x4s is the perfect gift for a young couple... They can use it, party on it, move it between apartments. She can commission you to build Cam a solid mahogany top for their 5yr anniversary😂 I built my younger brother a 3x6 dining table as an engagement gift, the top was a butcherblock style made from fir 4x4s. He and his wife were in a tiny apartment, they beat the crap out of that tabletop making stuff for rheir wedding, doing DIY projects and taking care of toddlers. 5 years later, when they moved into a much bigger and nicer home, he and I repurposed the table into a garage workbench that is still serving them very well a decade later.

[@modustrial]

That's a great story!!!

[@fabz_studio]

I really loved this table! 😍. You have won the battle after all 😅🙌🏼🔥

[@modustrial]

Thanks!!

[@Shadowcat31]

OMG I love seeing you go out to the stores cause I live in Chicago and grew up in the Burbs, I know EXACTLY where that Rockwell store is, I have eaten at that Melting Pot near it a few times 😅This is great, I love when makers let us see the mistakes so it makes projects like these feel a bit more approachable! As a new home owner and a maker myself, These vids make feel a bit better about attempting some simple builds! I gotta start somewhere right?

[@BakerVS]

Cool design! While you were making the under carriage, I was thinking that it looked better (to me) the other way up. The way you made it with the legs tapering towards the bottom you kept the pyramid motif, with things getting slimmer as thet moved away from the table top. With the under carriage upside-down, however, and the legs getting slimmer towards the top, the effect would have been more like looking at a tree: A wide trunk getting slimmer towards the top, and a large canopy above. In that case, the upside-down pyramid would have to sit in some kind of cradle with angled parts, a bit like a boat sitting on supports. (Hey, that might actually be a cool idea for a boat inspired table!) Otherwise, I like how you include hand tools in some of the steps. Try a small European scrub plane some day (search "Schrupphobel", Ulmia and ECE are well known makers, but second hand models are cheap as chips). They are lightweight and ridiculously efficient at removing a lot of wood, you could do a lot of roughing out with that to save time and to wear out the machinery less.

[@The-truth-is-valuable.]

If you do it again: Add stiff and chunky "riser blocks" to the top of the legs (either add on or part of the legs) that "lego" into the bottom of the table top. That will help with a cleaner design, and take the leg stretcher away.

[@crowturtle]

Would really love to see a inlayed lazy Susan in a large round table (and maybe with a way to lock the spin from underneath?)

[@JWG2014]

On the top, I think I would have used wood hardener to help resist dents and markings but not sure how the finish would look with that added.. Great job..

[@Arkie80]

Congratulations Cam! Get better quick. The gremlins were after you big time this project. I've had my shares of troubles on projects. When I built my first computer desk a few years ago I had more setbacks than success. So no judgement from me.

[@wadetyler5056]

Now you have to design chairs for that table!

[@AndyCallaway]

It came out looking great. 👍

[@rhkips]

I don't know why some folks get so bent out of shape over CNCs being used in woodworking. I've used CNCs in metalworking before, and no one said I wasn't a real machinist. Heck, I had one experienced machinist tell me "You're not a real machinist until the CNC throws an engine block across the room." You're not a guitarist if you play electric guitar. You're not a framer if you use a nail gun. You're not a singer if you use a microphone. You're not disabled if you use an electric wheelchair. Nah, I see wood, I see work being done. You're good on semantics alone, brother.

[@mariannerady1137]

Don't like the color combo you chose but seeing how you got to these cool shapes was really interesting! Also liked that you used cheaper wood, makes it more approachable. Good job staying focused on the learning!

[@georgeerasmus7051]

Love the look. Glad you showed the learning points or “mistakes”. My only concern is the grain direction on the mahogany border behind end grain to long grain and I am expecting that table to To move some seasons. Now this may be a bit of dogma or may not be.

[@msabercr]

this is exactly what vacuum bags were made for - large unruly glue-ups. Also, those dowels sticking out proud of the vertical leg supports are sticking out like a sore thumb literally.

[@hunterpinnell6254]

Super cool table. Dont care how many mistakes you made...........I want one

[@heyitsthatdude17]

5:30 depending on the geometry, maybe screw the piece at edges to get seamless glue up around the edges, and then use clamps / weight to get a good bond in the center? Then the screw holes can get taken out when routing the pyramid profile. Might require making the "bottom" panel a bit oversized, idk.

[@heyitsthatdude17]

Toe screwing at an inward angle (towards the center) would prevent holes on the underside of the "top" panel as well

[@GruniTheThird]

Not gonna lie, seeing a professional like yourself make mistakes did make me feel a lot better about all my fuckups xD

[@BrianSmart1959]

It's really super nice! The only only little tiny thing that bugs me is the HUGE grain on that new growth wood. I'm old enough to know what the beautiful fine grain of old growth timber looks like. It's a shame that stuff is pretty much gone.

[@jmwblue]

If it were my table, I would have preferred if the plugs on the legs had been sanded flush and stained the same dark colour so you wouldn't really notice that there were bolts holding the stretcher in. Especially since you were originally going for the Japanese Sashimono look.

[@Thomllama]

Think you “might” find the pine body with the end strips you’ll get a good bit of cracking from the expansion/contraction? Not saying you will, but pine swells/shrinks a lot! Being in a condition atmosphere might help? Either way, looks friggin cool!!

[@oliviera5988]

I don't like your woodworking projects, because there is no Caulk-Talk... just kidding! I love all the projects you do: woodworking, renovation, concrete...

[@lukafilm]

Pretty! Really pretty!!

[@TheJeracuda]

Congrats to cameraman Cam on your engagement. Now don't let Mike screw up your relationship for you by making you spend to much time behind that camera filming him making multiple mistakes :P lmao. I wish you and Erin (sp?) nothing but the best in life. As for the CNC not being real wood working I have to say that much like when using traditional methods the tool is only as good as the person using it

[@vironized8606]

Whats a nice and pretty table. Thanks for the amazing video!

[@modustrial]

thanks!

[@richardperritt]

"That's one hunk...hunk of wood" Well thank ya. Thank ya very much. Uh huh. IYKYK (I'm off to make a peanut butter and banana sandwich)

[@memor5514]

Congrats Cam the cam guy :D

[@Dustins_Woodworking]

Cool table. I think you could have bypassed a lot of joinery if you would have just put an angle on the end of the upright portion of the legs. Then it would have sat flat on the feet and stretcher. Good job overall. Love seeing mistakes and how you fix them.

[@quaqstar]

The only different thing I would have done is doweled strategically the 4x4's internally before glue and clamps, so they could be hidden below the cnc cuts.

[@ianwit]

Love the design and would have used the CNC to make a hollow hardwood top.

[@janienbucknor1429]

Stunning!

[@jimbryant2157]

I get so lost in wondering around the Rockler in Phoenix that my wife now refuses to accompany me. Not that I am complaining that she is then not there to possibly veto any purchases.... ;)

[@clarawalterlin237]

Man this is so beautiful, I'm so very worried aboutedge edge banding though! For a table this thickness and width, putting any board across the end grain is a recipe for disaster. Wood moves a lot more than people think, those mitres are unfortunately definitely going to pop right off at some point

[@featherorknot]

Mike you shop at Rockler how I wish I could shop at Rockler haha.

[@korycoster3586]

Joining the 2 slabs together, I would have created a template to allow for accurate dowels or dominos

[@LaPetitWookiee]

I’m wondering if you could have used Shou Sugi Ban technique on the legs? The Japanese use that technique on Cedar and I don’t know if Fur behave the same way ( I genuinely know bugger all about wood, I just like watching people work with wood, steel, concrete, etc).

[@brucehartweg4946]

Gluing the two layers is asking for issues (which you handled well). I think I wound have just glue a single panel of 2x8 lumber to get that thickness

[@Wico90YT]

Rather than infusing wood with resin, I wonder if you could infuse resin with wood; and then cast it into cool shapes.

[@jaipoh]

Is the CNC machine a lot to maintain? All that machinery gives me anxiety that something small could kill it

[@richdbolduc]

Hey I see a Nova Neptune lathe in that Rockler :D

[@flingshotlife]

Why is the inlay on bottom side? Is it visible from any other angle than laying on floor? Or is it for the kids to enjoy when they play underneath the table?

[@modustrial]

watch the whole video and you'll find out why ;)

[@princejohn9630]

As they say mistakes make you perfect

[@ggmax2958]

trying to understand why the mahogany inlay is under the table. Looks great love the base

[@modustrial]

you have to watch the middle part of the video to understand that ;)

[@dannygroenenboom2032]

With the glue down of the two slabs, I would do it with the Festool Domino 500, and then just put some heavy weights on it, a tip from a former woodworker 😉

[@modustrial]

Good idea!

[@dannygroenenboom2032]

@@modustrial always here to help, maybe in the future you can combine wood with naturestone, like what I use to work with nowadays 😉

[@LankyFrank]

Are you worried about the hardwood border on the top? What about expansion/contraction?

[@modustrial]

Potentially but I think with how thick the top is the movement will mostly cancel out.. Time will tell...

[@0vesl0]

Funny of you to think that id withhold my negative comments simply because you asked 🤣🤣🤣🤣 jk, love your work man! Mistakes and all.