Settling woodworking's biggest controversy: EPOXY

[@Lincolnstww]

To start comparing quotes and simplify insurance-buying, check out Policygenius: Policygenius.com/lincolnstreet. Thanks to Policygenius for sponsoring this video!

[@Leqi]

A real sponsorship! Path to youtuber looking strong!!

[@Nhansomnang]

0:10

[@jonny555ive]

Talking crap about somebody else's creation or art form is just a low life thing to do, there's nothing wrong with using epoxy !!!!! You are sad and pathetic. Thumbs down and no subscribe 👎👎

[@TheOldFatDadGoober]

Hey there, I heard you mention Upstate South Carolina. Would you be interested in stopping by a career center and working with some students?

[@Lincolnstww]

@@TheOldFatDadGoober send me an email

[@pjwhalen5104]

Your Mom at the end! Priceless! Thank you for sharing all your efforts with honest commentary.

[@hansangb]

What an epic ending! I think if it were your table, I'd vote for the spider base. But for your parents, it has to be the base that your mom used to love that you then chopped up for your own purposes to provide a gift to your mother of something that was already hers. 😂😂 But man alive, did that turn out looking GREAT! Well done!

[@rmTheWalrus]

Cliff hanger ending! 😂

[@jothammcmillan8854]

Great video, even better ending!! As a maker, not a woodworker, I'm kinda tired of anyone emphasizing how a real (fill-in-the-blank) creator would do something. Personally, I'm just delighted if anyone is creating anything. The act of creation, however it's done, is what I respect.

[@BricktowneMedia]

The old table base for sure in my opinion. the spider legs looked cool as heck to be sure, but I really liked how it all came together with the updated 'vintage' legs. Great work!

[@davidmeyer9204]

You know you are in trouble when you are called by your "given name". Great build, great video.

[@demontekdigital1704]

If you hear all 3 names you know you ain't getting out of your room "until Jesus comes back." 🤣

[@Osiwan960]

Jonathan!

[@OneTequilaTwoTequila]

Do you really think that little part wasn't rehearsed?

[@RunarMagnussen]

I think we'll all benefit from a supportive community without gatekeeping! I think you made a great looking table even though it's not my personal taste. I don't feel the need to trash talk it because I wouldn't want it in my living room, I'm happy that people enjoy different things as long as they have something that brings them joy.

[@gbjones54]

Love seeing you and Matt work together. It turned out stunning. Both bases are awesome but I think my vote would go to the reconditioned one if it going to be used as a dining table. Less banging of the knees. 😉

[@BricktowneMedia]

right? I concur...I looked at those spider legs and thought, ok but where do I put my legs? lol

[@patrickgreen9747]

I agree….river tables are not my favorite, I would never choose to buy one, but I can appreciate the work that goes into them..!!!

[@bryancannon631]

M2 lumber is awesome. Great selection and pricing. I love that the lumber is local and professionally kiln dried

[@chrisbrannan3784]

I think the spyder base looks really cool and if you were doing this for a commisioned / production work absolutely the way to go. However, considering the circumstances you made the right call. Finding a way to give your parents a new table, sharing your skills while still incorporating a piece of their history will make it even more special and memorable down the line.

[@Lincolnstww]

Thanks!

[@JimHester]

I think the pecan with the deep black accents looks really nice, and both bases look great under it. I'm an old, so if I had to choose, I'd probably go with the upcycled base, mainly because it just looks more traditional. Happy Father's Day!

[@MrAnimal1971]

This is THE MOST ENTERTAINING woodworking channel on you tube!!!!

[@christopherhonnen2250]

Table looks great, video is awesome, you and Matt click well!! Thanks for the opportunity to assist!!

[@bc.cadguy6048]

I actually like your modified base. Seems more appropriate for the table and the room.

[@msytdc1577]

When epoxy is as expensive as it is there's a case to be made for filling the voids partially with other materials and leaving the epoxy for a thinner visible portion only. Obviously this only applies for more opaque epoxy color choices, transparent or semi-transparent colors may benefit from being an all epoxy pour for aesthetic reasons.

[@ourtube4266]

There’s a case to be made for throwing filler into anything lol. Cement is dirt cheap but I know guys that throw trash, leftover nails and broken masonry into every pour they make. It’s just fun I guess

[@joshmagrum3552]

you guys both have a natural presence on camera, great job!

[@coreyghayes]

Here for the algorithm. And to cast my vote for mom's favorite table base. Definitely option #2.

[@smxaviermelendez9210]

Chef’s Kiss for the use and placement if that Happy Gilmore clip. I literally laughed out loud 🤣

[@KipringPayne]

Option 2! Your mom's reaction was priceless, I hope she likes it. I think you did something spectacular and once she sees it will enjoy it for many more years to come. The metal bases are nice, but they are beginning to feel played out.

[@jimh472]

If you want to get really zany, take that modern base and put in on the original top after some restoration work.

[@dottyjyoung]

This is fantastic adaptation of the existing table base. That's how I got my start in woodworking, just making furniture for my family.

[@pmdinaz]

That is one gorgeous chunk o wood Cam is a great one to watch for these too. You are proud, I'm sure. The original base looks absolutely great with that table

[@WoodcraftBySuman]

Dude went fishing in the pond for an actual woodworking video. Well done!

[@T_Jonesy]

Cool video. I have a lot more respect for these tables and the people that make them after watching the arduous process of creating one. I'm also surprised to say I like the base you made from your parents original dining table better than the metal base. Cheers!

[@MLSteffel]

Thanks for this video! I have been wondering what the anti-river table crowd truly had issues with. The “maker” in us I think is what brings us together, and I was so glad to see you reusing the old base (woodworking). To me (none domino owner) I always feel that the domino is cheating at woodworking, but then I just suffered through making two bedside tables with 36 mortise and tenon joints each. Maybe I’m just jealous; after all I had no problem using my jointer and plainer instead of Han plains. Respect for the Makers!

[@jasonwebb3848]

I agree, and even John has a hard time getting past digs at the epoxy crowd many times in this video. Epoxy is just another medium to mix with wood. Do those who grouse about it or even question if it is woodworking say the same about those who use manufactured metal legs like he proposed in this same video? It is another non-wood substance that in this case is actually replacing the wood entirely whereas the epoxy is united with the wood in the project. Your point about the domino is just as valid, planers too. We can all come at these things from a certain perspective. And I will admit, I sometimes have a hard time with the CNC crowd, but I also know how much time and effort goes into programming and setting it up, so I cannot say it isn't "making" just because a machine did it. Again, I have a power machine for making wood flat, a hand plane is a more primitive machine for making wood flat. A CNC is an even more powerful tool than I have that can . . . make wood flat and more. I would love to hear an actual argument (critical points backed with evidence, not mere ranting) from those who claim that river tables aren't woodworking.

[@RobDucharme]

Ah man, the way this video ends.. LOL. SO glad you decided to go all in on KZbin.

[@MG-bv1vl]

That was the best part of the video!

[@virtuous-sloth]

'Learn to compromise' is a good lesson to learn.

[@virtuous-sloth]

Watching Jon snack on walnuts while sanding pecan.

[@robertlee1977]

She didn't break out your middle name, so we probably can assume you're not in too much trouble.

[@notachance5317]

Underrated comment...

[@jamesburton6661]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you are currently making the best woodworkering, or in this case, wood-and-plastic working videos on youtube. Keep it up man! I'm looking forward to the wood finish video and the mitersaw station video.

[@wesleychen4408]

I think the videos are out already

[@Nickknows00]

Don’t woodwork, probably never will woodwork but I love seeing people make resin tables, they look so nice

[@seggremalac]

I really love your videos, how much down to earth are they and the fun. Matt is also a gem. Thanks for the show!

[@ycmakes]

How dare you leave us with a cliffhanger.. I almost got a heart attack from that ending.. good thing I have life insurance from policygenius

[@Bugnarok]

I love the end of the video. You should more like that, little things that not many people do sometimes add up better.

[@kellenholt6655]

All epoxy thoughts aside, the final product looks great, and for most people who don't spend hours out of their week watching woodworking videos on youtube, that's what matters most so well done! I'm torn on the bases, both honestly look good to me.

[@adamroberts737]

I'm not a fan of epoxy/river tables either but, i think this table turned out looking awesome. I think option 2 for the base looks best

[@MLSteffel]

Agreed. And maybe the premade bases are a reason some woodworkers look down on river tables? I think I like the second in part because it was crafted, and crafted well!

[@paulm.campbellii7516]

It was honestly so worth watching till the end to get your mother's response!! That was priceless, and I couldn't stop laughing for an hour....hahaha. Great project, loved all the aspects that you pointed out concerning the process.

[@shaynesabala]

John let me start by saying I really dislike these trendy tables. But,,,, when I saw you had a video I had to watch it. Your videos are some of the best. You give not only extreme details, but also your thought process as you are going through the build. That my friend is invaluable. I can’t tell you how many times I watch a video and wondered, why did they choose to do it that way. Thanks for another great video, keep up the good work. Have you gone full time at this yet?

[@kjh_woodworking]

Great video mate. I think the the fact you pointed out how long the prep time is for finish was great. I think a lot of other KZbinrs skip those details out, which really helps the Maker Community out. Again, loved the video and the table is sensational!

[@roklemnok]

M2 is great. Good guy, also presented at our Greenville Woodworkers Guild a while back.

[@TeeVeeGames]

Woodworking (and/or epoxy river table) videos need more twist endings like this. Thoroughly entertaining. Even though you've scared me from ever trying to make one of these myself.

[@darthrevanakc]

Matt was great! Good camera presence and very clear when explaining

[@scottboettcher1344]

Dude, I could spend 30 hours just looking at that top! I prefer the repurposed base, but it's Mom's decision, right? Loved the ending!

[@brendanlangord1687]

Cool project. I like the repurposed base better. Thank for sharing.

[@randyhunt3272]

The repurposed table legs look great! Well done on the entire project!

[@jameslogan1153]

That was phenomenal. May be the first table of that style that I can really say. I loved It

[@Lincolnstww]

Thank you!

[@albertm8576]

Loved this video, it is destined to be one of your “ classics “. The end is priceless. Oh and the table looks amazing!!! Great work👌

[@markabernard]

I like the upcycled base better. Nice job on the table. Cam would like it too.

[@bikingmagoosy1173]

I love your open and honest approach, and the way you include all the hiccups along the way. The end result is a beautiful piece of furniture, one of the best I've seen. The black really compliments the wood finish. I prefer the remodelled base.....because it looks stylish and involved woodworking. Cheers from across the pond.

[@danobluda3407]

Easily one of your best videos to date. Loved every moment of this. Thank you for all the work you put into your content. Inspiring and hilarious. Bravo!

[@David-ok3cx]

"Jonathan!!!" Perfect coda! I always appreciate your videos -- the content and the style. Keep up the great work (epoxy river tables notwithstanding)!

[@ryguy41685]

Love your humorous take on an otherwise tedious and lengthy project. I think the reclaimed base is the way to go. It looks great and the family history involved is a great addition overall.

[@paultolman2832]

Woodwork or not this video is great entertainment - Well done on a great project!

[@mikegorski9723]

How cool is that, making a river table with Ron Howard!!!

[@BoneStack117]

Idk, I think the remade base looks really good! Hard to say. I think is also depends on the house; more traditional, old base. Modern, new base. Great video!

[@ericdonohue9008]

Very happy to see another video! I actually manually creeped the channel about 12 hours before you released this video. Guess I had a feeling it was coming!

[@RobSandstromDesigns]

Jon I am taking the Creator Course and thought I would come back and watch some of the videos creators putting the course on have made. I had already watched this video before - I know because I gave it a thumbs up before. This time I tried to watch through the lens of what the course is trying to teach and that was very helpful. Not sure I can come close to your creativity. But, after being in the course and listening to you and Cam (two main people in the course) I can see how you took what you are teaching and used it. I think I will be rewatching even more of the Creator Group's videos to see how you apply what you are talking about. Not sure I will be able to figure out how to apply the fundamental skills in my video's but I did find rewatching this video helpful. I know you don't need to the comments but new comments never hurt.

[@ColumbiaSCRealEstate]

I've shopped at M2 Lumber. Great guy, great saw mill!

[@soujrnr]

Hey, John. That table looks amazing! It's definitely a LOT of labor, but it looks absolutely fantastic!! Thanks for sharing the process. As always, your commentary always cracks me up. Have fun!!

[@lameducksoup3702]

Wishing u all the best on this new, full time endeavour … really enjoy your efforts!

[@sabingratz]

Great video John, Matt is an excellent co-pilot, you should include him in another video at some point-you guys play well off each other. Thanks for the great content and congrats on making this your full-time gig.

[@braincraven]

One of the best endings to a wood working video. Brilliant

[@LuizNunes74]

It's funny how Matt looks so much like Rob McElheny. Yes, it is woodwork, and yes, they are beautiful. AND your table looks AMAZING! I wish I could afford one. Great video, as always.

[@darrelduke]

Not a fan of river tables but that pecan is beautiful! Nice work sir.

[@MichaelBuilds]

Oh my god John, I Effing LOVED this video!!! You had me informed and laughing all the way through to the very last second. I got a ton of inspiration from your vid which I really appreciate because I'm in the middle of my very first epoxy table build myself (I'm very nervous...). Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into this video John!

[@ropable]

I don't particularly want to make one myself, but it was fun watching you make yours.

[@KrayyNZ]

Great video. Love the Superfast Matt refs in there as well. I do like the spider base, just depends on how stable it would be if someone sat on an end

[@FrazerCanyonWoodworks]

I think you did an awesome job on extending the wooden base, but I think the spider base goes better with the whole package.

[@bluewren65]

Agreed!

[@philwoodard5439]

Another great video and you can’t go wrong with either base. Just couldn’t decide which I liked best.

[@intrepidus3378]

Had no idea we were going to get a lesson in Integral Calculus like we got at 9:00. That was sum good content right there.

[@einsteinbpc]

Love your humour your hard work and your willingness to try new things. Looks great 👍🏻

[@lupenielsen]

I love your channel, and this build was amazing. I prefer the base from your parents' old table. It looks simple, elegant and highlights the tabletop. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with us.

[@TheTranq]

Both bases look good, which one did they go with? I like this style wood and epoxy table where epoxy is just used as a filler, what I don’t like are the intentional “river tables”

[@keithbrock6410]

Great job man, I really enjoyed this(especially since I wasn’t doing the sanding). I like your repurposed base better.

[@egbluesuede1220]

Definitely the repurposed base from the old table. Looks terrific and brings the family history to the new one.

[@cyclingturtlewoodworks]

Nice work and great video, Jon. Enjoyed seeing you and Matt in the shop and now in the video. And fun that I built something with a slab of the same pecan tree. I do look forward to the epoxy table fad going away.

[@EvanDunville]

Great build! I like both bases. I think the spider one is cooler now but may date the table in a decade or so.

[@TheMonkdad]

Nice video. I guess my 3 reasons I’m not a fanboy of epoxy are: 1. I’m an older traditionalist of furniture craftsmanship. 2. I’m desperately trying to leave this world better than when I entered it and epoxy isn’t natural and is plastic. 3. It’s stupidly expensive. BTW I prefer the spider base.

[@DamianDArienzo]

Nicely put.

[@Erik_The_Viking]

I agree on all of your points.

[@mm9773]

I agree: the spider base is ugly as hell, so it goes very well with the top.

[@oliver299d]

when I was in college we were talking about a few pieces of glass art that were beautiful but they were just cubes, but the properties of the glass made them awesome, then it was brought to my attention that the form was nothing it was the material, because if you painted it gray you would have a gray cube, epoxy is the same way, paint it gray and all you have Is a rectangle.

[@5280Woodworking]

The environment is a big one for me. Well said.

[@doylestownhuskies9624]

Table came out great and I really liked your take on the whole epoxy table thing. One of my favorite videos of yours so far. 👍

[@kevinash8825]

Great job John! Love your humor too.

[@jamesbannerman4804]

LOL, love the ending. Great job on the table. Looks fantastic. The original/reworked base is the best.

[@cujero]

To me this is definitely woodworking. You have to understand the wood a lot more and it is very critical to the end product.

[@RichardMerrill3Hawk]

The spider base looks great, but it seems like a small footprint for the size of the very heavy slab. Your mom might be right, but that base will do the job, and let you hook one of those cantilevered toddler's high chairs on the edge of the table. My vote is the stability of the original/stretched base. However, put your organic mind to rest. It's an organic piece of work, because epoxy is a polymer which is definitely based on organic chemistry. Wikipedia even says it's a cyclic ether, whatever that is. Organic as all get out. So much fun! Loved your gags with your friend, especially the crossed tapes on the raw slab.

[@BobBrittonBespoke]

Great build John.... Love how you repurposed the old legs.... Keep up the good work!

[@rbdesignsnh]

this was awesome. I think your point about re-defining the question makes a lot of sense as well. loved your mom's reaction at the end. 🤣

[@Theexplorographer]

To save on epoxy, use wood instead. Pour a 1/4"-1/2" epoxy base and let it harden. Then fill your remaining space with scrap woods. Pour another 1/2" and let that harden. Then do your final fill pour. You can save a TON of epoxy this way. Obviously this only works if you are using opaque colors.

[@patriciacushing7448]

I personally like the remaid base of your parents’ original dining table. One, I’m in the same generation as them and the spider legs are just too modern for me. Two, I’m sentimental, so having something from the past and something that my son took and rebuilt just for me would make me cry (happy tears). ❤ Thanks for sharing all your honest thoughts on making a river table. Woodworking is creating, something that involves time, planning, tools and wood, so yes making a dining table from scratch, while using other mediums is still woodworking. It may not be traditional but, hey, our for fathers would have said that using power tools was not “real woodworking” either. Love the build ❤

[@mcba]

Good video, and you two make a great double act. I liked the finished product more than I expected - not a fan of the bright blue made-for-youtube tables but the black felt more natural. Also I liked your remade base better.

[@tjwaggoner1]

Nice build. I like the up-cycled base better personally and thought you did a great job on it. Planning a slab/epoxy table for our kitchen and will have same challenge as you having a small one man shop.

[@kevinbetts6254]

That table is sick!!! Great work!!

[@dennisstolwijk7906]

Love how you are ripping on epoxy tables not being actual woodworking, but you do buy that finish from one of the biggest epoxy woodworkers out there :D

[@Lincolnstww]

Who said Cam is a woodworker 🙃

[@appalachianpunk]

I can’t believe Blacktail Studio didn’t show you his one of a kind, groundbreaking, earth shattering techniques.

[@arclightxv7861]

This one was fantastic to watch. I tried making one of these pretty early into learning how to woodwork and that was a mistake. I know at some point I've got to come back around and at least get one successful attempt at this in.

[@StuartMacadam]

As someone who barely has a practical bone in my body, I found this video surprisingly interesting. Why wait to thank you later? THANK YOU right now Jon.

[@Mr.GucciClass1A]

Soooo Good!!!!!❤😂😊 this was so entertaining, and the final scene was epic!!! Excellent job, man! Glad to have you on here making movie and woodworking magic for our viewing and maker’s pleasure. Happy Father’s Day too!

[@adevans67]

Tossing a vote in for spider base. This was a fun ride!

[@danc2207]

Great video & kudos to your parents for joining in. If you could do a followup sometime, I'd be really interested in hearing how epoxy holds up to use in the real world. So many of the big dollar builds I see on youtube look like they will never have a meal served on them.

[@tomruth9487]

The only thing I hate more than river tables is river table videos. But I managed to watch almost your whole video. I like your sense of humor, you had me laughing. Also, since I've been working wood for only 40 some years, it was good to finally get some instructions on how to sand. Thank you

[@jaredjohnson8553]

I was surprised to find that I like the repurposed base better. Anyway, congrats on a fine video. Nice to see your snark isn't going anywhere....

[@atreynolds]

The ending is epic! When we heard your mom say your full name, I think most of us recognized that sound of surprise and possibly disappointment and could all relate. Hilarious! Also, the table turned out really great. I'm not a huge fan of river tables in general, but this one looked really beautiful and I guess I would probably be happy to have it in my home. But not for $3000. That's just crazy talk.

[@wayneosteen1539]

At least he didn't get "three named". LOL

[@nowthenad3286]

Hang on! I thought she was just acting.

[@thenext9537]

Looking at that TASTY Festool one piece long track. Also the saw is nice too, but that track? DAYUMMM. I feel like Cam said something about all this.