So you want to do an epoxy finish? DO THIS Instead | End Table Build

^Card Scraper, Carbide scraper, ANY of the tools I use in this video are in this link!^

Router Sled:

Please let me know what you think of it in the comments! Haters are always welcome on my channel, I will never delete a comment or block someone. I feel like you guys should be able to speak freely in the comments even if you have a negative opinion on my work!

This is just a part time side business for me at the moment, I film and edit all my videos from my iPhone. I would really love to do this full time, so any feedback on the video really helps me understand what I can do to make these videos better for you guys!
Do you want talking or no talking?
What is your favorite part of the video?
Why are you watching this video?
-do you want to see more fractal wood burning? or do you just want to watch a video of something being made for entertainment?
Do you care to hear more about the fractal wood burning process?

Any feedback helps!
Thanks again for watching!

[johnminer]

Very refreshing to watch a video where the author is sharing his experience with a complete absence of ego - explaining the problems encountered in his project, requesting advice from the community and still creating an impressive finished project. Well done!

[TheresaHify]

It’s been my experience that you have to varathane, I use a water base, before you use resin. If you don’t the wood keeps bubbling after. Make sure your wood is very dry. And just use your mixture to seal up the bottom. Also another good way to get rid of bubbles is isopropyl alcohol 90 percent and spray it on. Helps with the bubbles and doesn’t affect the epoxy at all. Like your video. Very nice piece. Was a learning curve for me when I started.😊

[jbrac]

That is a gorgeous piece of work. I have done woodworking for myself and family a long time (50 yrs) and the one thing I pick up from your video that I truly empathize with you on is your love of the journey, not the destination.
It takes a huge amount of patience and love of the art, to perform the dozens of steps you did. A person doesn't do that except when their greatest pleasure is in the creating, not possessing.
I wish I had the stamina, and the shop you do. I would be very motivated to start up another piece of furniture after watching your video.

[joshuapuyear]

You made a beautiful piece. One bit of info i can lend to you (or those watching) is when wet sanding is don't use dust extraction once you get to 1000 grit and higher. The extractor can make your scratches worse. Plus hand sand your last grit twice by hand in the same direction. That was a trick I learned from doing auto body work.

[manyfeatherknives]

You are obviously a perfectionist. That thing looked beautiful to me halfway thru the process.

[D-B-Cooper]

You were asking about the micro bubbles, try not mixing it with power mixer, carefully mix it a tongue depressor and carefully pour it out not to introduce air. I once worked in a place that mass produced epoxy coated items. Epoxy was mixed in a metering gun and poured out in a temp and humidity controlled room. No sanding or polishing. If there was a problem the rep would figure it out and tweak the formula. Epoxy gets old real quick and starts to separate. You can still use it but you need to heat it and remix it. Even atmospheric pressure has an affect on the outcome. Instead of mold release you can use packaging tape.

[dustinepps]

I think you made the right call with the shellac. Personally I feel it looked better than the epoxy top coat

[Chindro]

One of the most thoroughly explained videos out there. Very nice.

[michaelhansen]

The combo of wood and epoxy are challenging. 1st you need to completely seal the wood. If its still absorbing epoxy then the wood can off gas into the epoxy. I ruined some pieces this way. 2nd big tip is vacuum chamber the epoxy to be sure all the bubbles are out prior to the pour.

[Clint]

First of all, this is an awesome video and shows how involved the process really is. I am a huge fan of Osmo Poly-X and have used it on flooring transitions and dining room tables. It is super durable and you can add more coats without sanding off the previously applied Osmo.

[mauricesparks]

That home made router tool is awesome man

[mauricecanney]

Am I the only one that loves him using a screw driver as a chisel?

[treggmichelleliebler]

The table looks great!
Sealing the wood 1st before the epoxy is a must.
Mix epoxy by hand, once applied, torch to remove bubbles, NOT TOO CLOSE or it WILL burn. Keep torch moving always.
Repeat as necessary every 15 or 20 mins.
GREAT lighting is critical when using epoxy, use a hand light as well.
While epoxy is curing and you're not working on it, turn all the lights off...the reflection will attract bugs.

[makinnewcounts]

2+ coats of diluted Shellac or Deep pour epoxy only for seal coats (never tabletop imo)
Torch bubbles in epoxy twice. Once after a minute or so, second time 20 minutes later. Careful to do it light and quick with good lighting, easy.
The best epoxy finish is sanded dead flat from 120-330 all the way to 10, 000, compound, polish, add a ceramic coat and wax that sucker. I do this all the time, it's worth every bit.

[JohnWilliams-iwoq]

I apply the shellac with a wad of cotton wrapped in linen and circular motion. It takes time to fill the grain with shellac but it's worth it as my pieces look like they are coated with a thin layer of glass. Just coat after coat until you get the finish that you want.

[frankashworth]

Hello. When you sanded your first sealing layer, the amount of sanding removed it's sealing capability.

After you began applying the finish layers, the micro-voids in the wood, had to give up air in spaces, the first couple layers drew out.

Seal the end grain more than moderately, and only use finer sandpaper lightly, so you don't "unseal" the grain.

Nice piece. Good luck.

[measuretwicewoodworks]

That’s an insane amount of labor to finish that top. Good on you for sticking with it.

[timpretzsch]

Sealing the wood surface helps alot before epoxy to prevent absorption, also when your melamine sticks like that a electric planer makes pretty quick work of it. As far as bubbles in the surface of your epoxy, a propane torch, 2-3" from the surface, keep moving in sweeping motions, after pour helps remove them, do this 3x with a few minutes between each.

[deliaguzman]

That router sled is awesome—especially the dust skirt thing. Nice table!

[maddieadams]

Beautiful table, thanks for tutorial ❤ us a flashlight on your epoxy pour while it’s still liquid and you see any bubble left behind or forming. The light refracts off the bubbles and identifies their existence