$4000 Block of Wood

This video is the story of me trying to salvage this old block of walnut and turn it into a high-end fireplace mantle for a great client across the country.

0:00 Intro
0:23 Backstory on this log/mantel
1:25 Wood cleanup
2:12 Sealing the slab/epoxy pour
3:40 Extreme epoxy leak
4:55 Bold request, giveaway details
6:20 Planing and jointing
8:48 Router trick
10:50 Sander Trick
11:35 Floating shelf bracket install
14:06 Dutchman joint inlay
17:05 Block plane and sanding
18:19 Finish the mantle (round 1)
19:20 Big little mistake
20:47 Final reveal

Items used in this build (some alternatives given due to supply chain issues):

[BeachBushandBeyond]

Worst place : Taiwan in winter 😬
I'm wondering why you put in the bow ties?

[kenkloepping]

I am a metal worker/welder/fabricator with 40+ years of experience. I just discovered your channel and videos. I absolutely love watching them. Please don't change them. I find your commentary very helpful to know what and why you are doing! I am a new subscriber and eagerly awaiting your next project. Thanks for sharing your craft!

[gdpeck]

I like that you show your mishaps. It helps others know that they can recover from it and not throw something out.
My high school woodshop instructor told me a long time ago, it's not that you made a mistake it's how you fix it.

[cbrrrgraffitti]

Going through a pretty bad time in my life and I want you to know your videos have been really therapeutic for me. Thank you 🙏

[ФранческаПоларшинова]

I watch your videos, bypassing the YouTube blocking in Russia. Even politics can't make me give up your videos! With love from Russia❤

[Purdue_Pharma]

I left my job in healthcare back in June and started full time as a cabinetmaker under the guidance of the shop owner. I’m loving every second of every day and always learning something new. These videos definitely played a role in my decision to take the plunge and pursue woodworking full time.

[TCHartselle]

Showing the mistakes that happen during the process of woodworking is something not a lot of people would do. I just want to appreciate how vulnerable you get with your audience!

[GregoryLongs]

First, I'm a big fan of the bowtie/butterfly joints.
Second, a bowtie shape isn't the only option. You could create your own unique shape that would brand your piece. Your interlocking logo is perfect.

[christinasmith]

I am a 71 year old grandmother and I do furniture refinishing and painting. I so love your videos, mainly because I am fascinated by all the tools. The fact that you also make mistakes makes the rest of us not feel like morons when we make them. Thanks, you are a talent!

[whodat]

Not a woodworker and don’t have the fancy tools but I did a similar one for my wife. 300ish year old chestnut beam from an old factory, I left the wild edge wild on the front, with the noriginal dings and notches. Filled the cracks with epoxy as you did, but built up dams everywhere I could with UV setting epoxy, then used aluminum duct tape for the rest. Still had minor leaks and used way more epoxy than I expected, it pretty happy with the result. Additional challenge was that I didn’t want to (nor did I have the tools to) sand it perfectly flat, so all the epoxy had to be brought to surface level but not higher. Finished it with a heavy wax that was worked into the wood with a nylon brush for a smooth touchable (if imperfect) surface. Different end result than yours, but different goal as well. Beautiful work as always!

[nasircervantes]

Mosul Iraq 🇮🇶
Cam your attention to detail is amazing. It’s really hard to gauge in a 20 min video but as a amateur craftsman, it doesn’t escape me.
I was Army my brother a Marine. It’s because of him I found your channel. He’s amazing with epoxies and tinted decorative concrete sealers. I was surfing and found your channel. I stayed because he’s a lot like you detail oriented, and end product motivated. Everything in between is worth it to accomplish his mind’s eye result. Happy Holidays and happy project hunting. From Memphis TN

[scottprather]

Very refreshing to just have narration and not stupid irritating sound effects in the background.
Also amazing how epoxy has revolutionized this kind of woodworking. I like that jointer sled idea I'm going to use that thank you.

[joannkalenak]

Blacktail...I know nothing about woodworking but I love your videos. I've already learned so much. I'm building a memorial bench for my sis-in-law and I wanted to embed a piece of amethyst cut in the shape of a heart. Watching your vids gave me the confidence to just try. I never would have tried to use epoxy to fill cracks and actually add dimension. So far, so good. Even my husband is impressed.

[manicmedicNZ]

Benidorm in Spain - full of Brits trying to be in Spain without leaving anything British behind. Love the look of this piece of work and thrilled at the passion you have for this too. Thanks for sharing.

[JustRockMySoul]

Usually not a huge epoxy fan, but this is one of the finest pieces of wood I've ever seen.
The black epoxy basically disappears visually, merely accentuating the natural cracks. Great job!

[Sandman]

I live in Canada so no, no worst place that would require a mention ;) I've been a week-end warrior in my workshop for the last 3 years and I discovered your channel not too long ago and, even though I don't intend to make epoxy furniture anytime soon, even though I absolutely love the look of it, I really love watching your videos. I've heard you mention a few times that you receive comments because you talk all the time... I actually find your voice quite soothing ;) Don't stop, you could be a narrator in a movie. Very educating, very well made (your vids and your work). You are very talented, and meticulous. You should be proud.

[coverdirector]

The gratifying value of watching someone who knows what they're doing ... or figures it out along the way. Your episodes are just so damn SMART. Seeing how YOU make the sausage is everything. Getting out in front of nit-picking commenters is easily half your battle!

[JVHorvath]

Ive never been to a worse place before. Even when i was down range in Afghanistan I still enjoyed the view. look mate. let the haters hate. they arent the ones making pieces for million $ homes, you are. obviously you got the tools and the know how to make it work so why bother with the extra baggage. I fully support how you do your woodworking cause it shows most guys (who cant afford all the fancy equipment) that even with minimal tools you can still make great products. so keep up doing you, your work will always be fabulous to those who commission it and enjoy it.

[OneOfDisease]

The worst place I had ever been was this closet in a customers building, I didn't notice it had a crashbar on the outside of the door and the handle inside the door was locked. The building was several feet thick concrete and absolute dead zone for cell reception. I was locked in that closet for hours until one of my teammates found me. Congrats on 1 million! I did give you a sympathy subscription.

[achaille]

Hey, Cam. I truly love watching you create such beauty.
I used 8 x 8 - 150 year old, barn beam to dress up the entrance to my sunroom. I knocked out a section of brick wall to open it up. So, I had to dress the raw brick edges and, cut the beams exactly to fit.
Anyway, I had never attempted a project like this before. The results were absolutely stunning.
But, let me tell you, it was nowhere close to the perfection that you create, my friend.
I am so inspired by your work and videos. Please keep it up.
You are my hero!