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!
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620call me dumb or whatever but I've done a few end grain wood slab pours to make clocks not tables, but instead of that heaping piece of particle board, a few pieces of packing tape will do the same, sometimes it peels right off, other times I sand it off. And also you said you use deep pour but wow that wood soaked up that epoxy faster than I've ever seen by 100x Maybe different woods make a big difference but if you sand it finer it may not soak up as much epoxy. Just my thoughts. Cool video man, I definitely learned a few things here and first time seeing someone use a vacuum chamber? I gotta look into that more, tired of fighting bubbles
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.
You are very welcome. I know passion when I see it. When anyone, can find a creative outlet and practice it, they grow emotionally and spiritually. They just don't realize it. What they notice is the endorphins and being happy within the process. @@bruceburnswoodshop1620
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.😊
@@rainman6080 yeah if you use deep pour epoxy or heat the wood up maybe. Tabletop epoxy doesn't really sink into the grain much. I notice when removing cured epoxy with a scraper...scraper slides right in between. Nasty job though especially with uncured layers. Still preferred over the chemical removers man those will kill ya.
I wood not you a deep pour epoxy on a primer coat. You can add 10% xylene or acetone to the primer coat. 10 oz of epoxy 1 oz xylene. If you’re mixing two to one Epoxy and you end up mixing 12 ounces, you can still add 1 ounce this number is not exact it just helps thin the epoxy to fill in areas that may cause air bubbles later
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620There is a much thinner better penetrating epoxy for sealing and penetrating deeper into the wood. Its consistency is closer to water. It's called Total Boat penetrating epoxy, it mixes 2:1. You can also add 1 part denatured alcohol or acetone to make it even thinner, that's what I did. You probably have air being released from the wood where it's not all filled in. This company makes the thick pour type epoxy as well. Also it might help to get a strong vibrator and vibrate the wood to get the air out after you pour.
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.
I also mix with tongue depressor or a small piece of lattice. But the air bubbles may have worked up from the wood itself if it was not sealed completely. I have had that experience myself and the Apoxy was a little too cured to torch the bubbles out of it .
@@JerzyBoy973hey thank you for that tip . I will use the boiling water hack on my next pour. And if you have any more tips for better Apoxy pours please let me know . I'm thinking about putting out a list of tips for this if you would like to give up some info. We'll call it (Apoxy Hacks for Beginners) and everyone else. Thank you JerzyBoy973 and have a great day.
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.
Beautiful piece. For finishes I use polyurethane instead. I only use epoxy for filling voids / creating a solid and stable working platform. My finishes is either a food safe finish or polyurethane finish. Same steps you use after you coat it. Let it dry then wet sand at 600 grit if it is really uneven then another coat. Wet sand at 1000 grit and another coat. The more times you do this the deeper the shine. Most of my decor bowls are 4 coats but at times I go to 8 coats wet sanding between each. I use a rag like a regular white t-shirt to apply and I do not use the thick triple coat polyurethane. To me the thick polyurethane doesn’t work as well. But that’s just what I do and it works for me. Your work on this piece was amazing. Keep it up my friend.
Thanks for the tips! I have had much better luck working with Polly over epoxy. I just keep going back to epoxy because I want to try and get it right!
Great Job on the video. I like epoxy, but for finishes most our customers prefer the matte poly finish. In my opinion its a easier finish, it’s durable and looks more natural.
The main thing people don't realize is epoxy is actually not a good top coat. But it's not meant for that in many ways. It's a high build coating that provides strength and durability. I'm a 5th generation 30 year painter and I finish everything from shingles down to the concrete floors and I've worked with every finish under the sun. The problem with a lot of the epoxy projects you see is that they aren't using the right combination of products. Just like you might use a pva primer then a full acrylic paint on a wall. The epoxy is best for filling and building then you topcoat with a polyurethane. In fact using a sealer, then epoxy, then poly is even better. And of course, just like a 15 dollar can of Walmart paint isn't the same as a 100 dollar can of industrial grade paint, not all epoxy is created equal. It comes in many shapes and sizes. I do have to say I was disappointed that after he put the epoxy on he didn't topcoat with a strong 2k poly. Could've had a much thicker, much stronger finish than the shellac. And it would've filled in those microbubbles
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.
Excellent video! Did you make the base the router sits on? Just bought the rails you suggested...but don't see details on the base. Can you share please?
@@seitercaroline4386 I’m looking for same thing It looks like such a basic & simple design (the rail setup in its entirety… I can’t comprehend the $400.00-$1600.00 tags on some of the complete setups 🙀🤯🤯🤯🤷🏼♀️‼️‼️‼️
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.
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 great job on the table. As far as the bubbles go I’ve seen where people use those pressure cookers to release bubbles and it seems to be a very affective way to eliminate that problem. Good luck.
How do you like the n3? I was literally looking at his store before coming across your video. Anyway I’d like to try it but don’t know anyone who’s ever heard of it let alone used it.
A possible consideration of " Sanding Sealer " at the initial stage might work..?? Any thoughts on that..obviously a complete dust free zone is also important with temperature control..!!
@@bernardhill1622 Yes, sanding sealer works well. Much less time drying and much cheaper as well. Just scuff the sealer with some 220 for a good mechanical bond.
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.
Seal the wood, mix the epoxy, let it set for a few minutes, run heat over it, pour it, lightly run heat over again, do this every 5 min or so to pop any new bubbles. Do not over heat.
If he did everything in the same order he presented it on video, he put the epoxy in the vacuum chamber, and then added a drop of black dye and stirred it adding air back in to the vacuumed epoxy. Hopefully he added that black dye prior to vacuuming the epoxy and just slipped up in the edit.
Too be fair though the microbubbles were in the final coat of clear. Not the tinted deep pour. After the epoxy it should've been sanded with a 100-150 grit then topcoated with a 2k polyurethane. That fills the microbubbles very well. But I also didn't see him vac the clear coat at all. That could've worked as well. But the 2k poly would've provided more uv resistance and other benefits as well
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.
I have done a lot of tables with epoxy, but I never tried to get a perfect finish. As said by others, it is better to warm up the finish and the project first. For me, shellac is the only way to go. I hand rub (French rub) the top, which takes many coats to get it right. Sure, shellac will not hold up as well as harder finishes, but it doesn't look fake like the others and it is so easy to fix any future issues.
Great job, man! Really excellent work, and I respect the honesty about the issues you found in your work. Happens to me all the time, but it can be a valuable lesson once you work your way through it. 😊👍
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.
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.
Amazing how similar our shops, tools, and current projects are. I built a bearing block and rail router sled the same as yours in 2020 and it even has the same Bosch plunge router. Working on a live edge walnut coffee table with the center eaten out by ants which I filled with deep pour. I put a piece of melamine on the back without mold wax and it looked exactly like yours. Planning to backlight the void with battery led’s. Polishing table top epoxy is time consuming and too glossy for me so I normally use an oil finish like GF ArmRseal. Thanks to your video I think I’ll give shellac another try, very cheap and easy to apply and leaves a beautiful hard satin finish.
It was fun to watch you finish this and sand it... That was very patient indeed. I have never really gone past 400 grit and I have never used epoxy except for smaller knots and voids. I found this video very helpful as well as some of the comments. I agree there is a possibility the bubble came from the wood before the epoxy cured.
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
Great video. Beautiful piece. I've worked with epoxy finishes several times. My key to get the micro bubbles removed is to go over the finish two or three times with the torch. Wait a few minutes between torches. But when you torch, make sure you have a light source in front of you as you are torching so the light shines off the surface as you torch. You can see the micro bubbles and see them pop as you torch them. Just finished a click that way, and the finished surface was pristine! Give it a try.
I use almost the exact same process you do but using CA glue (medium) instead. Once Ive built up 10 or so layers I go through sanding (same grits essentially as you) and then do one last light home made shellac just to give that last layer of protection. CA glue turns into a plastic essentially and its crystal clear, no bubbles to worry about. Very easy to work with.
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 Its a miracle solution for finishing imo. You basically get a paper towel, fold it over a few times, turn the lathe on slow and pour the glue while it turns > use the paper towel to spread it out even. Let it dry or use the spray, rinse repeat until you have a decent thickness > sand through your grits. I use the sponge square set from Rockler that goes up to like 20k or something insane. I use a normal close quarter drill to sand up to 800 then switch to wet sanding using the squares. When Im done if I want to make it just insanely clear and shiney I do one coat of crystal coat followed by a single coat of home made 1/4 lb cut of shellac. If you want actual directions Ive written it all out in detail and would be happy to email you.
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 btw, I saw it on people who turn pens. They use CA glue for pens and I figured it would work on a bowl or table top > and it did!
Wood turners use CA glue as cracks appear while processing the piece, as it dries fast and you can continue after a short coffee break. For bigger projects I would consider the price whether it would make sense. CA clue is great with sawdust when you need to fill something so small it does not make sense to use epoxy. The tools in this video are something to envy 😅 A lot of stuff I did not know but now need, the leveling table in particular. Also drum sander that is open from the other end must be pretty handy (and expensive).
Thanks for sharing the process and your honest experience from a place of humility and learning. Really appreciate this! Also learning to work with epoxy and man its a learning curve
Hi great video, I just did a white Agate table to with zero bubbles. You should seal the wood with a very thin layer of epoxy then wait 3 hours before doing the main pour. That is what I did. Greetings for Nigeria 🇳🇬
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.
Wow you know so much about coatings. Wish I did. What I have found is that when the wood is still raw, I can take my torch and evenly burn a thin top layer of it. The soft material between the rings burn deeper. Then I sand it down, vacuum well and continue to apply whatever steps I plan to use to finish it. This brings out such beautiful grain patterns and leaves a 3D effect. Try it on a little piece of scrap wood or lumber. You might like it too.
My experience with epoxy (I've used 3 different brands so far with same issues with each brand) is to do your seal coat, sand, another seal coat, sand, then a light flood coat, sand, another flood coat, sand, .... you get the picture. Each layer that I stacked looked better and better until I felt like it was what I wanted. Then I did all my steps of sanding up to a 3,000 grit and finished it off with a liquid 3M buffing compound and a top coat wax. Ceramic wax you used is perfect! A lot of work but satisfying in the end.
Great video. I feel your pain with the tabletop epoxy. In all honesty I am a TotalBoat ambassador, but I also struggle with the tabletop epoxy getting those micro bubbles not before but after the epoxy has cured. There are a lot of potential causes, including moisture in the wood, humidity in the shop environment, curing too quickly, or putting too thick of a layer down so bubbles exit the wood and have nowhere to go. It’s probably all of the above causes to some degree.
End grain is the worst for bubbles, you should shellac first then epoxy coat on top so the wood pores are better sealed. Or use a deep penetrating epoxy first to fully seal the pores on end grain there just straws that keep soaking up and by doing wether shellac first then epoxy or penetrating epoxy then table top epoxy you will waste less by letting the wood soak it all up and it won't weigh 100lbs lol but it looks great!
I agree. Since shellac can be thinned down so much you can really get deep into the grain and trap the air bubbles. Truthfully though, end grain is a bunch of straws designed to transport fluids. Dry end grain equals empty straws, not fun to prevent air bubbles from rising.
Ya I used deep pour for the first coat. Maybe penetrating epoxy would be better. I’ve never tired penetrating epoxy. But as far as the shellac goes I’ve heard that epoxy won’t adhere to shellac. 🤷♂️
As long as it's non waxed shellac and scuffed it wont have any problems adhering, shellac is such a versatile finish almost anything will stick to it includong epoxy. It would be great for this and it would seal thoes more softer areas as well. But penetrating epoxy will almost completely fix this issue aswell it's a very thin watery epoxy.
Agreed. I use vararhane wood hardener which is essentially a very thin epoxy for sealing and as it also hardens it expands in the end grain tubes or straws ensuring a complete seal resulting in no bubbles. You keep doing coats until it does not absorb into the wood anymore
My husband and I have done 3 bars with live edge tops. We have had so many issues with the epoxy. Going to try making a small table using the shellac. Thanks for a great video!
What a great informative video. The piece turned out great. I’m glad you showed the parts you didn’t like along with what worked. The color is great with that wood!
To add to that last comment the thicker the epoxy (table top coat is thick) the more prone to bubbles that will not reach the surface due to viscosity. Stir with care. And thanks for the video. Thumbs up and I subscribed. 😅
The wood will release bubbles as the temp changes overnight and during the curing process which is typically exothermic (it gets hot) causing the air in the wood to expand.
Ya I should have kept coming out to check it. It just seems like a lot of the bubbles were so deep I wouldn’t have been able to pop them with a torch anyways. 🤷♂️
VERY NICE Table!! Quick question: I REALLY like shellac. When you were applying it, you put the 'thickest' down first, followed by increasingly diluted cuts. Wouldn't you want the higher amount of denatured alcohol to carry the shellac deeper, THEN build up the % of shellac? (Don't know if I made that as clear as it is in my head) :-) THANKS for a Great vid !!
That’s a good question, and to be honest I think the shellac is so this to begin with that it’s going to penetrate deep even with a more concentrated solution but I’m not totally sure. I just know if you start with a diluted solution you’ll never get about on for a finish. You’d have to do like 20 coats 😂
Hey great video man. I think people learn most from watching the challenges makers try to overcome more than anything. I like that you weren’t afraid to keep it real and show your challenges. Nice piece. I like it better with the shellac. Keep up the good work. I just subscribed.
Thank you for this! I've got an end-grain black walnut burl that is REALLY cool looking. I didn't know that I'd need to do deep-pour on the surface, so you just saved me a ton of time & mistakes.
16:27 @@bruceburnswoodshop1620I have always loved the amber hew Shellac gives to a piece of wood. Just curious how hard of a finish it provides compared to top coat epoxy? Great job!
I'm no expert on any of this lol but i really like the base you picked for this project. It suits that tabletop very well. Also Chat GPT says: "To remove air bubbles from epoxy resin before pouring, consider using the following methods:" Warm Water Bath: Place the container with mixed epoxy resin in a warm water bath, not exceeding the manufacturer's recommended temperature. Gently warming the resin can reduce its viscosity and help air bubbles rise to the surface, making it easier to remove them. Heat Gun or Torch: Use a heat gun or a torch designed for epoxy resin work to carefully apply heat to the surface of the resin after pouring it into your project. The heat will help to release and pop any air bubbles that have formed. Mixing Technique: When mixing the epoxy resin, do so slowly and avoid introducing excess air into the mixture. Vigorous stirring can introduce more bubbles, so a gentle, methodical approach is usually better. Degassing Chamber: For professional or high-precision applications, a vacuum or degassing chamber can be used to remove air bubbles from the epoxy resin. This method is highly effective and ensures minimal bubble presence.
Finishing will drive us all crazy. I love making and using shellac but didn't know how to protect it to make it hard so thank you. I found some spray can lacquer that I do like and gives a great finsh over shellac. PRe Cat lacquer I found by Mohalk both in a satin and gloss. Great video Bruce. Thank you.
I also recommend a vacuum chamber. You may have to watch it closely when vacuuming so it doesn't foam out of the chamber. There are lots of tricks for using epoxy from the working time to humidity and temp to how to mix. Good video and well done..
You did an amazing job. You brought out the true beauty of the piece. Working with epoxy as you are doing, just have to make sure the wood is absolutely dry. They say kiln dry is the best bet. Unless you know how long a piece needs to sit to be absolutely dry. Other than that, I would say, take the time to stand by with a torch & when bubbles occur heat to remove them. Wait for the epoxy to cure, at that point no bubbles can form. Then you are able to move on to the next step. Other than that, only other options would be to contact someone with more knowledge for advice. I would think they would enjoy talking with you & sharing information.
What pressure chamber do you use and did you find it a hard process? Seems intimidating to me, just because so unknown. Is it truly worth investing in on to take your projects to the next level? Thanks!
amzn.to/3o7G8jB This is the link to the one I bought. It works great super easy to use. I highly recommend. But it’s not absolutely necessary to get good pours it just helps!
Nice work! Just a couple things,wax paper works well as a mold release and i use a sealer on the wood until it stops soaking it up .I still have to baby sit the finish coat until it sets hitting it with a heat gun.Looking forward to trying your shellac
I have 2 suggestions. 1) First off, you need to hermetically seal the wood. I find sealing the wood with z-poxy first (as a pore-fill) will eliminate any bubbles originating from the wood. This may take 2-4 applications depending on porosity (sanding between). Shellac can similarly be used, but I have more faith in the robustness of epoxy. Zpoxy takes about 8 hours to cure (unlike the days for deep pour). Then you need to make it perfectly flat. You have a drum sander and a festool -- shouldn't be an issue. But no end grain should be exposed before proceeding!!! After that it's about the correct curing temperature for your finishing epoxy. This too WILL take multiple coats to get flat, but bubbles shouldn't be an issue.
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 Idk what zpoxy is but I use sanding sealer/shellac and rarely have any probs with epoxy finishes. providing temp and humidity isnt real high.
I use Super Clear deep pour epoxy. I de-gas with a vacuum chamber like you did but I only mix with a power mixer for 5 gallon bucket pours. Slow hand mixing almost like your making salt water taffy slow to prevent air from being introduced into it. Also it really helps to add a very thin seal coat to the wood before doing a thicker coat. It helps prevent those small micro bubbles. I have noticed any wood that has been either charred or laser engraved gives off even more bubbles and I sometimes will do two or three really thin seal coats before a deep pour or table top. Epoxy can be very rewarding. Kinda like sanding, you have to be patient and go though all the time consuming steps for it to look right.
Thanks for the info! I’ll have to try just hand mixing for small table top pours. What do you use for the thin coats? Deep pour or do you just thin out the table top with alcohol?
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 I usually just use deep pour for the thins seal coat. It tends to dry within 24 hours or less depending on conditions. I have never try thinning it down, seems like to much science for me and risky. I have used some of the casting epoxy like you can find at Hobby Lobby for small stuff and it dries in less than 24 hours but with a much shorter working time. Although Super Clear Deep Pour takes longer to cure it seems to give the flexibility of a longer pot time and fewer bubbles.
I think your best bet is to first, completely seal the wood. Then mix your epoxy and stick it in a vacuum chamber to remove the air before pouring. It may be a longer process, but it almost always guarantees a perfect result. Don't give up on the process, the results are definitely worth the effort.
@bruceburnswoodshop1620 really? Wow, now I'm totally dumbfounded. If you're able to figure out what happened, could you please make a video? I know more than a few people who would like to see it. Also, I didn't mention this in my other comment, but great video.
Truly a great video, I love the walk through, everything you did and what you thought during and after, its really going to help me on future projects.
I use system 3 mirror coat with amazing results. just follow the directions. It takes around 3 times longer to pop the bubbles than you think. You need to go around with the torch and look in the light at every angle. You'll be surprised how many bubbles keep popping. They seem to never stop, but you'll get there eventually. Also to add that the first coat should be a very thin seal coat that cant have bubbles because its so thin and the second coat could be a little thicker. BTW I NEVER need a vacuum chamber or do ANY sanding or buffing after the final coat
Beautiful looking table- I was wondering if vacuum bagging the piece would be possible and help eliminate bubbles like some do when glassing foam core paddleboards. Looks awesome though with the shellac finish. Thanks for sharing!
Putting mixed epoxy in a pressure pot does not help to remove bubble as much as placing it under vacuum does. The vacuum will cause it to foam up and all the trapped air will leave. If you are curring it, placing it under pressure helps to keep the bubbles small while curing.
Try mixing the clear coats by hand rather than electric mixer, also once it’s poured out go over with a heat gun or a torch to pop the bubbles left over. When adding color you can get away with electric mixing because the color hides the bubbles
I would really check your shore D hardness on the table top vs casting resin. You could have stopped and polished the casting resin if you wanted to. If it’s that epoxy resin store stuff , I don’t think it goes much past 76 on the hardness meter for the table top. You could call Sean or rich and find out. Plus watch wooden. He’s like an Italian guy that does a bunch of cookies with resin. I think he just lets the Rubio soak in without the hardner. Plus what’s worked for me is water popping the cookie first thing , then go at it with 60 grit on the orbital. I have like 5 20 inch or so cookies I need to get going on. The walnut comes out so dark though. I’ve been looking for some maple or hickory ones. Anyways good luck man. I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Hope your doing well.
Can I do something like this on the top of a tree stump, left from taking a huge maple tree down. I’d like to protect it. It won’t be beautiful like this walnut, but I only want to protect it. I may throw birdseed on it for all the critters. Any idea would be appreciated!,
I really like your choice to go with the shellac. It's a beautiful piece of wood and the epoxy hides that natural beauty. I'm not a huge fan of the epoxy color in the middle. It looks really cool but for me it clashes with the wood. It's got a futuristic space look to it that takes away from the earthy organic look of the wood. Both really cool in their own right but together is not really flowing into one cohesive look. I think straight black would go nicer. But that's just like my opinion man, I'm def not a pro. Anyways overall it's a really beautiful piece
Put that epoxy into a vacuum chamber and then whip color?? Nooooo.... Beautiful color.. Like an Opal.. Very nice! That spot looks like a disgruntled alien at the right angle. @14:50
Hey if you have a vacuum chamber, put your epoxy in there after mixing to remove micro bubbles. The table looks beautiful! Great choice of pigment for the epoxy.
Hey Bruce thanks for the video. Nice technique and perfect flattening table. The only annoying thing is the music playing in the background which I couldn't mute because I would lose your comments.
Shellack finishes for side tables or tables with a lot of use aren’t the best and are only used for show piece furniture. You will get rings and other finish issues when using it. It will always be sensitive to light solvents like alcohol as well. A good brush/wipe on poly would be the better “in kind” finish. The next step up would be to invest in a small spray gun and spray or brush on a better poly finish. 2 part poly finishes are readily available. Even a 2 part floor poly would work like Bona brand and it can be brushed on with a sponge.
Personally I love the looks of a shellac finish. Then take it a step farther and learn a French polish. It just doesn't get better. There is a reason all the best furniture are not epoxy finish.
I love wood working.. I am hoping in my now old age that I can get a shed at some point and get tools so I can just make things for no reason other than to mess around and have fun
1. Don't use deep pour to seal. Use regular epoxy 2. Don't pour globs to seal it, just brush it on. 3. Don't sand it and router it after sealing. Thet defeats the purpose of sealing as it's now raw wood again 4. Use a good epoxy, like stone coat, ecopoxy, etc. If you have to buff the flood/top coat it's not good epoxy. 5. Watch other people's videos. You did like 12 additional steps than you need to. I've done several dozen epoxy projects from cookie slab tables like this, live edge bookmarked tables, root ball tables, bars, countertops, shower walls, sinks, even epoxyed 5 toilets. Is one the easiest and most forgiving products to work with. Just gotta educate yourself a little bit first.
It's called click bait. Clicked on the video looking for an epoxy alternative. "use this instead" All I see is a dude using epoxy then covering it with shellac.
@@madb132 I still see a lot of EPOXY RESIN. Title says "DO THIS INSTEAD" implying instead of epoxy use something else. The video shows him pour epoxy, remove a layer of bad epoxy with bubbles in it, then shellac over the remaining epoxy. I read the title and CLICKED on this video too see what to use INSTEAD of epoxy. I didn't want to watch an epoxy pour video. I was BAITED into watching an epoxy pour video. click bait. get it?
8:40 I have a Jet sander as well. It's been my experience that epoxy ruins the sanding roll and makes a hella mess of the machine and my dust collector. It also heats the epoxy making it pliable again. I switched to an angle grinder sander outside my shop. Makes a fine mess of me but saves the machinery.
Ya I just wanted the piece to stay flat so I went with the drum sander. I could have used my router sled but I didn’t want to remove too much material.
Have you ever used any kind of penetrator or sealant that way the wood doesn't soak up as much of the epoxy? I'm just curious because I have zero experience and that's what I gathered I should do but any tips or your opinion I would appreciate
I am late to the video and was going to comment that the micro bubbles were definitely the power mixer. Perhaps on a large pour the power mixer. Watching several videos for fun mostly the power mixer is kwept deep in the epoxy. Small batch hand mixing gently. Yes, I did see the other comments and concurred with them. I strickly use polyester finishes. I have a dedicated spray booth, so it is easy for me to say this. My profession is a luthier for the past 22 years Just fyi. Nice job in the end. You certainly worked for the results. Kudos my man.
Beautiful piece and excellent work. The comments pointing to unsealing the pre-epoxy coats are right on. I experienced the exact same issue you have. Here is the three-step protocol that has yielded the highest probability of success for me: 1: Measure the residual humidity on the edges and where the wood appears more spongy on your biscuit. Personally, I bring the piece in the house where I can control the ambient humidity more easily than in my workshop. Make sure air circulates all around your piece. I aim for 6% residual humidity readings two days in a row. 2: Seal both surfaces. (I use equal parts shellac and denatured alcool). Once dry, check sealer absorption, i.e. where it remained on the surface and where it sank deeper into the wood pores such that hardly any is left on surface. 3: Sand no higher than 320 only to flatten the sealer on the whole surface. Control your downward pressure on the sander to avoid digging into the more porous part of the biscuit. Sanding is very technical and does not appreciate intuitive or feeling-based protocols. I consider one pass as one overlapping sanding of the whole surface in one direction followed by another at 90% of the first sanding. Check your sand paper to avoid simply moving the sanding residue around. (I have noticed that 5 to 7 passes suffice. 4: Air pressure clean the surface to be epoxied to remove embedded particles in the pores. (Make sure your air tank contains no water build-up.) Finish with a tack rag. Et voilà, you have put all of the probable factors of success on your side. Time has a habit of exacting vengeance on those who do not take it seriously. Boy, have I learned that in working with epoxy and wood. As the World Turns
The thing I was taught about epoxy is the torches' carbon dioxide draws the bubbles out, not so much the heat. So when we poured a bar top we had 2 people with torches follow the pour as we went. Spend several minutes with the torch, being careful to be close enough to draw the outgassing but not so close as to "skin" or burn the surface. We also used wooden paint stir sticks, which is a bit of work on a large pour.
Sometimes the wooden stirs can cause bubbles. Seal the wood on the sticks prior to using OR get some silicone stir sticks to mix the epoxy. You can also find silicone spatula sticks in the kitchen section (generally less expensive than looking at epoxy sites). Once the epoxy dries on the silicone you should be able to peel it off and they’re ready for the next project.
Love the video. First one that actually shows all of the hard work in between. Not just the pretty outcome! I use varathane wood hardener for sealing on all my raw wood as it is very thin and really penetrates. Multiple coats and let them harden. What shailice do you use?
...really beautiful piece...very well done...! I've watched a ton of epoxy/resin videos...I believe the use of the power tool to mix up the epoxy introduced air into the mix...if you use a long curing time epoxy, you should probably use a vacuum pot to remove the air bubbles from the epoxy...then pour it... Other than that, it's still very impressive...👍 Matt
I like the shellac finish. I just turned a bowl made out of baltic birch plywood and was thinking of doing a shellac finish as you did. My question is should I put on a base layer of either table top or deep pour epoxy then start with the shellac?
Enjoyed the video. I'm looking to learn more so I appreciate the commentary. I'd like to see how you diluted the shellacque at what proportions and how many layers. I dont remember if you sanded between. Thanks for making the video.
I haven't done epoxy coated tables but have done a lot of mold making and casting. Pressure pots are good for casting under pressure because they smash the bubbles down. This makes them almost unnoticeable in the final product. When I am pouring epoxy or using silicone I use a vacuum chamber to draw the air out of the liquid. It works better than making the bubbles small. If you only compress they just end up finding each other again and getting bigger. I also agree with another post on here since you are using the pressure pot you should do the two passes at different times with the torch. You were likely compressing the bubbles down just before the pour and then over time they joined up and made the bubbles beneath the surface.
That’s a really good question. That would have made things much easier but unfortunately, my router sled isn’t tall enough to accommodate the piece with the melamine attached. It barely fit with the piece alone.
Yes,the trick to the epoxy is to use Low viscosity epoxy. Each coat, thin with denatured alcohol. Apply thin coats and torch. It took me two years to figure out how to make a mirror finish without the micro bubbles. I use west systems epoxy. All my work is turned. Most pieces are Mahogany and this dark wood shows everything. Again, thin coats, torch, let it cure, sand, clean reapply and do on. Good luck, Chip Matthews
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!
Thank you very much!!
Try vacuuming the epoxy before you apply it. I make similar stuff. Having a 3-5 gallon vacuum chamber will show you how much air is in it.
Love it
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620call me dumb or whatever but I've done a few end grain wood slab pours to make clocks not tables, but instead of that heaping piece of particle board, a few pieces of packing tape will do the same, sometimes it peels right off, other times I sand it off. And also you said you use deep pour but wow that wood soaked up that epoxy faster than I've ever seen by 100x Maybe different woods make a big difference but if you sand it finer it may not soak up as much epoxy. Just my thoughts. Cool video man, I definitely learned a few things here and first time seeing someone use a vacuum chamber? I gotta look into that more, tired of fighting bubbles
Your router sled is badass, gonna try to copy you
You are obviously a perfectionist. That thing looked beautiful to me halfway thru the process.
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.
I never thought about it like that but that’s absolutely spot on. Thank you for this comment!
You are very welcome. I know passion when I see it.
When anyone, can find a creative outlet and practice it, they grow emotionally and spiritually. They just don't realize it.
What they notice is the endorphins and being happy within the process.
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620
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.😊
Thanks! I actually have another piece I’m working on now I’m going to try that.
You can also do a thin skim coat of epoxy to seal the wood and allow to dry then sand and pour finish.
@@rainman6080 yeah if you use deep pour epoxy or heat the wood up maybe. Tabletop epoxy doesn't really sink into the grain much. I notice when removing cured epoxy with a scraper...scraper slides right in between. Nasty job though especially with uncured layers. Still preferred over the chemical removers man those will kill ya.
I wood not you a deep pour epoxy on a primer coat. You can add 10% xylene or acetone to the primer coat. 10 oz of epoxy 1 oz xylene. If you’re mixing two to one Epoxy and you end up mixing 12 ounces, you can still add 1 ounce this number is not exact it just helps thin the epoxy to fill in areas that may cause air bubbles later
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620There is a much thinner better penetrating epoxy for sealing and penetrating deeper into the wood. Its consistency is closer to water. It's called Total Boat penetrating epoxy, it mixes 2:1. You can also add 1 part denatured alcohol or acetone to make it even thinner, that's what I did.
You probably have air being released from the wood where it's not all filled in. This company makes the thick pour type epoxy as well. Also it might help to get a strong vibrator and vibrate the wood to get the air out after you pour.
I think you made the right call with the shellac. Personally I feel it looked better than the epoxy top coat
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.
Spot on..!!
Just sit the bucket in boiling hot water while you mix and let it sit in the hot water for a bit. The bubbles disípate.
@@JerzyBoy973good one. Will try it next time I epoxy.
I also mix with tongue depressor or a small piece of lattice. But the air bubbles may have worked up from the wood itself if it was not sealed completely. I have had that experience myself and the Apoxy was a little too cured to torch the bubbles out of it .
@@JerzyBoy973hey thank you for that tip . I will use the boiling water hack on my next pour. And if you have any more tips for better Apoxy pours please let me know . I'm thinking about putting out a list of tips for this if you would like to give up some info.
We'll call it (Apoxy Hacks for Beginners) and everyone else. Thank you JerzyBoy973 and have a great day.
That home made router tool is awesome man
Thank you!!
THANK YOU for including the whole trial-and-error aspect! That's how I learn...and where my "creativity" comes from.
One of the most thoroughly explained videos out there. Very nice.
Thank you very much!! 😁
depends on what you are focused on
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.
That’s an insane amount of labor to finish that top. Good on you for sticking with it.
I almost gave up 😂 thanks!
That table knocked my eye balls out several times before you even done the complete finish. Lol. Good vid and good work.
Beautiful piece. For finishes I use polyurethane instead. I only use epoxy for filling voids / creating a solid and stable working platform. My finishes is either a food safe finish or polyurethane finish. Same steps you use after you coat it. Let it dry then wet sand at 600 grit if it is really uneven then another coat. Wet sand at 1000 grit and another coat. The more times you do this the deeper the shine. Most of my decor bowls are 4 coats but at times I go to 8 coats wet sanding between each. I use a rag like a regular white t-shirt to apply and I do not use the thick triple coat polyurethane. To me the thick polyurethane doesn’t work as well. But that’s just what I do and it works for me. Your work on this piece was amazing. Keep it up my friend.
Thanks for the tips! I have had much better luck working with Polly over epoxy. I just keep going back to epoxy because I want to try and get it right!
Great Job on the video. I like epoxy, but for finishes most our customers prefer the matte poly finish. In my opinion its a easier finish, it’s durable and looks more natural.
The main thing people don't realize is epoxy is actually not a good top coat. But it's not meant for that in many ways. It's a high build coating that provides strength and durability. I'm a 5th generation 30 year painter and I finish everything from shingles down to the concrete floors and I've worked with every finish under the sun. The problem with a lot of the epoxy projects you see is that they aren't using the right combination of products. Just like you might use a pva primer then a full acrylic paint on a wall. The epoxy is best for filling and building then you topcoat with a polyurethane. In fact using a sealer, then epoxy, then poly is even better. And of course, just like a 15 dollar can of Walmart paint isn't the same as a 100 dollar can of industrial grade paint, not all epoxy is created equal. It comes in many shapes and sizes. I do have to say I was disappointed that after he put the epoxy on he didn't topcoat with a strong 2k poly. Could've had a much thicker, much stronger finish than the shellac. And it would've filled in those microbubbles
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.
That router sled is awesome-especially the dust skirt thing. Nice table!
I love it! Thanks!
Excellent video! Did you make the base the router sits on? Just bought the rails you suggested...but don't see details on the base. Can you share please?
@@seitercaroline4386
I’m looking for same thing
It looks like such a basic & simple design (the rail setup in its entirety… I can’t comprehend the $400.00-$1600.00 tags on some of the complete setups 🙀🤯🤯🤯🤷🏼♀️‼️‼️‼️
@Kissykid I ended up attaching rails to 3/8 " clear polycarbonate Lexan and glued the dust shoe brush to it. Attached rails a tad different. LUVIT
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.
Good to know, thanks for the tips!
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 great job on the table. As far as the bubbles go I’ve seen where people use those pressure cookers to release bubbles and it seems to be a very affective way to eliminate that problem. Good luck.
How do you like the n3? I was literally looking at his store before coming across your video. Anyway I’d like to try it but don’t know anyone who’s ever heard of it let alone used it.
A possible consideration of " Sanding Sealer " at the initial stage might work..?? Any thoughts on that..obviously a complete dust free zone is also important with temperature control..!!
@@bernardhill1622 Yes, sanding sealer works well. Much less time drying and much cheaper as well. Just scuff the sealer with some 220 for a good mechanical bond.
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.
The most important aspect when working w epoxy and wood.
Seal the wood, mix the epoxy, let it set for a few minutes, run heat over it, pour it, lightly run heat over again, do this every 5 min or so to pop any new bubbles. Do not over heat.
If he did everything in the same order he presented it on video, he put the epoxy in the vacuum chamber, and then added a drop of black dye and stirred it adding air back in to the vacuumed epoxy. Hopefully he added that black dye prior to vacuuming the epoxy and just slipped up in the edit.
Too be fair though the microbubbles were in the final coat of clear. Not the tinted deep pour. After the epoxy it should've been sanded with a 100-150 grit then topcoated with a 2k polyurethane. That fills the microbubbles very well. But I also didn't see him vac the clear coat at all. That could've worked as well. But the 2k poly would've provided more uv resistance and other benefits as well
14:04
How delicate the table top is to receive later scratches when in use?
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.
The patience that french polishing requires is pretty dang high lol even by wood working standards
@@chesterross7513 yep, you either love it or hate it and when you are on the 14th coat and stuff up!!!!! If you don't swear then you soon learn lol.
Silicone brush won't waste a drop (or flake). Takes some practice and sanding every few coats but goes on 5x thicker.
I have done a lot of tables with epoxy, but I never tried to get a perfect finish. As said by others, it is better to warm up the finish and the project first. For me, shellac is the only way to go. I hand rub (French rub) the top, which takes many coats to get it right. Sure, shellac will not hold up as well as harder finishes, but it doesn't look fake like the others and it is so easy to fix any future issues.
Great job, man! Really excellent work, and I respect the honesty about the issues you found in your work. Happens to me all the time, but it can be a valuable lesson once you work your way through it. 😊👍
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.
It was good to see honesty in regards to the work involved
Thank you!
Am I the only one that loves him using a screw driver as a chisel?
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.
Amazing how similar our shops, tools, and current projects are. I built a bearing block and rail router sled the same as yours in 2020 and it even has the same Bosch plunge router. Working on a live edge walnut coffee table with the center eaten out by ants which I filled with deep pour. I put a piece of melamine on the back without mold wax and it looked exactly like yours. Planning to backlight the void with battery led’s. Polishing table top epoxy is time consuming and too glossy for me so I normally use an oil finish like GF ArmRseal. Thanks to your video I think I’ll give shellac another try, very cheap and easy to apply and leaves a beautiful hard satin finish.
It’s it’s definitely a nice Finish. If I want extra protection I’ll sometimes put a oil based Polly over top of the shellac too! Thanks for watching!
@bruceburnswood 16:27 shop1620
Would the final coat of Poly be a good choice for a kitchen counter top made from solid wood?
It was fun to watch you finish this and sand it... That was very patient indeed. I have never really gone past 400 grit and I have never used epoxy except for smaller knots and voids. I found this video very helpful as well as some of the comments. I agree there is a possibility the bubble came from the wood before the epoxy cured.
Thanks!
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
Thank you! And that’s a great tip, I’ll have to try it next time if I ever decide to give this finish another go 😂
Great video. Beautiful piece. I've worked with epoxy finishes several times. My key to get the micro bubbles removed is to go over the finish two or three times with the torch. Wait a few minutes between torches. But when you torch, make sure you have a light source in front of you as you are torching so the light shines off the surface as you torch. You can see the micro bubbles and see them pop as you torch them. Just finished a click that way, and the finished surface was pristine! Give it a try.
I use almost the exact same process you do but using CA glue (medium) instead. Once Ive built up 10 or so layers I go through sanding (same grits essentially as you) and then do one last light home made shellac just to give that last layer of protection. CA glue turns into a plastic essentially and its crystal clear, no bubbles to worry about. Very easy to work with.
I’ve never even thought about using CA glue that’s really interesting.
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 Its a miracle solution for finishing imo. You basically get a paper towel, fold it over a few times, turn the lathe on slow and pour the glue while it turns > use the paper towel to spread it out even. Let it dry or use the spray, rinse repeat until you have a decent thickness > sand through your grits.
I use the sponge square set from Rockler that goes up to like 20k or something insane. I use a normal close quarter drill to sand up to 800 then switch to wet sanding using the squares.
When Im done if I want to make it just insanely clear and shiney I do one coat of crystal coat followed by a single coat of home made 1/4 lb cut of shellac. If you want actual directions Ive written it all out in detail and would be happy to email you.
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 btw, I saw it on people who turn pens. They use CA glue for pens and I figured it would work on a bowl or table top > and it did!
Wood turners use CA glue as cracks appear while processing the piece, as it dries fast and you can continue after a short coffee break. For bigger projects I would consider the price whether it would make sense. CA clue is great with sawdust when you need to fill something so small it does not make sense to use epoxy.
The tools in this video are something to envy 😅
A lot of stuff I did not know but now need, the leveling table in particular. Also drum sander that is open from the other end must be pretty handy (and expensive).
I’ve used it on duck calls it works great for that.
Thanks for sharing the process and your honest experience from a place of humility and learning. Really appreciate this! Also learning to work with epoxy and man its a learning curve
That flattening table is sick!
Thanks! It’s a game changer!
Hi great video, I just did a white Agate table to with zero bubbles. You should seal the wood with a very thin layer of epoxy then wait 3 hours before doing the main pour. That is what I did. Greetings for Nigeria 🇳🇬
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.
Thanks all sounds like good advice I should definitely invest in an electric planer!
Can i ask you some questions?
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 just alter your router sled to accept thicker pieces and router it away. I do that on a CNC router but same idea
Wow you know so much about coatings. Wish I did. What I have found is that when the wood is still raw, I can take my torch and evenly burn a thin top layer of it. The soft material between the rings burn deeper. Then I sand it down, vacuum well and continue to apply whatever steps I plan to use to finish it. This brings out such beautiful grain patterns and leaves a 3D effect. Try it on a little piece of scrap wood or lumber. You might like it too.
Was so glad you removed the plastic and used shellac. It made it look like wood again
I agree, I think the shellac makes the wood look better instead of the epoxy making it look like there a shiny force field around the wood lol
My experience with epoxy (I've used 3 different brands so far with same issues with each brand) is to do your seal coat, sand, another seal coat, sand, then a light flood coat, sand, another flood coat, sand, .... you get the picture. Each layer that I stacked looked better and better until I felt like it was what I wanted. Then I did all my steps of sanding up to a 3,000 grit and finished it off with a liquid 3M buffing compound and a top coat wax. Ceramic wax you used is perfect! A lot of work but satisfying in the end.
It's beautiful! Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
Absolutely thanks for watching!!
Great video. I feel your pain with the tabletop epoxy. In all honesty I am a TotalBoat ambassador, but I also struggle with the tabletop epoxy getting those micro bubbles not before but after the epoxy has cured. There are a lot of potential causes, including moisture in the wood, humidity in the shop environment, curing too quickly, or putting too thick of a layer down so bubbles exit the wood and have nowhere to go. It’s probably all of the above causes to some degree.
End grain is the worst for bubbles, you should shellac first then epoxy coat on top so the wood pores are better sealed. Or use a deep penetrating epoxy first to fully seal the pores on end grain there just straws that keep soaking up and by doing wether shellac first then epoxy or penetrating epoxy then table top epoxy you will waste less by letting the wood soak it all up and it won't weigh 100lbs lol but it looks great!
I agree. Since shellac can be thinned down so much you can really get deep into the grain and trap the air bubbles. Truthfully though, end grain is a bunch of straws designed to transport fluids. Dry end grain equals empty straws, not fun to prevent air bubbles from rising.
Ya I used deep pour for the first coat. Maybe penetrating epoxy would be better. I’ve never tired penetrating epoxy. But as far as the shellac goes I’ve heard that epoxy won’t adhere to shellac. 🤷♂️
Absolutely. It’s a pain to work with. I think shellac alone is the best solution for a finish.
As long as it's non waxed shellac and scuffed it wont have any problems adhering, shellac is such a versatile finish almost anything will stick to it includong epoxy. It would be great for this and it would seal thoes more softer areas as well. But penetrating epoxy will almost completely fix this issue aswell it's a very thin watery epoxy.
Agreed. I use vararhane wood hardener which is essentially a very thin epoxy for sealing and as it also hardens it expands in the end grain tubes or straws ensuring a complete seal resulting in no bubbles. You keep doing coats until it does not absorb into the wood anymore
My husband and I have done 3 bars with live edge tops. We have had so many issues with the epoxy. Going to try making a small table using the shellac. Thanks for a great video!
What a great informative video. The piece turned out great. I’m glad you showed the parts you didn’t like along with what worked. The color is great with that wood!
Thank you very much!
To add to that last comment the thicker the epoxy (table top coat is thick) the more prone to bubbles that will not reach the surface due to viscosity. Stir with care.
And thanks for the video. Thumbs up and I subscribed. 😅
The wood will release bubbles as the temp changes overnight and during the curing process which is typically exothermic (it gets hot) causing the air in the wood to expand.
Ya I should have kept coming out to check it. It just seems like a lot of the bubbles were so deep I wouldn’t have been able to pop them with a torch anyways. 🤷♂️
Truly exceptional journey. Thanks for sharing so selflessly.
VERY NICE Table!!
Quick question:
I REALLY like shellac.
When you were applying it, you put the 'thickest' down first, followed by increasingly diluted cuts.
Wouldn't you want the higher amount of denatured alcohol to carry the shellac deeper, THEN build up the % of shellac?
(Don't know if I made that as clear as it is in my head)
:-)
THANKS for a Great vid !!
That’s a good question, and to be honest I think the shellac is so this to begin with that it’s going to penetrate deep even with a more concentrated solution but I’m not totally sure. I just know if you start with a diluted solution you’ll never get about on for a finish. You’d have to do like 20 coats 😂
Exceptional work made with patience and attention to detail.
Thank you!!
Hey great video man. I think people learn most from watching the challenges makers try to overcome more than anything. I like that you weren’t afraid to keep it real and show your challenges.
Nice piece. I like it better with the shellac. Keep up the good work.
I just subscribed.
Thank you very much! 😁
Thank you for this! I've got an end-grain black walnut burl that is REALLY cool looking. I didn't know that I'd need to do deep-pour on the surface, so you just saved me a ton of time & mistakes.
Also, where did you get the base? That's really cool, & might work well for a furniture flip I'm working on.
Happy to help! I think if the gain is filled in shellac is definitely the superior finish; in looks and ease of application
The base of from Flowy line design on Etsy! It’s very high quality!
I like the shellack finish better than epoxy personally. Great work!
I think I do as well. Thank you!!
16:27 @@bruceburnswoodshop1620I have always loved the amber hew Shellac gives to a piece of wood. Just curious how hard of a finish it provides compared to top coat epoxy?
Great job!
I'm no expert on any of this lol but i really like the base you picked for this project. It suits that tabletop very well. Also Chat GPT says: "To remove air bubbles from epoxy resin before pouring, consider using the following methods:"
Warm Water Bath: Place the container with mixed epoxy resin in a warm water bath, not exceeding the manufacturer's recommended temperature. Gently warming the resin can reduce its viscosity and help air bubbles rise to the surface, making it easier to remove them.
Heat Gun or Torch: Use a heat gun or a torch designed for epoxy resin work to carefully apply heat to the surface of the resin after pouring it into your project. The heat will help to release and pop any air bubbles that have formed.
Mixing Technique: When mixing the epoxy resin, do so slowly and avoid introducing excess air into the mixture. Vigorous stirring can introduce more bubbles, so a gentle, methodical approach is usually better.
Degassing Chamber: For professional or high-precision applications, a vacuum or degassing chamber can be used to remove air bubbles from the epoxy resin. This method is highly effective and ensures minimal bubble presence.
Finishing will drive us all crazy. I love making and using shellac but didn't know how to protect it to make it hard so thank you. I found some spray can lacquer that I do like and gives a great finsh over shellac. PRe Cat lacquer I found by Mohalk both in a satin and gloss. Great video Bruce. Thank you.
I also recommend a vacuum chamber. You may have to watch it closely when vacuuming so it doesn't foam out of the chamber. There are lots of tricks for using epoxy from the working time to humidity and temp to how to mix. Good video and well done..
If you want hard finish the 3M nano finishing process is by far the best on the market. It's expensive as shit but worth it.
@@itstimetounlearn Keith I searched 3m nano and didn't find anything, can you help me out as to exactly the name?
You did an amazing job. You brought out the true beauty of the piece.
Working with epoxy as you are doing, just have to make sure the wood is absolutely dry. They say kiln dry is the best bet. Unless you know how long a piece needs to sit to be absolutely dry. Other than that, I would say, take the time to stand by with a torch & when bubbles occur heat to remove them. Wait for the epoxy to cure, at that point no bubbles can form. Then you are able to move on to the next step. Other than that, only other options would be to contact someone with more knowledge for advice. I would think they would enjoy talking with you & sharing information.
Instead of mold release, I just put Tyvek tape on the melamine.
Your end result is amazing!
Thank you!! And ya I normally do use one or the other. But I often start to rush and forget 😂
That came out awesome! The center makes me think of Star Trek's City on the Edge of Forever.
What pressure chamber do you use and did you find it a hard process? Seems intimidating to me, just because so unknown. Is it truly worth investing in on to take your projects to the next level? Thanks!
amzn.to/3o7G8jB
This is the link to the one I bought. It works great super easy to use. I highly recommend. But it’s not absolutely necessary to get good pours it just helps!
Nice work! Just a couple things,wax paper works well as a mold release and i use a sealer on the wood until it stops soaking it up .I still have to baby sit the finish coat until it sets hitting it with a heat gun.Looking forward to trying your shellac
I have 2 suggestions. 1) First off, you need to hermetically seal the wood. I find sealing the wood with z-poxy first (as a pore-fill) will eliminate any bubbles originating from the wood. This may take 2-4 applications depending on porosity (sanding between). Shellac can similarly be used, but I have more faith in the robustness of epoxy. Zpoxy takes about 8 hours to cure (unlike the days for deep pour).
Then you need to make it perfectly flat. You have a drum sander and a festool -- shouldn't be an issue. But no end grain should be exposed before proceeding!!!
After that it's about the correct curing temperature for your finishing epoxy. This too WILL take multiple coats to get flat, but bubbles shouldn't be an issue.
That’s for the tips. What exactly is zpoxy?
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 Idk what zpoxy is but I use sanding sealer/shellac and rarely have any probs with epoxy finishes. providing temp and humidity isnt real high.
tell me about the waste .. and a bit of the environment
I use Super Clear deep pour epoxy. I de-gas with a vacuum chamber like you did but I only mix with a power mixer for 5 gallon bucket pours. Slow hand mixing almost like your making salt water taffy slow to prevent air from being introduced into it. Also it really helps to add a very thin seal coat to the wood before doing a thicker coat. It helps prevent those small micro bubbles. I have noticed any wood that has been either charred or laser engraved gives off even more bubbles and I sometimes will do two or three really thin seal coats before a deep pour or table top. Epoxy can be very rewarding. Kinda like sanding, you have to be patient and go though all the time consuming steps for it to look right.
Thanks for the info! I’ll have to try just hand mixing for small table top pours. What do you use for the thin coats? Deep pour or do you just thin out the table top with alcohol?
@@bruceburnswoodshop1620 I usually just use deep pour for the thins seal coat. It tends to dry within 24 hours or less depending on conditions. I have never try thinning it down, seems like to much science for me and risky. I have used some of the casting epoxy like you can find at Hobby Lobby for small stuff and it dries in less than 24 hours but with a much shorter working time. Although Super Clear Deep Pour takes longer to cure it seems to give the flexibility of a longer pot time and fewer bubbles.
I think your best bet is to first, completely seal the wood. Then mix your epoxy and stick it in a vacuum chamber to remove the air before pouring. It may be a longer process, but it almost always guarantees a perfect result. Don't give up on the process, the results are definitely worth the effort.
That’s exactly what I did🤷♂️ 😂 maybe I didn’t know it well enough in the video. Anyways thanks for watching!!
@bruceburnswoodshop1620 really? Wow, now I'm totally dumbfounded. If you're able to figure out what happened, could you please make a video? I know more than a few people who would like to see it. Also, I didn't mention this in my other comment, but great video.
In the video you said you put it in a pressure chamber. So meant vacuum chamber?
Truly a great video, I love the walk through, everything you did and what you thought during and after, its really going to help me on future projects.
I use system 3 mirror coat with amazing results. just follow the directions. It takes around 3 times longer to pop the bubbles than you think. You need to go around with the torch and look in the light at every angle. You'll be surprised how many bubbles keep popping. They seem to never stop, but you'll get there eventually. Also to add that the first coat should be a very thin seal coat that cant have bubbles because its so thin and the second coat could be a little thicker. BTW I NEVER need a vacuum chamber or do ANY sanding or buffing after the final coat
That’s for the tips! I didn’t know about pouring thinner on the first coat! I’ll have to try that next time!
Beautiful looking table- I was wondering if vacuum bagging the piece would be possible and help eliminate bubbles like some do when glassing foam core paddleboards. Looks awesome though with the shellac finish. Thanks for sharing!
That’s an interesting thought. I don’t see why not? It would be interesting to try that out on a much smaller piece. But thanks for watching!
Putting mixed epoxy in a pressure pot does not help to remove bubble as much as placing it under vacuum does. The vacuum will cause it to foam up and all the trapped air will leave. If you are curring it, placing it under pressure helps to keep the bubbles small while curing.
Your router sled is awesome! I want to build one.
Can you tell me what is the max & min thickness stock you can flatten?
This piece was 2 1/2 think I think my sled can go up to 3 but I can easily add risers to it to do a ticker piece.
And thank you!
Try mixing the clear coats by hand rather than electric mixer, also once it’s poured out go over with a heat gun or a torch to pop the bubbles left over. When adding color you can get away with electric mixing because the color hides the bubbles
power mixing is fine with solid colors, hand mix when its a clear job
Superb job. Great patience. God bless you and thank you for sharing
I would really check your shore D hardness on the table top vs casting resin. You could have stopped and polished the casting resin if you wanted to. If it’s that epoxy resin store stuff , I don’t think it goes much past 76 on the hardness meter for the table top. You could call Sean or rich and find out. Plus watch wooden. He’s like an Italian guy that does a bunch of cookies with resin. I think he just lets the Rubio soak in without the hardner.
Plus what’s worked for me is water popping the cookie first thing , then go at it with 60 grit on the orbital. I have like 5 20 inch or so cookies I need to get going on. The walnut comes out so dark though. I’ve been looking for some maple or hickory ones. Anyways good luck man. I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Hope your doing well.
That’s for the info I’ll look into that!
Can I do something like this on the top of a tree stump, left from taking a huge maple tree down. I’d like to protect it. It won’t be beautiful like this walnut, but I only want to protect it. I may throw birdseed on it for all the critters. Any idea would be appreciated!,
Shellac works great! If it’s outside you might just have to throw another coat on it every year!
I really like your choice to go with the shellac. It's a beautiful piece of wood and the epoxy hides that natural beauty. I'm not a huge fan of the epoxy color in the middle. It looks really cool but for me it clashes with the wood. It's got a futuristic space look to it that takes away from the earthy organic look of the wood. Both really cool in their own right but together is not really flowing into one cohesive look. I think straight black would go nicer. But that's just like my opinion man, I'm def not a pro. Anyways overall it's a really beautiful piece
Thank you that’s really helpful and I agree! I think a more basic color like black probably would have looked more cohesive
Great job, i have no space for projects like that .. love watching.
Put that epoxy into a vacuum chamber and then whip color?? Nooooo.... Beautiful color.. Like an Opal.. Very nice! That spot looks like a disgruntled alien at the right angle. @14:50
That main epoxy pour wasn’t really the problem. There was no bubbles that I could see, it was just the finish. But thanks! And yes it kinda does 😂
Hey if you have a vacuum chamber, put your epoxy in there after mixing to remove micro bubbles. The table looks beautiful! Great choice of pigment for the epoxy.
Hey Bruce thanks for the video. Nice technique and perfect flattening table.
The only annoying thing is the music playing in the background which I couldn't mute because I would lose your comments.
Thanks for the feedback this is exactly the type of stuff I want to know!!
Oh, and the shellac looks great!
Thanks!!
Shellack finishes for side tables or tables with a lot of use aren’t the best and are only used for show piece furniture. You will get rings and other finish issues when using it. It will always be sensitive to light solvents like alcohol as well. A good brush/wipe on poly would be the better “in kind” finish. The next step up would be to invest in a small spray gun and spray or brush on a better poly finish. 2 part poly finishes are readily available. Even a 2 part floor poly would work like Bona brand and it can be brushed on with a sponge.
Nice job! Beautiful piece. I also like how you improvised with your tooling to maximize the small space available in your Workshop.👍
Thank you very much! 😁
Personally I love the looks of a shellac finish. Then take it a step farther and learn a French polish. It just doesn't get better. There is a reason all the best furniture are not epoxy finish.
I think I’ve heard of that, it’s where you use steel wool to bump up the sheen right?
It looks amazing, all your efforts paid off.
I love wood working.. I am hoping in my now old age that I can get a shed at some point and get tools so I can just make things for no reason other than to mess around and have fun
That’s pretty much what I’m doing as well. I agree, it’s a blast! Thanks for watching
1. Don't use deep pour to seal. Use regular epoxy
2. Don't pour globs to seal it, just brush it on.
3. Don't sand it and router it after sealing. Thet defeats the purpose of sealing as it's now raw wood again
4. Use a good epoxy, like stone coat, ecopoxy, etc. If you have to buff the flood/top coat it's not good epoxy.
5. Watch other people's videos. You did like 12 additional steps than you need to.
I've done several dozen epoxy projects from cookie slab tables like this, live edge bookmarked tables, root ball tables, bars, countertops, shower walls, sinks, even epoxyed 5 toilets. Is one the easiest and most forgiving products to work with. Just gotta educate yourself a little bit first.
The centerpiece with the epoxy looks like a heart now
*Warning dont use epoxy* BUT YOU USED EPOXY
Did you watch the video? Pretty sure I used shellac at the end
It's called click bait. Clicked on the video looking for an epoxy alternative. "use this instead" All I see is a dude using epoxy then covering it with shellac.
@@cargasm383 He removed the EPOXY RESIN and replaced it with Shellac. Not click Bait at all.
@@madb132 I still see a lot of EPOXY RESIN. Title says "DO THIS INSTEAD" implying instead of epoxy use something else. The video shows him pour epoxy, remove a layer of bad epoxy with bubbles in it, then shellac over the remaining epoxy. I read the title and CLICKED on this video too see what to use INSTEAD of epoxy. I didn't want to watch an epoxy pour video. I was BAITED into watching an epoxy pour video. click bait. get it?
I am interested in the skirt on the flattening sled to contain chips. Where did you get it?
They are brushes for a cnc I’ll add them to my Amazon links.
I just added a list on my Amazon that has all the parts for the router sled!
Good decision on the final coat. It is beautiful!!
8:40 I have a Jet sander as well. It's been my experience that epoxy ruins the sanding roll and makes a hella mess of the machine and my dust collector. It also heats the epoxy making it pliable again. I switched to an angle grinder sander outside my shop. Makes a fine mess of me but saves the machinery.
Ya I just wanted the piece to stay flat so I went with the drum sander. I could have used my router sled but I didn’t want to remove too much material.
Have you ever used any kind of penetrator or sealant that way the wood doesn't soak up as much of the epoxy? I'm just curious because I have zero experience and that's what I gathered I should do but any tips or your opinion I would appreciate
I haven’t but I know guys that do. Maybe on another project I’ll have to try that!
Can you expand in how you built your sled please. Exactly what do you need? Great piece
17:31
@@diedrichmohring5434 ?
That’s a great video, I loved it. Really liked the Shellac finish that was a good call…well done
Thank you!!
I am late to the video and was going to comment that the micro bubbles were definitely the power mixer. Perhaps on a large pour the power mixer. Watching several videos for fun mostly the power mixer is kwept deep in the epoxy. Small batch hand mixing gently. Yes, I did see the other comments and concurred with them. I strickly use polyester finishes. I have a dedicated spray booth, so it is easy for me to say this. My profession is a luthier for the past 22 years Just fyi. Nice job in the end. You certainly worked for the results. Kudos my man.
Beautiful piece and excellent work. The comments pointing to unsealing the pre-epoxy coats are right on. I experienced the exact same issue you have. Here is the three-step protocol that has yielded the highest probability of success for me: 1: Measure the residual humidity on the edges and where the wood appears more spongy on your biscuit. Personally, I bring the piece in the house where I can control the ambient humidity more easily than in my workshop. Make sure air circulates all around your piece. I aim for 6% residual humidity readings two days in a row. 2: Seal both surfaces. (I use equal parts shellac and denatured alcool). Once dry, check sealer absorption, i.e. where it remained on the surface and where it sank deeper into the wood pores such that hardly any is left on surface. 3: Sand no higher than 320 only to flatten the sealer on the whole surface. Control your downward pressure on the sander to avoid digging into the more porous part of the biscuit. Sanding is very technical and does not appreciate intuitive or feeling-based protocols. I consider one pass as one overlapping sanding of the whole surface in one direction followed by another at 90% of the first sanding. Check your sand paper to avoid simply moving the sanding residue around. (I have noticed that 5 to 7 passes suffice. 4: Air pressure clean the surface to be epoxied to remove embedded particles in the pores. (Make sure your air tank contains no water build-up.) Finish with a tack rag. Et voilà, you have put all of the probable factors of success on your side. Time has a habit of exacting vengeance on those who do not take it seriously. Boy, have I learned that in working with epoxy and wood.
As the World Turns
The thing I was taught about epoxy is the torches' carbon dioxide draws the bubbles out, not so much the heat. So when we poured a bar top we had 2 people with torches follow the pour as we went. Spend several minutes with the torch, being careful to be close enough to draw the outgassing but not so close as to "skin" or burn the surface. We also used wooden paint stir sticks, which is a bit of work on a large pour.
Sometimes the wooden stirs can cause bubbles. Seal the wood on the sticks prior to using OR get some silicone stir sticks to mix the epoxy. You can also find silicone spatula sticks in the kitchen section (generally less expensive than looking at epoxy sites). Once the epoxy dries on the silicone you should be able to peel it off and they’re ready for the next project.
Denatured alcohol and a torch helps pull out air entrapment.
Love the video. First one that actually shows all of the hard work in between. Not just the pretty outcome! I use varathane wood hardener for sealing on all my raw wood as it is very thin and really penetrates. Multiple coats and let them harden. What shailice do you use?
Thanks! I just buy pure dewaxed shellac flakes and mix with denatured alcohol to make the shellac finish the consistency that I want!
...really beautiful piece...very well done...!
I've watched a ton of epoxy/resin videos...I believe the use of the power tool to mix up the epoxy introduced air into the mix...if you use a long curing time epoxy, you should probably use a vacuum pot to remove the air bubbles from the epoxy...then pour it...
Other than that, it's still very impressive...👍
Matt
Thanks. I definitely think the mixing tool was part of the problem in addition to the wood releasing air
Looks fantastic! Where did you get that pedestal?
Flowy line design on Etsy.
Thank you!!
I like the shellac finish. I just turned a bowl made out of baltic birch plywood and was thinking of doing a shellac finish as you did.
My question is should I put on a base layer of either table top or deep pour epoxy then start with the shellac?
Enjoyed the video. I'm looking to learn more so I appreciate the commentary. I'd like to see how you diluted the shellacque at what proportions and how many layers. I dont remember if you sanded between. Thanks for making the video.
I haven't done epoxy coated tables but have done a lot of mold making and casting. Pressure pots are good for casting under pressure because they smash the bubbles down. This makes them almost unnoticeable in the final product.
When I am pouring epoxy or using silicone I use a vacuum chamber to draw the air out of the liquid. It works better than making the bubbles small. If you only compress they just end up finding each other again and getting bigger.
I also agree with another post on here since you are using the pressure pot you should do the two passes at different times with the torch. You were likely compressing the bubbles down just before the pour and then over time they joined up and made the bubbles beneath the surface.
Could you use the router sled to remove the mistake from not using the mold release?
That’s a really good question.
That would have made things much easier but unfortunately, my router sled isn’t tall enough to accommodate the piece with the melamine attached. It barely fit with the piece alone.
Yes,the trick to the epoxy is to use Low viscosity epoxy. Each coat, thin with denatured alcohol. Apply thin coats and torch. It took me two years to figure out how to make a mirror finish without the micro bubbles. I use west systems epoxy. All my work is turned. Most pieces are Mahogany and this dark wood shows everything. Again, thin coats, torch, let it cure, sand, clean reapply and do on. Good luck, Chip Matthews
Where did you get the base? It’s beautiful! I have some walnut rounds that I’m debating what to do with, so this was some good inspiration!