My First Epoxy Pour – Mistakes Were Made!

In this light-hearted woodworking adventure, I take on a unique commission from a local neighbor who needed help finishing an epoxy inlay on a massive mantle. Although epoxy work isn’t exactly my go-to specialty, I agreed to tackle the project, mainly for the challenge. And let’s face it, there would be a lot of potential for hilarity. This is, admittedly, my first epoxy pour. The most I’ve done with epoxy in the past was using it to fill knots, using it as a sealer, and making small resin art frames.

The mantle features a hand-carved “river” design inspired by the Legend of Zelda, specifically of the Rist Peninsula. The client created the initial shape using a Dremel. Before pouring the epoxy, I decided to refine the carving with power carving tools to smooth the edges and even out the depth. After some careful prep and color mixing, I poured the shimmering blue resin, layer by layer, to bring the carved river to life. That is, only after a disastrous start.

Despite some nerves and a few minor mishaps, the end result of my first epoxy pour is a dazzling epoxy-filled Zelda-themed mantle—and a reminder that sometimes saying “yes” to a project outside your wheelhouse can be surprisingly rewarding. And while I made mistakes, I found great value in learning hard lessons just by getting started!

Products Shown in the Video (affiliate links):

• Shabebe Deep Pour Epoxy
• Arm R Seal Satin
• Fuji Spray HVLP Turbine
• Milwaukee Die Grinder
• Carbide Burr (Round)
• Carbide Burr (Oval)
• BackSide Sandpaper
• Makrs Stain Pads Use Code TWW for 15% OFF!

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You still have time! Use FIREWORKS25 and get 40% selected Guild Courses!

Hey friends!

It’s time to celebrate our independence… from full-priced woodworking courses! We’re lighting up your inbox with a deal that’s hotter than a sparkler in July:

Grab the sale before it’s over!

Get 40% OFF ONE COURSE with code at checkout: FIREWORKS25  ​TWWGuild.com​

This explosive offer is good through July 6th and applies to nearly all Guild courses, with just a few exceptions. (These were released within the last year and are still fresh out of the woodworking oven.)

 ​Hand-Cut Dovetails: A Beginner’s Journey​ – an amazing course with Rob Cosman that half the proceeds go to ​The Purple Heart Project​

 ​Under Table Saw Storage Cabinet​ – Marc takes you on a detailed journey to build this amazing addition to your tablesaw.

 Frank Strazza’s ​Fundamentals of Hand Tool Woodworking​ and ​Intro to Marquetry​

But wait, there’s more! Our newest project, the ​Counter Height Bar Stool​, is now available for pre-order (which means it’s already on sale!). While it’s not part of this sale, ​Guild+ subscribers​ save an additional 5% on ALL courses, all the time, so if you’re in that club, you still score.

Need help deciding what to grab? Here are some of the most popular courses in Guild history:

• ​The Morley Lounge Chair​ – An elegant, modern chair build packed with joinery goodness and pro-level techniques.

• ​The Split-Top Roubo Workbench ​– Want a bench that lasts a lifetime? This is our flagship project, and thousands of woodworkers have tackled it with pride.

​ • The Tool Cabinet with Matt Cremona ​– A beautiful and practical project with curves, drawers, and a whole lotta character.

• ​The Shaker Table​ – A classic gateway project to fine woodworking with mortise and tenon joinery and tapered legs. Don’t know where to start, this is a perfect course to try.

• ​The Gaming Dining Table ​– Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner or a heated board game night, this table transforms with style and functionality. Bonus: check out the ​free video for the dice towe​r on the main site!

• ​Intro to Bowl Turning with Ashley Harwood ​– Want to dip your toes into woodturning? Ashley’s clear, approachable style makes this the perfect starting point for spinning up beautiful bowls on the lathe.

Check out almost 80 detailed courses here: ​TWWGuild.com​

This deal will blow up in a few days (July 7th), so grab a course, light a sparkler, and build something awesome this summer (or just watch something awesome, nothing wrong with that either

Start a new woodworking journey with us and save 40%! Need some social proof that The Wood Whisperer Guild is the place to be? Check out some of our testimonials from our members here!

Stay safe, build well, and don’t blow off a finger!

Marc

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The Woodworking Morning Show for May 9th, 2025 – Big Announcement!

00:00 Introduction and Greetings
00:37 Catching Up with the Community
01:11 Health Updates and Humor
01:58 Convention Memories
02:46 Introducing Ourselves
04:45 The Evolution of the Show
06:07 Announcing Changes to the Show
07:59 Impact of YouTube Algorithm
11:25 Wood Talk Sponsorship Announcement
12:59 Shoutout to ‪@punishedprops‬ and Nicole’s favorite Utility Knife https://www.punishedprops.com/ppa-knives/
14:54 National Lost Sock Memorial Day
15:44 Woodcraft Sponsorship Details https://www.woodcraft.com/
16:39 Marc’s Favorite Travel Mug https://amzn.to/3GL0CHX
18:44 Woodworking Questions Begin
23:37 Finishing Experiences
27:56 Sharpening Chisels
29:06 Treasure Chest Project
30:48 Health and Energy Updates
33:47 Guild Plus and Membership Details http://thewoodwhispererguild.com/plus
34:47 Dust Collection and Air Cleaners https://amzn.to/3Z0Q3XF
34:47 Portable Dust Collection
36:40 Super Chats and Community Support
36:59 Reflecting on the Show’s Evolution
37:38 Future Content and Ideas
37:45 Mother’s Day Video
38:22 Bike Farmer Shoutout / @bkefrmr
39:23 Fixing Domino Mortises
40:41 Community Help and Magazine Prices
41:33 Router Table Tips
45:03 Shoe Recommendations
48:29 Favorite Wood Species for Spatulas
49:42 Food Safe Finishes
50:33 Science Experiments and Bacteria
51:26 Movie Mix-Up Confession
53:10 Upcoming Show Changes
53:28 Book Writing Challenges
53:46 Live Questions and Answers
55:53 Watch the new Helmet Rack Project Video Released Today! • A Great Way to Store Bike Helmets (or Coats!)
56:26 Fun Collaborations
57:09 Shoe Talk and Corgi Fest
58:09 Sander Recommendations
01:03:35 Quick Fire Questions
01:04:56 Maker Meetup and ChonkFest
01:06:33 Favorite Paint Colors
01:06:47 Darth wants more ‪@ladiesofleet‬ Content
01:08:12 New Channel Announcement more details coming in the next week
01:10:12 Drumsticks and Drum Clinics
01:12:08 Stand By Me Movie Reference
01:12:40 Final Announcements and Goodbyes

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Overworking

I have made many pieces in my lifetime as a maker. Occasionally, some pieces, large and small, ended up being somewhat overworked. I look back into the history of my craft and I might consider the work made for the highly privileged, mostly the wealthy charlatans of past life, though extraordinarily remarkable, and almost all...

Source

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The Easiest Way to Clean Saw Blades & Router Bits

Sponsors

Woodcraft and Priority Bicycles

Purchase the Ultrasonic Cleaner shown in this video for only $35! (as of June 2025) – This is an Amazon Affiliate link

Let’s be honest—cleaning saw blades and router bits is one of those shop chores nobody looks forward to. You know it needs to be done, but soaking in degreaser and scrubbing each individual tooth feels more like punishment than maintenance. The mess, the fumes, the procrastination—it all adds up until your “dull” blade turns out to be just dirty and underperforming. In fact, here’s an old video from 2012 showing how I used to do it: How to Clean Blades & Bits

Here’s the deal: if you want your tooling to last and your cuts to stay crisp, regular cleaning is a must. But that doesn’t mean it has to be miserable.

Enter the ultrasonic cleaner!

This little countertop gadget, commonly used for jewelry, bike parts, and car bits, has quietly become the easiest way to clean saw blades & router bits in my shop. It uses high-frequency sound waves to blast away pitch, resin, and gunk, all while you sit back and relax (or let’s be real, go sharpen something else or check Instagram).

Just mix a simple water-based cleaning solution like Zep Industrial or Simple Green Pro, pop your bits or blades into the bath, and let the cleaner do its thing. In 5–10 minutes, your tools come out looking shockingly fresh, with zero scrubbing and no chemical war zone left behind.

In the video, I break down:

• Why gunk buildup causes more issues than you think (hint: heat + friction = damage)

• Why your “dull” blade might just be dirty

• How ultrasonic cleaning works (it’s oddly satisfying)

• What solution and settings I used

• The dramatic before-and-after results that’ll make you rethink your whole cleaning routine

Bottom line? If you’re tired of scraping gunk by hand, the easiest way to clean saw blades & router bits is probably already sitting in someone’s garage—or waiting in your online cart. This simple upgrade has already changed the way I care for my tools, and it might just do the same for you. And remember, after you clean your blades and bits, be sure to coat them with something to protect from rust, like Blade Coat! 

Shown in the Video

Ultrasonic Cleaner ($35 on Amazon as of 6/25)

Zep Industrial Cleaner

Simple Green Pro (This is a good alternative to what I used)

Blade Coat

Larger Ultrasonic Cleaner (This is the one I’d buy if budget wasn’t a concern)

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Why We Chop Deeper

If you know me at all, watch my videos and such, you’ll see me mark my chisel to the length of my tenon with a Sharpie so that I know when to stop the main chopping…but then you’ll see me make another lighter pass taking the mortise slightly deeper. Why is that? Well, when the...

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Can Finish Prevent Tearout? (plus more of your questions!) | Ask TWW

Sponsored by Woodcraft! 

Want your question answered in a video? Join us! Become a YouTube Member  or Become a Patron

On this episode of Ask TWW, we’ll not only see a new trick for taming tearout, but we’ll discuss everything below:

Topics Covered:

Hard Wax Oil on Countertops: Got a worn-out Rubio finish? Just give it a light sanding and reapply. No need to switch products—Rubio’s ease of repair is one of its biggest perks. Want to learn how to apply Rubio (or any hardwax oil) to furniture? Check out this video!

• Natura Onecoat (A cheaper alternative to Rubio)
• Bumblechutes Bee’Nooba Oil/Wax – Save 10% with code TWW10

Skipping Sanding Grits: Can you jump from 120 to 180 grit? Technically yes, but adding 150 grit makes things more efficient and helps avoid swirl marks.

Epoxy for Soft Wood: Penetrating epoxies can toughen up soft woods like cypress. They’re not magic, but they do help.

• Total Boat Penetrating Epoxy Sealer
• Total Boat Table Top Epoxy

Finish as Tear-Out Prevention: Tearout is as old as woodworking. Could there be a new trick for tackling tearout? Someone asked if applying finish firms up the fibers enough to help keep them intact during a cut. Initial tests show a some improvement, but more testing is needed.

Dust Filter Cleaning: Compressed air works, if you’re gentle. Manual tapping helps, too. For a serious upgrade, check out agitators from Myers Woodshop.

• Myer Woodworks Filter Shakers

T1-11 Wall Prep: A quick sanding and optional stain can make shop walls look cleaner and film better on camera—but it’s all personal preference.

• Watco Walnut Danish Oil

Handling Criticism: Whether online or in person, some advice is worth considering… and some you can politely ignore.

Bonus:

Don’t forget to check out my books Essential Joinery and Hybrid Woodworking, available as signed copies from TWWSTore.com Great resources for woodworkers at any level!

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