Build stories, how-tos and the occasional disaster, written up from the videos with photos and tool lists. 64 posts since 2019.
Newest post8 min read
What Everyone Gets Wrong: Refinishing Your Wood Floors with LED Curing Oil. Achieve stunning results and understand how this superior process works!
VideoWhen you choose to put on cowboy boots for what feels like the first time—and yes, apparently your jeans aren’t supposed to be tucked into them—and decide to buy a $1.6 million, 17-acre farm with buildings that look more "lead paint chic" than practical, you’re bound to make a few missteps. But hey, why not document the chaos for a brand-new YouTube channel while I’m at it?
VideoI’m obsessed with combining denim and epoxy, I explore the creative process behind crafting beautiful, layered table tops. Dive into the experimentation with patterns, tools, and finishes to elevate denim and epoxy table tops.
VideoHow I Priced my Largest Commission Ever! Discover the story behind my largest commission ever—a custom 11-foot table for a yacht in Europe. Learn how I navigated the pricing and challenges to meet a tight two-month deadline.
VideoBuilding a Unique Glass and Wood Table: It was harder than I thought Discover if glass is the new epoxy as I build a glass table. Follow along as I explore the challenges and triumphs in creating a stunning glass and wood table, including tips on cutting glass, designing a unique table base, and more!
And as much as the internet loves those teary eyed good deed videos where they surprise some upper middle class couple with a new backyard. Well, what I love about the internet… is messing with scammers. So, I devised a plan and created a fake Telegram account under the alias "Jim Thompson” (a fictitious retired school teacher) to track down a scammer who had been impersonating me with a fake "Blacktail Studio" account. … and it began with a straightforward question: "Hey there, you contacted my wife on Facebook saying she won a prize?”
I have a problem. A good problem, but still a bit of a dilemma. I have outgrown my current shop and have been searching desperately for a larger space to move the Blacktail operations for about three years now. The hard part is finding the right location. So I am turning to you all for help. And if someone finds me a new home, I will build you any table you want (within reason ok, see details below).
VideoAn intuitive step-by-step guide for N3 Nano Finishing's revolutionary wood protection technology and application process.
5 Terrible Builds That Paid Me $131,708 Early mishaps, lucrative learning moments, and tips on how to become a YouTuber. While this journey into becoming a YouTubing woodworker has yielded a lot to be proud of, there’s something to be said for having an appreciation for the times when things didn't go exactly right. If you’re interested in becoming a YouTube content creator, it’s important to pursue constant growth, live without regrets, and keep moving forward. The following list highlights some builds that didn’t necessarily go to plan. However, they helped to provide valuable lessons and earned $131,708 from ads paid from Youtube/Google.
Is woodworking safe? In an environment where table saws, high powered drills and angle grinders are only a few of the tools that are always present, there is an inherent danger and possibility for injury. Factor in something such as woodworking for a full-time career and you increase your chances of injury substantially. Working so constantly with the tools used in the projects captured in the Blacktail Studio videos has provided a unique opportunity to witness a lot of different ways that they can potentially backfire and cause harm. Whether you do the odd DIY project or you work with power tools on a daily basis, you may never experience the full range of damage that these high powered machines can cause…we’re here to show you.
VideoHow does one go about restoring a 20,000 year old woolly mammoth tusk? Yes… as in the woolly mammoth, who walked the earth 300,000 years ago. If this is the first time you’ve had to consider this question, you aren’t alone.
VideoWhat would you do if a table you had dedicated a lot of time and effort to crafting for a custom order, was held up on its way to New York City? Not because of a misprint on a shipping label, or the parcel itself having sustained damage, but because you were being accused of potential drug smuggling. Specially: chalking a table’s shipping crate full of marijuana. Yeah…this really happened….
How do you justify burning a perfectly good slab of wood? You don’t. Unless you’re planning on doing something completely different, inarguably ambitious, and potentially dumb. When making tables, every decision from what base hardware will be used, to the specific colour palette chosen, to the wood itself; is made from a place of pure subjectivity. That’s why, when given a $20 slab of clean maple, it made sense to try something entirely new. Because why not?
What started as a visit to Goby walnut to inquire about using their kiln to dry a seven foot wooly mammoth tusk that will be a part of an upcoming tusk restoration project; quickly turned into the beginning of a new project. When the good people at Goby Walnut offered up a slightly (very) damaged slab of Redwood, at a price that was too reasonable to pass up (entirely free) the idea to recreate a previous table arose.
What happened? To fully understand the gravity of what created a visceral sense of panic at the very end of an otherwise successful project, we need to first set the scene. If you have ever built anything then you know that there is no greater sense of accomplishment than the moment of successful completion. Now, imagine working your way through an entire project, only to find out, upon finishing, that there is an integral flaw. The flaw, in this case, is that the moisture level of the wood was irreparably high. If you want to experience this feeling first-hand, check out the video appropriately titled: I Lost $30,000 .
Initially the goal of this project was to build a timeless 50” by 50” coffee table, featuring a wooden shelf at its base. After measuring the Bastogne and speaking with the client, a squared size of 47” was agreed upon, in order to preserve the use of the rare wood. The two large slabs were purchased with a handful of offcuts and the intention was to use the main slab to create the solid table top, while the offcuts would be used to construct the table base and legs.
How to stain wood black
Epoxy tables are everywhere these days. The versatility of epoxy, coupled with the ability to use previously unusable woods, has taken the woodworking and interior design world by storm. But are epoxy tables just a passing fad? Something will we see in a decad
How to stain wood black
VideoAround October of 2020 I was contacted by a very nice couple who had seen a Youtube video of mine and wanted a table just like the one they saw in the video. With one caveat, the table could not have any red tones. This seemed straightforward enough. So I gave
This list is not sponsored but does contain affiliate links. This means I get a small percentage of purchases made if you click the link provided. If that bothers you, never click on any gift guide anywhere on the internet. This list has very cheap items, some
The active epoxy leak is one of the most terrifying sights in a shop. Deep pour epoxy doesn’t set up for around 24 hours, so a small drip could empty a 10-gallon pour ($3000 worth of epoxy) onto your garage floor. Or worse, kitchen floor for those who are bold
VideoHow to make an epoxy mold for only a small portion of a table.
VideoThe easiest and most necessary baseboard tips and tricks on the internet.
VideoI test out both my wood stove, and my modern electric heater to see which offers more benefits and savings.
VideoMy modern spin on the traditional miter station workbench. This bench features a replaceable top, dust extraction, and much more.
VideoI find out exactly how strong an epoxy table is.
VideoA comprehensive introduction to the world of power carving wood furniture.
VideoMy review of the Sawstop floating dust collection system.
Gifts they might not even know they need.
Getting a better rasp for less money?
VideoMoving thousands of pounds of tools with wildfires breathing down our neck.
VideoThe first installment of making the move to my new shop that I plan on turning into my dream woodshop/makerspace.
VideoWhy I don’t stain wood. Instead I finish with a hardwax finish called rubio monocoat.
Video10 tools any shop should have.
VideoThe fire table started as a slab of maple, ended as a high gloss 3D shou sugi ban inspired burnt wood and epoxy table.
VideoStep by step guide to making a leak proof round epoxy table mold.
VideoStep by step guide on how to make a leak proof mold for your epoxy resin table project.
VideoThe best way to attach table legs to allow for wood movement and keep them tight and wobble free.
VideoStep by Step guide to properly build a live edge and/or slab table. From where to by the wood, how to finish, and even how and where to mount the table legs.
VideoHelp Us Support COVID-19 Emergency Food Relief for a Chance to Win. We've teamed up with our friends at Goby Walnut to create an heirloom quality dining table package to raffle off….
VideoHow to apply a perfect gloss osmo finish in your dusty shop or garage
VideoThis is a surprisingly easy DIY project, that you might be able to make for free if you have some epoxy left over from an old project. I took some old cedar fence panels, burned them with propane torch, then covered with epoxy. What I got was a pretty cool 3D wood and epoxy coaster unlike any I had seen before. Hope you like it, let me know if you have any questions!
VideoFive projects you can make for less than $20. Most of which you can even get the kids involved with. This can be a great way to introduce them to woodworking/crafts. Or at the very least, keep them busy for an afternoon!
VideoBasically, its just fine brass powder mixed in with epoxy. Pretty simple to say, harder to make look good. This real metal epoxy is nothing new. It is primarily designed for cold casting. Which is a cheaper alternative to casting real bronze statues. Basically
My hand used to ache when hand sanding table edges or table legs for any extended period of time. Having to grip a piece of sandpaper tightly has a sneaky way of wearing out my hand. I always wondered why there wasn’t a better way. Then one day it hit me, a DI
VideoI frequently get messages from people who want to know how they can use less epoxy or if there is a cheaper epoxy that is just as good. Basically any way they can try and save money and still get an amazing result. As a general rule, if I know a better way I u
VideoThis is a follow up to my Youtube video where I did a way-too-expensive restoration of my old Daisy BB gun. I know the title says Red Ryder, and my gun wasn’t actually a Red Ryder, But ever since that Christmas story kid shot his eye out, everyone remembers Re
VideoHow to sand wood the right way. I discuss all the methods I use to get my projects absolutely perfect and ready for finish. The same practices can be applied to your diy coffee table or executive conference table.
VideoEveryone knows box store kiln dried (KD) lumber is for framing houses, not making furniture. So why does it matter what the moisture content (MC) of a stack of 2x4s is? Does it really matter when framing a house if the MC of the studs is 10% or 25%? No, probab
VideoSo you found your perfect slab, ensured it is dried properly to your climate, and you’re finally ready to get it prepped and finished for daily use. These last few steps are every bit as important as the steps we discussed in part one and two of this series. S
VideoWhat is a board foot? How much should I pay for wood? Is this wood dry yet? I will answer the most common question you should know the answer to before buying any live edge wood.
VideoHow to buy live edge wood that is ready for your project!
VideoIf you are reading this, you probably have some interest in woodworking. Unfortunately, that is likely where the universal similarities end with my readers. Some readers are just starting out, some may have skills far beyond my own, and most fall somewhere in
VideoWant a cool DIY project that finally puts a good use to all those off cuts you have been saving for no reason? Well I’ve got you taken care of. As long as your chunk of wood is bigger than 4x4” and at least 3/4” thick, I can show you a quick and easy way to tu
VideoWood finishing used to be one of the biggest mysteries and biggest sources of frustration for me. I grew up with a friend who’s family owned car painting business, and that made sense to me. I just always assumed you needed a paint booth, several thousand doll
VideoSo you spent months working on a project, and now you need to ship it across the country. Or maybe across the world. About the time you start thinking of how much time you have into this, you see a video online of a UPS employee intentionally dropping a box ou
VideoStep by step guide to calculating the epoxy needed in your resin table project.
VideoIf you are coming from my previous article you have one, or maybe a stack of bow ties to inlay. This can be a fun and super satisfying process. But you will need a couple things to get started. First, and non negotiable. Are sharp chisels. They don’t have to b
VideoIn this tutorial I will still show you how to cut a perfect bowtie with my favorite method. While there are quite a few ways to cut a bow tie joint, my go to method is using a bandsaw and a shop made jig. Some other methods worth looking into are using a route
VideoCheap and easy sandpaper storage solution
VideoStep by step guide to make an epoxy resin and wood table at home.
VideoI constantly struggled with loose router bits, shoddy storage pieces made from 2x4s, and trying to store different sized shanks in the same area. Eventually I decided to try running this Kaizen foam through my table saw to see how it cut. Turns out, it cuts pe
VideoMy wife convinced me to make this list for all the wives, husbands, girlfriends, and boyfriends just like her. That not only don’t know what gift to get for their woodworking significant other, but fear even if they guess right… their spouse already has that i
