Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
If you’re into pouring epoxy, especially in woodworking, there’s something critical to understand.
Wood always moves and most epoxies become rigid once cured. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, forcing wood to work with epoxy is always going to be a challenge.
Frozen pipes can burst under pressure, and epoxy isn't much different. It can crack, separate or fail as wood expands and contracts...even a small seasonal shift in humidity can put stress on the epoxy.
I made this table 20 years ago and added a thick epoxy layer. As you can see, cracks have formed over time as the wood shifted—but the epoxy didn’t. This isn’t just an isolated case—it happens all the time with river tables, epoxy fills, and even bar tops.
Today there are more flexible epoxy alternatives out there, but flexible doesn’t mean indestructible.
The best defense: wood movement must be managed.
By sealing the ends of your stock, using bowties or splines, and reinforcing weak areas, you’re reducing the risk. You can also use wood that’s been fully stabilized, but even then, movement is still possible.
Wood moves, and anything we do to it—epoxy, finishes, even joinery—will need maintenance over time. The wood itself? It’ll still be here, long after those fixes have faded.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
If you’re into pouring epoxy, especially in woodworking, there’s something critical to understand.
Wood always moves and most epoxies become rigid once cured. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, forcing wood to work with epoxy is always going to be a challenge.
Frozen pipes can burst under pressure, and epoxy isn't much different. It can crack, separate or fail as wood expands and contracts...even a small seasonal shift in humidity can put stress on the epoxy.
I made this table 20 years ago and added a thick epoxy layer. As you can see, cracks have formed over time as the wood shifted—but the epoxy didn’t. This isn’t just an isolated case—it happens all the time with river tables, epoxy fills, and even bar tops.
Today there are more flexible epoxy alternatives out there, but flexible doesn’t mean indestructible.
The best defense: wood movement must be managed.
By sealing the ends of your stock, using bowties or splines, and reinforcing weak areas, you’re reducing the risk. You can also use wood that’s been fully stabilized, but even then, movement is still possible.
Wood moves, and anything we do to it—epoxy, finishes, even joinery—will need maintenance over time. The wood itself? It’ll still be here, long after those fixes have faded.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
