What you really think about epoxy

A trend can offer a glimpse into what will evolve into something practical and enduring. It’s the difference between a trend and a fad. Fads don’t typically become something stable with lasting power. Think Pokemon Go, fidget spinners, and the Harlem Shake.

The early stages of a trend include faddish elements. I have no doubt that neon pink and green epoxy river tables will seem dated very soon, if not already. That’s a fad. But it takes a lot of people experimenting with different techniques for more widespread uses to emerge. We’re seeing this with the common use of stabilizing crotch wood or fragmented slabs – wood that otherwise might have been destined for the fire pit – into a solid, usable table.

If a trend sticks around long enough and has enough useful applications, it could become a style and gain more respectability. Then, as styles become dated, they evolve and live on in even more accepted ways. When Linoleum first came out, people were slapping that stuff in every room of the house. Eventually, it found a more logical place in kitchens and baths, only to grow into various styles of vinyl tiles and flooring and even vinyl wood grain laminates commonly installed throughout the house today. Oh, and at this very moment, I am sitting in my living room making toe fists into the deep, luxurious shag rug beneath my feet. (Not orange, though!)

Many of us will probably never introduce epoxy into our woodworking, but it’s great to see that there is a growing acceptance for the people at the forefront of this trend and a genuine curiosity about what it will develop into.

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I wanted to thank all of you who have recently discovered my podcast, The Woodworking Talk Show. The number of listeners is skyrocketing. I’m very proud of this show and love talking to such a wide range of makers, DIYers, and woodworkers including Laura Kampf, Blacktail Studio, Roy Underhill, Simone Giertz, Jimmy DIresta, Evan & Katelyn, and many more. Check it out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform.

Have a great month,

Steve