How to Make Wow-Factor Tables on Steroids

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Eric Flansburg works full time but is starting a woodworking business he can jump into when he retires years from now. He’s developing a high-end niche with big, hand-crafted, custom-made tables.

“My woodworking goal is to give my customers a real ‘wow-factor’ — something they’ve never seen before; custom furniture with a gorgeous holographic effect that just blows your mind.

With its LED lights on, Eric’s table glows. This one features natural objects in the epoxy resin “river.”

LED lights and 3-D effect

I call my conference tables ‘river tables.’ I like to say they’re ‘conference tables on steroids.’ Some are black walnut with cherry trim. There’s a river of clear epoxy resin running down the center creating a holographic, 3-D effect. Some rivers have LED lights that give a glowing effect. Some customers come in and place special stones or other objects in the epoxy before it sets. And sometimes I’ll laser-engrave images or logos in the surface.

Eric talked extensively with the boys at Woodmaster before choosing his big 50″ single-drum Woodmaster Drum Sander. “One of the best purchases I’ve made,” says Eric.

Planning ahead

I work full time as a police officer in upstate New York. I’ve also started my own business in preparation for retirement in 10 years or so. That gives me plenty of time to build my knowledge and grow the business. 

As far as business experience, I’ve done woodworking and general contracting for many years. I was in the Air Force and was in a high-level position in the dairy industry in charge of safety policies and procedures.

Here’s how Eric forms his rivers. Wood slabs are fastened down to an OSB panel that’s removed later. The spaces between slabs will be filled with a river of epoxy resin

Wow-factor

My woodworking business is ‘Custom Wood Light Graphics.’ I make high-end furniture for businesses, bars, and individuals. It’s all word of mouth, all custom, one-of-a-kind work.

7,000 grit 

I’ve perfected my own finishing method to achieve a perfect, glass-like finish. I don’t use polyurethane; it’s all sanding and buffing. I start with 40-grit sandpaper and work up to 7,000 grit. Then I do a 6-stage buffing process. When I’m done, the finish is perfectly flat, smooth, and even feels soft, like a new car finish.

Prepped for pouring, this river table has natural objects that will be visible through the clear epoxy resin “river”

Unbelievable

I’m a very meticulous woodworker and my Woodmaster 50” is one of the best purchases I’ve made. The amount of sanding time my Woodmaster saves me is unbelievable. Sanding my 11-foot conference tables by hand would take an ungodly amount of time! And there’s no way I could get the finish as perfect as I want it by hand. 

Here’s a screen shot from a video Eric posted to his Facebook page. Visit and see many more of Eric’s photos and videos documenting how he makes his “Tables on Steroids”

Unparalleled

I did my research and ended up with my 50” Woodmaster Drum Sander. I looked at planers and sanders to find something wide enough for my work. Some were cantilevered; connected only at one end. To sand a wide surface on a cantilever drum sander, you have to flip the workpiece and run it through twice. I didn’t like that idea. I read lots of reviews and realized Woodmaster was the company I wanted to deal with. They guys are awesome. Very accommodating and their customer service is unparalleled. 

I trust Woodmaster

If anybody’s looking at drum sanders, I’d say definitely call Woodmaster and talk with the guys. Mark has been very good, very helpful to me. We talked a lot about what I wanted to do and how I could accomplish it. He made a lot of suggestions and recommendations based on my goals and it all worked out very well. 

Woodmaster’s not pushy at all. They have a lot of knowledge and gave me full info. I trust Woodmaster’s advice and followed it. That’s huge. It’s a great company.”

— Eric Flansburg, Woodmaster Drum Sander Owner, Baldwinsville NY

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