I've never been a big fan of most wood/epoxy projects, especially now that it's so overdone. But I really love the stained glass effect of that last box. I see lots of possibilities for really intricate projects. I'm subscribing right now to see where else this goes!
Hi. I appreciate the note. I understand the feeling. My interests too are varied and I use epoxy more as a tool in the toolbox as apposed to a key feature to design around. This is my most popular video, and I sometimes feel bad that I may be disappointing people because I haven't made a lot more videos pushing this stain glass design. That said, I have just started a project where I'm going to push myself again on epoxy inlay. It should come out as a video by the end of January.
With your joke about never getting involved in a land war, I was really expecting you to say never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line. Great boxes! love how the epoxy box came out.
@@AlpineTrailsStudioWait…FOUR other quotes? For a total of five? Ok fine, this is for you: “You’re trying to trick me into [watching your video again]. It won’t work.” Ok, it’ll probably work 😂
Great work, great video! I really appreciate the honest reportage and the admission of setbacks at the beginning, because you don't see that very often these days.
I like what you did with the last box. If I were going to do it having worked with epoxy before. I would only half fill the colored objects and then let them set up. Then once they were set I would come with the second pour of clear epoxy and overfill and finish it as you did. Don’t know if it would be better but I feel it would give you a comparable finish but less labor intense. I also would look to polish it like you would polish a stone top. There are some cool “sanders” that do that up to 10000 grit that I’m aware of. I’ve polished granite with them and they really make it shine. Please don’t take anything I said as looking down on what you did, I feel you did an awesome job. Much easier to sit here as a Monday morning quarterback. Just some ideas I was thinking that may have made your job easier? Nice Job! Thanks!
Love this. Far out.. the effort was exponential. Well worth it, but you are right.. no one will pay the true cost for it. Mass produced mindset these days. Just be satisfied in yourself.
as an improvement to the last box, or i should rather say to spare some time, you can have the laser cut off the edge where the hinges are installed. that way it is also perfectly aligned to the lid. great video, you're amazing. keep going!
I’m so glad I found your channel. The third is my favorite and will be giving it a go. I purchased the accelerator It wasn’t sure how to use it so thank you for saving a potentially ruined project. The template for the feet is awesome. Thanks again for sharing
Something to add a bit more flair to the first two boxes is to paint/stain the backing boards or make them with either acrylic sheets to give pops of color that peeks through the pattern cuts.
I spotted: - Never get involved in a land war in Asia - Everybody will be wearing them in the future - No, there is too much, let me sum up - Get used to disappointment - Then maybe 'inconceivable'
Nice callback TWICE to Vizzini in Princess Bride. You even sound like him! To prevent sticking to a gluing board use High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as the gluing base. I have an old cutting board made with HDPE that I use just for that purpose. I like the progression of your boxes and especially the last two where there are no tabs showing as well as the burnt edges of the cuts. New subscriber for you too. Going to check out some of your other vids in a bit.
HI! Great job! If you wish you can give your wife an extremely nice surprise by creating a copy of the old box, and this time will be brand new whithout any repairs. All the best!
Learnt how to split that solid wood into 2 halves. I always wanted to do that. Learned about resin combination with wood. Excellent video with all the hard work
unfortunately, skill doesn't pay much these days as people have become accustomed to low prices from machines. A few folks do appreciate craftmanship but rarely do you find them at craft shows. I do some craft shows just to keep things going but I love to do as you dd with the last box and show off some skill.......great videa
great video, thank you Alpine Trails helpful hint🙂 - keep your lid on ca glue when using activator spay. those particles linger in the air and actually start to impact the glue in the end of the nozzle which is one of the reasons we find the glue bottles starts to crystalise and seize up before you use it all.
Thanks for sharing your mistakes, it does help because I am embarrassed to admit that I make so many errors and basic ones too. I am trying to reduce it by working slowly
I subscribed because I saw you just started the channel recently and the quality was good. I am mostly interested in the laser content but may watch other videos I find interesting.
Thank you for the subscription. The laser cut gift boxes has been my most popular video by far, so I'm planning some more projects with the laser cutter. If I might ask, what kind of builds with the laser would you be interested in seeing?
Enjoyed your videos and learned a few skills from you. The laser cut box and use of epoxy was real good info and will try out a few myself down the track. I liked your story on your first video and enjoyed every minute. Stick with the video creations and uploads your audience will grow take it from me it is about consistency and patience. Your channel is very nice and professional. Well done! See you on your next vid. Cheers!
Excellent video lots of help and trick in there. I have a couple of questions. What was the router with the screen on it and what is the wood called with the MDF center? I enjoy your sense of humor too.
The router with vision adjustment is called a Shaper Origin (www.shapertools.com/). It's not cheap, but it works as a substitute for a CNC machine in many cases, and those are really not cheap. At a plywood supply shop you just ask for plywood with an MDF core. In this case you would ask for 1/4" Maple with an MDF core.
You could use a big syringe and some small hose (you will find it in pneumatic things) for/to make easier fill the gap. You don't have to fill full the syringe (you just need it to suck the epoxy), just fill the hose. And you might need some hairdryer, or hot air solder to remove the bubble. BTW, with that technique you could also make a customize window or wall ornaments or something like that. And you don't have to use a big laser machine for that.
Ciao ho visto il tuo filmato e trovo che hai realizzato tre belle scatole. Mi piace particolarmente la terza " Legendary ",vorrei realizzarla . Dove posso trovare il Pattern rose? Grazie
Now all we need is somebody to invent a way to get rid of the black cut marks and do 45% cuts where the corners meet. My wife was at a market the other day and there were plenty of very nice designs she said, but all had the same black cut marks and the same way of corner joining. She said the items for sale was more suitable for the "pedestrian buyer on a budget" rather than an exclusive or very well made item suited for her home, whatever all that means, lol!
I completely agree. As I mention in the video, the first box looks like all the crafts you see from laser cutter crafters selling at a market. The second box is an improvement where the box joints are no longer seen and the carbon marks are visible only on the lid and base. The third box I think solves all of the problems you mention and all lasering marks are hidden. I wonder what your wife would think if she saw my final box at a market. I'm actually quite curious what that kind of box would sell for.
That's a great question. You may have noticed I link to an Etsy store, but I don't sell the stuff I build there. I just sell a few of the tool accessories I make for my own shop, hoping it will be of benefit to other woodworkers. Glowforge sells the material for the first box for $22 a sheet right now, and the box took about one full sheet. To make even a small amount of money on it, you'd have to sell it for at least $30 plus shipping, and that's not making a lot given the amount of time it needs on the laser. You could cut the cost in half at least by prepping your own material, but of course that takes time. The second box took almost two full sheets. Using the material I prepped myself, that's roughly $15-$18. Made in bulk, you could probably finish one in an hour. The material for the third is about 3 board feet of 4/4 Maple. That again is about $15-$18. The epoxy and dies add another $10 at least. But here the issue is time. There are a lot of hours in that box and nearly a week in drying times. The time should be worth around $400, I would think. I have no idea if there is a market out there at that price for wooden gift boxes with a stained glass look.
Sure. That is a tape that protects the material from burn marks. I have a link to it in the video description, but I'll also share that link here: amzn.to/3YpV5NI
@@luongvu5131 For the second box I put a clear coat layer on it before taping it, yes. Here I used a water based polyurethane. In this case I used a Satin finish, though you could give it more shine with extra gloss. I also linked that product: amzn.to/4fpJWCz
great video, but i think the first two could also have been spruced up with colored epoxy and with less effort. you have given me an idea to explore, thanks
Thanks for the video and showing different box builds. However, in the future, I would suggest not having music (or making very low) in parts where you are explaining the build.
I have considered that upgrade... but I mean you never have everything. I've got a list. I think my next purchase will be a rolling belt sander, which would let me sand off the epoxy tops a little more evenly.
Why not try this: Cut (erase) all joining edges, only half the thickness on what will be the inside of the box. Then when glued together, you finish up with straight edges. The roses appear to be simple to machine yet they finish up beautifully.
i love all the machines you have and demonstrate for us, but you have a rather soft voice, and that music is just too much. really makes it difficult to concentrate on what you're saying... your boxes are lovely, especially that final solid wood one! thank you for sharing! ❤️
Thanks for the feedback. This is a comment I have heard about this video a few times, and I have since toned down the background music and toned up my mic input, but only on later videos. I'm better at making stuff with wood than making videos, but I have fun sharing.
I had one other similar comment. I suppose I am learning still how to set the audio levels appropriately. It's good to get feedback. Glad you liked the content.
There's no paint on any of these boxes. Technically it's not engraved either. The laser cuts completely through the material. I could take that cut to the edge, or more likely I would take it very close to the edge and then cut the edge off, but then I would have to glue a bottom onto it. It would be an interesting challenge to try and make it a waterfall design, but I do think it stands up well as it is.
thats the big problem these days, when you place your heart and soul, your skills and time to craft a perfect piece, people simply wont pay you what you charge .. this pattern is leading to the loss of creativity and loss of so many skills .. so the question is why would somone place their skills and effort to create such pieces if they wont be able to sell it and make a profit ?
The only use of the Shaper was to cut a rectangle. You can easily do that with a jig and regular router. Quite a few of the tools that I used to make this box were much more expensive than the Shaper Origin. These tools are investments that I use constantly on many projects.
Theres a good chance it was made with a scroll saw. If it took them 3 hours, that would be $6.67-$8.33 an hour. Minimum wage was $5.15 in 2000. Reduce the wages for cost of wood and blades. Not horrible for what was likely a hobby.
Yes, I think so too. I think I said 'by hand' which in retrospect could mean a handsaw. So good catch. Don't forget there is a materials cost too, as well as a cost in time and money to sell out of a booth at a crafts fair. I still think it was something of a labor of love.
Great video and all the Princess Bride quotes. Great to know someone else has the same tendency!
I've never been a big fan of most wood/epoxy projects, especially now that it's so overdone. But I really love the stained glass effect of that last box. I see lots of possibilities for really intricate projects. I'm subscribing right now to see where else this goes!
Hi. I appreciate the note. I understand the feeling. My interests too are varied and I use epoxy more as a tool in the toolbox as apposed to a key feature to design around.
This is my most popular video, and I sometimes feel bad that I may be disappointing people because I haven't made a lot more videos pushing this stain glass design. That said, I have just started a project where I'm going to push myself again on epoxy inlay. It should come out as a video by the end of January.
I watched every minute of this. Super impressive and informative! Thank you!
Very nice work. I've never used colored epoxy but appreciate that you showed the errors that happened and explained what happened. Thank you.
I appreciate the time and patience you put into this
With your joke about never getting involved in a land war, I was really expecting you to say never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line.
Great boxes! love how the epoxy box came out.
Ah, but if you were thinking it, then it was probably best I left it out. Did you notice the four other Princess Bride quotes?
@@AlpineTrailsStudioWait…FOUR other quotes? For a total of five?
Ok fine, this is for you:
“You’re trying to trick me into [watching your video again]. It won’t work.” Ok, it’ll probably work 😂
Nice work.... thanks for some of the tips on making boxes!
Great work, great video! I really appreciate the honest reportage and the admission of setbacks at the beginning, because you don't see that very often these days.
No one screws craftspeople more than other craftspeople undervaluing their time and talents.
What an interesting progression of materials and techniques! Thanks!
Awesome work !
A very informative video. Thank you.
I like what you did with the last box. If I were going to do it having worked with epoxy before. I would only half fill the colored objects and then let them set up. Then once they were set I would come with the second pour of clear epoxy and overfill and finish it as you did. Don’t know if it would be better but I feel it would give you a comparable finish but less labor intense.
I also would look to polish it like you would polish a stone top. There are some cool “sanders” that do that up to 10000 grit that I’m aware of. I’ve polished granite with them and they really make it shine.
Please don’t take anything I said as looking down on what you did, I feel you did an awesome job. Much easier to sit here as a Monday morning quarterback. Just some ideas I was thinking that may have made your job easier?
Nice Job! Thanks!
These are all great suggestions.
WOW! I just got a laser engraver/cutter and you have inspired me greatly! Thank you!
Love this.
Far out.. the effort was exponential. Well worth it, but you are right.. no one will pay the true cost for it. Mass produced mindset these days.
Just be satisfied in yourself.
as an improvement to the last box, or i should rather say to spare some time, you can have the laser cut off the edge where the hinges are installed. that way it is also perfectly aligned to the lid. great video, you're amazing. keep going!
Nice. Thank you for showing the progression of skill.
not showing mistakes isnt perfect everbody does make mistakes. nice video an great work!
Nice work, great instruction's and tips, I'm subscribing to see what you bring to the Tube next :)
Brilliant! Thanks.
I’m so glad I found your channel. The third is my favorite and will be giving it a go. I purchased the accelerator It wasn’t sure how to use it so thank you for saving a potentially ruined project. The template for the feet is awesome. Thanks again for sharing
well done. Greetings from Germany.
Willkommen!
At. first, I thought this was going to be terrible video, but I am glad I watched the whole thing. I can't wait to see more videos with you.
I'm glad you liked it. What was it that made you think this might be a terrible video?
I had flashbacks to bad college professors that to me seemed like they were tiring too hard. it's nothing on you. just bad memories. lol
Something to add a bit more flair to the first two boxes is to paint/stain the backing boards or make them with either acrylic sheets to give pops of color that peeks through the pattern cuts.
Loved your comment about the mask! Really good video.
I have been thinking about epoxy resin. Maybe next year.
Along with your videos, I appreciated the Princess Bride references -
Ha! caught the Princess bride reference at about 9:15 nice boxes and progression!
and again at 20:20!
There are five of them total :)
I spotted:
- Never get involved in a land war in Asia
- Everybody will be wearing them in the future
- No, there is too much, let me sum up
- Get used to disappointment
- Then maybe 'inconceivable'
Very very well done, this video really helped to inspire me.
Nice callback TWICE to Vizzini in Princess Bride. You even sound like him! To prevent sticking to a gluing board use High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as the gluing base. I have an old cutting board made with HDPE that I use just for that purpose. I like the progression of your boxes and especially the last two where there are no tabs showing as well as the burnt edges of the cuts. New subscriber for you too. Going to check out some of your other vids in a bit.
Fortunately death was never on the line.
Good suggestion on the plastic base.
Wow Thank you
I appreciate your work Thanks 👍👍👍
*Thank you very much for such an informative video! Very Nice!*
HI! Great job! If you wish you can give your wife an extremely nice surprise by creating a copy of the old box, and this time will be brand new whithout any repairs. All the best!
Learnt how to split that solid wood into 2 halves. I always wanted to do that. Learned about resin combination with wood. Excellent video with all the hard work
unfortunately, skill doesn't pay much these days as people have become accustomed to low prices from machines. A few folks do appreciate craftmanship but rarely do you find them at craft shows. I do some craft shows just to keep things going but I love to do as you dd with the last box and show off some skill.......great videa
Probably hard to recover cost at a craft fair but at an art show you could easily make a profit. Good job on the video.
great video, thank you Alpine Trails
helpful hint🙂 - keep your lid on ca glue when using activator spay. those particles linger in the air and actually start to impact the glue in the end of the nozzle which is one of the reasons we find the glue bottles starts to crystalise and seize up before you use it all.
loved it good job
nice video, great instructions. Just a note you can remove the laser residue with clear vinegar and it looks more professional.
Stupid question: Where did the rose pattern on the third box come from? I've been googling for hours trying to find something like that!!!
Thank you this video is very nice!
Thanks for sharing your mistakes, it does help because I am embarrassed to admit that I make so many errors and basic ones too. I am trying to reduce it by working slowly
I think the mistakes may be the most helpful part of these videos, and believe me every time I make them there is a temptation not to add them.
@@AlpineTrailsStudio No the best bits are your design and processes. I am inspired to try to make my own similar designs.
Brilliant.
Great video
I subscribed because I saw you just started the channel recently and the quality was good. I am mostly interested in the laser content but may watch other videos I find interesting.
Thank you for the subscription. The laser cut gift boxes has been my most popular video by far, so I'm planning some more projects with the laser cutter.
If I might ask, what kind of builds with the laser would you be interested in seeing?
great job
U r an inspiration ❤
Enjoyed your videos and learned a few skills from you. The laser cut box and use of epoxy was real good info and will try out a few myself down the track. I liked your story on your first video and enjoyed every minute. Stick with the video creations and uploads your audience will grow take it from me it is about consistency and patience. Your channel is very nice and professional. Well done! See you on your next vid. Cheers!
Excellent video lots of help and trick in there. I have a couple of questions. What was the router with the screen on it and what is the wood called with the MDF center?
I enjoy your sense of humor too.
The router with vision adjustment is called a Shaper Origin (www.shapertools.com/). It's not cheap, but it works as a substitute for a CNC machine in many cases, and those are really not cheap.
At a plywood supply shop you just ask for plywood with an MDF core. In this case you would ask for 1/4" Maple with an MDF core.
Great, shall we cooperation for fiber laser engraver?
You could use a big syringe and some small hose (you will find it in pneumatic things) for/to make easier fill the gap. You don't have to fill full the syringe (you just need it to suck the epoxy), just fill the hose. And you might need some hairdryer, or hot air solder to remove the bubble.
BTW, with that technique you could also make a customize window or wall ornaments or something like that. And you don't have to use a big laser machine for that.
Thanks for the comment. I've actually been thinking about trying several of these things you mention. Hopefully they show up in some future videos.
Ciao ho visto il tuo filmato e trovo che hai realizzato tre belle scatole. Mi piace particolarmente la terza " Legendary ",vorrei realizzarla . Dove posso trovare il Pattern rose? Grazie
Sure. I got the patterns for these boxes here: www.etsy.com/listing/1371965606/decorative-wooden-box-bundle-laser-cut
Now all we need is somebody to invent a way to get rid of the black cut marks and do 45% cuts where the corners meet. My wife was at a market the other day and there were plenty of very nice designs she said, but all had the same black cut marks and the same way of corner joining. She said the items for sale was more suitable for the "pedestrian buyer on a budget" rather than an exclusive or very well made item suited for her home, whatever all that means, lol!
I completely agree. As I mention in the video, the first box looks like all the crafts you see from laser cutter crafters selling at a market. The second box is an improvement where the box joints are no longer seen and the carbon marks are visible only on the lid and base. The third box I think solves all of the problems you mention and all lasering marks are hidden.
I wonder what your wife would think if she saw my final box at a market. I'm actually quite curious what that kind of box would sell for.
Try covering your the backing board with parchment paper. It won't stick to epoxy. You can use a chef's torch to eliminate bubbles in your pour.
I think if you look closely you will see a chef's torch on the table beside the epoxy work in some of the shots. It definitely came in handy.
What price would you put on each one of the boxes?
That's a great question. You may have noticed I link to an Etsy store, but I don't sell the stuff I build there. I just sell a few of the tool accessories I make for my own shop, hoping it will be of benefit to other woodworkers.
Glowforge sells the material for the first box for $22 a sheet right now, and the box took about one full sheet. To make even a small amount of money on it, you'd have to sell it for at least $30 plus shipping, and that's not making a lot given the amount of time it needs on the laser. You could cut the cost in half at least by prepping your own material, but of course that takes time.
The second box took almost two full sheets. Using the material I prepped myself, that's roughly $15-$18. Made in bulk, you could probably finish one in an hour.
The material for the third is about 3 board feet of 4/4 Maple. That again is about $15-$18. The epoxy and dies add another $10 at least. But here the issue is time. There are a lot of hours in that box and nearly a week in drying times. The time should be worth around $400, I would think. I have no idea if there is a market out there at that price for wooden gift boxes with a stained glass look.
Can you tell me what is glued to the wood in 8:45 ?
Sure. That is a tape that protects the material from burn marks. I have a link to it in the video description, but I'll also share that link here: amzn.to/3YpV5NI
@@AlpineTrailsStudio I see you have a layer of paint or glue on it, what is it?
@@luongvu5131 For the second box I put a clear coat layer on it before taping it, yes. Here I used a water based polyurethane. In this case I used a Satin finish, though you could give it more shine with extra gloss. I also linked that product: amzn.to/4fpJWCz
Great video, visually informative...too bad I couldn't hear it clearly due to the not-so-background sounds!
Disposable syringes for the epoxy maybe? Try 50ml or 100ml
My brother suggested the same thing. I'll likely give that a try next time.
great video, but i think the first two could also have been spruced up with colored epoxy and with less effort. you have given me an idea to explore, thanks
Do you have a link for the giant roll of "masking tape"?
Sure: www.amazon.com/Transfer-Layflat-Adhesive-American-Made-Application/dp/B085635HFN
@@AlpineTrailsStudio Thanks!
If you already the epoxy with alcohol before you pour and in-between layers you won't have air bubbles.
I'm not sure what you mean by 'already' but I'll look into alcohol and prepping epoxy.
Thanks for the video and showing different box builds. However, in the future, I would suggest not having music (or making very low) in parts where you are explaining the build.
Thanks. making videos is all new to me. I like having a little background music, but I can experiment more with the volume.
And I thought I was the only one making mistakes!
Could you please bring me the design?
I have a laser printer and I need designs. Please reply to me.
The designs I used here were ones I purchased on Etsy, so I don't think it would be right to give them to you. Look in my video description.
Amazing equipment btw…. You have everything :😂 so just buy a xtool p2 and relax on using the camera 🎉
I have considered that upgrade... but I mean you never have everything. I've got a list. I think my next purchase will be a rolling belt sander, which would let me sand off the epoxy tops a little more evenly.
I came for the laser stuff I stayed for The Princess Bride Easter eggs
Did you find them all?
Why not try this: Cut (erase) all joining edges, only half the thickness on what will be the inside of the box. Then when glued together, you finish up with straight edges. The roses appear to be simple to machine yet they finish up beautifully.
Set your prices that the item is worth. Then take the time for the one who sees the value buy it.
i love all the machines you have and demonstrate for us, but you have a rather soft voice, and that music is just too much. really makes it difficult to concentrate on what you're saying...
your boxes are lovely, especially that final solid wood one! thank you for sharing! ❤️
Thanks for the feedback. This is a comment I have heard about this video a few times, and I have since toned down the background music and toned up my mic input, but only on later videos.
I'm better at making stuff with wood than making videos, but I have fun sharing.
Side quest: How many Princess Bride quotes did I sneak into the video?
I counted four :D
lol
I dunno cause the audio is horrible. Can't hear over your music. Excellent video otherwise
I had one other similar comment. I suppose I am learning still how to set the audio levels appropriately. It's good to get feedback. Glad you liked the content.
@@AlpineTrailsStudio just ease back on the music volume
Epoxy Resin is poisonous and you should wear glow and masks.
Search for Safety when working with Resin.
Please be careful.
Nice boxes by the way.
Oh, just a bit more:
The last box (the painted one) would be very special if the top piece was complete engraving with no wood edge.
There's no paint on any of these boxes.
Technically it's not engraved either. The laser cuts completely through the material. I could take that cut to the edge, or more likely I would take it very close to the edge and then cut the edge off, but then I would have to glue a bottom onto it. It would be an interesting challenge to try and make it a waterfall design, but I do think it stands up well as it is.
thats the big problem these days, when you place your heart and soul, your skills and time to craft a perfect piece, people simply wont pay you what you charge .. this pattern is leading to the loss of creativity and loss of so many skills ..
so the question is why would somone place their skills and effort to create such pieces if they wont be able to sell it and make a profit ?
Talk about that pure handcrafted is too much for that box.
But then use a Shaper Origin CNC
Who can afford this??
The only use of the Shaper was to cut a rectangle. You can easily do that with a jig and regular router.
Quite a few of the tools that I used to make this box were much more expensive than the Shaper Origin. These tools are investments that I use constantly on many projects.
Theres a good chance it was made with a scroll saw. If it took them 3 hours, that would be $6.67-$8.33 an hour. Minimum wage was $5.15 in 2000. Reduce the wages for cost of wood and blades. Not horrible for what was likely a hobby.
Yes, I think so too. I think I said 'by hand' which in retrospect could mean a handsaw. So good catch.
Don't forget there is a materials cost too, as well as a cost in time and money to sell out of a booth at a crafts fair. I still think it was something of a labor of love.
Can you design it?@@AlpineTrailsStudio
@@alward-b3d I'm not sure what you mean. Can I design what?
Seriously, people are still buying Glowforge’s? Buy a big boy laser.