The 7 Deadly Sins of Wood & Resin Working (And Yes, We’ve Sinned)
Every woodworker has a past. Ours just happens to be littered with tragic resin spills, rogue power tools, and a deep misunderstanding of how much sawdust one project can generate (spoiler: it's infinite). In the spirit of learning from our many, many mistakes, we present to you the 7 Deadly Sins of Woodworking—as committed, regretted, and now mostly avoided by C&S Projects.
1. Pride – “I totally measured that right.”
Ah yes, the confidence of the first cut—swift, assured, completely wrong. There’s nothing quite like standing there, victorious, with your perfectly cut piece of wood and resin… only to realize it's 5mm too short. Pride comes before the fall, and in my case, before the awkward exhale, and having to start again because it was a custom piece.
(Lesson learned: Measure twice, cut once. And if in doubt, measure again.)
2. Envy – “Why does their resin pour look better than mine?!”
We’ve all done it—watched some smug resin artist on Instagram pour a perfectly even, bubble-free river table while we sit there, covered in sticky epoxy, battling microbubbles like our lives depend on it.
(Lesson learned: Resin is a fickle beast. Good prep, patience, and accepting that sometimes it just does what it wants are key. Not that Cassie will hear any of it because anything less than perfection IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!)
3. Wrath – “WHY WON’T THIS SAND DOWN?!”
Ever sanded a resin table for so long that you start questioning every life choice that led you to this moment? I have. There comes a point in every wood/resin worker’s journey where they stare down at a stubborn, unyielding piece of wood and resin, grit their teeth, and personally declare war on it.
(Lesson learned: Use the right grits, don’t rush, and invest in good sanders and sandpaper. Oh, and deep breaths. Lots and lots of deep breaths.)
4. Sloth – “Eh, I’ll clean the workshop later.”
A clean workshop is a happy workshop. Ours… has not always been a happy workshop. There have been days where we’ve waded through offcuts, dodged rogue clamps, and found tools in places they definitely should not be.
(Lesson learned: Tidy as you go. Or, at the very least, try not to create an obstacle course worthy of an Olympic event.)
5. Greed – “I can TOTALLY carry this giant slab by myself.”
There’s a special kind of arrogance that comes with thinking you can single-handedly move a 100kg slab of oak. We've both been there—one of us determined to ‘just shift it a little’ without help, the other already predicting the disaster about to unfold. Spoiler: it always ends in regrets, back pain, and often a loud thud.
(Lesson learned: Two people, always. Or at least an elaborate system of pulleys and desperate prayers.)
6. Gluttony – “Let’s just add one more coat of resin…”
Oh, the temptation. That glossy, glass-like resin finish is just so satisfying—until you’ve poured so many extra coats that you’ve got a table thicker than a medieval banquet hall door. We’ve been known to get a little… overzealous.
(Lesson learned: Know when to stop. More isn’t always better, unless we’re talking tea, coffee or snacks. Then, more is obviously better.)
7. Lust – “Ooooh, new tools!”
We might have a small addiction to tool shopping. Okay, large. There is nothing quite as exciting as discovering a new sander, router, or very specific clamp that we suddenly cannot live without. Does it matter if we don’t technically need it? Nope.
(Lesson learned: Self-restraint is hard. But sometimes you actually do need that new tool. At least that’s what we tell ourselves.)
What We’ve Learned (And Why You Can Trust Us Anyway!)
Yes, we’ve committed these sins. Multiple times. But here’s the thing—we’ve learned from them. Our workshop now runs like a well-oiled (if slightly chaotic) machine, and we take every mistake as a lesson. After all, we don’t just make furniture for fun—we make it for you, and we want every single piece to be something we’re proud of.
So, while we still occasionally talk to the resin (and maybe have a few too many clamps), rest assured—we’ve got this. And if you ever find yourself deep in the woodworking trenches, just remember: measure twice, sand patiently, and NEVER assume resin is dry just because it “looks” dry. Trust us on that last one!
Happy woodworking, and may your day go as smooth as one of our highly polished table tops!