How long did it take to make the tables for the new Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe?
I would work on the diner cart in the day time and work on the tables at night. It took about 3 months, February to April [2011]. The diner cart is made from an airstream supposed to have old, retro feel.
How many tables did you make?
26 tables at the new Rudy’s
How many people were involved?
I helped build the original Rudy’s, 8 years ago. Steve Mills is my boss and a part owner of the original so he helped build the tables.
Investors, the owners and their families were also involved in coming up with the themes of the tables. We had a table making party with 15 or 20 people there. They were the initial people that came up with ideas and started making stuff, but we only a few hours so we didn’t get too far. Everyone brought things they’d been collecting: money, bottle caps, toys.
Some got further along than others. If there were specific things or spots they wanted I had them put post-its down.
The [table] with the cars the guy just threw out a bunch of toy cars and i wanted to make a better background. I said it would be cool if you put dirt in the background and it turned out like a demolition derby.
Demolition derby
Rough sketch with everybody, me and steve and jefferey worked on the rest. Jefferey’s original shop used to be next to our shop. I’ve known him forever and got me on warped tour in ’98 for the first time. [Jagger has been on warped tour for 13 years now and is in charge of building stages]
Can you describe the table making process?
Well I can tell you some if it, but I can’t tell you my secrets.
First we made the metal frames and welded them up, about an inch and a half deep. Then we put a backing in them to support it. Then I used a two part epoxy resin mix to pour in. You have to be careful about air bubbles and let it set over night before puring next layer. A lot of what you put inside of it can react with the epoxy, anything with moisture you have to put a sealer on before, like lacquer, or decoupage for paper products. I let the resin flow over the edges then come back and cut and buff on the edges to make it nice and smooth.
The thick resin dries in stalagtites
Most take about 6 layers of resing, at minimum you’re talking 6 days of pouring it. I could do about 8 of them at a time before i got too crazy. Once the epoxy eventually kicks you can’t change it. It also gets really hot, I had problems with crayons melting in one of the tables.
Retro Madness 
