The Beginning

Jeff Bergstrom has been working with his hands for over 50 years. It started in shop class — where he discovered both woodworking and epoxy resin at roughly the same time. Most kids moved on. Jeff never did. He spent the decades that followed learning the craft of woodworking from the inside out, developing the kind of skill that only comes from doing something over and over until it stops being practice and starts being instinct.

The Evolution of the Work

About ten years ago, Jeff founded Steel & Fir in Olympia, WA — a full-service fabrication shop where he builds wood furniture, metal signs, and more for the local community. It's the kind of place where serious craftsmanship meets everyday life.

Then, a few years ago, epoxy came back into the picture — but in a completely different form. Modern epoxy resin had evolved into something Jeff had never seen before, and combining it with exotic and locally sourced hardwoods opened up a world of possibilities he couldn't ignore. The real question became what to put inside it — golf tees, bowling balls, pine cones, buttons, dice — sealed into the resin, cured, and then put on the lathe to see what the wood and epoxy would reveal together.

He couldn't stop. And the people who saw the work couldn't look away. A golfer recognized the tees. A seamstress saw her buttons. An outdoorsman spotted the pine cones. Jeff didn't set out to preserve the things people love — but that's exactly what he ended up doing.

Each vessel takes roughly a week from start to finish — about six hours of hands-on lathe time plus the patience of waiting for epoxy to properly cure. Jeff does everything himself, and it shows. He's quick to point out that his recent work is his best work, and that focused dedication to his craft is visible in every piece.

Exotic Wood & Epoxy

Steel & Fir is still Jeff's primary business — his local woodworking and fabrication shop, rooted in the community. But the wood and epoxy pieces were something different. They deserved their own home.

Exotic Wood & Epoxy was created specifically for that — a dedicated space for the art pieces Jeff makes from hardwood, epoxy, and whatever unexpected objects find their way into the mold. No distractions. No competing categories. Just the work, and the stories embedded inside it.

Every piece is as unique as the person who owns it. Whether you love the outdoors, live for a sport, are drawn to a particular aesthetic, or inspired by a place that means everything to you — Jeff translates those things into handcrafted pieces you'll be proud to display in your home. From decorative bowls and vessels to custom commissions, every item is made with intention and built to last.

No two pieces are ever exactly alike. Because no two people are.

Find Jeff

Jeff takes custom orders and can be found at exoticwoodepoxy.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram at @exoticwoodepoxy. 

Check out Steel & Fir at steelandfir.com for custom furniture, metal signs and gates, welding, and powder finishing.