Author: thewoodwhisperer

It’s show #530 On today’s show, we’re talking about tool reviews, options for resawing a wide slab, smoking with project scraps and straight edges.

Sponsored by You

If you want to help support the show, you can do so by going to Patreon.com/woodtalk and signing up to become a patron of the show. Thank you Patrons.

If you’re looking to build out your shop or change the layout, check out Rockler’s Building Your Shop guide. You’ll find workshop design and layout tips, free plans for workbenches, dust collection guidance, tool and lumber storage ideas and more.

What’s On the Dining Table

The guys discuss the world of tool reviews and how we personally view them both in performing them and when looking to buy a tool.

Emails and Voicemails

• Dan needs to resaw a 12/4 piece of Walnut that is 24″ wide and needs options on how to pull it off.
• Brad asks is he can use scraps of Cherry from a project for smoking meats.
• David is frustrated with steel straight edges and what material would be best to make his own.

Ask Us a Question

Send in questions via the contact form here on site or hit us up on IG at woodtalkshow or send us a voicemail using your phone voice memo app to woodtalkshow@gmail.com

Finally you can find us individually on Instagram at mattcremona, woodwhisperer, and renaissancewoodworker

We now have Wood Talk T-Shirts!  We’re have a pre-order that ends today (October 31st) and I apologize for the very late notice on this. But if you don’t get your pre-order in, that’s ok. We will be stocking these shirts in the future. So head on over to the TWW Store and get that order in if you want a t-shirt in time for Christmas.

What’s On the Bench

• Marc is cruising through projects thanks to Jason’s help. He has a new pocket knife fetish. Ashley is in his garage.
• Shannon is playing with epoxy pore filling.
• Matt is working on a new trailer and some spice box business. 

What’s New

• Klassen’s new thing

Lumber Industry Update

Why are slabs so pricey?!

Voicemails

• Andrew – Dovetails – How long did it take us to get good?
• Chris – Prefinishing – Does it weaken joints. Should you or shouldn’t you.

 

On today’s show, we’re talking about variable suction on a dust collector, having helpers in the shop, how to use turning tools, dealing with a twisted board, and wood allergies,

What’s On the Bench

• Marc had hand surgery. Currently working on a bread box. Had a lumber shed built.
• Shannon got a real vacuum pump, marquetry fun, bought a chainsaw, millwork adventures
• Matt – made a guitar, finished the handtool cabinet

What’s New

• AWFS July 17-20  – Come see Matt at the Triton booth and Marc at the Titebond booth.

Kickback

• Guy with the unpronounceable screen name says “Shannon, please make a project only using routers. Matt, please make a project using only MDF. Marc, Everything you’re doing is perfect. Thank you all for respecting your audience”

Lumber Industry Update

Tune in to the Lumber Update podcast every other week at www.lumberupdate.com

• Will lumber prices fall for consumers when tariffs cause stock overages.

Emails

• Alec asks why it is suggested to lower the suction on a sander when using it
• Mitch asks Marc what it is like to have a helper in the shop now
• Matt just got a lathe and tools and wonders about getting started with woodturning
• Swedish Nuts has a Black Acacia log and wants to use it for a workbench
• Selena asks about wood dust and resin allergies
• David has some Maple with really bad twist and wonders how best to deal with it
• Joshua wonders whether it is best to be a generalist or a specialist in our craft

 

On today’s show we’re talking about why we’re talking at all! We quit, didn’t we?!

What’s On the Bench

• Matt has a new baby, built another sawmill and is making a hand tool cabinet.
• Shannon has too many projects going on at the same time and is confused.
• Marc went to Jory Brigham’s shop and has a new employee.

What’s New

• Marc’s Friday Live show is available as a podcast. 
• Matt guested on Maker Minded podcast.
• Shannon has a new Lumber Update show.
• We’ll all be at AWFS in Vegas.

Kickback

• Thanks for all of the great feedback on us quitting.

Lumber Industry Update

• Talk of the extreme cold killing off the Emerald Ash Borer may be overstated.

Stuff We Hate

• “The Internet” changes its mind about what tools and techniques are acceptable.

Emails

• Jordan wants some tips on a shop move.
• Lots of people asked for advice on planes to buy for a power tool woodworker.
• Kevin wants to know if he should sticker when he stacks aged lumber.
• Robert needs some advice on his large bridle joints.
• Corky wants to attach face frames with no nails.
• Dale is getting some weird results with his cheap moisture meter.

 

On today’s show we’ve got a ton of topics as we play catchup. And we have a very special guest……..

…welcome to the show, The Podfather himself, Matt Vanderlist!!

What’s On the Bench

• Marc is doing refinishing projects for his family
• Shannon is failing with Marquetry and working with Chestnut for the first time
• Matt C built a bandsaw mill in a week
• Matt V is due for his annual video and built a bed bench

What’s New

Jacob found a craftsman who will make you want to quit woodworking.

Shannon will be attending the Brown Tool Show and Auction at the end of March (29 & 30) in York, PA. Come on out and say hi.

Kickback

• Greg bought a top for his bench from a local cabinet shop as his rite of passage project
• Ted was shocked at how much movement he saw in his composite decking boards

Lumber Industry Update

Talk of the extreme cold killing off the Emerald Ash Borer may be overstated.

Emails

• Mike wants to know what kind of Festool sandpaper we use
• Shannon asks about wood movement in large case sides and why no breadboard-ish solution is used
• Eric is building a buffet from Wenge and is looking for structural advice
• Eddie asks Matt which epoxy to use for certain situations
• Dan wonders how much one should invest when getting started with hand planes
• No name wonders if sawing to the line should be done or leaving a bit of room to chisel to is better
• Matthew asks about the best way to flatten a large end grain log cookie
• Barry is getting bushing schmutz while turning with a mandrel and wants to avoid transferring it to his lighter wood projects
• Maron needs help deciphering all the sciency wood finishing jargon

Final Thoughts…Literally

Thanks for everything folks. Its been an amazing 10 years and we could NOT have done it without all of you. Seriously the listener interaction, the inside jokes, and the desire to keep doing the show all came from you, the listeners. Thank you!

On today’s show we’re talking about: Outdoor finish options, what’s the deal with the DelVe Square?, Plywood safety, applying Enduro-Var, making gifts for other woodworkers, expired finishes, soundproofing the shop.

What’s New

Chris shared a story about making alcohol from wood

Kickback

• Brian needs an outdoor finish recommendation for white oak
• Craig pointed out another instance of power loss from a helical head cutter
• Josh wonders if the DelVe square is all its cracked up to be.
• Andy rambled on for a bit about a bunch of stuff

Email

• • Elyssa is worried about the safety of plywood with respect to the formaldehyde content.
  • Justin is not having much luck with General Finished EnduroVar
  • Stephen wants to give a gift he made himself
  • Andy asks if veneering onto a drawer front is cheating to make half blind dovetails
  • Matt is curious if we have sound proofed our shops at all

How You Can Support Us

Help us out over at Patreon and kick it up a notch by wearing a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

Marc’s sarcastic take on the 6 pieces of woodworking wisdom that are BS.

• If it looks square, it is square.
• Measure twice, cut once.
• A poor craftsman blames his tools.
• Buy once, cry once.
• The mark of a true craftsman is how well he hides his mistakes.
• You will never work a day in your life if you love your work.

On the Weekend Show, Bob from I Like to Make Stuff joins us for a discussion about parenting and making stuff.

 

On today’s show we’re talking about SketchUp for sissies, moving a shop, blending 3d printing and fine woodworking, and do Matt and Marc feel inferior because the don’t mess with electronics like Bob Clagett?

We are joined today by a guest host, Bob from I Like to Make Stuff!

What’s On the Bench

• Bob is making a bathrooom light, an auto creeper, and getting ready for a move.
• Marc is batching out chair parts with the MultiRouter.
• Matt is making a swing thing.

What’s New

• James King made an awesome Extreme Bench Vise:

Kickback

• Matt has some goofy intros for us.
• Thor has thoughts on carrying stuff on his person around the shop.

Voicemail

• Tim wants to know if Bob plans to do another arduino blast gate system in his new shop.
• Daniel needs some advice on sanding and refinishing.

Email

• Ashley – “Ok one other question idea. Is Sketchup for sissies? That’s the impression I got recently when taking a class on CNC for Fine Furniture-making. Instructor said don’t waste your time learning Sketchup as it’s too hard to make usable 3D models for CNC (or I’d imagine 3D prints). What’s your experience been? I’m tackling the RhinoCAD learning curve now, what would you recommend to listeners?”
• Saint Nicster – “Listen to both making it and Woodtalk, I would like to facilitate a dialog about moving since we all like unsolicited advice ;D Bob, any questions or things you would like to publicly bounce off Marc? Marc, any advice or small things forgotten about to publicly pass along to Bob? Selling off tools in current location vs moving them to new location. At the very least, maybe a floor mat vs carpet square in the shop discussion to include David Picciuto :D”
• Nick – “For Bob – do you envision any projects where you combine 3-D Printing and “Fine” woodworking? Maybe a Queen Anne table with Light Sabers for legs? Or perhaps 3-D print an entire bandsaw mill?”
• Chris – “On a 3-person podium (bronze, silver, gold) of “Bobs who are synonymous with making things”, where does he rank himself as compared to “Bob the Builder”, and Bob Vila? Sorry – I don’t give softball questions :-)”
• Page – “Here’s a question for the group. Bob’s something of a mixed-media guru. Matt and Marc, are there any projects you’ve envisioned, but held off on because you lacked a certain skill/capability or it didn’t fit your audience? For Bob, you often like to take on projects that are beyond your skill level, or brand new to you. Are there any fine-woodworking projects you’ve considered but avoided due to difficulty?”

How You Can Support Us

Help us out over at Patreon and kick it up a notch by wearing a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

How we prepare for Winter.

What power would you steal from one of your co-hosts?

What honey-do items are on our list.

An emailer is on blood thinners and wants our thoughts on unexpected ways we might receive cuts.

Our worst project blunders.

Today’s show is sponsored by our donors: Zachariah Sinnamon, Anonymous donor (you know who you are), and Jason Rausch.

We’re talking about knowing when your planer and jointer blades are dull and torsion box assembly tables in small spaces.

What’s On the Bench

• Marc is amazed at how expensive Grandfather Clock parts are and also took the new Powermatic Tenon Jig for a spin.
• Matt is working on his bandsaw mill.

What’s New

• Check out the New Yankee Workshop special pricing! 
• Sweet log-rolling moves!

Kickback

• Vic wrote in to talk about the dehumidification virtues of ductless mini splits. Hayden also called in to confirm Marc’s advice last week.
• Roger has some suggestions for a cheaper alternative to Bloxygen.

Email

• Rich wants some tips for determining when his planer and jointer blades are ready for sharpening.
• Michael wants to put a torsion box assembly table in his shop but he doesn’t have enough room to keep it set up all the time.

How You Can Support Us

Use the links in the left column and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

Today’s show is sponsored by Harry’s where you get low cost, high quality razors. Woodtalk listeners can use coupon code ‘WOODTALK’ for 10% off your first order at Harrys.com

And special thanks to Peter Brown, Jim Gavacs, Brian Prusa for their contributions!

On today’s show we’re talking about boiled linseed oil explosions, ripping chains, and our featured topic: woodworker guilt!

What’s On the Bench

• Marc is focused on installing a large exhaust fan and venting his dust collection outside.
• Matt is still working on trimming out baseboard and casing, slabbing, and introducing his wife to spoon carving.

What’s New

• Don’t miss Get Woodworking Week!

Kickback

• Brian has a plugin suggestion for Shannon’s website issues.
• Kevin tells us about how he uses lower speeds on his sanders.
• Both Stein and Aaron have important thoughts on bringing kids into the shop.

Featured Topics

• Jason Burr is wondering why he has woodworker’s guilt.

Voicemail

• Luke wants to know if he should modify his saw to accommodate a wobble dado.

Email

• Matt – In a recent episode you answered a question about applying finishes in an apartment workshop. You mentioned safe finishes, including Linseed Oil. Paul Sellers, in his video on restoring wood planes, states that BLO has very real risk of spontaneous combustion – not safe! What are your thoughts?
• James – Thanks to the “new” Matt I am interested in chainsaw milling! And being the good woodworker I am, I want to over analyze every aspect of it. So tell me, what is the difference between a crosscut and ripping chain? Thanks guys, keep up the great show! PS – Don’t worry Matt. I won’t tell my wife you are the reason I want to spend more money!

How You Can Support Us

Use the links in the left column and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

Today’s show is sponsored by Brusso Hardware, Harrys.com (coupon code WOODTALK), and FanDuel.com (coupon code WOOD) On today’s show we’re talking about making curved sides on a small box, attaching paper-backed veneer to a van interior, and finishing half blind dovetails.

What’s on the Bench?

• Marc has the sniffles
• Matt has a new job and he’s hitting the road
• Shannon is slacking off with his interior joinery for his Blanket chest

What’s New?

• Caleb James posted a cool video about making elliptical profiles with a round moulding plane
• Here is a video where lumbersexual men get schooled by a woman with a chainsaw
• Woodworking in America is this weekend, September 25-27th in Kansas City
• The Modern Woodworker’s Association is doing a meet up at Spectator’s Bistro at 8 PM on Thursday prior to Woodworking in America, show up and start the conference with a hangover.

Poll of the Week

The Effect of Kids on Your Woodworking

Kickback

Email

• Grant is looking for a good solution for making concave box sides. Marc suggests the table saw and this video.
• Stanley is thinking about veneering his van for a lava lamp, rockin’, love machine
• Martin wants to know how to preserve the light color of his half blind dovetails while staining the drawer front

How You Can Support Us

Use the links in the left column and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

Today I’m answering your questions concerning finishing goof-ups.

• Nick noticed some haziness in his lacquer finish and wants to know how to fix it.
• Rob accidentally mixed water-based and oil-based material and now has a sticky mess. He wants to know what he should do now.
• Sheldon is trying to rub out Arm R Seal and is having trouble.
• Derek and Nathan are having issues with their poly drying prematurely.

How Can You Support Us?

Use the links on the left and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

We are breaking from our usual format while we’re on vacation but don’t worry, we’ll be back on Sept. 14th! Today, Shannon is telling us why he’s attracted to hand tools.

How Can You Support Us?

Use the links on the left and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

We are breaking from our usual format while we’re on vacation but don’t worry, we’ll be back on Sept. 14th! Today, Marc is answer a bunch of finishing questions from the scrap pile.

• Christopher recently finished a side table that lives next to his baby’s co-sleeper and the smell is causing a problem. He wants to know what he can do to get rid of the smell and how he can prevent this in the future.
• Jon is repainting a sitting bench and the original finish was paint topped with Johnson’s paste wax. He wants to know if he should remove the wax before repainting and which wax finishes we would use.
• Thom is looking for a better finish for his wooden mug.
• Walter wants to know if water-based finishes are appropriate for a kitchen or bathroom. He’s concerned the finish will dissolve.
• Wesley is considering using shellac under his poly and wants some opinions.

How Can You Support Us?

Use the links on the left and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

We are breaking from our usual format while we’re on vacation but don’t worry, we’ll be back on Sept. 14th!

Shawn submitted a question asking about the pros and cons of a basement workshop versus keeping it in the garage or elsewhere. Is having an area equivalent to 4x’s the existing garage space make it to irresistible to pass? Or are there too many hidden dangers or concerns that a woodworker is overlooking?

Matt suggests checking out two links in the episode. His own episode “Minimize the dust” from 2009 and an article on shop lighting from Marc.

How Can You Support Us?

Use the links on the left and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

On today’s Wood Talk “Weekend Edition” we’re talking about our potentially scandalous woodworking confessions!

How about you?

Do you have anything you might be hesitant to admit to your woodworking buddies? Leave a comment below and we’ll only share your confession with a few thousand of our best friends!

How Can You Support Us?

Use the links on the left and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

Today’s show is sponsored by SawStop, after more than a decade, SawStop’s combination of safety and precision has made them the number one cabinet saw in North America. Use the interactive tools at SawStop.com to build and price your ideal SawStop, then find a dealer online or near you. Protect yourself today. That’s SAWSTOP!

On today’s show we’re talking about charging relatives for your work and dealing with too-narrow dados.

What’s on the Bench?

• Marc is applying oil to the rocker. He’s also going to be doing a Q&A session with the AZ Fine Woodworkers Association in Mesa, AZ on Wed. June 17th.
• Matt is assembling the X-Carve.

What’s New?

• Jeff Miller’s Toccata chair

Poll of the Week

• Did dad influence your woodworking?

Kickback

• Shawn had some thoughts on traditional turning tools.

Voicemail

• Josh wants to know what to build with his spalted maple.

Email

• Eric wants to know how much he should charge a family member for his woodworking/refinishing.
• Rich has some dados that are 1/16″ too small and is looking for some suggestions.

How You Can Support Us

Use the links in the left column and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

On today’s Wood Talk “Weekend Edition” we’re talking about aftermarket upgrades for our tools.

This topic was inspired by a question from Peter.

How about you?

What aftermarket upgrades have you done that made your tools better? Perhaps they made things worse! Tell us about it in the comments below.

How Can You Support Us?

Use the links on the left and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

On today’s Wood Talk “Weekend Edition” we’re talking about how much techniques, materials, and tools impact our choices in projects.

How about you?

Do you usually let these things impact your project choices? Or do you simply pick a project and go for it, figuring things out as you go?

How Can You Support Us?

Use the links on the left and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

On today’s Wood Talk “Weekend Edition”, we are talking about how to get back in the shop after an injury.

Email

We received an email from Eric that said:

I was wondering if you all have had a scare in the shop that had you questioning if you really know what you are doing or not. I have felt this way on a few occasions, mostly after bowls exploding at the lathe and its difficult to get back in there for a bit but after a while calms down. I have been turning a while, nearly all self taught aside from a pen class that was my entry into this rabbit hole. Then the other day I get a nasty catch and the spinning hunk of wood just likes to suck in your hand like a vacuum. Barely a scrape on my hand but I question whether I should continue. Do you guys have any of these experiences or suggestions for shaking it off?

How Can You Support Us?

Use the links on the left and sign up for a recurring donation, kick it up a notch and wear a Wood Talk T-Shirt, or leave us an iTunes Review

On today’s show, we’re chatting with Brandon Gore, a talented furniture-maker who works primarily with concrete and who serves as a judge on the new Spike TV show Framework. The show is only four episodes in and Brandon already has a reputation for being stern, direct, and unapologetic. We’ll talk about his role on the show and get some inside information about how the show works why the drama is a necessary component.

We’ll also discuss Brandon’s concrete work and his thoughts on furniture and design as he passes on some good advice to new designers.

You can learn more about Brandon’s work at Gore Design Co. In the interview we discuss the Flow Table specifically and you can see an example of that to the left. And here’s a link to the book Brandon mentioned: Human Design & Interior Space.

 

 

Catch up with the latest on Framework here and if you have cable, be sure to tune in on Tuesday nights at 10pm Eastern/ 9pm Central.

Special thanks to our show sponsors:
– Brusso Hardware: Get 10% OFF your next purchase using code WOODTALK at checkout!

Get your Wood Talk T-Shirt today!

On today’s show, we’re talking about project creep and how projects can get out of control.

Email

– Fiddler wrote in asking if our projects ever suffer from “project creep,” a situation where you keep adding nicer materials and more difficult techniques just because you can. We all share our perspectives with you in this bonus show.

 

 

Special thanks to our show sponsors:
– Brusso Hardware: Get 10% OFF your next purchase using code WOODTALK at checkout!

Get your Wood Talk T-Shirt today!

On today’s show, we’re talking about tips for working with reclaimed lumber, buying workbench lumber, and are dovetail saddle markers lazy woodworking?

What’s on the Bench?

Marc: Repurposing an old bench as a shower bench.

Matt: Revisitng old projects while visiting family

Shannon: Working on shop odds and ends.

What’s New

– Reclamation of timber in Australia.

Kickback

– Miles has some tips on anyone looking to make plugs for their ears.

– Will has an update and more information about his desire to make his on stretched-ears plugs.

Email

– Derek has a question about maintaining the look of reclaimed lumber. Thomas Porter of Porterbarnwood.com has some tips for him. And here are some examples of their work:

Farm Table, Wood Bookcase, Sliding Barn Door

– MikeT wants to know if we think Lee Valley Saddle Markers are for lazy woodworkers.

– Gerard wants to know if he can purchase the wood for his workbench over a long period of time as funds permit.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Greg Weeg as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Get your Wood Talk T-Shirt today!

On today’s show, we’re talking all about paring with Japanese Chisels, dealing with overwhelming fear of sawdust piles, lumber checking, and wood plugs for stretched ears.

What’s on the Bench?

Marc: Website stuff.
Shannon: Finished a project started 3 years ago.
Matt: Snow bound and amazed at no rust on his lathe and tools in the garage.

What’s New

– Japanese timber frame joinery:

Kickback

– Brian from Boston, Michael, Gerald, Chris, and Chris from Alaska all had comments about our previous discussion on What is Fine Furniture.
– Jason (the OCD Woodworker) gave us some clarification on his previous comments and tenons bottoming out.
– Both David and Jason from smelly Gilroy wrote in with some thoughts on Todd’s end grain question from last week.

Voicemail

– Stretched Ears Guy is looking for wood species that will be safe against his skin.

Email

– Rick is debating a paring chisel purchase.
– Hubert is trying to keep the dust to a minimum in his garage shop.
– Tommy has a bunch of new mahogany and is looking to prevent checking.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Nick Carruthers as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsors:
– Brusso Hardware: Get 10% OFF your next purchase using code WOODTALK at checkout!

Get your Wood Talk T-Shirt today!

On today’s show, we’re talking all about design, hiding end grain, what makes something fine furniture, is CNC fine woodworking, and how we come up with original designs.

 

What’s on the Bench?

• Marc: Memorial boxes for Uncle Tom
• Matt: preparing for the coming year’s projects
• Shannon: milling Cherry (again) and considering shop storage in something other than Cherry

What’s New

– Robert sent us an audio clip about the Tree Whisperer
– Allan sent us a link on how to use glow in the dark resin
– Nick D sent us a link for a 3D Looking Cutting Board

– Todd sent us a video on Making a drink paddle

– Jeremy sent us a video on industrial bowl turning

– David Picciuto sent us a video on making your own carbide lathe chisel

Email

– Todd has a question about hiding the end grain on a coffee table he is building for his wife.
– Dusty wants to know what makes something qualify as “fine furniture.”
– David wants to know where we get our design ideas and how to come up with original designs. He also wants to know if we can recommend any books on woodworking design.

– By Hand and Eye” by Jim Tolpin and George Walker
– The Top Five Books for those who Take Period Furniture Seriously” a blog by Chuck Bender
– “Unlocking the Secrets of Traditional Design” a DVD with George Walker. Here is a review Marc did on the DVD.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank James Filoteo, Terrence Killian, Joseph McCormick, Christopher Moore, MICHAEL AGNEW, Tom Buhl, and Steven Danenman as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Help us out by answering our survey! It only takes a minute and we appreciate you taking the time to help us out.

We’re abandoning our usual format today in favor of a fairly loose discussion of our year in review. Did we meet or exceed our goals? Or did we fall miserably short. Listen to find out! We’ll see you in 2015!

Get your Wood Talk T-Shirt today!

On today’s show, we’re talking about fine-tuning tapered plugs, avoiding slippery surfaces on step stools, and attaching a table top to its base

What’s on the Bench?

• Marc – Editing and designing a new build
• Shannon – working on his console table and gearing up the lathe for quick Christmas stuff
• Matt – Feeding the turning addiction

What’s New

Chris Stahl: The Robotic Workbench

Nick Offerman’s “My Tales of Whisky Music Video”

Poll of the Week

Results from last week’s poll

29% – Yes, happy with the experience
2% – Yes, but I won’t do it again!
28% – No, I go to local suppliers.
4% – No, go to home center
2% – Saw their own wood from trees.

This week’s poll– Do You Batch Out?

Kickback

• Rudy clarified the article format for the Fine Woodworking Archive: each issue is stored as a PDF. Also if you already own the FW Archive I believe you can update it for $20 per year.
• Rudy also called back in and left a concise voicemail with his Rules for Ebay buying

Voicemail

• Brian – Why do we have to hone brand new blades from premium companies.
• Jason – Mortise and tenon joints and struggles with his own OCD

Email

• Steve – I have a set of Veritas Tapered Snug-Plug Cutters. The idea of using a tapered plug and trimming with a flush-cut saw makes for a great fit, but I’m having difficulty getting the grain to line up. I take the time to cut plugs from an area of scrap where the grain will match, but when gluing the plug in place, I always seem to be a bit off and it’s a real eye sore. I think the glue swells the plug a bit too, making small adjustments rotating the plug in the hole difficult to impossible. Maybe I’d be better off using epoxy instead of glue for this? Any tips, tricks or hints would be most welcome.
• Nick –  I am currently finishing up a project: a step stool for my two-year-old daughter.  A discussion from one of the recent episodes got me to thinking. Matt mentioned that he made some sort of stool for his mother that was so smooth on the top that it landed her in the ED.  The top of my stool is hardwood with an inlay, and the temptation is to plane and sand it to a high gloss.  Obviously, this would not be a smart idea unless I wanted a head injury for my toddler.  Is there a textured finish I could use without obscuring all the work I have done on the top with the wedged through tenons and marquetry inlay?
• Jeremy – I am making a huge harvest style table, made of 8/4 vertical grain dug fir.  This is the first time that I am making a table without an apron.  The top is made of seven 6″ boards glued up.  I am using 4 battens underneath the slab to help keep things in line and give extra support to the legs which are an X brace.  Do you think 4 battens, with 5 screws each be enough?  So far this thing has been pretty stable and I don’t see it cupping much at all if any.  The second question, how would you elongate the holes in the battens?  I was planning on using some 2 1/2 pan head screws with maybe a washer for extra support, but I am not sure the best way to elongate the holes.  There is still about an inch of wood to be drilled through, and I don’t feel that wiggling a drill bit is going to be enough.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Martin Green, Bill Levering, Rudy Fichtenbaum as well as everyone else for their continued support.

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On today’s show, we’re talking about spraying dye, drawers or carcass first?, and picking the good stuff at the lumber yard

What’s on the Bench?

• Marc – Designing new chest of drawers and matching night stands. Taking customer’s request from particle board project and making it a reality with real wood and real joinery.
• Matt – Downloaded an entire season of turning videos
• Shannon – making an unplanned project for Christmas

What’s New

• Black Friday Jet clamp sale takes down Woodcraft and Rockler websites, sort of.
• Rick sent up this tutorial by Terry Gordon on making a tapered sliding dovetail

Poll of the Week

Will you be buying tools on Black Friday/Cyber Monday?

Kickback

• Alexandre shares some super geeky, technical information about metal fasteners in wood such as the bed bolts we discussed in Wood Talk 206.
• Robert, AJ, Stein, Keith, Matt, Bo, Rick, and Eric all shared some advice on buying vintage vs new hand planes.

Reviews

Marc has a man crush on his Fine Woodworking Archive 1975-2014

Voicemail

• Gerard has a cutting board finish issue.
• Rudy left us an excellent voicemail with great advice about buying planes on ebay…but it was 5 minutes so we adidn’t play it. Rudy please write it down and call us back or leave a comment on the episode 206 page

Email

• Jeffrey would like some advice regarding spraying General Finishes water based dye with an Earlex 5500
• Scott is wondering if there is an advantage to making the carcass or the drawers first.
• John wants to know a bunch of stuff about picking wood at the lumber yard like reading grain, getting color match, etc.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Tim Holiner as well as everyone else for their continued support.

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On today’s show, we’re talking about Lie-Nielsen vs Veritas, loose tenons and bed rails, refurbish or buy new, and what we’re thankful for!

What’s on the Bench?

– Marc – Kitchen Helper nearly complete. Episode of Rough Cut aired.
– Matt – No real shop time. Mostly yard work and horsing around. Toying with the idea of where his bench belongs in the floor plan.
– Shannon – Learned not to hand plane after spraying paint.

Poll of the Week

– Are you making gifts for the holidays?

Kickback

– Glen suggests we watch this review of that fancy Finnish axe we discussed a while back.

– Darryl uses a strobe light as his lathe. Here’s a demonstration:

Tools We’re Thankful For

Shannnon – old school wooden rabbet plane
Marc – Table saw
Matt – moxon vise

Email

– Lon is trying to decide between Lie-Nielsen and Veritas for various tools. Shawn has a question about a single plane for power tool woodworkers.
– Barron is making a twin size bed with Dominos and is considering pinning the joints.
– Bob is wondering if rehabbing planes is worth it.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Steven Danenman as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store just like CMel81 did.

Special thanks to our show sponsors:
– Arbortech
– Festool

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On today’s show, we’re talking about sealing with shellac, selecting a solvent for an unknown finish, and skipping the jointer and going with a planer.

What’s on the Bench?

– Marc – Making over-priced holiday decorations.
– Matt – Turning in the cold garage.
– Shannon – Restoring an old Barnes lathe.

Poll of the Week

– Are you making gifts for the holidays?
– Getting Shop-Blocked

Kickback

– Walter recommends we check out This Old Workshop audio podcast.
– The Wine Box Workshop recommends we watch how Louis Sauzedde bends wood using plastic bags instead of a steam box.

Email

– Michael has a mess on his hands after using shellac to pre-seal pine.
– Schmuel is trying to determine the proper solvent for a finish on a workbench. Matt recommends this article.
– Chris is wondering why Shannon chose the planer over the jointer when only having the option for one. Marc recommends he check out this article as well.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Christpher Mann and Scott Carlisle as well as everyone else for their continued support.

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On today’s show, we’re talking about online etiquette, fixes for cheap plywood, and batch cutting dovetails by hand.

What’s on the Bench?

– Marc – Admired the set design at BlizzCon. TWWLive will be this Friday at 1pm Eastern.
– Matt – Picking up supplies for an upcoming small project/Holiday gifts.
– Shannon – Lots of editing and going into testing mode.

What’s New

– Froglube Lubricant and Rust Preventative
– Making It Podcast

Poll of the Week

– Getting Shop-Blocked

Kickback

– Derek has a suggestion for the bowed and twisted boards mentioned in Wood Talk #203.
– Pierre has an idea for shop-made hard sanding pads.
– Walter and Michael suggest Bosch Hard ROS Sanding Pad.

Email

– Joe is curious about how we handle correcting bad practices posted in online forums.
– Matt is using cheap materials and having issues as a result.
– Shaun is trying to batch out hand-cut dovetails.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank David Watson and Jeffrey Kibler as well as everyone else for their continued support.

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On today’s show, we’re talking about wood warping after a resaw, trouble with a smoothing plane, and octagonal frame joinery.

What’s on the Bench?

– Marc is getting ready for the kitchen helper project and a future built-in project.
– Matt made a beard comb for Movember.
– Shannon – went to the Brown Tool sale and got a t-shirt.

What’s New

– Cool cutting board design ideas!

Poll of the Week

– Do you build holiday-themed projects?

Kickback

– Billy feels relief now that he knows we advocate taking a break from the shop.
– Gary has thoughts on the workbench t-track discussion we had in Wood Talk #202.
– Tom wants to compliment us on our discussion of wood grain in Wood Talk #202. Tom’s Article.
– Kriss suggests his cool rig for handling box joints on long boards:

– Geoff enlightens us on what a “drop saw” is.

Voicemail

– John is looking for a hard sanding pad for his random orbit sander.

Email

– Jared is wondering what to do with a few boards that warped after resawing.
– Kevin is making an octagonal frame and is pondering his joinery options.
– David has a question about getting decent results from his bevel up smoother.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank DepreciationWorks and James Randolph as well as everyone else for their continued support.

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On today’s show, we’re talking about solvent confusion, box joints and short ceilings, workbenches and T tracks, and selecting wood for your projects.

What’s on the Bench?

– Marc is doing NOTHING!
– Matt made a lamp shade.
– Shannon is finishing a bed!

What’s New

– The $100,000 Kahiko Table

Poll of the Week

– How do you edge joint boards?
– Do you build holiday-themed projects?

Voicemail

– Kyle has a new table saw and is trying to prevent burning.

Email

– Brian is confused by all of the solvents available today.
– Jon is looking for a way to make joints on the ends of long workpieces.
– Nick is wondering about T-track clamping options for a workbench. Shannon recommends this. Marc mentioned Leigh Jigs hold-down clamps.
– Bob is curious how we select wood for our projects.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank DepreciationWorks and James Randolph as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsors:
– Circle Perfect Tools
– Arbortech
– Festool

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On today’s show, we’re talking about safe finishes for comic book storage, drawer guide positioning, and restoring an antique workbench.

What’s on the Bench?

– Marc is pushing full force for Woodworkers Fighting Cancer!
– Matt talked H.O. Studley with Don Williams and Narayan Nayar
– Shannon went to Williamsburg.

What’s New

– Cool scorpion chair, perfect for Halloween season.
– How to make a kitchen island.
– Linn builds Thor’s Hammer:

– 360 Woodworking announces subscription model:

Poll of the Week

How do you edge joint boards?

Voicemail

– Roberto is looking for advice on rust prevention. Here are some of the recommended resources:
Wood Talk #143
Wood Talk #142
Wood Talk #120
Wood Talk #94
Wood Talk #52/
Wood Talk #37

Email

– Steve wants to know what finish is safe for a comic book storage cabinet.
– DavidC is pondering drawer guide positioning. Matt recommends this information from Rockler.
– Chris is considering restoring an old workbench instead of building a new one.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Rudye McGlothlin, John Kleist, Donald Storey, Jeremy German, Dan Zehner, Dennis Eastman, Rune Skjervik, and Robert De Vries, as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsors:
– Arbortech
– Brusso Hardware
– Festool

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On today’s show, we’re focusing 100% on your questions!

Email

– Robert is trying to develop a dry fir and sub-assembly strategy.
– Dusty wonders why so many people jump through hoops to hide end grain.
– Keith is thinking about giving miters a try using hand tools only.
– Walter is pondering putting glue on one surface or two.
– Adam is looking for a good dust collection strategy for his router.
– Peter wants to know the pros and cons of wood plans vs metal planes.
– Glen is making a Roubo workbench and is concerned about his glue’s open time.
– Chris wants to make the ray flecks pop on his quartersawn white oak. Marc recommends this article by Jeff Jewitt.
– Shaun is trying to decide where to start his hand saw cuts.
– Craig has a question about parallel clamps.
– Ben wants to know if he should use an oil before shellac.
– Timber Doc is pondering the use of “twin tenons.”
– Alexandre has a question about design.
– Tom wants an odor-free finish for his chest of drawers and is confused by common recommendations.
– Jeff is contemplating the various offerings in the world of carbide turning tools.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Dana Chapin, as well as everyone else for their continued support.

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On today’s show, we’re talking about finishes for kitchen cabinets, dealing with glue squeezeout, and should you get a really small hand plane?

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Finished painting the toy chest with milk paint. Powermatic drill press charity auction.
Shannon – Leaving Easter eggs in projects.
Matt – Support Matt’s Basement Workshop with Matt’s Patreon campaign.

What’s New

– Doucette and Wolfe Furnituremakers:

– Portable standing desk for laptop users.
– Three Popular Woodworking editors leave the magazine and start their own mysterious venture called 360 Woodworking.

Poll of the Week

– Have you ever completed a weekend project within a weekend?
– Can you use shortcut joinery and still call yourself a “true” woodworker?

Kickback

– Randy has some thoughts on the filter bag issue discussed in Episode 198.

Email

– Matt wants some advice on finishing his cabinets with Arm R Seal vs lacquer.
– Mark has a few questions about glue squeezeout.
– Brandon wants advice on buying extra small planes.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Dana Chapin, as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsors: Arbortech and Brusso Hardware. Don’t forget to use the code WOODTALK at checkout for 10% off at Brusso!

On today’s show, we’re talking about steam bending vs bent lamination, choosing your tools based on sharpening methods, and replacing your dust collector’s filtration bags.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Toy box complete. Moving on to kitchen helper.
Matt – Display rack for the massive Vanderlist vinyl collection.
Shannon – spoon carving and running with knives.

What’s New

– Derek sent in a video showing the carving of a college mascot:

Here’s a look at the statue today!

– Rehabilitation of a Precious Crest Rail

– Live Edge Table Build:

Poll of the Week

– Tired Woodworking Debates

Email

– Dusty is looking for a comparison between bent lamination and steam bending.
– Josh has a question about working with the easiest to sharpen tool first.
– Jeffrey is concerned about the filter bags on his Shop Fox dust collector.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank , as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsors: Arbortech.

On today’s show, we’re talking about design rules for grain orientation, filling cracks with finish, and making really long panels.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Finished up the Krenov cabinet and now working on the Woodworkers Fighting Cancer build.
Matt – Editing WIA videos for Highland.
Shannon – Taking an inspiration break.

What’s New

– Victorian Steampunk Laptop
– Epoxy-Preserved Live Edge Technique
– Shop-Made Adjustable Dovetail Square
– Hidden Compartment Furniture:

– Phil Lowe’s School:

Poll of the Week

– What’s Your Workbench Situation?
– Tired Woodworking Debates

Email

– Dave is considering using finish to fill cracks in his table top.
– Christopher has questions concerning vertical vs horizontal grain direction. Matt got some help from Peter on this one.
– Derek needs to make a long laminated panel and is looking for suggestions on joining boards end to end.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Nathan O’Leary, Martin Smith, and Kevin Scruggs, as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsors: Arbortech.

On today’s show, we’re talking about avoiding rounding over with a random orbit sander, splines or biscuits as a glue-up aide, a bit of marquetry on a box, and a Woodworking in America wrap-up with a discussion of Lee Valley’s new custom planes.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Benchcrafted Criss Cross retrofit. Now on to the pirate ship wheel thingie.
Matt – Went to Woodworking in America.
Shannon – Channeling his inner Spielberg.

What’s New

– Woodworking in America 2014
– Lee Valley has new custom planes.

Poll of the Week

– Do you wear a shop apron?
– What’s Your Workbench Situation?

Kickback

– Stan is also permanently bearded and recommends the Resp-o-Rater.
– Tom Buhl pointed out an ironic wood movement issue from last week’s show.

Voicemail

– Joel is wondering what bandsaw blades to purchase.

Email

– Shawn is having trouble with his random orbit sander rounding over edges.
– Travis wants to know if he can use 4/4 stock to make up a workbench top with the help of biscuits.
– Erik is experiencing some gaps in his marquetry.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Gonzalo Plaza Ramirez as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsors: Arbortech and Harry’s. Don’t forget to use the code WOODTALK at checkout for $5 off your first purchase at Harrys.com.

On today’s show, we’re talking about preventing cupped panels, respirators for the permanently bearded, box hinges, Spraying outdoors, acclimating lumber before a project, and avoiding tearout while turning.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Started the Krenov-inspired display stand and made a $400 mistake.
Matt – Took the plunge into turning.
Shannon – Built a dining table, kinda.

What’s New

– An emotional pet urn turning video:

– Build Your Own Ice Bucket Challenge:

– Interesting Hand Saws: Crosscut Saw Co.

Poll of the Week

– Do you wear a shop apron?

Kickback

– America Woodworker Magazine shuts down, aka merges with Popular Woodworking.

Voicemail

– John – Spraying outside.
– Kris – Acclimating lumber before a project.
– Brit – Turning a mallet and avoiding tearout.

Email

– Jason is trying to keep a table top flat.
– Kyle has a beard that gets in the way of his respirator and dust masks and is looking for advice.
– Jason is looking for hinges that will work with a 1/4″ thin top.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Christopher B., Bob P., Bryan P., Brian G., Jim B., Harvey B., Jim M., Lon L., and Elvin J. as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware. Don’t forget to use that code WOODTALK at checkout!

On today’s show, we’re talking about tortured outdoor finishes, string inlay resources, and leap frogging planes.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Making a grasshopper toy.
Matt – Moving the lathe from the basement to the garage.
Shannon – Dealing with a stubborn bridle joint.

What’s New

– Starting a Makerspace
– Awesome folding ladder
– World’s Longest Wooden Carving

Poll of the Week

– How Do You Cut Your Mortises?
– How Do You Cut Your Tenons?

Email

– Neil and Jeff both have questions concerning outdoor finishes in brutal environments.
– Marty is looking for resources on string inlay. Matt recommends this Woodtreks video and this American Woodworker article.
– Erik is looking for advice on high angle frogs.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Peter C. and John V. as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware. Don’t forget to use that code WOODTALK at checkout!

On today’s show, we’re talking about mixing profiles and breadboard ends, using a chisel plane, and making dadoes and grooves with hand tools.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Being “that” guy by purchasing a single board.
Matt – Getting his pony on!
Shannon – Took his lathe on the road.

What’s New

– A very old wood slicer:

Poll of the Week

– How Do You Cut Your Mortises?

Kickback

– Ryan suggests Lucas look into a community shop called Atrisan’s Asylum.

Voicemails

– Bob wants to know if he can use Epifanes and then follow it up with a cheaper topcoat.

Email

– David wants to put breadboards on a Shaker-style table top, but also wants to cut a nice underside bevel.
– Justin is having trouble gouging his work with his Lie Nielsen 97 1/2 chisel plane.
– Matt wants to know the preferred method for cutting dados and grooves in solid wood with hand tools? Matt recommends this video.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank John C. and Mony R. as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store just like i r wood.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware. Don’t forget to use that code WOODTALK at checkout!

On today’s show, we’re talking about easy durable finishes, automation distancing us from our craft, and how to perform a ritual bloodletting with your chisels

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Getting ready for TWWLive on Friday at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific.
Matt – Making signs for a wedding.
Shannon – Shop remodel done and on to the dining table. Also speaking at Woodturners Guild in VA.

What’s New

– Steve Carmichael’s “Whac-a-Woodworker”:

– CU Woodshop “Tool Sale Swap”

– “Silent Voices” letter carver:

Poll of the Week

– What do you think of radial arm saws?

Kickback

– Jeremy recommends we read this post from Bridge City Tools on the topic of precision and accuracy.
– Kody suggests looking into camping tents at thrift stores for small shop overspray control.

Voicemails

– Lucas has a two-part question. First, he’s going away to college and wants to protect his hand tools from rust. Marc recommends he uses a desiccant in his tool box.

He also wants to know if it’s realistic for him to finish a Roubo workbench on his month-long break from school. He mentions a workbench kit from Horizon Wood Products that some folks might be interested in.

Email

– Steve is looking for a kid-proof finish for a table.
– Alex is repeatedly getting cut from the sides of his chisels.
– Ehren is contemplating the effects of designing on paper vs designing with technology.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Jason N., Adam D., Jeffrey H., and James R. as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store just like Deep Nights and SurviveStyle did.

On today’s show, we’re talking about ammonia fuming, pre-finishing rituals, plywood in the hand tool shop, and how flat is flat enough.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Finishing up the Morris Chair and visiting the Rough Cut show in Boston.
Matt – Floating on a boat.
Shannon – Having a design disagreement with a client.

What’s New

– Timelapse of Wood Cut Millimeter by Millimeter:

– Layers of glass and wood mimic the ocean floor!

– Bench that transforms into a table!

– Planing competition finals:

Poll of the Week

– Do you name your projects?
– What do you think of radial arm saws?

Kickback

– Marty has some information about the pencil sharpening guy, David Rees’s upcoming show on National Geographic.
– Stan has an idea for capturing a panel as a shelf between legs using breadboards.
– Alex shares a story about an airforce pilot whose woodworking hobby yielded false positives on drug tests.
– Jim is quite happy with his Wilton 7″ woodworking vice.
– Wilbur has some thoughts on Shannon’s difficulty adjusting to power tools.

Voicemails

– Jeff is looking for ideas on knock-down spray booths. Marc recommends he check out this FWW article.

Email

– Crickett has a question about ammonia fuming and our pre-finishing rituals.
– Texaswood is concerned about flatness and what’s flat enough.
– Allen is wondering about the use of plywood with hand tools.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Vic H., Steve C., Bill G., and David D. as well as everyone else for their continued support.

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On today’s show, we’re talking about workbench vises.

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This single-topic episode was inspired by a question from Kristofer:

“I inherited a some tools from my father and what started out as a cheap way to build an entertainment center (I mean really, who wants to pay $300+ for an MDF entertainment center!) has now turned into a fun and fulfilling hobby. The main thing friends and even some customers ask for are birds which I use an old metal basic shop vice to make, however my vice has seen better days and I’m now looking to replace it. I’ve done some research and I think my favorite is a leg vice, but bench crafted has them for sale for upwards of $190 and that’s just for the hardware. Do you guys know of a cheaper alternative or do you have a favorite type of vice?”

– Shannon mentioned this v-notch batten.
– Moxon Vise
– Veritas Twin Screw Vise
– Workbenches by Chris Schwarz

On today’s show, we’re talking about oil finish inhalation hazards, long miters with hand tools, and woodworking when your job moves you around the country.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Trying his hand at some upholstery.
Matt – Glazing windows and making clipboards.
Shannon – Still working on the shop renovation.

What’s New

– The Blowpipe Maker:

– Alex Harris turns a segmented bowl:

– Table Topography

Poll of the Week

Have you ever built an outdoor project?

Kickback

– Bill in Tampa chimes in on his experience with the Bostitch 23 gauge pinner.
– Kevin suggests his video on epoxy/wood shaving inlay:

Email

– Ned is having some weird reactions after working with oil-based finishes. Marc recommends the 3M 6500 respirator.
– Jason is going to be tackling some long miters and needs to find a hand tool solution.
– David’s job requires him to move around a lot so he’s look for the most compact way to mill lumber. Shannon recommended this post.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank David P., Brian R., John S., and David T. as well as everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like DaveWYo and MattIsBuffalo did.

On today’s show, we’re talking about epoxy inlays, bevels on through tenons, and premium measuring tools.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Geek Chic at Phoenix Comicon. Morris Chair Madness! Puppy peepee.
Matt – Using scraps for sprucing up stuff.
Shannon – Slogging through a shop remodel.

What’s New

– Cool sawmill photos – Hull Oakes Sawmill
– Cory’s new podcast for folks lookign to make a living with their woodworking: Craftsmansroad.com
– The art of pencil sharpening:

– A surprising take on the idea of router rails:

– 1940s vocational, educational film on woodworking:

– Andy’s Fossile Inlay Table Build:

Poll of the Week

Have you ever restored an antique?

Review

– Finishes that Pop with Glen Huey

Kickback

– Phae has some thoughts on children in the shop and why they might hate the loud noises.
– Mike shares his experience with his kids. Here’s a picture of the bench they use.
– Jacob tells us about his kids and how they love making things for their mom.
– Clem has some words of warning for Bostitch 23 gauge pin nailer owners.

Email

– David is looking for our thoughts on epoxy inlays. Marc suggested he check out West System Epoxy and Inlace.
– David wants some times on making light chamfers on through tenons. Shannon suggest this video.
– Alex is wondering if it’s really worth the extra money to buy premium measuring tools.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Mav8585, Handros Han and *&#^%@@ did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware. Don’t forget to use that code WOODTALK at checkout!

On today’s show, we’re talking about your dust collection questions.

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Kickback

– Nick – “Sparkling Shannon was talking about cutting out the protective grill on his 1.5 HP dust collector to prevent it from getting clogged with shavings. As he mentioned, the predictable side-effect of this is that if you suck up a chunk-o-something, it’s going to make a hell of a bang, and possibly even damage the impeller blade. I’m sure you all have some experience with diet separators, but it bears mentioning that it is a simple solution for those of us without cyclonic dust collectors. A bunch of companies make them either as stand-alone units (like the Dust Deputy – featuring a link to TWW — or the Laguna DS16), or as a lid that you attach to an Oscar-the-Grouch-style metal trash can (Woodcraft and Rockler have versions of this, and it is what I chose for my shop). With one of these placed in-line before the collector, you can suck up anything with impunity (screws, wood scraps, knitting needles, etc), and it will drop in the separator before getting to the impeller blade. It also means changing your DC bag a lot less often during planing and jointing, as the heavy chips stay in the separator, leaving the DC to deal only with the fine stuff. You do lose a bit of suction in the process, but I take it out of the circuit for operations that I know generate only fine dust (bandsaw, table saw, sanding, etc).”

Email

– Keith – “I have a small garage shop – about 325 square feet. I’m constantly vacuuming, sweeping and wiping off dust from every surface in my shop. My CT36 is hooked up to my Kapex which does a decent job and i have one hooked up to my ETS 125 which does a great job. My shop-vac runs back and forth to my Ridgid table saw, router table and Dewalt thickness planer when they are in use. It’s time to invest in a dust collection system. I narrowed it down (right or wrong) to the Onieda Dust Cobra and the Jet DC-1100VX-CK Cone Dust Collector. The Oneida is about $200 more, but only has 245 CFM compared to the 1100CFM on the Jet. I don’t get it. I’m not looking to have hard ducting to all of my machines – portability and hooking up each machine as i use it is fine with me. I just need suction. Lots of it. I know you don’ t like recommending specific brands, but is there a noticeable difference you see in these 2 machines that might help me sway one way or the other? Any advice would be great. Thanks!”

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank everyone for their continued support.

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Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware.

On today’s show, we’re talking about kids in the shop.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Has a new puppy!
Matt – Assembling cabinets and breaking screws!

Kickback

– Christopher has some thoughts about insulating garage doors. He suggests these two links for DIY insulation: Insulating Your Garage Door on the Cheap and Garage Door Insulation Kit

Email

– Joey wants to know what we do to make our shop’s kid-friendly.
– Joe is looking for project ideas as well as tool recommendations when working with kids in the shop.

Here are some helpful links from the community:
– Josh Hulbert suggested Woodworking for Kids

– Graham Ward suggested WoodShop for Kids

– Stephen Watson recommends Zany Wooden Toys that Whiz, Spin, Pop and Fly

– Charlie Stone – “I started taking my daughter in the shop with me when she was about 2 1/2 years old. She became interested in what I was doing on her own. She wanted to help daddy. Kids of all ages can help on any project. Each of my girls now have their own egg beater drills, hand saws, shop made mallets, shop made rulers, and tool boxes they made. I have 4 woodworking daughters the oldest is 13, my youngest if almost 5. * Note, Amazon has pink kids safety glasses…”

– Christopher Landy recommends the NY Times article Kindergarten Shop Class

– Steve Ramsey – “My #1 tip is to realize that the majority of children will have zero interest in woodworking and will be bored to tears in the shop. Find a project they can make in about 30 minutes. If they lose interest in 10 minutes, let them go. It is probably best to let kids feel free to hang out with you and only offer to build something if they ask.” His candle holder video.

– Arnold Amoros – “I used to take my sisters to the Saturday Home Depot kids workshop. They though roughly enjoyed it. It was working with wood assembling projects they could keep. Pieces were pre cut, so no need to work with dangerous tools they were not ready for.”

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Bill C. and Wayne W. as well as everyone else for their continued support.

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Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware.

On today’s show, we’re talking about matching stain, rough vs smooth glue surfaces, tips for beating the summer heat, framing mirrors, and unique joints for a bed frame.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Making forms for bent lamination.
Shannon – Lumber shed and tool cabinet changes.
Matt – Recovering from allergies.

What’s New

– Wooden art that is a nice intersection between wood nerd and sci-fi nerd.
– A classic British newsreel showing how a briar pipe is made.
– 13 of the Coolest Things Made from Wood
– Programming with Hand Tools
– Robots transform furniture:

– The insane Hannah Cabinet:

– Horse-powered saw mill in Belize:

Poll of the Week

How Clean is Your Shop Right Now?

Kickback

– Brian has some thoughts on our discussion about the effects of too much online woodworking content.

Voicemail

– A scary WARNING!
– Jason is trying to match stain to commercial furniture.
– Bob wants to know if it’s best to glue rough or smooth surfaces.

Email

– John is looking for some tips to beat the heat in Phoenix.
– Darth Rust has concerns about framing mirrors. Matt recommended these hinges.
– Joe is contemplating a new joint for his bed frame.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Hugh H., James H. and David Picciuto from The Drunken Woodworker as well as everyone else for their continued support.

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This is clearly NOT a normal episode. In fact, we’re taking the week off. But instead of doing no show at all, I’m going to share with you my favorite recipe for baked beans. It’s an adaptation of a Steven Raichlen recipe and everyone I make it for raves about it. So let’s do it!

Here’s what you’ll need:
– 1 pound bacon
– 1 can black beans
– 1 can dark red kidney beans
– 3 cans baked beans or pork and beans
– 1 large sweet onion
– 1 red bell pepper,
– jalapeño peppers or a hot pepper of your choice (if you want extra heat)
– 1 green bell pepper
– 4 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce
– 1-1/2 cups light brown sugar
– 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
– 2 teaspoons liquid smoke (if you aren’t using a smoker or grill)
– Salt and pepper to taste (I never need it)

I make my beans in a cast iron pot but you can use a aluminum pan if you want to. Fry up the bacon and drain the fat. Drain the black and red beans and rinse off the goo. The baked beans don’t get rinsed at all. Dice up the peppers and onions and mince up the garlic if you’re using the fresh stuff. Now dump everything into your baking dish or pot, mix well and cook uncovered at 350F. It usually takes a good hour if not more, but you’re looking for the peppers to be nice and soft. For the smoker, just about any wood will do but I find oak to be pretty reliable.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about hand tool dust collection, steam bending kiln-dried wood, flattening a partial log slab, using molding planes on curved edges.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Just got back from Weekend with WOOD.
Shannon – Building a wall and prepping for PW webinar.
Matt – Disappeared into the woods.

What’s New

– An article about air-drying lumber.
– A touching story about a woodworker who helped a family during a difficult time by repurposing an un-used crib.

Poll of the Week

– Do you build magazine projects?

Kickback

– Robert and Mike both had thoughts on our recent discussion about online education getting in the way of actual woodworking.
– Brian thinks that magazines over-complicate project plans.
– Bradly has a tip for drilling small holes.

Voicemail

– Mike wants to know if you can steam bend kiln dried wood. Marc recommends he check out the following:
Danenberg Boatworks – Steam Bending
Rockler Bending Wood II – Steam Bending
Wood Bending Made Simple by Lon Schleining

Email

– Joe is wondering how he can keep his shop clean from hand tool wood dust and chips.
– Josh has a partial log slab that he’s trying to mill flat and needs some advice.
– Aaron wants to know how to use a molding plane on a curved edge.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Dan S. and everyone else for their continued support.

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Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about bandsaw dust collection, working with tiny insert screws, choosing the right size hinge, carving tool brands, and if too much woodworking content is a bad thing.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Gluing together legs for the Morris Chair. Avoiding Nicole because she has Strep.
Shannon – Having shop withdrawal and looking forward to finishing some carving.
Matt – Not a damn thing.

What’s New

– Don’t miss the latest Highland Woodworker!
– Check out these two fairly new YouTube channels: Darbin Orvar and April Wilkerson.

 

Poll of the Week

– Do you build magazine projects?

Kickback

– Justin has some feedback on SketchUp plugins and colored lacquer as a paint alternative.
– Clem shares his joy of CNC ownership with us.
– Brian tells us about his makeshift spray booth solution.

Email

– John and Kayla are trying to improve the dust collection on their 14″ Jet Bandsaw. Marc suggests the following links: YouTube Video – Bandsaw Dust Collection, Highland Woodworking – Bandsaw Dust Control That Works, WoodCentral – Jet Bandsaw Upgrades.
– Achille has questions about installing screw inserts and choosing hinges. Matt suggests he watch this video.
– Ben is looking for suggestions on carving tool brands.
– Tucker has a great question about whether too many folks are getting bogged down in the excessive amount of information available to woodworkers today.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Joshua H., Robert T., Jeff T., and everyone else for their continued support.

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On today’s show, we’re talking about HVLP, finishing in a messy garage, drying lumber, and green wood vs kiln dried.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Selecting wood and rough milling for the Morris Chair.
Shannon – SAPFM meeting and sketching up. Thinking about where to put furniture while it cures.
Matt – Visited a pop-up event for a new furniture business.

What’s New

– A VW Beetle gets a wooden makeover!
– Awesome wooden pistols.
– A miniature hand-made lathe:

– Brass Ball Drums:

Poll of the Week

How long do you leave your work in clamps?

Kickback

– Tom gives us his thoughts on setup blocks.
– Gerald shares his experience with his neighbors axe swinging technique.
– Mike suggests using barber chair hardware for adjusting bench height, and idea he got from this video:

– Nathan has some information on why travertine is a terrible idea for ANY work surface.

Voicemail

– Jim is looking for a place to send his dad’s Diston saws for a little TLC. The boys got sidetracked talking about Bob R. leaving podcasting.

Email

– Paul, Eric, Glen, and Greg all had questions concerning HVLP.
– Colin is having trouble keeping his garage clean enough for finishing.
– David and Daniel have questions about wood drying and air-dried lumber vs kiln-dried lumber.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store just like Nb VA User and Lanai Wood Worker did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show: the pros and cons of a solid surface countertop for a workbench, adjustable height workbenches, and how to use a spokeshave.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Making up some test boards for upcoming finishing seminar at Weekend with WOOD.
Shannon – Work, work, work!
Matt – Installing hinges and other stuff.

What’s New

– A table designed for people and cats!
– Innovative new axe design.
– Mike Rowe Skills Gap:

– Get a look inside Morgan Motor Company:

Poll of the Week

What tool do you use for setting blade and bit heights?

Kickback

– Nate has some thoughts on Roberto’s belt sander trouble from Episode #178.
– Brandon has some concerns about rotating inserts on segmented cutterheads.
– Alan has some thoughts on the Masterpiece finish. His video is here.

Voicemail

– Bob has a few questions concerning spray finishing.

Email

– JimmyJoe wants to know the pros and cons of using a solid surface countertop material for a workbench.
– Dave wants an adjustable-height workbench. Marc mentioned Adjust-a-Bench. Shannon recommend this blog post.
– John is having trouble with his spokeshave.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Jeff H. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store just like wilddeuce1, jamatfu, Ben Fiedler, and LubK did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about John’s vice slippage, whether it’s necessary to have both a router table and a shaper, Elliot’s shop upgrade, tension wood, and Dave’s hand plane technique.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Prepping for Weekend with WOOD and the Morris Chair project.
Shannon – Watching oil dry and received a commission for a dining table.
Matt – Pre-finishing a project.

What’s New

– The World’s Largest Jenga Game:

– How to auto-tune a hand plane:

– A good explanation of bandsaw blade tension:

-Cardboard coffee table via CNC:

– Kyoto Joinery

Poll of the Week

Do you use your scraps for cooking?

Kickback

– Bob has some thoughts on measuring blade angles.
– Jason suggests marquetry for those times when life gets in the way of woodworking. John Eifler saw plans. YouTube video showing how to make it.

Voicemail

– John is experiencing some slippage with his Veritas Twin Screw Vice.
– Is it necessary to own both a shaper and a router table?

Email

– Elliot recently purchased a new house and has a nice big shop space. He wants to know if he should dive in and buy the big tools or ease into it slowly.
– Jamie is looking for more information on tension wood.
– Dave needs some assistance with his plane technique.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Robert D., Gerhard D., Marcia B. and everyone else for their continued support.

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Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, Brian can’t square up his table saw blade, Larry’s contemplating a combo blade for his saw, David’s considering modern sharpening for a classic plane, and a whole mess of voicemails from the Wood Talk community!

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Sending blades out for sharpening.
Shannon – Excited about class filling up. Excited about TwoWheelNeil’s #handjoinery effort.
Matt – Had fun at the Chicago Lie Nielsen hand tool event.

What’s New

– Engineer and tinkerer Turnvater Janosch shows off his ingenious and mesmerizing clock.

– Shelterwood Notebooks and BaronFig Notebooks, in case you’re into that.
– Redwood burl poaching.
– Amazing engineering of the Capstan table:

Poll of the Week

Do you use block planes?

Kickback

– Howard has some suggestions about Art Deco furniture: Judith Miller and Kent Townsend.
– Wayne thought this Chris Schwarz post was a good answer to why more folks don’t write about obscure furniture.

Voicemail

– Gene is finishing a veneered surface with linseed oil and wants to know if he should add anything else.
– Josh has some questions about web frame construction.
– Matt and Dan both have thoughts/questions on what to do when you have no shop.
– Peter is lookign forward to a WIA T shirt competition.
– Roberto has some belt sander issues that we can’t quite help him with.

Email

– Brian is having trouble squaring up his table saw blade.
– Larry is contemplating his blade choices for his table saw.
– David is wondering how he should sharpen the blades in his old moulding planes.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank James S., Christopher H., Jeffery A., Ryan O., John S. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about Hybrid Woodworking and the goal of incorporating hand tools into a power tools shop. Looking for Marc’s book, Hybrid Woodworking? Click here!

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Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware. Use the code WOODTALK at checkout for 10% off your order!

On today’s show, someone wants to make a Cadbury Cream Egg stand, Max is looking for budget chisels, Tom is trying to avoid tearout when cutting plywood, Dustin wants to know how often to flatten his water-stones, Mariah is pondering the draw knife, Keith wants to clamp his workbench flat, Peter is having trouble setting up his skew rabbet plane, and Ashley has some concerns about the lack of Art Deco instruction.

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Designing the Morris Chair.
Shannon – Spring cleaning and getting distracted by Pinterest
Matt – The final finish is being applied to the platform bed.

What’s New

– Sculpture showing how wood is cut from a log.
– Why you shouldn’t wear long sleeves around spinning tools:

– Faulty switch causes sander to do some damage:

– Mike Rowe’s “I Am a Woodshop Video”:

– An interview with Brian A. Hubel:

the

Poll of the Week

– Are your tools on the level?

Kickback

– Bob Rozaieski and Stan P. both have some suggestions for Nik’s breadboard edge finishing problem mentioned in Wood Talk #175.
– Michael has some thoughts on free-hand sharpening.
– Rick has a suggestion for using the lathe as a disc sander.
– Jim has some interesting pricing information concerning Shelix cutterheads.

Voicemail

– Anonymous is looking for suggestions on how to make small divots for a Cadbury Cream Egg display stand.
– Max is looking for a good set of budget-friendly chisels. Marc recommends he check out Wood Talk #157.

Email

– Tom is trying to avoid tearout when cutting plywood with a Grizzly track saw.
– Dustin wants to know if he has to flatten his waterstones after every use.
– Mariah is pondering the draw knife and when it should be used.
– Keith’s workbench has a twist and he wants to know if he can use clamping pressure to remove it.
– Peter is having trouble setting up his skew rabbet plane.
– Ashley has some concerns about the lack of Art Deco instruction.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Jim M., Dave W., Wayne B., Nick H. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store just like IpodUser, Sandhill Bill, and Returning Woodworker did.

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On today’s show, Nik is having some finishing issues due to wood movement, Jens is considering a 15″ helical head planer, Miller wants to protect his milk paint finish, Toffer want some decking lumber, Drew wants to use his old drill press as a spindle sander, Jim is struggling to get a mirror finish on his chisels, and Matt is just plain boring.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Installed helical head on jointer.
Shannon – Doing some detail work.
Matt – Managed to destroy two sets of rails and stiles.

What’s New

– The Down to Earth Woodworker: Dado Depth Torture Test

– Kid Snippets – “Wood Shop Safety”

– Video on the creation of shop made retractable casters for power tools

– The Beltley Wood Shop!

Poll of the Week

What time of day do you like to do woodworking?

Kickback

– Jay takes us to task for our advice last week on using a magnetic saw guide for cutting dovetails.

Voicemail

– Nik is having some issues with his finish and wood movement.

Email

– Jens wants to know if some planers have more bells and whistles than others and if there’s a big difference between a Shelix cutter-head and the ones that come with the Grizzly G0453PX.
– Miller is looking for an outdoor-friendly finish for his milk paint project.
– Matt is pondering is bit options for his braces.
– Drew wants to know what speed to run his drill press at when using drum attachments.
– Jim is having through with cloudy surfaces when sharpening and can’t quite get that mirror polish.
– Toffer is pondering the use of deck boards for an upcoming table build.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware.

On today’s show, Levi has some questions about plywood cases, Steve wants to plane dried glue, John wants the skinny on angled mortises, Chris wants our thoughts on the iBox jig, Chris with a C is considering cutting dovetails with a tenon saw, and Chris is trying to choose between a fret saw and a coping saw.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Shop furniture being critiqued and getting rid of that pesky snipe.
Shannon – Started shop cleaning and demolition.
Matt – Dueling thickness planers!

What’s New

– The Anal Retentive Carpenter
– Wood Whisperer Reddit Contest
– Alternative Material for Vise Knobs
– WIA Schedule Announced
– Mission Control Desk:

– Distressed Furniture:

Kickback

– Jared, Dyami and many others wrote in to point out Marc missed one of the most important aspects of Hybrid Tablesaws as discussed in Wood Talk #173: that the trunions are mounted to the table, not the cabinet, making adjustments more difficult.
– Brandon explains some of the science behind cold temperature glueups.
– Nick and others wrote in to let us know what Brad Pitt has been up to in the furniture world.
– Matt has an alternative suggestion for an inexpensive disc sander.

Voicemail

– Levi is building plywood bookcases and has questions about dado depth and solid wood trim. Marc suggests he check out the One & Two Sheet Bookcase project.
– Steve wants to know if it’s ok to plane glue.
– John has some questions about angled mortises. Marc recommend this Jeff Miller article.

Email

– Chris wants Marc’s thoughts on the Incra iBox jig.
– Chris with a C is considering cutting dovetails with a tenon saw.
– Chris is trying to choose between a fret saw and a coping saw.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank “Some jerk in the Woodlands, Texas” and all other donors for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Derek did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware. Use the code WOODTALK at checkout for 10% off your order!

On today’s show, Brian wants to safely plane thin stock, Ian’s thinking about upgrading to a stationary sanding machine, Dave’s trying to work in the cold, Justin is pondering his micro-bevel, Chris is considering a hybrid saw, Tom wants to know what happens to boards passed over an un-calibrated jointer, and Robert wants a primer on chisels.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Working on some show doors and drawers.
Shannon – Turning some stuff.
Matt – Doing some woodworking without the camera for once!

What’s New

– Intentionally broken furniture as art?
– Awesome video on Sam Maloof!

– Andy’s first woodworking video:
)
– An AT-AT rocking horse.

Voicemail

– Brian wants to know if we have some tips for planing thin boards with his planer.

Email

– Ian’s thinking about upgrading to a stationary sanding machine.
– Dave’s trying to work in the cold.
– Justin is pondering his micro-bevel.
– Chris is considering a hybrid saw.
– Tom wants to know what happens to boards passed over an un-calibrated jointer.
– Robert wants a primer on chisels.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Mike T., Randy T., Neal B., Jonathan B., and all other donors for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like C-Pad1615 and Superslim08 did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Brusso Hardware. Use the code WOODTALK at checkout for 10% off your order!

On today’s show, Mike is looking for alternatives to epoxy thickeners, Ted is trying to joint and plane small parts, Tom wants to know the ideal plane for a shooting board, Barron has some questions about the Blacker House Chair, Chad wants to know how cold temps and high humidity will affect his wood, and Ryan wants us to talk about reclaimed wood.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Finished up the poker chip trays and got some much-needed shop time.
Shannon – Visited the National Gallery with SAPFM guys.
Matt – Veneered some iPhone cases because he can!

What’s New

– Tracking trees worldwide in real-time!
– Blair Glenn’s Redwood Removal:

– Japanese woodworker making an abacus:

– 3D Printing in Wood:

– Frank Howarth stop-motion bookcase build:

-Stupid woodturning tricks with Cindy Drozda:

Poll of the Week

Have you ever tried inlay?

Kickback

– abike2many gives us some tips on how to soundproof a basement, an issue discussed in Wood Talk #171.
– Nick clarifies the proper name for the neck divot mentioned in Wood Talk #171.

Email

– Mike is looking for alternatives to expensive epoxy thickeners.
– Ted is interested in hand-planing small parts.
– Tom wants to know the ideal plane for a shooting board
– Barron has some questions about the Blacker House Chair I built recently.
– Chad wants to know how cold temps and high humidity will affect his wood.
– Ryan wants us to talk about reclaimed wood.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Martin S., Adam P., and all other donors for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like DCnOK, Ripstitch, Wood butcher 2 me, and Brandon Kane did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, David wants to cut down on pro bono work, Rusty wants our thoughts on wood acclimation, Alex wants to return his wood, Nate wants to know what he should do during his time away from the shop, Tom is trying to minimize noise transmission in his basement shop, and Matt needs an inexpensive solution for reinforced miters.

 

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What’s on the Bench

– Marc finally finished the Blacker House Chair.
– Matt is getting ready to dye the bed!
– Shannon is revisiting old projects, hand tool style.

What’s New

– Gary Katz comprehensive baseboard video and article.
– A new “plywood” used in the boating industry called “Alpi Wood.” Skip to 1:50 in the video.

– A modular workbench design from Ron Paulk.

Kickback

– Jared has had some good experiences with home store lumber.
– Tom reminds folks not to feel constrainged by 3/4″ pre-milled stock.

Voicemail

– Chris has a question about using a jack-rabbet plane in a shooting board. Shannon suggests he check this out.
– Bob wants to know how the internet has impacted our personal safety standards.

Email

– David wants to stop doing pro bono work and needs some advice.
– Rusty has a question about wood acclimation.
– Alex wants to know if he can return bad wood.
– Nate wants to know what he should do during his time away from the shop.
– Tom is trying to minimize noise transmission in his basement shop. Check out Wood Talk #3 for our previous answer to this question.
– Matt needs an inexpensive solution for reinforced miters

Reviews and Thanks!

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Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, Luis’ panels aren’t flat after glueup, Willie’s making wooden screws from dowels, Jacob has some workbench questions, Achille has a question about gluing laminations, Jack wants to know if Big Box store wood is really that bad, and Josh is trying to plane a large Apple slab.

 

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What’s on the Bench

– Marc is working on the Blacker House Chair details and it’s causing him to whine a little.
– Matt is making color samples for his new bed.
– Shannon made his best woodworking project yet: a chip clip!

Poll of the Week

What do you think about sharpening?

What’s New

– Guy making stools with his feet!
– A simple sculpture that you really don’t need that hopes to remind you not to buy things you really don’t need.

Email

– Luis’s is having trouble keeping his panels flat after glueup.
– Willie is looking for recommendations on dowel sizes for wooden screws.
– Jacob has some workbench questions.
– Achille has a question about laminations and glues to use.
– Jack wants to know if Big Box store wood is really as bad as folks make it out to be.
– Josh is looking for advice on working with a very thick slab of wood.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Chet K., Matt G. and everyone else for their continued support.

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Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, Joe has a question about downdraft tables, Bob wants to know if he should powder coat his hand planes, Allen is having trouble with drilling end grain, Matthew is pondering veneer vs solid wood for his dining table, Timberdoc is considering liquid hide glue for his next project and Billy is concerned about lubricants staining his wood.

 

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What’s on the Bench

– Marc is back from his 8-day Blacker House Chair class.
– Matt is posting some articles over on Popular Woodworking’s blog.
– Shannon is trying not to burn his lumber stash.

What’s New

– A super simple work-holding solution:

– Steam-powered box-building shop.

– Jared Rusten builds California-shaped tables.
– A replica of a fast food joint made out of wood.
– Death by Roubo

Kickback

– Brian has some experience to share about tool quality.
– Jared gives us more information about barges unloading lumber in Canada.
– Carlo has some thoughts on his past tool purchases.
– Check out RisingFromAshes.org for more info on the Emerald Ash Borer.
– Michael shares his positive experiences with diamond stones.
– Adam shares is negative experiences with diamond stones.

Voicemail

– Kris has questions about jointing twisted boards.
– Chet is looking for advice on paint.

Email

– Joe has a question about downdraft tables. A few suggestions for plans: Bill Pentz, Build a Downdraft Table, Hardware Kit for Downdraft Table.
– Bob wants to know if he should powder coat his hand planes.
– Allen is having trouble with drilling end grain.
– Matthew is pondering veneer vs solid wood for his dining table.
– Timberdoc is considering liquid hide glue for his next project.
– Billy is concerned about lubricants staining his wood.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Tom B. and Tim W. and everyone else for their continued support.

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Be sure to sign up for your free audio book at Audible.com!

On today’s show, we’re talking about tool quality and used tools. We cover a lot of ground on this one including some advice from the community on how to get the most from your used tool purchases.

 

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Reviews and Thanks!

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Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

On today’s show, we’re talking about pre-finishing your projects, skill-building strategies, sharpening exclusively with diamond stones, a fence for a small bandsaw, dealing with an infestation, and techniques for smoothing dovetail pins.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – More thoughts on his bluetooth headphone setup and putting finish on the sitting bench.
Matt – Celebrating a Matt’s Basement Workshop anniversary and cutting himself with wood.
Shannon – Whittlin’ both in the real and virtual worlds.

What’s New

– Amazing Japanese woodworking – slicing end-grain:

– A 1965 video about an axe factory:

– Crazy xmas tree thingie:

Poll of the Week

Do you fill out your warranty cards?

Voicemail

– Adam is pondering his block plane options.

Email

– Josh has some questions about pre-finishing.
– Dan is wondering if it’s ok to use diamond stones as his only sharpening medium.
– Robert is trying to strategize his projects as learning opportunities.
– Joey wants to outfit his old Craftsman bandsaw with a nice resaw fence. Matt suggested this article from Glen Huey.
– Luis has an infestation!
– J Greasy is contemplating how to flush up is proud pins.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Dafydd B. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Jerem97 did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about sweating on your projects, what grit you should sand to, and wood prices.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Marc – Power sculpting, bluetooth headphone solution
Matt – Assembling the platform of the platform bed
Shannon – Bowl turning and spooning

What’s New

– Wood Talk is now broadcasting on Alpha Geek Radio. Support the IndieGoGo Project.
– Video of classical guitar construction.
– Woodworking in America 2014 dates and location announced!
– Collapsable spray booth.
– A plywood Raspberry Pi tablet
– Amazing wood sculptures made to look like everyday items.
– Canadians unloading lumber from a barge.

Kickback

– Brian has some thoughts on beefing up a torsion box.
– Sean tells about wood movement in Hawaii.
– Brian lets us in on a sad secret about distressed furniture. See how his former employer does it.
– Brad is upset about us burning scraps.

Voicemail

– Mike is looking for advice on getting better results when routing endgrain as he flattens his cutting boards.
– John sent an end grain cutting board through his planer and paid the price. Here’s Marc’s article on the topic: End Grain Through the Planer?

Email

– Kevin has a question about dealing with sweat stains on his projects.
– Barry wants to know at what grit he should stop sanding.
– Brett is trying to calculate wood costs. Shannon recommended this article.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank everyone for their support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like RGFarmer3, Touge Grip, and Hotrod Monkey did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about carbide tipped bandsaw blades, when to use a palm router, avoiding sapwood when buying rough stock, solid wood for wooden gears, working with weathered wood, and making a large bridle joint without a table saw.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Marc is finally using some prized wood for a project, with some reservations. Matt is playing with scraps. Shannon experience a zen moment in his shop.

What’s New

– Geometric painting over natural wood.
– Cat climbing furniture.
– Making guitars in an African refugee camp:

Kickback

– Kenji has some thoughts on riving knives after our discussion in Wood Talk #164.
– Rob has something to say about building workbenches.

Email

– Todd wants to know if carbide-tipped bandsaw blades are worth the added expense.
– Chris wants some advice on what operations might stress a palm router.
– Pug is trying to avoid accidentally buying sapwood when purchasing stock in the rough.
– Dustin wants to know if it’s ok to use solid wood for a wooden-geared clock.
– Peter has some heavily weathered wood and wants some advice for cleaning it up without ruining his tools.
– Mark is trying to make a large bridle joint using a setup that involves mostly Festool equipment.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank everyone for their support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Flynn311 and Sk1ppur did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about when its safe to remove a blade guard and riving knife, resawing to conserve wood, making a wooden plane and shooting board, your first workbench, buying stock in the rough, and disposing of old power tools.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Marc is getting ready for some power carving and is being extra cautious about safety concerns. Shannon is dreading his to-do list. Matt is still having visions of sugar plums dancing in his head.

What’s New

– Shop Stool Build-Off
– Popular Woodworking now available for iOS.

Kickback

A listener on Facebook takes us to task for offending people who use calipers. Not really, but you’ll have to listen to learn more.

Voicemail

– Roberto is thinking about buying a small bench-top CNC machine.

Email

– Justin wants to know when it’s safe to remove his blade guard and riving knife from his table saw.
– Andreas has a question about resawing to conserve wood.
– Joshua is looking for tips on making a wooden plane and shooting board that work together.
– Ron has some questions about his first workbench build.
– Paul has some concerns about buying his stock in the rough.
– Peter wants to know how he should dispose of his old power tools.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! We’d like to thank Brian Z, Glen V., Cory G., David H., Daniel R. for their support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like newbassman did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about overrated woodworking tools, techniques, and materials.

Listener David wrote in to ask if dovetails are the “bicep curl” of woodworking, meaning they are more or less just for show and totally overrated. This inspired us to each select two things in woodworking that we feel are overrated.

Marc – Workbenches and solid wood.
Shannon – Dovetail saws and jointer planes.
Matt – Lock miter bits and mortise and tenon joints.

 

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Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about our big goals for 2014.

Marc wants to build the Blacker House Chair, work on shop improvements, and also focus on increasing his own woodworking skills.

Matt is going to take the plunge into teaching in-person classes.

Shannon is also getting on the teaching train. He’ll also be taking a little woodworking road trip. And he’ll finally take the time to renovate his shop.

 

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Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsors Festool and Audible. Get your free audiobook today!

On today’s show, we’re talking about precision and accuracy in woodworking.

 

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Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about a cool-looking finish, table saw residue, monotonous woodworking, best practices at the table saw, plugging holes, clogging dust collectors, and planning your cuts strategically.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Mars is having fun rubbing out his finishes. Shannon is getting frustrated by homemade lathe maintenance.

Kickback

– Derek is wondering if Minwax Wipe-on Poly is really a good bargain anymore.
– Sean suggests using styrene sheets to make matching curved templates.

Voicemail

– Dyami is looking for suggestions on a “cool” finish.
– The Med Tech Woodworker wants our thoughts on marks being transferred to the work at the tablesaw.
– Jonathan has been doing some monotonous woodworking lately and wants to commiserate.

Email

– Mike wants our thoughts on best practices when using the table saw, in terms of when to shut down the tool.
– Jason needs some advice on plugs.
– Jim’s 2HP Harbor Freight dust collector is clogging up.
– David is trying to strategically plan his cuts for the best yield on future projects.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Dust4Brains2000 did.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about squaring up a large piece of ply, block planes for specific tasks, making a conductor’s baton, rustic furniture advice, fine dust collection at the tablesaw, and fixing cracks in live edge slabs.

 

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What’s on the Bench

Marc is recovering from a small but deep cut on his hand. Matt built a valence for a friend. Shannon is using hook tools on his lathe.

What’s New

– First issue of Weekend Warrior EZine is out!
– Keep an eye on TomsWorkbench.com for his Last Minute Elf campaign Dec. 1st – 7th.
– Friction welded wood:

Kickback

– Dr. Nick helps us with our medical terminology.

Voicemail

– Kris is looking for some advice on making matching curves.

Email

– Dell is trying to square up a 24″ x 24″ piece of ply.
– Michael has several block planes and wants to know if he can tune a few up for specialized jobs that would justify keeping them around.
– Ben needs some advice on the wood and the finish for a conductor’s baton.
– Tim is looking for tips on making rustic furniture.
– Kyle is trying to collect fine dust from his table saw.
– Phil is looking to fix a few cracks in a live slab.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like work with wood did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about drifting table saw cuts, proper rasp use, old clogging chip breakers, prepping a bandsaw for a move, proper dust mask usage, and is sanding necessary for hand tool users?

 

What’s on the Bench

Marc had a nice little BBQ release party for his new book. Matt is running behind on his bed project but a sub-assembly helped cheer him up. Shannon didn’t get much woodworking done this week because his wife fell down the steps.

What’s New

– “Ghost Solider” epic guitar build!

– Float Levitating Table

– Carving tool that does the thinking for you!

– Follansbee’s thoughts on the Craft vs Art debate.

Kickback

– Jonathan mentions a Tage Frid video showing the scraper half-blind dovetail technique Shannon mentioned in Wood Talk #157.
– Ross wants to share his reasons for diluting Bullseye Sealcoat (2lb cut) even further.
– Randall has some feedback on his previous email in Wood Talk #157 about his Wood River chisels.
– Brian reminds us that thicker table tops can still warp a table base, as discussed in Wood Talk #157.

Email

– Paul “Bigbullets” wants to know why his workpieces are drifting toward the end of the cut at the tablesaw.
– Jake is wondering why Marc lets his rasp drag on the back stroke.
– Dusty is looking for advice on tuning up an old chip-breaker.
– John is moving his shop and wants advice on how to prep his bandsaw.
– Joe has a question about dust mask usage.
– Alan wants to know if sanding is truly necessary when using hand tools.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like LumberJunkie did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsors Festool and Audible. Click here to get your free audiobook!

On today’s show, we’re talking about Festool MFT in place of the table saw, clamp times, purchasing a chisel set, dealing with a cupped table top, denatured alcohol and food-safe shellac, and keeping the upper bag of a dust collector caked with dust, on purpose?

 

What’s on the Bench

Marc’s trying to figure out what to do with all of his books. He’s also working with veneer for the Humidor project. Matt is enjoying how well a card scraper works on a hardwood like maple. Shannon thought he was having heart trouble but it turns out he’s just a wimp. He’s also taking on some upcoming “real” teaching engagements.

What’s New

– Booze, Star Wars, and Woodworking!

– “The Ox – Portrait of a Master Woodworker”

– Laser Cut Folding Furniture

– Crazy Canadian’s homemade lathe

Poll of the Week

Are You Making Holiday Gifts This Year?

Kickback

– Matt S. – I heard your latest testimonial on your levels of laziness…Hallelujah! In the process Marc, you mentioned your drum stander, which made me wonder, where on the continuum of tools from “must have” to “no way in hell” does a drum sander fits for the hobbyist?Love to hear your thoughts.

– Bob “Wooden Shoe” – Not so much kick back as some comments on the water freezing and care and use of DMT stones. You -can use a heating pad to keep the water from freezing. When I used to lager beer in my garage in the winter I used one to keep the beer around 40 F. I had it tied into a line voltage thermostat with a light bulb so I knew it was working. An aquarium heater may work as well. A few days ago I sought your advice on a DMT used for lapping and rough work. Based on Matt’s most excellent advice I purchased a 10″ course / extra course stone. The instructions say there is a break in period where the stone will seem rougher at first. My stone has not lost its virginity yet so I will watch for this as well as take Shannon’s advice to keep it clean.

– Stan – He should either get a good small thick walled Styrofoam cooler or get some rigid insulation and make an insulated box to store them in overnight. We don’t get to -22 in CT but it is not uncommon to get 5-10 degrees below zero. When our inside shut-off valve for an outside faucet failed to seal completely I protected the outside faucet from freezing by covering it with one of those crappy little 1/4″ thick wall covers and it worked!

– Daron – Each month when I get a new wood magazine in the mail, I take a snapshot of the cover and contents page in Evernote. All the text in the pictures becomes searchable for future reference. I suppose you could bite the bullet and do that to all the old ones you have laying around too. Cheers guys. Keep up the great podcast.

Voicemail

Roberto has a question about hold-downs for the table saw.
Rich is wondering if it would be worth the effort to recover some mahogany from an old boat.

Email

– Matt wants to know if a Festool MFT with a track saw can substitute for a tablesaw.
– Timbot is wondering how long you should leave clamps on a glue up.
– Randall is looking for a recommendations on a good chisel set.
– Allan’s table top bowed a bit and he is looking for advice.
– Matt is concerned about using denatured alcohol in a food-safe shellac finish.
– Norm wants to know if it’s true that your dust collector is actually more efficient if you let the top bag cake with dust.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to Kenneth W. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like WhereWeGoingToLunch did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Remember today’s show is sponsored by Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about freezing water stone baths, going hand or power for your first dovetails, narrow mortises with a chisel, underpowered bandsaws, table saw blade slippage, difference between dovetails saws, and differences between epoxy types.

What’s on the bench?

Marc is flattening veneer and working hard on the Woodworkers Fighting Cancer event. Matt is planning on doing a side by side test involving his helical head planer. Shannon is knocking out a bunch of small projects.

What’s New?

– American Woodworker Magazine (1989-1999)
– Lumber deal in Atlanta with huge veneer inventory!

Poll of the Week

Would you cut a complex joint if no one could see it?

Kickback

– Craig has some feedback on the “break-in period” for diamond stones discussed in Wood Talk #152.

Voicemail

– Treharne would like to lower the freezing point of his water stone bath.

Email

– Tyler is cutting is first dovetails and wants to hear our thoughts on going hand vs power.
– Wade is having trouble making narrow mortises with his chisel.
– Kenji wonders if 1/2HP is too underpowered for a bandsaw.
– Jim’s tablesaw blade is slipping on the arbor.
– Matthew is confused by the various types of dovetail saws available.
– Steve is pondering the differences between epoxy types.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Remember today’s show is sponsored by Festool and Audible. Get that free audiobook today!

On today’s show, we’re talking about belt sanders for fine woodworking, card scraper sharpening, water stone storage, matching baltic birch to solid birch, and respiratory protection when using epoxy and fiberglass.

What’s on the bench?

Marc is getting geared up for veneer work. Shannon built a grinding station on his lathe and finished more columbarium. Matt

What’s New?

– Projects held together with no joinery, only tension.
– Hand-made skateboards!

Cool Hunting Video Presents: DL Skateboards from Cool Hunting on Vimeo.

– Shop in LA conducting skateboard classes.
– Making handles with a circular saw

– The Wood Database
– “Bed in a box”
– Butterfly stool
– Minwax Do Good With Wood Award

Poll of the Week

Tell us about your shop!

Kickback

– Dell has some feedback on Wood Talk #153 regarding building order, particular use of cut lists.
– Aaron’s Top Ten Woodworking Pickup Lines inspired by a comment in Wood Talk #152.
– Clint recommends Certainlywood.com for amazing veneer.
– Alan recommends a basic ryboba as an essential hand tool for power tool woodworkers.

Voicemail

– Kris (with a K) has a question for Marc about routing direction and safety.

Email

– Jake works at a furniture company that uses the belt sander extensively and he wants to know if this is a normal practice.
– Jeffrey is having trouble getting a nice burr on his scrapers.
– John has some new water stones and is curious if he should store them in water. Matt suggests the following reference articles: Woodcraft and Lee Valley
– Thedude is wondering how well baltic birch ply will match up with solid birch.
– Bob wants to use holly for some inlay stringing and has questions about storage and use.
– Gene wants to protect his lungs from epoxy and fiberglass dust.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to Andrew N. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

A special edition of Wood Talk recorded at Woodworking in America 2013 in Covington, KY. Making this recording even more special is the fact that it was the first time all three of us were in the same place at the same time.

This episode is focused solely on our experiences at Woodworking in America including our favorite classes, cool products on the vendor floor, and a recap of our meetup that took place on Saturday at the Keystone Bar & Grill. Special thanks to everyone who showed up for the meetup!

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re departing from our regular format and focusing on one specific topic: build order. Listener Sam wrote in and asked, “What method do each of you use to figure out build order?”

Each of us shares our personal thoughts on how we establish a build order for each project.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about essential hand tools for power tool woodworkers, router speeds, keeping a sharp edge on your tools, and using bandsaw blades for hand saws.

Announcements

– Don’t miss the Woodworking in America Wood Talk Meetup! Join us at the Keystone Bar & Grill in Covington, KY on Saturday October 19th, 2013.

What’s on the Bench

Marc is delving even deeper into the humidor world while also spending a bunch of money on awesome veneer! Matt is still recovering from a bandsaw fiasco. Shannon finished his lathe and can’t wait to start a new furniture project.

What’s New

– Yet another woodworker who makes us green with envy!
– Traditional Swedish Woodworking:

– Making a rocking chair with only hand tools:

Poll of the Week

Do you turn?

Kickback

– Kenji has some tips for users of DMT diamond plates.
– Dave has some thoughts on our conversation about using a router plane to trim tenon cheeks from Wood Talk #151.

He recommends we check out Paul Seller’s Poor Man’s Router:

Here you can see it in action (jump to 10 minutes):

Email

– James wants some advice on knowing when to increase or decrease the speed on his router.
– Christopher is having trouble keeping a durable edge on his plane irons.
– Hutch wants to know if he can use a band saw blade to make bow and frame saws.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsor Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about the Golden Ratio, the router plane vs the shoulder plane for tenon cheeks, and mobile bases.

 

Announcements

– Wood Talk is now moving to Mondays!
– Subscribe to our new Youtube channel!
– Don’t miss the Woodworking in America Wood Talk Meetup! Join us at the Keystone Bar & Grill in Covington, KY on Saturday October 19th, 2013.

What’s on the Bench

Marc is doing research on his upcoming humidor project.

What’s New

– Did you catch the woodworking scene in the series finale of Breaking Bad?
– Dust protection without bulky protectors.
– Shannon will be on Wood Chat this Wednesday at 10pm Eastern.
– Amazing furniture by Joseph Walsh.
– The Bump Family (originally posted on Doug Stowe’s site)

Poll of the Week

What do you think about biscuit joints?

Kickback

– Allen shared a link to an article about corrugated planes after hearing Wood Talk #150.
– Brian heard about a paid mentorship program called PivotPlanet and wants our thoughts on this type of program for woodworkers. He did find one woodworker in the directory.
– Stan has a tip for those tight boiled linseed oil lids involving teflon tape.

Email

– Kenji wants our thoughts on the Golden Ratio. Marc suggested he check out George Walker’s blog and the new book from Walker and Tolpin called By Hand & Eye. We also reviewed Walker’s DVD: Unlocking the Secrets of Traditional Design.
– Jim has a question about plane preference when cleaning up tenons, as discussed in Wood Talk #137.
– David has a question about after-market mobile bases.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to Kevin S., John L., David (from the UK), and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like yanoyawanit, dozersworkshop, and Samantha @ Avalon Woodworks did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsors: Festool and Arbortech.

On today’s show, we’re talking about boiled linseed oil shelf life, being too picky about calibration, taming bowl scraper tearout, and lapping the sole of a hand plane.

 

Announcements

– Wood Talk is now moving to Mondays!
– Subscribe to our new Youtube channel!
– Don’t miss the Woodworking in America Wood Talk Meetup! Join us at the Keystone Bar & Grill in Covington, KY on Saturday October 19th, 2013.

What’s on the Bench

Marc finished up the rustic outdoor table. Matt’s designing his next project, a platform bed. Shannon is having trouble with hardware.

What’s New

– Free SketchUp Tutorials
– Bob Lang’s new SketchUp project
– Scott Meek producing Highland Woodworking’s 30th Anniversary hand plane.

Kickback

– A few folks sent in comments about comments in the Canadian iTunes store.

Voicemail

– Chet has a question about the shelf life of boiled linseed oil.

Email

– Chris wants our thoughts on the Incra Saw Gauge.

– Brian is having trouble with tearout from his bowl scraper.
– Terry has questions about flattening the sole of a handplane. Matt recalls his past adventures with sole flattening.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to David F., Jacob B, Bradley R. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Bassman28 and pinkiewerewolf did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsors: Festool, Arbortech and Audible: get your free audiobook today!

On today’s show, we’re talking about custom bandsaw blades, giant monster planes, and using sandpaper to flatten sharpening stones.

 

What’s on the Bench

Marc finished up the blanket chest project and is feeling good about HVLP. Matt has been selling off his unwanted tools. Shannon made a wooden wheel.

What’s New

– Join us for the Wood Talk meetup at the Keystone Bar & Grill in Covington, KY on Saturday October 19th, 2013.
–Register for Woodworking in America!

– Norm’s talk at Festool Connect 2013

– Steve from Woodworking for Mere Mortals is looking for financial support.

– Making a bowling ball on the tablesaw?!

– A treadle powered table saw!

– Popular Woodworking’s horrible WIA Promo

Kickback

– Bill tells us about his Porter Cable OmniJig and how quickly he can make dovetails.
– Mike questions Marc’s opinions on metal drawer slides in fine furniture.
– Don clarifies a voicemail from Wood Talk #140 and asks another question about his bench top glueup.
– Clint gives us a little history on the Roentgen gadget furniture.

Email

– Bianca has some issues with her bandsaw. Marc recommends a custom Wood Slicer blade.
– Stan saw a big giant plane type thingie and wants to know what it is and why more galoots don’t use them.
– Jason has a question about using sandpaper to flatten waterstones.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like 2Big Toes did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsors: Festool and Arbortech.

On today’s show, we’re talking about mineral oil spills, bit and brace advantages, wood movement in large panels, power hand planers for flattening boards, replaceable cutters vs traditional turning tools, and planer snipe.

 

What’s on the Bench

Marc is enjoying football and woodworking. He also has some issues with a particularly scary routing operation. Matt has been focusing on family lately and didn’t have much time for woodworking. Shannon cleared off his clamp rack and feels pretty good about it.

What’s New

– Facebook gets a wood shop
– Hearthstone Box

Poll of the Week

What do you think of traditional tool belts?

Kickback

– Ron has some thoughts/concerns about vacuum sealing finishes as discussed in a previous show.
– Kenji lets us know, from experience, that farts don’t work quite as well as Bloxygen for preserving finishes.
– Rob sent us a link to this video showing the pipe organ desk discussed in Wood Talk #147.

– James thought we might be interested in seeing more of Roentgen’s amazing gadget furniture.

Email

– Michael spilled mineral oil on a few project boards and is concerned about how it might impact staining and finishing.
– Dominic is wondering if using a bit & brace offers any real advantages over a powered drill.
– Dwayne is wondering about wood movement for a dresser top.
– Justin wants to know if a powered hand planer can be used for board flattening.
– Kyle wants our thoughts on traditional turning tools vs models with replaceable cutterheads.
– Brandon is looking to eliminate snipe from his planer. Marc referenced Wood Talk #52.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to Mark M. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Coelimusic did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsor: Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about machine-cut dovetail angles, spokeshaves vs rasps, popping the grain with dye, tips for flawless drawers, integral vs loose tenons, and workbench thickness for holdfasts.

 

What’s on the Bench

Marc didn’t get much woodworking done this week. Shannon put his money where his mouth is and planed some boards by hand.

What’s New

– Amazing wooden pipe organ desk.
– Paul’s coffee table compilation:

Coffee table compilation from Paul on Vimeo.

Poll of the Week

How do you feel about radial arm saws?

Kickback

– Stew suggests CSHardware.com as a hardware resource after hearing our discussion in Wood Talk #123.

– Blair had some concerns about using acidic rust removal solutions discussed in Wood Talk #144.

Email

– Mitch wants to know if there are ideal dovetails angles when using a dovetail jig.
– Tom wants our thoughts on using spokeshaves and rasps for sculpting workpieces.
– Matt is looking for better results when popping the grain with dye.
– Kenji wants advice for getting the best results with his drawer installations.
– Dell wants our thoughts on integral vs loose tenons.
– Aaron wants to know if there is a recommended thickness for a bench top when using a holdfast.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to Richard H. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Viall8tr, Dewitterdidder, and K9-2th-Doc did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsor: Festool.

On today’s show, we’re talking about wooden planes for the beginner, sassafrass toxicity, hinges for a bathroom vanity, choosing between Festool Domino models, finishing around an inlay, and how to make a tenon for a breadboard end.

 

What’s on the Bench

Marc finished up the hidden drawer on his Greene & Greene Blanket Chest. Matt is making some nice wooden hoops. Shannon stopped building so he can start building.

What’s New

– Coming soon! Weekend Warrior Magazine (online only)
– Lights from water bottles.
– Mateo’s sweet dance moves!
– Ingrained – Makes woodworking look cool!

Kickback

– Information for a previous caller about the potential value of his used hand planes.

Email

– Walter needs help purchasing the right block plane. He’s considering Veritas and Scott Meeks. Marc also recommended he check out Blum Tool Co.
– Doug has a question about Sassafras toxicity.
– Pat is looking for concealed hinges for a bathroom vanity.
– Rick wants to know which Domino is best for his work: the DF 500 or the DF 700.
– Will is trying to avoid getting finish on a decorative inlay.
– David is looking for advice on creating tearout free tenons for a breadboard end.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to Jeffrey R. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Pappa Rysm and Fish37 did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsors: Festool and SawStop.

On today’s show, we’re talking about knowing when a design is right, replacement parts for hand planes, cambering blades, and using Waterlox finish.

 

What’s on the Bench

Marc finished up the assembly of his blanket chest case and is pondering hidden drawer options. Matt is making some sweet iPhone cases. Shannon is finishing up some carved signs.

What’s New

– Open source furniture with OpenDesk.
– Making a spatula!

Kickback

– Josh, Brian and Lamar all sent in kickback about our flammables cabinet discussion last week.

– Lamar included a link to an American Woodworking article on Making a Flammables Cabinet.

Email

– Dustin wants our thoughts on knowing when a design is just right.
– Robert is looking for parts for his newly acquired hand planes.
– Chris wants advice on cambering his plane blades.
– Matt wants to know what we think of Waterlox as a finish for interior millwork.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to Charles M. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Engineer in Wood did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.

Special thanks to our show sponsors: Festool, SawStop, and Audible.com. Get your FREE AUDIOBOOK today!

On today’s show, we’re talking about finish storage and disposal, hand saws for re-sawing, and the properties of Danish Oil.

 

What’s on the Bench

Marc is trying to decide how to order events in his current blanket chest build and he’s heading to Nashville for a Powermatic event. Matt’s finishing up his wife’s wedding boxes and made a fire pit for the back yard.
**Note** I made some comments about Powermatic being at AWFS. I didn’t realize at the time that they actually didn’t attend AWFS this year.

What’s New

– Frank Howarth’s stop-motion videos are blowing up!!

Poll of the Week

What’s the most you’ve spent on a single tool?

Kickback

– William recommends the use of a toilet bowl cleaner called target=”_blank”>The Works to remove rust.
– Lamar sent us a link to a book that inspires him, though it isn’t specifically about woodworking: Built to Last.

Email

– John is looking for advice on resawing with a hand saw. Bob from Logan Cabinet Shoppe helped us out with a details answer.
– Adam wants to know if he needs a “flammables” cabinet to store his finishes.
– Ben is wondering about cleanup and storage of oil-based finishes.
– Pat has a question about the drying time of Danish Oil.

Reviews and Thanks!

Are you interested in setting up a recurring donation to help support the show? Use the links in the left column! Thanks to Archie K. and everyone else for their continued support.

Don’t forget to leave us a kick-butt review in the iTunes Store, just like Headpawn did.

Special thanks to Andrew Allen for creating our music. Check him out at KeysWithSoul.com.