WT46

Status Report:
Marc isn’t doing much woodworking right now, with his articles and preparation for his upcoming trip to the Atlanta Woodcraft store. Matt has been making a skateboard with his kids and is still reminiscing about the good times had at Woodworking in America.

Around the Web:
Owner of Sawstop demos the braking system with his own finger! Check out the video.

News:
Two big releases from Lee Valley – Dovetail saw for $65 and Block planes for $180-$300 and no we don’t have those reversed.

Hot Deals:
PeachTree Woodworking Black Friday Sales Event Nov. 25th- Nov. 28th.

Popular Woodworking Shop– 40% off entire order Using Coupon Code “THANKS” till Nov. 28

For WTO listeners only, Eagle America is extending their FREE SHIPPING offer an additional 10 days thru 12/11/08! To get the offer they should use coupon code # WDTALKEP46 during checkout or go to www.EagleAmerica.com/WoodTalkEp46 for details.

MiniMax Holiday Sales Event will start Monday December 1st. But here’s a little bonus for you. Order and have shipped any Mini Max machine on Wednesday, November 26 and you’ll get an extra 5% off our already low Holiday sale prices!

Woodcraft is offering free ground shipping on any online orders placed within the contiguous 48 states. Excess weight charges are excluded from this offer

Highland WoodworkingGet FREE GROUND SHIPPING within the 48 contiguous United States on most orders over $100*

Topics:
Matt’s experience at Woodworking in America.

Tom’s Tip:
Protecting jigs from glue using clear packing tape. Visit Tom’s Workbench.

And don’t miss the live chat room questions!

WT45

Status Report:
Marc is finishing up the holiday projects, a magazine rack and small clock. Matt is trying an old rust removal technique that’s all natural and even tasty!

Around the Web:
A New Tool Deal Everyday from Toolking!
Some great content at the ToolCrib Blog

News:
New Giveaway- Some great Lee Valley schwag, including their sweet Small Router Plane. Just fill out the form at WoodTalkOnline.com.

Rockler dream shop giveaway with Delta/Porter-cable

Rockler now offering DeWalt Tracksaw- $499 vs Festool $475

Hot Deals:
7-Piece Forstner Bit Set Rockler for $11.49.

170-piece Drill Bit Set from Woodcraft for $29.99

10% off All New Dewalt tools & Accessories at ToolKing.com

Receive a coupon for $10 off a $50 Purchase at ToolKing.com just for signing up for their email newsletter.

Topics:
Power Carving- Popular Woodworking Article December 2008 issue on newstands now!

Tom’s Tip:
Save by buying in bulk.

And don’t miss the live chat room questions. Unfortunately, Nicole’s microphone wasn’t working so I apologize ahead of time for the audio. But you’ll get the idea.

WT44

Status Report:
Marc delivered the gadget station to Leo Laporte, and had a chance to visit David Marks while he was there. What at Leo’s TWiT Cottage, Marc had a chance to meet Cali Lewis from GeekBrief.TV. Matt has been playing with his new Veritas Skew Plane and Plow Plane. He also finally got around to building a sharpening station. And Matt has made a promise to cut a set of dovetails everyday, until he can give Frank Klausz a run for his money.

Around the Web:
Western PA Table Project

Toolsnob.com – article about NASA using a Rotozip to cut through permafrost on Mars…I wonder if its the one Matt sold in a garage sale last year?

Popular Woodworking blog post on mitersaws with cameras.

News:
Lee Valley Giveaway winners: Richard Sylvestre and Mack McKinney. They will each receive one of Lee Valley’s new Skew Rabbet Planes!

Hot Deals:
PeachTree Woodworking– $100.00 OFF Freud SD600- WD Series 8″ Dial-A-Width Dado Set
Regular Catalog Price $269.99 E-Direct Special Offer $169.99

Just enter code 101708 in the discount code field (or give to our phone operator) on your next order of $50 or more of merchandise from Highland Woodworking before midnight on Friday, October 31, 2008 to receive FREE Ground Shipping within the 48 contiguous states.

Free shipping and 10% off purchases of $99 or more on Dewalt tools at Toolup.com

Popular Woodworking’s All-Star Workshop Giveaway.

Topics:
Are you ready for your holiday projects? Here are some ideas: small clocks, a magazine rack, a long grain cutting board, or maybe a serving tray.

Voicemail:
Skee has some glue streaks on his veneered plywood. David is getting the fuzzies when cutting his pine boards.

Tom’s Tip:
A unique way to transfer designs.

WT43

Status Report:
Marc has FINALLY finished the gadget station and plans on delivering it next week. While in the area, he is also going to have a visit with the one and only David Marks. Matt decided to rearrange his shop tools recently and is apparently going to start writing a new book entitled, “The Feng Shui Workshop”.

Around the Web:
Check out Keith Cruickshank’s awesome videos at Woodtreks.com
Popular Woodworking Magazine and Woodworking Magazine have had a little facelift recently. FineWoodworking.com also seems to have had a few tweaks.

News:
Don’t miss your chance to enter The Wood Talk Online Giveaway. Lee Valley provided us with two of their new Skew Rabbet Planes and next week we will select two lucky winners. Enter Here!

Hot Deals:
DeWalt 18V Cordless Drill/Driver Kit Sweepstakes ends October 13th thanks to Tool Snob
Makita Orbital Finishing Sander only $39.99, Save 27% Highland woodworking while supplies last.
Aluminum Assembly Clamps from Lee Valley set of 4 (2) 18″ & (2) 24″ $85 regularly $108 fast-acting sliding jaw with a locking handle mechanism (similar to locking pliers)
Makita 14.4 V cordless impact driver at woodcraft $189.99
Select Norton Combination Waterstones Save 20%! Now Through October 31, 2008!

Topics: Where we get our design inspiration. Marc recommend a Taunton Publication.

Voicemail:
David has a good question concerning bandsaw blade width.

Tom’s Tip: Tired of using guesswork every time you set up your dado stack? Tom has some advice.

 

WT42

Status Report:
Marc talks about his recent router table injury and his experiences with both the Laguna Resaw King bandsaw blade and the Final Cut tablesaw blade.

Matt just completed the chisel plane build and confessed that he purchase pre-made legs for an office desk. He is also continuing his experimentation with spokeshaves.

Around the Web:
The all-wood X-Wing Fighter!

News:
Rockler offers new cast iron router table. Sears offering Craftsman benchtop spindle sander that looks a lot like the Delta Boss unit. Lee Valley intros two new planes: Side Rabbet Plane and the Skew Rabbet Planes.

Hot Deals:
25% Off Bessey F-Style bar clamps at Woodcraft 6″ – 30″ long versions thru Sept.30, 2008.
Bessey K-body clamps at Woodcraft 24″ & 40″, buy 3 get 1 free.
WoodRiver Carbide Anti-Kickback Router Bits 10 piece 1/2 shank bits Woodcraft $50 or $5 each bit.
Bora Clamp-N-Cut Edge Guides (Mentioned in listener voicemail)

And a very special offer from Highland Woodworking. FREE SHIPPING to listeners of Wood Talk Online on any order over $50 through 10/03/08. Listeners just need to put “wto” in the Discount Code field during checkout. Terms, conditions and details are here.

Voicemail:
Roberto had a question concerning tablesaws with built-in router tables. Ray wanted our opinions on Gorilla Glue. Chris wanted advice on clamping straightedges and cutting large sheets of ply.

Tom’s Tip: Uh oh, you dropped some screws!!

 

WT41

Status Report:

Where have we been for nearly 2 months?!?!?! Marc gives a Gadget Station update and talks about the “project hump.” Matt announces that his next project will be a bedside table for Madison.

Around the Web:

Working Wood by Tom Fidgen
Luthiercast
Upholstered Chair Project Video

News:
Final Cut sawblades.
Amana’s In-Tech router bits with replaceable cutterheads.

Steel City introduces spiral head lunchbox planer.
Auriou rasps back in business!

Hot Deals:
50% OFF ROUTER TABLE STARTER PACKAGE
Regular Catalog Price $239.97 E-Direct Special Offer $119.99

Bessey Tradesman Bar Clamps Buy 2 – Get the 3rd FREE!

Topics:
IWF Review- DeWalt TrackSaw, Delta Unisaw, General International’s adjustable height bandsaw.
Intro to Spokeshaves – low-angle vs. standard – flat vs. round bottom

Tom’s Tip:
Keeping the shop clean.

WT40

This is the shortest episode of Wood Talk Online ever! Its actually just a quick announcement about our little summer break and I decided to answer a couple emails while I had the recording going. We will be back in September!

WT39

Status Report: Marc goes into a bit more detail on his Gadget Station: grain direction and acclimation. Matt is making his new bench out of……….(drum roll)……….PLYWOOD!

Around the Web:
If you aren’t on Twitter, you are missing out on the fun! We also review Charles Neils website, AntiquesBuiltDaily.com. Charles has a great collection of incredible videos and DVDs on all kinds of topics. We can all learn something from Charles’ years of experience.

Safety reminder – Tablesaw injuries to remind us of what we learned during safety week.

Review of Final Cut Saw Blade and more info.

News:
Woodworking in America hands-on classes sell like hotcakes!!
Fine Woodworking starting to sell ebook versions of popular titles. Currently you can buy individual chapters downloadable as PDFs for $2 or buy the whole book (ebook version) for $15.

Hot Deals:
Pop WW’ing 50% off back issues
Bessey K-Body Clamps 25% Off
Simple Green Cleaning towels (pop up container) almost 40% off.

Topics:
We discuss a recent article by Bob Flexner in the August issue of Popular Woodworking, titled “7 Myths of Polyurethane”

if you have a question or comment, you can email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or leave us a message at 623-242-2450.

WT38

Status Report: Marc mentions his Viewer Survey and the upcoming project: the Gadget Station. Matt is finishing the release of his awesome Child’s Bookcase project.

Around the Web:
We review Wood Shop Demos. This is a great site for seeing demos of numerous woodworking products, from unpacking to usage. Its a must see! John Lucas has put a lot of work into this site and you can spend days there checking out all the demos.

News:
Release of the Festool Kapex.

Delta Tools is moving production back to USA to keep costs down. Check out the Popular Woodworking Blog Post.

Woodworking in America Registration

Hot Deals:
Eagle America Router Bits: 10% off two Bits, 15% off 3 bits

14-Day Free Trial at FineWoodworking.com

10% Off Whiteside Router Bits (all July) at participating Woodcraft Stores.

Between May 1, 2008 and July 31, 2008:
Buy a DW735 Heavy-Duty 13″ Three Knife, Two Speed Thickness Planer get a $50 Mail-in Rebate.
or
Buy a DW718 Heavy-Duty 12″ Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw and get a DW723 Heavy-Duty Miter Saw Stand Instantly (at participating distributors only).

Topics:
We take some time to address a listener question concerning marketing his woodworking business. Nicole (Mrs. Wood Whisperer) makes a guest appearance as she shares some of her marketing expertise with us. Etsy.com was mentioned as a place to sell your hand-made items. VistaPrint.com for GreatFXBusinesscards.com.

Voicemails:

Shannon asked what Matt and Marc do to promote their blogs.

if you have a question or comment, you can email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or leave us a message at 623-242-2450.

WT37

We are trying a new format for this show, where we actually have a number of segments including News, Hot Deals, Around the Web, and more….

Status Report: Marc has a new column in Popular Woodworking Magazine and is currently working on an entertainment center. Matt is finishing up his series on a very cool bookcase.

Around the Web:
We review a great blog from Kari Hultman called The Village Carpenter.

Matt discusses a great blog entry he found over at the Highland Woodworking blog about removing and preventing rust on tools.

News:
The Jointmaker Pro from Bridge City Tool Works is the latest tool to make waves in the woodworking community.
Our original blog post.

Hot Deals:
Irwin Quick Clamp deal from Rockler. You get four 6″ clamps, plus two 12″ and two 24″ clamp/spreaders. Plus, they’ve added a FREE heavy-duty cloth bag.

Epifanes Marine Varnish from Jamestown Distributors – $16.02/500ml

Bessey K-Bodies Clamp Blowout at Woodcraft. 24″ K-Body Clamp reg. $35.99 Sale $26.99, 40″ K-Body Clamp reg. $44.99 Sale $33.74

True Value Coupon – $5 coupon off $25 purchase

Ryobi buy one combo kit get a free Ryobi One Plus tool by mail in rebate from Home Depot.

Topics:
Humidity and its effect on finishes. For reference:
http://www.minwax.com/how_to/faq/?Q=05 http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Humidity_and_Conversion.html

Tom’s Tip (from Tom’s Workbench): Waxing the sole of your plane.

Voicemails:
Denis is having problems centering a guide bushing on his DeWalt router. And Jack wanted to know what block plane Matt recommend for trimming tenons.

Email:
Tom wanted some details on when its appropriate to pre-raise the grain.

if you have a question or comment, you can email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or leave us a message at 623-242-2450.

WT36

Topics:

A Safety Week recap. Matt’s upcoming steam bending class. A reminder about Woodworking in America– Hand Tool & Technique Conference: Nov. 14th-16th in Berea, KY. A voicemail about hickory and color change from Denis, the Teenage Woodworker, and a voicemail from Craig about jointing boards with a hand plane and possible glue up issues. We then went into our main feature for the day: a basic review of bench vises. We have a few recommended articles for reference: “Making Sense of Vises” by Garrett Hack – May/June 2007 Fine Woodworking and also “The Workbench” by Graham Blackburn – Tools & Shop 2002 also by Fine Woodworking. We also reference Chris Schwarz’s Workbenches Book.

WT35

Topics:

Marc’s visit with Popular Woodworking and the Wood Werks Supply Inc., and Woodworker’s Safety Week. Voicemails about bandsaw blade sparks, flattening waterstones, and vacuum veneer press systems.

We also discussed a really cool woodworking event coming up: Woodworking in America– Hand Tool & Technique Conference: Nov. 14th-16th in Berea, KY. Appearances by Roy Underhill, Frank Klausz, Michael Dunbar, Adam Cherubini, James Blauvelt, Robin Lee, Thomas Lie-Nielsen, Larry Williams and Don McConnell, John Economaki, Konrad Sauer, Wayne Anderson, Ron Hock, and Mike Wenzloff.

If you are interested in attending, please visit the web site that is dedicated to this conference at WoodworkinginAmerica.com and sign up for the conference’s newsletter. You’ll then be the first to be notified of when registration will open (it will be before July 1) and the pricing for this event.

Then we took on tons of LIVE CHAT QUESTIONS. Because the show turned out to be so long, I didn’t include our normal after-show comments. So expect a bunch of those next week including advice for setting up shop for $2500 (a question from last week).

Related Links: Joewoodworker.com, Veneersupplies.com, Vacupress.com, inspensive vacuum pump

If you want to leave us a voicemail: 623-242-2450

WT34

Topics

April is turning out to be a very busy month with lots of travel. Marc recently attended the Festool Grand Opening event. Matt went to a Lie-Nielsen tool seminar/demo last weekend. Improper safety techniques in a woodworking class. The announcement of the first annual Woodworker’s Safety Week (May 5th – May 9th). We get Rick Rolled. Hollow chisel mortisers. Tom’s Tip. And if you had $2500 to set up a shop, what would you buy? Leave us a voicemail and let us know!

WT33

Topics: The one year anniversary of Wood Talk Online. Matt’s class with The Schwarz. Selecting a conversion gun for your particular air compressor. Building a lightbox for photographing your work. Cambering a plane blade (see video below). Kaleo’s “Tip from the Workshop”.

WT32

General

Marc is going to finish enclosing an outdoor patio and turn it in to a dedicated finishing room. What types of features would you want to have in this type of room? A utility sink, specialized lighting, or something else? Let us know what you think.

Marc and Matt discuss Marc’s experiences with the Earlex HVLP system.

Lazy people food (shop tools and materials): What else could you add to this list?
Peanut butter and jelly pre-mixed in a jar
Center-finding rulers
Pre-made calls
Chamfering jig for block plane
Magnetic saw guide
Solid wood edging
Card scraper holder
Pre-made winding sticks

Lighting in the shop. What’s the ideal lighting for finishing (or in Marc and Matt’s case, even filming) in the shop? Marc and Matt also talk about photographing your work. With a semi-modern digital camera and the right lighting, you can get great pictures for sending to magazines or creating a portfolio. Marc just bought a lightbox from Steve Kaeser.

Voicemails / Emails

Dave – East St. Louis
Marc, I understand you take commission on pieces and you probably accept credit cards. I was looking at PayPal, but I’m not too thrilled about it. For smaller shops, have you experienced anything or can you point me in a direction?

Jason – New Brunswick, Canada
Saw a magazine the other day that had a beautiful picture of a set of built-ins in a craftsman style where the drawers had through-tenons. Everything was white oak except the drawer faces were basswood, but the tenons that came through were black. I don’t imagine they used ebony, but I don’t know if they used some kind of dye combination. I just can’t figure out how to achieve that look cause I think it looks great. Can you guys comment on how you could achieve that in terms of gluing it up and finishing it? I’d really like to give it a shot.

WT31

General

Kaleo came out to see Marc while visiting family after returning from Australia. Nicole, Marc, and Kaleo went to In-N-Out Burger for lunch. The next episode of The Wood Whisperer will also feature Kaleo.

Matt is going to take an all-day class with “The Schwarz” called ‘The Forgotten Art of Handsaws’. The class will be in Strerling Heights, Michigan. Matt has also found this to be a convenient way to pick up a few new tools.

Marc is looking to start attending more live classes and schools to learn new things and broaden his experiences in the woodworking world.

Lie-Nielsen is running around 30 days out on orders due to the overwhelming demand. Are other tool manufacturers this covered up with business? Could there be a big resurgence in the craft? Or maybe more people are realizing the difference between finely made tools compared to those found at a big box store?

A couple of new products:
* Powermatic Air Cleaner – Featured on the back cover in the last issue of Fine Woodworking.
* New router offerings and multi-function table from Festool that are due out in May.

Voicemails / Emails

Ben – Connecticut
I have a question about designing a table in general, but in particular a desk I’m going to try to build. I’m in the military and I move every few years so any piece of furniture I build has got to be able to be put on a moving truck and not get destroyed and be able to be moved around the house. I’d like to build solid legs that don’t come apart, but that’s really not practical. Most commercial furniture has bolts to fit in the corners to fit in place. I’d like to do something better than that, but still have legs that detach. Is there any way to design the legs of a table in general but a desk in particular so that they come apart? Would something like a stop dovetail joint be appropriate? Would that work without glue in it?

Skee
I just bought myself some Forstner bits and when I got them out of the box… well, I don’t understand how they’re going to cut a flat bottom when they have what looks like a brad point in the middle of the bit that is clearly going to have to go deeper than the rest of the bit. So, in the center, there seems to be a centering point that would help keep the bit aligned and steady as it makes that first initial cut, but how am I going to get a flat bottom out of that? Are there two different kinds of Forstner bits? One that has a flat bottom and the other than has the little centering widget there?

Jim – New Jersey
I just finished watching Marc’s episode 6 on jointers and planers, and I’ve got a quesion. I don’t own either one, but I do have a pretty good router setup with a router table. I’m just curious, if I was buying just a planer to plane both sides of a board, that would give me both faces parallel then use the router and router table to edge joint the faces. Would that work? Just looking to get some feedback to see if I’m making the right decisions.

WT30

General

Been checking out the Lee Valley catalog. Don’t have one, you can request one. Marc talks about drawing bows available, and Matt mentions a “Golden Ratio” ruler that he spotted.

Matt talks about Kaleo now teaching a sharpening class using the Tormek system which leads to Marc and Matt discussing “Scary Sharp”, water stones, and manual vs. automated sharpening systems.

Marc’s table top dilemma: Marc reaches out to the community for ideas and opinions on designing the table top for his current project. Marc and Matt discuss what they do when they hit a roadblock when designing a project and breaking down barriers when using new materials for the first time.

Local woodworking guilds / clubs: How do you keep the interest going? Seems like a lot of people are looking online for community rather than their local clubs or affiliations. Let us know what you think.

Voicemails / Emails

Marty
This may sound like a silly question, but my wife has asked me to build her a simple chest of drawers. It will replace one we bought at a store that has seen better days. It will be housed in our master bath. I envision nothing more than a simple carcass with drawers on slides to hold all of her hair products and other appliances such as curling iron, hair dryer, etc. My question concerns drawers: Is it best to size the carcass to fit the size and number of drawers I want or determine the size of the carcass and try to figure out how many drawers and what size will fit inside the carcass. Now the area where the chest will fit is approximately 30 inches wide. To blend the cheset in with the existing cabinetry, I plan on putting doors on the carcass to cover the drawers. Any help would be appreciated.

Schwiggs
I’m looking to upgrade some of my personal protection gear and wanted your opinion on what you use most in your shops. Currently I have a decent pair of glasses, but they don’t seal around the face terribly well. I wouldn’t mind getting something that keeps more out. For my ears I just use little expandable foam ear plugs, and I’m looking for something that has more noise cancellation that I could use with the iPod. Finally, for my lungs, I got a simple drywall mask that I wear while doing really dusty operations, but I’d like to get a respirator as well. So finally the question: Which of these items do you guys use most around the shop and where do you see the biggest gain. As for brands, I’ll probably just go with The Wood Whisperer Store and get ideas from there.

Greg – Tampa
I have an antique bird’s eye maple secretary desk. I recently found some termite damage. Now, the damage is in a small piece which is about 1 inch by 24 inches. This piece is attached by screws and can be removed. I have killed the termites and can easily make this piece, but I prefer to keep it original. Do you know something I could inject into the voids to make this piece solid again. It would need to be something that goes in liquid and then turns solid. Do you have any suggestions?

Scott – Chicago
I was wondering if there are any books that deal with the woodworkers themselves. I was wondering if you guys know of any books that talk about the woodworker, his experience, why he does woodworking. Kind of a life story sort of thing.

Unknown caller
On a recent show I listened to there was a question about router bits. Specifically, router bits for edge banding and the diameter of the bits. I was expecting an answer that would be consistent with what you said previously, Marc. I was expecting you to say that the larger the diameter, the slower the speed of the router which may be more appropriate for some materials than others. But you didn’t say that, and now I’m wondering if maybe I misunderstand the size of the router bits and the speeds on the router. Can you help me with this?

Relevant Links:
Workbenches
Kaleo’s Workshop
The Impractical Cabinetmaker
Woodworking Wit & Wisdom

WT29

General:
* The President of the local Woodworkers Association in Arizona calls Marc to see if he would be interested in being a judge for their anuual Excellence in Woodworking event.
(link for Arizona Woodworkers Association: http://www.azfinewoodworkers.org/default.asp)
* Matt is expanding his finishing techniques and using brushing lacquer for the first time.
* Marc has been in contact with Charles Neil, who is a big fan of the Earlex HVLP spray systems. Marc has just gotten one, and will review once he’s had time to work with it.
(link for Charles Neil: http://www.antiquesbuiltdaily.com/)
(link for Earlex HVLP spray systems: http://www.earlex.com/hvlp.php)

Voicemails / Emails:
* Anonymous – Voicemail
This question is for Marc since he maintains the website. When I’m viewing the WTO website, under the WTO “Let’s Talk Shop” logo, there is a big white box that looks to be some sort of control that isn’t working. Is it just my computer, or is there a problem viewing the site with Internet Explorer? Is this just that silly old PC Internet Explorer thing?

* Ken – California
I have a question about running PVC for air lines in the shop. I ran 1/2″ schedule 40 in my old workshop, and it stayed up for at least a decade. I’m wondering if I just got lucky on the pipe or glue being good quality. I would like to hear your take on this.

Plumbing a Shop for Air article

* Bob – California (He’s in the car again…)
I watched the jointing video from Hendrik. I noticed that he kept his factory blade guard on there. Of course I threw mine in the trash, and I’ve been working without one. I am now sufficiently scared if a stud like Hendrik is using his blade guard, I need one. I’m now considering an aftermarket blade guard. What are your thoughts? I’m leaning towards the Exaktor or maybe the Excalibur blade guards.

WT28

General:
* This season on New Yankee Workshop, Norm is building… kitchen cabinets!? Do you find watching Norm build cabinets interesting? Or is this season a bit boring to you? Let us know what you think!
* Check out Dave Noftz’s website and podcast at modernwoodshop.com.
* Matt signed up for a handsaw class with Chris Schwarz.
* There are lots of new blogs and podcasts about woodworking starting up.
– The Teenage Woodworker (http://lumberjocks.com/teenagewoodworker/blog/3383)
– Dave Noftz (http://www.modernwoodshop.com)
– Kaleo (http://www.kaleosworkshop.com) (Note, no longer active)
– Gord Graff (http://blip.tv/gord-graff) (http://www.gordgraff.com/)
* Matt is thinking of upgrading his table saw. But, should he upgrade or buy new? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
* Glen Huey: Article on Popular Woodworking’s blog about new plunge cut saws (similar to Festool’s) being made by DeWalt and Makita available in Europe. (http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/plunge-cut-saws-available-in-europe)

Voicemails / Emails:
* Skee – Minnesota
I’m in Minnesota where it’s cold. My workshop is out in a detached garage. If I put a big portable heater out there and temporarily heat the space for a day at a time, am I going to harm my tools or hurt the wood by letting it cycle through hot and cold if I heat the garage up to 50 or 60 to stand being out there, then it drops down to 20 degrees at night? I know I can’t do glue-ups and finishing in this weather, but what about milling the wood and doing cuts? Then I can wait till the Spring to do the glue-ups and finishing. What do you think?

* Roberto – Voicemail
I have a question concerning a type of wood species. I am going to build an entire bedroom set. I’m looking for kiln-dried Manayo wood. I’ve been looking on the internet, and I can’t find it at all. Maybe it goes by another name?
We couldn’t find anything, but if you know of a source for Manayo wood, leave us a comment, send us an email, or leave us a voicemail so we can pass the information along.

* Dan – Florida
I have three quick questions for you:
1) what do you think of the Leigh Isoloc dovetail jig templates? Would you buy them? Do you like them? Would you use them?
2) I’m pretty new, and when I apply my polyurethane after I stain, I get bubbles on the surface. Is that from the kind of brush I’m using or the way I’m putting it on?
3) I’m in the market for a Powermatic Jointer. I can probably only fit a 6″ in the shop, but I’ve been looking at their 8″ jointers. Which one would you guys go with? I’ve been looking at the 8″ model 60B or the parallelogram one.

Leigh Isoloc templates

* Bob – California (It’s currently raining… and he’s in the car.)
Just wanted to check out your new technology and give you a shout out. I was at a furniture restoration store, and a guy was refinishing a piece using a wax that was already stained. The wax looked like it already had stain in it. (It looks like Bob got cut off here, but we’re going to answer the question he was probably going to ask about tinted wax!)

WT27

We covered a bunch of topics in Episode 27, including The Wood Whisperer Network, Kaleo’s new baby Taz, Christmas gifts, Matt’s Stretchy Pants, Chris Schwarz’s new book Workbenches, the new Woodworking Magazine announcement, flattening workbenches, and new changes at The Woodworking Channel.

We also answered a few great emails. David wanted our opinions concerning copying other woodworkers’ designs. Brian has a small shop and needs some pointers for using the space efficiently. And finally Tony asks about using a fence with his new #7 plane.

And don’t forget to download your free issue of Woodworking Magazine.

If you have a woodworking question, please feel free to email us at WoodTalkOnline@gmail.com or call us at (623) 242-2450.

WT26

General:
– Tis the time for pre-holiday happenings!
– “The crazy woodnet article that won’t die.”
– Marc and Matt discuss Marc’s search for a long jointer plane primarily to be used to flatten panels and to flatten his workbench “the old fashioned way.”
– Matt talks a little about Chris Schwarz’s new workbench book.
– Kaleo, regular contributor to WTO, is coming home soon. Marc has been helping him to get his new blog setup.

Voicemails / Emails:
Glen – Email
Currently I have a cheapo jig for drilling pocket holes. It is preset for 3/4″ wood. I’ve noticed fine metal shavings coming out of the guide with every use, and there seems to be some play in the jig itself. Recently, I was working on some shelving made of plywood with this jig, and several times the screw blew out the end of the piece. I haven’t drilled more than 75 holes with this jig, and I’m wondering if this is just really a poor jig or if it’s operator error. I’m pretty much convinced that I need to get a Kreg jig and get out of the land of cheapos. Which Kreg would you guys recommend?

Andrew – Email
What’s the best finishing technique for a person who does not have access to a spray gun, a booth, or both? What’s the best way to finish a piece of wood furniture if it’s going to be stained first? What is the difference between stain and varnish?

Jonathan – Email
Here are a list of questions to keep you podcasting in to the New Year:
1) What is the dumbest thing you’ve ever done in the workshop?
2) If you were the great “woodini” and could see in to the future, what do you think are going to be the newest trends in woodworking? New tools? New techniques? Will the hand tool fanatics finally rise up and defeat the horsepower hordes in a final ragnarok of woodworking?
3) What are your woodworking New Year’s resolutions?
4) Who would win in a full contact cage match: Norm Abram, Scott Phillips, or Roy Underhill?
5) What is your least favorite woodworking tool that you can’t live without?
What are your answers to these questions? Let us know in the comments!

Rudy – Email
I’ve got a 3 HP cabinet saw with a Forrest Woodworker 2 blade. When I rip wood, I get a smooth cut on the piece between the blade and the fence, but the piece on the outside of the blade is always rough. I’ve checked my saw alignment and it’s all fine. My miter slots are parallel to the blade, and the fence is parallel to the miter slots. Do you think that this rough cut could be a result of the blade being dull? Any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

WT25

This week, Matt and Marc are wingin’ it! Part of the reason is because of Marc’s technical recording difficulties. Marc is currently working on a sculpted end-table and for The Wood Whisperer and Matt brings up his concerns about The Woodworking Shows. Marc then reviews the new tools being offered by Festool. Our first email was from Austin who needed finishing advice for his new kitchen table. Our second voicemail came from Roberto who wanted to know why most folks opt for router tables, instead of shapers. Marc recommends this Fine Woodworking Article. Our emails include questions about patterns and templates, jointer chatter, finishing the inside of a box, and mortising machines.

WT24

As we approach the holiday season, its time to think about the truly important things in life. Things like your gift list! Matt and Marc each discuss their top 5 most wanted tools. Price and shop size were not a consideration. These are dream lists. So if you have a dream list of your own, give us a call at 623-242-5180 and tell us about it. We will play them on the show next week.

We also read a few emails as well. Luis had a question about the many different types of glue on the market. Mark asked for information on cleaning, restoring and identifying old hand tools. Matt recommended checking out www.supertool.com (Patrick’s Blood and Gore – The Superior Works), www.antique-used-tools.com (Bob Kaune’s Hand Plane Parts) and www.oldToolsShop.com. Mark also recommends checking out the Internet Archive for old woodworking texts. And finally, Mike needs some advice on gluing up miters for a recipe box.

Don’t forget if you have a question or you want to tell us what’s on your wishlist, you can leave us a message at 623-242-2450, or you can email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com

WT23

Welcome to Wood Talk Online Episode 23. As always, if you have a question or comment, you can email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or leave us a message at 623-242-5180. We had a few audio issues in this episode so please bear with us.

This week we are graced, once again, with the presence of Tom Iovino. Tom gives us the low down on his new dining room table he finished just in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Marc tells us all about his recent 3-day seminar in Oklahoma.

Our first email was from Steve who is looking for advice on selecting quality hand planes on a budget. Our second email is from Zac who brags about his new Lie Nielsen router plane. Our third email is from John who recommends a book called Architectural Graphic Standards, published by The American Institute of Architects. Our final email was from Rudy who recommends Tried and True finishes and provided us with this excellent spreadsheet for calculated wood movement.

Our first voicemail was from Alan who is having trouble with his tablesaw binding during light cuts. Our second voicemail is from Roberto who is inquiring about the Laguna tablesaw. Our third voicemail is from Derryl who asks about Ohio Certified Stains.

A very happy and safe Thanksgiving to everyone!

WT22

General:
– Marc talks about his special secret project that he can’t talk about.
– Marc will be presenting at the Tulsa Woodworker’s event in Oklahoma.
– Cooler weather is settling in, and Matt is getting his shop setup for it.
– Matt attended a wood show in the Grand Rapids area and took a couple of seminars.
– Matt was also recognized by a listener!

Updates:
Woodtalk Online show notes and episodes will now be available from both The Wood Whisperer and Matt’s Basement Workshop sites.
Also, Woodtalk Online will become the host of The Wood Whisperer Network, which will consist of 5 or 6 blogs for regular contributions.
If there are some articles missing, they should return shortly as things are being transitioned.

Voicemails / Emails:
Big Ben-
I was recently doing some research on dust collection and ran across a website by Bill Pentz. Bill makes a couple of points:
1) Very fine saw dust is a big health problem.
2) Just about any dust collection system sold to hobbyists is woefully inadequate at managing the dust.
Certainly Bill makes some good points, but I am looking for some second opinions. Buying a dust collector with a 5 HP motor and running 6″ duct to all my tools simply isn’t going to happen for many reasons. Are you familiar with Bill’s discussion? What are your thoughts?

Bill Pentz article

Chuck-
1) Do you guys prefer to use a table saw or a miter saw for making cross cuts? For long pieces, isn’t the miter saw easier?
2) In the days of cheap disposable furniture, do you guys experience a lot of sticker shock when quoting projects? Would you guys ever lower your standards, and use for example particle board, in order to get a sale?

Chuck-
I was at the tool show yesterday, and they were demonstrating the Festool TS55. The guy said that the Festool TS55 with the MFT (multi-function table) could replace the table saw in a shop. What are your thoughts? Could the TS55 replace the table saw?

Darrell-
You mentioned on one of your podcasts a website where you could get dimensions for furniture. I am trying to build some chairs, and I’m looking for the right height to build the chairs for the bar area that is 36″ above the floor. Could you give me the website again or let me know a way of determining the proper height for these things?

Furniture Design Standards

Scott-
I just bought a wood smoker yesterday. I would like to use up some of the scrap wood in my basement, but I don’t know which woods are dangerous. I am wondering if you know a source for what woods are usable in a smoker and which ones I should stay away from. Scott also wrote in to clarify that he’s primarily looking for a resource that would tell which exotics may or may not be good for use in a smoker.

Barbecuesgalore.com Wood Chart

Greg-
I have a question about finishing the inside of a chest. I made my son a toy box out of ash, and I used a wipe-on finish on the inside. Now my wife wants me to make her a box for her yarn (she’s a knitter), but I don’t want my wife’s yarn to have an odor of finish after being closed up in the box. If you guys have an idea of how to do that, it would be great. I am also going to be making a chest of drawers for my wife and I, and I don’t want that smell to be in our clothes. Do you guys usually finish the inside of your drawers, or do you just do the fronts?

Official Crap on Matt Day
Anonymous – Voicemail
Hey guys, good show. I just listened to the first episode. Matt, I’m going to say this as delicately as possible and please take this in a good way. Could you please cut the laughing down to about half of what you’re doing? Please. Love you guys.

WT21

It’s the beginning of November and it’s time to announce another winner of the Woodslicer Resaw Bandsaw Blade from the great folks over at Highland Woodworking. So congratulations to Dan Messina!!

Today’s episode is a lot different than most and you get a little trick or treat to round out October. Marc and Matt have decided not to do any prep for the show and you get to listen to them raw and uncut, a hilarious if not painful experience for all involved.

We randomly select a few emails to answer for today’s show, like John’s question about using exotics like bubinga and purpleheart for the first time. Sam’s feedback and question on the Mini Mite 3 spray gun system, and Zac’s wondering about using molding head cutters on a table saw in lieu of a router system.

Recommended books for wood identification and use include The Real Wood Bible by Nick Gibbs and Wood Identification & Use by Terry Porter.

If you have comments, questions or feedback drop us a line at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or call us on our voice mail line at 623 242-2450.

WT20

It’s time for another episode of Wood Talk Online and our hosts are at the height of their tangent-ny goodness.
Marc mentioned a new set of videos available at Finewoodworking.com called Getting Started in Woodworking. Marc also mentioned that he decided it’s time to start thinking about going green and introduced the subject of water-based finishes by providing these great links to help you learn more about the subject:

WoodNet Forum Post

Rockler Article
Making a Collapsible Spray Booth

It’s obvious that woodworking season is upon us, given the large number of voicemails and emails that came in for this episode. Chris calls in asking about wood movement and Marc’s suggestion is to check out “The Shrinkulator“. Next is Fred who apparently has a problem with holes being drilled in the wrong place. Bob has some facial hair that might not work with a dust mask and the last voicemail for this episode is from Chet who asks about which is our favorite jig in the workshop.

We have emails too, starting with Rex who wants to know if we have any ideas on a good choice of stock for making trekking poles used for hiking. Zac in Vegas is having trouble finding the motivation to head into the shop, every now and then, and is curious to see if we have any helpful ideas to rekindle the fire. Joey’s making some coasters and is looking for a way to apply a finish without drips, sags or losing his mind. And last but not least is Tony, who’s looking to get a mirror like shine to his hand plane and chisel blades.

As always if you have any comment, questions or feedback drop us a line at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or call us at 623-242-2450. And if you’re interested in getting your name in for a chance to win a WoodSlicer Resaw Blade from Highland Woodworking send us an email at wtopromo@gmail.com .

WT19

General News:

Marc is going to Connecticut to spend some time with the good folks at Fine Woodworking (Taunton Press).

Special Guest Tom Iovino:

Today we’re having an email Q&A with special guest Tom Iovino of TomsWorkbench.com

Emails:

Dan the Man
“I’m considering getting a drum sander. How much do you use your drum sander? How does it fit in you workflow, and what tasks do you use it for? Finally, have you [Marc] been happy with your Performax? And can it be used to roll out pie crusts?”

Scott
“Long-time listener, first-time emailer. I was wondering what would be the best stain and finish to apply to children’s toys? I’m a self-taught woodworker, and I’ve been making children’s toys because they’re smaller and easier to do in a weekend or so. I’ve usually left them unfinished or painted them, but I’d like to show off the wood grain that makes them a wooden toy. I usually use pine as it’s cheaper and simpler to cut.”

Unknown
“I have a question about the Festool Domino system. My question is about the loose tenon joinery and doesn’t Beadlock do a very similar thing? I know the Domino is more of a production machine and has various sizes, but is that really the only difference? As an amateur woodworker who rarely uses his biscuit joiner, am I missing something? If I wanted to experiment with loose tenon joints, would the Beadlock system be good enough to start with?”

Skee
“What is the drawback to making rip cuts with a crosscut saw blade on the table saw? Why not use is for ripping as well as crosscuts?”

WT18

Welcome back to Wood Talk Online. The woodworking season is underway and your emails are rolling in as we speak. So if you have a question, comment or some feedback regarding something you’ve heard here at WTO send us an email at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or call us at our voicemail (623) 242-2450.

Marc starts us off with a inside look at his and Nicole’s recent visit to the Podcast and New Media Expo where they had a chance to rub elbows with fellow podcasters and meet some new “friends”. This leads us to our next subject where we talk about Marc’s recent article for the Wood Talk Online website regarding shop setup, so as soon as you get a chance, head over there to check it out.

Of course you’ve got questions and we try to answer them. Our first email comes from our longtime listener Skee who seems to be having a couple of different problems. First of all he’s having a staining problem on a project he’s refinishing. Apparently after letting the stain sit for 2 days it’s still not completely dry and comes off easily on his rag, any ideas what could be wrong? Skee’s second question is how to remove 1/16″ of thickness over a 10″ length on both faces of the same 8′ board without the aide of a dado blade.

Steve sends us an email curious about how and where people do woodworking when they don’t have a dedicated shop, especially when you’re tight on space and live in a small apartment? Oh yeah and throw into the mix the fact that your spouse isn’t as convinced as you are that a shop works great in the living room.

Both Jeff and Marc (different Marc, same spelling) have questions about building exterior projects. Jeff’s looking for answers on which materials to build a deck or gazebo with that won’t void his termite contract and Marc is concerned about the effect of cutting composite materials on his saw blades.

Fred offers us some feedback on using his dovetail jig for making tight through dovetails and also shares his painful experience with making dovetails in plywood. And last but not least, it’s time to giveaway another Woodslicer Resaw Bandsaw blade from the great folks over at Highland Woodworking. So a huge congratulations to Brent Conaway, this month’s winner!!

And here are some great links for setting up your shop, courtesy of FineWoodWorking.com:

Smart Shop in a One-Car Garage– Space-saving solutions for a small work area

A Layout Kit for Small Shops– Modeling in two or three dimensions is a lot easier than moving around your heavy machinery to get a shop plan you like. By: John Yurko

Workshop Tour: An Efficient Garage Workshop
-With wheel-mounted tools and cabinets, a two-car garage transforms into a versatile workshop

Rock-Solid Plywood Bench
-Build this simple but versatile workbench in a weekend for less than $250. And you don’t need a jointer or planer. By: Cecil Braeden

An Island Workshop– A central island for power tools, work surfaces, and dust collection makes the most of this two-car garage shop. With Alan DeVilbiss

All About Lumber Storage


All about Tool Storage

WT17

The end of summer is not only traditionally the time of year when school starts back up, it’s also when most woodworkers head back into their shops and start cranking out all those projects that were neglected because of too much summer fun and frolicking…or perhaps heat.

So in this episode of Wood Talk Online, we have fun and frolicking of our own as we share with you some of the most recent articles posted on the website, including Joe Woodworkers veneer article, Tom talking about ‘Old Ugly’ and many others. As always, the listeners of Wood Talk Online share with us their experiences and have some great feedback for when we go off on a tangent or two and miss the mark on a previous question.

Allen wrote in to share his hard learned lessen on a new use for Boeshield’s T-9. MoparDude sets us straight on why there are multiple sizes of flush trim bits. And speaking of questions we have a few of those too! Roberto’s question about half blind dovetails vs through dovetails sparks a near all out disagreement between our hosts (the first ever!!). Larry wonders how he can dry a huge haul of Mahogany that he’s come across. Matt suggests checking out John Wilson’s site at ShakerOvalBox.com. Evan in Japan ponders the question of “do I really need a cyclone dust collector?” And we have some voicemails too!

For your comments, questions and feedback send them to woodtalkonline@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at (623) 242-2450. Also don’t forget the giveaways too. To win a Highland Woodworking Woodslicer Bandsaw blade email us at WTOpromo@gmail.com and to enter the FesCool Giveaway at The Wood Whisperer, send your correct answer to Festool@TheWoodWhisperer.com

WT16

In this episode of Wood Talk Online we don’t mess around, we get right into answering your questions. OK, we do go off on some tangents but it wouldn’t be the same show without them!

First things first, a huge Wood Talk Online congratulations to Barry Johnson from Ewing, New Jersey! Barry is our very first winner of the monthly ‘WoodSlicer’ Bandsaw Blade giveaway from Highland Woodworking. Don’t lose heart if you’re not Barry, there’s always next month when we give another ‘WoodSlicer’ Blade away.

Marc and Matt love to flex their thinking muscles, so of course we have questions to answer too. Sed left us a voicemail on our new landline number and asked about power carving tools. We also have a few emails to answer, beginning with Glen’s inquiry into the use of a lubricant to keep his tablesaw gears working smoothly. Doug from Memphis is searching for really “cool” ideas to control the heat in his new 20’x30′ outbuilding. Stephane is wondering about a finish for the interior of a blanket chest he’s built, and we also have some feedback from Josh regarding he’s choice of the SawStop Tablesaw after comparing comparable models from more established manufacturers.

If you too have a question or comment you can reach us at either woodtalkonline@gmail.com or you can leave us a voicemail at (623) 242-2450.

Remember, if you haven’t entered for the monthly Highland Woodworking ‘WoodSlicer’ giveaway get your name entered by dropping us a line at wtopromo@gmail.com.

WT15

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. We now have an actual phone number for leaving voicemail messages! The number is. Just dial 623-242-2450 and leave us a message – it’s not a toll free call, unless you live near Marc – but it’s worth every penny! Of course you can still email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at the website too!

In this episode we hear more about some of the great new contributers to the blogs at the Wood Talk Online website. And we also learn that Matt and Marc aren’t the only woodworkers getting on the podcasting bandwagon. Some of our fellow podcasters include:

Matt’s Basement Workshop

The Wood Whisperer

Stu’s Shed

Woodworking Online

Woodworkers Resource

ToolTalk

Novice Garage Woodworker

Of course we answer questions. Starting with Jeff’s voice mail asking about recommendations for friction free surfaces. Jim’s request for clues to tell when to resharpen jointer/planer knives. J’s link recommendation for a possible answer to “what constitutes a good basic toolkit”. Jim’s concern about drawer clearance and finally Dan’s questions about buying 20% extra wood for his projects.

WT14

New Website:

Check out the new website at woodtalkonline.com. Expanded content including an expanded blog with several woodworkers contributing articles regularly. The new content on the site will also be used as general content for the shows!

Giveaways:

The giveaways mentioned in this episode are no longer available.

AWFS:

Marc recently returned from AWFS in Las Vegas… podcasts and videos coming.
Steel City Granite Countertops
The riving knife revolution… new UL mandate (UL 987) requires all new table saws to have riving knives by 2008 with existing products to be converted by 2010.
Interview with David and Victoria Marks
Marc got a chance to talk with Chris Schwarz and Glen Huey of Popular Woodworking.
Marc meets Norm Abram (with Nicole’s help)!

Voicemails:

Kaleo – Tasmania, Australia
I’m doing some schooling at the Australian School of Fine Furniture. I recently had some hands-on time with the Festool Domino, and I also recently watched Marc’s episode 20 on the step stool made with the Domino. I was really wondering how it turned out and how the through tenons turned out. I know the domino is made of compressed beech, and I really wondered how it looked oiled up or just finished if you wedge them.

Barry W. – South Dakota
I have most of my shop on casters, and I just got a 17″ Grizzly Band Saw and 8″ Grizzly Jointer. I wanted to know your thoughts on putting those two big pieces of equipment on caster systems.. what you thought might be done.

E-mails:

Roberto
Hey guys, I came across this video on Youtube. According to the video, this is a new show (Woodworking Together) coming in January 2008, and it’s hosted by a woman. Do you guys think it will be as good as Yankee or Woodworks (or of course Matt’s Basement Workshop or The Wood Whisperer)? I only ask because the majority of woodworkers are men… not sure how many women are really “in to woodworking.”
Note: This video is no longer available.

Josh
My question is about flush-trim router bits. What is the point of having different diameters since the point is to make a flush cut rather than cut a dado or grooves of a certain width? Why would you need a wide bit when you are most likely making a shallow cut, even if you have a large overhang? I understand the different cutting lengths, but the diameters confuse me, and I’d like to keep from having redundancy in my bit collection so I can buy more tools and wood.

WT13

The AWFS Las Vegas show is this week so if you’re in the area stop by and say hi to Marc and Nicole at the Festool booth. And last but not least, since Matt couldn’t remember the type of steel to use in hand plane blades as asked in a voicemail by Vic the answer is “O1 steel”. You’ll have to probably do a search to find where to get it. Someone sent in a link for the “Win a Weekend with Norm Sweepstakes”. Matt also mentioned the Podcast Awards. Check it out and VOTE FOR US when the voting opens!

In this episode our two hosts attempt to answer a number of questions about finishes. So many woodworkers have questions and concerns about which finish to choose, what are the differences and why, why, why??

To get the show started off we have a question from Mike in St. Paul, Minnesota asking all of the above. Luckily for us Marc has taken the time to put together the following information which should be a good guide to help get everyone pointed in the right direction:
1. Evaporative finishes (lacquer, shellac) are usually less durable and scratch easier. They easily dissolve when exposed to the appropriate solvent, which make them easier to repair i.e. a lacquered table with a bunch of scratches can be repaired by simply coating the table with lacquer thinner. When applying these finishes each coat that is applied essentially melts into the previous layer, resulting in one single layer. 2. Reactive finishes (oil-based varnish, catalyzed lacquer) are more durable but they are harder to repair. Each layer of a reactive finish simply lies on top of the previous layer, thus rather than one single layer you have multiple layers making up the thickness.

Oils – one of the first finishes woodworkers learn to love is plain old oil. Usually linseed oil or tung oil. Oils absorb into the wood and polymerize into a relatively soft rubbery material, not a film finish.
Application- best applied by thinning with mineral spirits 50% and flooding the surface. Allow absorption for several minutes, then wipe off the excess. Check again in a few hours to see if oil has come back out of the pores, if so wipe again. Allow 16-24 hrs between coats. Advantages- dummy-proof application, non-offensive odor for most people and it gives the wood a sense of depth that is hard to replicate with other finishes. Disadvantages- very little protection, yellows the wood (linseed oil more so than tung oil), longer cure times. Re-application over time is often necessary to keep the wood looking new.

4. Varnishes – there are numerous types of varnishes and what generally makes them different is the type of resin they are made with. And they all may have different durability, working, and appearance characteristics. For instance, many people feel that a standard polyurethane has too much of a plastic look so they prefer a varnish made with a different resin (just for clarification, polyurethane is a type of varnish). Application- can be applied by brushing, wiping, or spraying (wiping and brushing being the most common). Advantage- very durable. Good heat, solvent, scratch resistance, and easy to apply. Disadvantage- can make wood look “unnatural” and plastic like, and can be difficult to repair.

5. Oil/Varnish Blends – really the best of both worlds. You get the easy application of an oil with the protection of a varnish. This is the finish would I recommend most woodworkers to focus on in the beginning. Advantage- easy to apply like oil, but we get the benefit of the varnish. Versatile finish because depending on the number of coats you add, you can go from a thin topcoat to a nice protective film. Disadvantage- May not be as protective as a straight varnish. Requires longer drying times than varnish. Requires more coats to build up the film.

WT12

Welcome back to another episode of Wood Talk Online … a little late … or early depending on your point of view. This week’s episode starts out with Marc and Matt sharing their most recent experiences from the past week, some shop related and others not so woodworking related. We received some fantastic emails from many of you and just want to let you know, we may not get back with you right away but we’ll do our best to answer your questions as soon as possible. So for this week, let’s start with a neat looking video of a recreation of Leonardo DiVinci’s lathe design that was sent in by JY click here to check it out stuartking.co.uk/articles/leonardo.htm .

The next big discussion was inspired by an article sent to us from Herman regarding “Ground PVC and other Dust Collection Myths”. The reason for the article was as a follow up to our first voicemail for the epsiode sent to us by Herman asking about recommendations for ductwork (metal vs PVC), how to get the fittings to match up, and recommendations for cyclone collectors. The next voicemail was from Rob, who had a follow up suggestion for a spray finishing book. “Best of FineWoodworking Book Series- Spray Finishing and Other Techniques”. Other voicemails for this episode include Alex who shares his finishing disaster with us, Mike who asks about any recommendations for finding hardwoods to practice on without breaking the bank and another international listener Joene from Belgium who asks about plywood cutting softwares. Marc’s recommendation for Joene is to checkout cutlistplus.com and Matt turn’s to a favorite standby for finding timesavers and possible software, woodbin.com .

Our emails this week include a rather lengthy discussion of a 5 part question trying to uncover which tools do we favor the most, which are essential and which can we do without. Also which are ones we wish we had from day one to which ones do we wish we hadn’t. Jason from New York asks about suggested methods to overcome wood rot on outdoor furniture, even though he’s using Western Red Cedar he’s concerned that this rot resistant wood may need a little more help. Marc found an article at plowhearth.com/magazine/woods.asp to help shed some light on the question. Then Keith sends a little note about his inheritance of a couple of older Powermatic tools… was it just bragging or a legitimate question? Matt suggests that if anyone is interested in finding out more about their older tools to check out Old Woodworking Machinary.com at owwm.com . And to round us out this week is a question and a story from Ron. Ron asks about what are the differences between the various veneer backings available and then a nail gun story, not a good one either. Remember if you have a question, comment or suggestion send it to woodtalkonline@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at woodtalkonline.com.

WT11

Matt mentioned a recent article in Woodcraft Magazine citing a statistic released by the CDC regarding the dramatic rise in nail gun injuries due to the increased use of pneumatic nailers. We had two great voicemails, first was a question from Hloakes about the advantages of using plywood vs. dimensional lumber. The second email melted the hearts of our hosts with a “YOU’RE THE BEST” by Vicki the daughter of listener Grant. Oh yeah and her dad had a question for us too.

So we now move into the email portion of the show where first up was a question about how important it is to attend a school of woodworking. Is it important to our hosts? Our next email was a question about choosing a small shop dust collector and if we had any ideas for properly hooking one up to his DW 621 Plunge Router.

There were a couple of questions about HVLP sprayers that our Marc was able to shed some light on, while Matt just drank water and fiddled with his mic. Listener Scott shared his views on the Festool Domino and the Sawstop. He also sent us a link to check out free design software at eCabinetsystems.com . Christian from the Netherlands asks about specialized hand planes for fine joinery and James asks about sanding a routed detailed edge. Last but not least, are you interested in Nominating Wood Talk Online for a Podcast Award? Nominations start July 1st, click here for more details podcastawards.com

WT10

Marc and Matt opened up the show by discussing Marc’s 3-day training session with Festool in Las Vegas. Marc thought it was one of the best training sessions he ever had and thought the instructor Steve was terrific.Matt made the announcement about the summer awards at Lumberjocks.com. There are 2 categories: garden projects and wood joinery. Check it out-great prizes and all judging is being done by your peers.Our first voicemail was from Patrick. His question was on blade maintenance. The second was from Larry with a feedback comment on protecting tool surfaces. He had really good success using Topcoat by Bostick. With our emails we received a follow up on wood toxicity and allergies. Another follow up was from Kendall on episode 9 on toxicity issues with certain woods. Kendall made note that the stronger aromatic woods means stronger oils. Gordon asked Marc and Matt if they will be attending the AWFS show in Las Vegas in July. Matt will not be attending. Marc and his wife, Nicole, will be attending and invited everyone to stop by the Festool booth and say Hi.

Brent had a question on shop air compressors. He would like to know what would be sufficient to run a brad nailer, finish sprayer and to clean up saw dust around work area? The guys recommended stepping it up due to using a finish sprayer. Best bet is to find the spray gun you are going to use and check out the air requirements. Jorge had a question as to where do plywood joints get their strength from? Is it feasible to use a rabbit joint to join the bottom of a wall cabinet or necessary to use a dado joint so that the cabinet bottom gets supported in the lower shoulder. Does using brad nails or screws help the joint strength while the gluing sets up?

James emails in with a suggestion on what planer to buy. The second part of the email dealt with matching wood color with wood grain pattern. What less expensive local woods would match with more expensive exotic types? For example, what wood grain resembles ebony, mahogany, wenge, or even cocobola? Keith had a question for Marc dealing with Powermatic. Keith had just purchased the PM2000 table saw a few months ago and loves it. He noticed that Marc has a PM66. There is a several hundred dollar price difference between the two, and he was wondering what the major differences are.

Gordon has a question on sharpening his chisels and plane blades using the scary sharp method, using sandpaper for your sharpening. It’s fairly cheap without having to buy one of those grinding stations. Someone told me to check out one of those new diamond stones. Are they quicker and how long do they last? And what is the grit size equivalent for each? He followed up with a note for Marc to not throw away your feeler gauges. I found a use for them. They’re great for working glue into hairline cracks or splits in wood, caused by the inept use of a chisel on occasion. Craig writes in and needs help. He is making a corner china cabinet and has a finish problem. His problem is with one of the lower doors. While applying a gel varnish he was sanding lightly between coats with 400 grit and got a little to aggressive on the lower door. Matt thought that he may have burnished the wood and that the sawdust was pushed into pores. Marc mentioned that when sanding it is hard to get wood to look exactly the same. He possibly pushed varnish down into the grain. It may never stain the same. Marc recommends spraying.

Alex’s question was on using double sided sticky tape and which tape did the guys use? Marc likes to use Turners tape, that he gets at wood working stores. He gets his at Wood Craft or Rockler. Matt has also used carpet tape. It’s a little thicker, and even the blue painters tape. We also had someone write in that says he was building cabinets this past weekend and started pondering the question of designing the cabinets to encourage them to be square on assembly. What other techniques can you suggest to help force the cabinet into square before applying a face frame or backing? Lastly, we have a question from Lip about spiral cutter heads on jointers and if its worth the extra cost. Both Marc and Matt agreed to go for the standard head, especially if you are on a budget. Marc and Matt closed out the show with a special thank you sent out to Bob-“You are the Man!”

WT9

Our first voicemail was from Wilbur. His question involved power jointer vs. jointing with hand planes. Skee called in, he was curious about the use of different wood species within the same project and how you balance that. Are there rules or guidelines that you use? Matt thought it was a matter of matching up the grain pattern. Marc thought it was a personal choice and that exotics were very good for accents. Marc and Matt received a comment from J.T. concerning his new purchase of the Leigh FMT mortise and tenon jig. He has had outstanding results-makes for a perfect joint. A definite time saver. Marc and Matt welcome any comments on the FMT. They would love to see any projects from their viewers.

First email from Mike who has a moisture issue on his cast iron tool tops. His question was how do I remove rust from cast iron and prevent it from happening again. What can I coat the cast iron with and where can I buy it? The guys suggested checking out the forums and Marc also explained his technique to remove rust. A novice in fine woodworking wrote in to ask if the guys had any suggestions or tips on how to deal with twisted or cupped stock. Matt suggested cutting into smaller pieces and working around the defect. If a board is going to twist it will. Marc also mentioned, don’t be afraid to scrap a piece. Skee had a question of structure versus weight. How do you know how much weight the stucture you build can take? Are there common rules of thumb about size and span that they can cover? Matt suggested woodbin.com, the project design and furniture standard section. The second part to question was a concern on driveway. What can I do to clean up material? Marc recommends TSP and wire brush.

Daryl wanted to know what they would recommend to use for dovetails? The guys agreed that everyone has a different opinion on this. Daryl’s second part to his question involved needing help tuning a old Bailey jack plane and a Stanley smoothing plane? Matt directed him to check out the video podcast at mattsbasementworkshop.com. The Basics of tuning up planes.

Their next question was a request to provide a source or list of wood species and their toxicity. Matt recommended staying away from holly. Marc suggested that there is no good dust. You should always wear a respirator. Here are some helpful links:

Health Hazards in Woodworking
Botanical Database

Ty’s question was, how do you pay for downloads? Marc mentioned that there are a lot of free resources out there. The standard upkeep of the site is where the cost comes in. Roberto had a question that dealt with a Norm Abrams show where Norm dealt with loose mortise and tenon joints. Scott wrote in with a question for Marc. He wanted to know more details about working with David Marks, and if Marc would ever consider giving the same opportunity. Marc recommended checking out djmarks.com.

Also an email from a serious hobbyist asking for a suggestion for a planer. Matt suggests a Rigid lunchbox planer. But as always, it depends on a person’s budget. Then we have Louis who is working on a bed for his baby daughter. He wanted to ask the guys on their experiences with shellac. Marc and Matt agreed that the shellac would work well in this application. Recommended spraying it on. Then finally, we have Kevin who wanted to know what the guys thought about a combo jointer planer. He purchased the 6″ versus the 8″ joiner and currently has a lunch box planer. Neither Marc or Matt are fans of the combo. An 8″ jointer would save time and trouble.

WT8

In this episode Marc and Matt have lots to talk about. Such topics as posting the winners of the Video Shop Tour Challenge to the great marketing ideas from Rockler. Marc also gives valuable insight on his new Makita drill. Also a very interesting survey was reviewed by Marc and Matt from Cabinet Maker Magazine. It has very interesting statistics from the small shop readership point of view.

From there Marc and Matt went to the voice mail questions. First question was from J.D., a novice woodworker that mainly works on furniture and tables. His question involved what his next most practical purchase be? He was considering between a band saw or a jointer. Marc and Matt both agree that he would get more uses and save money in the future milling his own stock if he chose the jointer.

Ken wanted to know the different uses for french cleats? Marc noted that they are a very secure way to hang cabinets. It distributes the weight along multiple wall studs.

Our last voice mail was from Allen, who wants to make a parquet floor. He asked if Marc and Matt had any suggestions or tips on patterns. Matt recommended Google search and Amazon.com and both recommended the library for some good books on design and instuctions.

From there, Marc and Matt went to their emails. Mike writes in, “Do either of you use a marking knife or gage regularly? What tools, techniques do you use to keep cuts and joints accurate?”

J.T. asks if they could share their techniques on how to work efficiently in the shop.

Mike had a question about a show he had seen by David Marks, where he believed he used polyurethane glue, but noticed it had not foamed up. Marc suggests that David may have been using plastic resin glue, which doesn’t foam up. But if they did use poly glue they simply left out the part where it foams.

Then we had a question from Justin as to the pro and cons of a sliding compound saws versus the radial arm saw. Marc and Matt both agreed on the sliding compound saw for various features as being more dependable, versatile and portability.

Then lastly we had a question from Scott: His question concerned the use of leather to line his vises. They both agreed that it shouldn’t make too much of a difference but that he could check out tool forum at Woodnet.net or Matt recommended Christopher Schwartz at Popular Woodworking.

WT7

Marc talks about the latest feature that has been added to Wood Talk On Line….Voicemail, you can now submit your questions either the standard e-mail way or by voice mail. Matt tells everyone about his recent review of the “Router Bit of the Month”, sponsored by Woodcraft and made by Whiteside Machine Company–this month’s bit is the Classic Pattern Profile which is a cove with a round over. Marc discusses the relative dimensioning technique, which basically is cutting pieces to fit rather than cutting them to a specific number.

Favorite finishes is the next topic of conversation. Marc uses all types of finishes depending on the project, but says if he had to pick a favorite it would probably be a good ole’ wiping varnish formulation or a oil vanish mixture, while Matt likes to stick with a simple polyurethane. Marc also talks about a video he watched on the Fine Woodworking website presented by Andy Ray. Its a special top coat method consisting of one part boiled linseed oil, one half part varnish and a half part pore filler.

Our first question comes from Steve who is looking for a new drill press and would like some recommendations. Marc and Matt discuss the advantages of bench top vs. floor models, models that are laser equipped and the variable speeds available. Marc also tells us about the drill press on his drool tool wish list! Then Ron wants to know what Matt and Marc think about alternating growth rings when gluing up panels. Matt says it has not really been an issue for him and he has not paid much attention to it and so far his projects have been fine. Marc is not convinced that it really makes a difference.

David writes in and asks what is the difference between the lever and the wheel for table adjustment on a jointer, and why would you want one over the other. The next question concerns how many clamps are required for glue ups, how much pressure is needed and where is the proper placement for clamps. Marc and Matt provide some good ideas and tips on clamping and glue squeeze-out. And lastly, Gordon from Australia would like to do some decorative inlay on a coffee table top and is concerned about movement. Marc says a thin inlay will move with the base and it should not be a problem.

WT6

Welcome to Episode 6. It’s been a busy week for both Matt and Marc. Marc discusses the new upgrades to The Wood Whisperer’s website. There is a new streaming video and an actual chat room! Lots of fun so be sure to check it out.

Our first question is from Ty. He would like information about how to get that thick top layer on a bar top that he and friends are planning to build this summer. Marc says the finish is usually a 2-part, epoxy-style finish that is poured-on and refers listeners to www.Klockit.com for their finishing supplies.

Next e-mail is from Craig who is looking for the optimal way to glue up some large panels. Marc suggests using biscuits to keep the joints level and aligned. Parallel style clamps are also helpful. Matt suggests using cauls or maybe using narrower panels to make it more manageable.

Terry writes in and would like to follow up on a previous show’s question and would like additional information on the “how to’s” when one does not have dedicated equipment such as a jointer. Then Dan asks for an opinion and discussion on the strengths vs. weaknesses for the various types of joinery such as mortise and tenons, biscuits, pocket holes, etc. for an upcoming coffee table project.

The fifth e-mail is from Brian who would like to know how to get a clean edge so that the mortise and tenon looks good when assembled. Marc and Matt discuss the various possible causes for the tear out and then offer some suggestions and tips.

The next question is from Pete who would like to know which key skills are required for one to become proficient in using hand tools. Correct sharpening skills is most important followed by the proper use of chisels. The next skill should be the use of a block plane, as well as card scrapers and then the various hand saws. In their discussion, Matt and Marc also talk about various chisel sets and hand saws.

Jeff writes in and would like some suggestions on inlay techniques when cutting out letters that require tight angles. Marc suggests using a very fine blade on the scroll saw and then be sure to orient the letter properly with respect to the grain. Also the use of double sided tape helps. Take a very thin piece of material as a backer board and double stick tape it to the piece that you are working on. The extra support will allow really fine work without the risk of it splitting.

And lastly, a BIG thank you to Bob for the generous, huge box of assorted candy. Bob is an avid listener and wanted to show his appreciation for all we do. So if there is anyone else out there listening that would like to send Marc a new wireless microphone he will be very happy to accept your donation to the cause!

WT5

This episode starts with a discussion on woodworking products based on Matt’s and Marc’s experiences. Matt is loving his new jointer and his ability to square things off in one pass! Marc discusses a new find, Magswitch magnets. They are awesome switchable magnets which provide a more efficient way to clamp and hold your work. The website is www.magswitch.com.au. Does the height of your wood shop’s ceiling affect your creativity??? Well listen up and you too will be enlightened with the little pearls of wisdom from Matt. First e-mail asks for an opinion on a motorized sharpening device that can be found at http://worksharptools.com. Neither Marc or Matt have seen this particular tool in action but based on a quick review it looks to be a pretty cool system at a reasonable price.

Next question is about ear protection. Marc talks about his headphones which are Work Tunes. Matt uses ear protection which can be found at www.zemzone.com. The third e-mailer wants to know if there are any secrets to be shared when it comes to changing and adjusting jointer knives. Marc suggests using a jig called a Jointer Pal.

The fourth question concerns using wax on a new saw top. Marc discusses the various products he has used over the years and suggests checking out Woodnet for further information. The next question is about a saw called a Saw Stop and if its worth the hefty price tag. Matt expresses concern about the possibility of falling into a false sense of security when using this saw. Marc thinks its a quality saw but probably not worth the extra bucks. The last question comes from a rookie woodworker who wants to know which woodworking projects have provided the best learning experience. Marc says for him its the ones he ventures off on with no plan in mind and seeing where it winds up. But more important to Marc are the various people who have influenced him and his approach to woodworking. Matt says for him it was making a dresser for his son.

WT4

Matt discusses his new purchase, a 6″ jointer and how it will affect his work in his shop since he is a hand tool type of woodrworker. Marc discusses his current shop project, a big assembly table which is a collaborative effort with FineWoodworking.com. Marc and Matt talk about the current woodworking shows/programs that are available on television and how they are filling a void. 1st e-mail question how to pick lumber in the rough and would it be OK to take a block plane to check the grain? Marc suggests buying more than you need to be able to match up at home in your shop. Matt suggests to ask the workers first before swiping at any lumber with a plane.

2nd question about having “one of those days” in the shop where nothing works right. Blade on his band saw keeps drifting and then at one point the blade came of the wheel and started throwing sparks. Marc suggests making sure the band saw is properly tuned and refers him to TWW podcast, Bandsaw Setup/Tune-up. Matt agrees that more than likely he did ruin the blade. 3rd question concerns how to square up stock without a jointer when you have a lot of rough sawn hardward in lengths of 12 to 20 feet. Matt says to use a jig of some sorts to get a nice square edge or the hand plane method. Marc suggests to do crosscuts first to make the board size more manageable and again refers him to TWW episode, The Jointer’s Jumpin’.

4th question has 3 parts: first part asks how to retain the color of a checkerboard table top of red oak and mahogany. After sanding and gluing up the project to even up the ridges, the mahogany is now much lighter how can I get back that darker color. Marc says to not really worry about it since over time it will darken up to again be the original color. Second part concerns the significant ridges that were created by flipping the wood to achieve the checker board look. He want to know the best way to even up the surface. Marc says to stop sanding and suggests using a cabinet scraper first then move to a sander. Then in the third part Matt and Marc provide a number suggestions for a first time work bench or work surface.

5th e-mail question asks what is Marc and Matt’s favorite bandaids. Matt likes to let the blood flow all over whereas Marc proudly admits that he uses Bandaid brand Spongebob bandaids! The real question asks for suggestions for a good reference book for wood finishing. Matt refers him to a new book called The Wood Finisher’s Handbook by Sam Allen. Marc suggests some of the classics such as books by Jeff Jewitt, by Bob Flexner, Michael Dresdner or George Frank. And Lastly Marc mentions “Finishing: Methods of Work”

6th question is what to do when family purchases woodworking tools as gifts that are duplicates or step-downs or items you will never use. Both guys say to pull the tool out when the person is around but in reality the best thing is to circumvent the problems by talking to family and letting them know you are particular about tools in your shop.

Last question is about spraying and size requirements for a compressor. Marc says to use a turbine sprayer since it is a self contained, portable unit rather than using a compressor that has to turn on every minute. Matt and Marc also discuss how far is far enough from one’s neighbors when using a sprayer. Final discussion is about goggles, respirators and other safety issues and also why Matt references e-bay or garage sales for purchasing old hand tools.

WT3

Marc mentioned that today is his birthday and tomorrow is Matt’s. 1st email was about HVLP overspray and spray booths. Marc discussed the mess he makes in shop whenever he sprays and gave suggestions for proper ventilation techniques and cautioned against using standard fans with flammable finishes.2nd email was for Matt about soundproofing his basement shop? Matt suggested placing the shop in a location that would be least likely to transfer sound upstairs. He also mentioned putting soundproof insulation, drywall and acoustic barriers in the floor joists. He also mentioned the use of rubber pads placed under the tools to raise them and eliminate vibrations. Marc then suggests insulation, air spaces and using materials with different densities in order to suppress sound transfer. 2nd part of the email asked for recommendations on CAD programs for design. Marc uses Sketchup. Learning curve is minimal and can be downloaded free at Sketchup.google.com. Marc mentioned a basic SketchUp tutorial he did in The Wood Whisperer Episode 11. He also suggested an instructional DVD from go-2-school.com. Matt said there is a free CAD program at alibre.com.

3rd question was how to get a good finish when routing soft wood edges and what filler to use for repairs? Matt suggested setting the bit for shallow cuts and climb cutting. Matt uses Minwax wood filler for gouges. Marc uses Famowood. Bondo is also a good product which is the same product as Minwax Wood Filler in a different package. 4th question was how to straighten an expensive piece of wood? Marc says he is convinced that when wood wants to curve, that’s the way it wants to go but if you place the board on a morning lawn with the cup facing up, the moisture will soak into the wood and straighten the board out. Once the board is close to flat, bring it in to the shop and sticker and stack it with weights. And if you don’t have a lawn, you can use a spray bottle of water. Marc also says to cut the board down to smaller sizes instead of forcing it into a position it doesn’t want to be in.

5th question was what do you think of the new Sears Carvewright One product? Can be viewed at: carvewright.com. Neither Marc nor Matt see themselves having it in their shop. Looks cool and fun but only if one is into carving. There is a review of it in the Tool review section of Woodcraft magazine this month. Matt discusses his new feature column in Woodcraft magazine where he reviews new websites for woodworkers. Part 2 of 5th question: What are the key power tools both hand and stationary for woodshops. Marc refers folks to The Wood Whisperer Episode 2 “The King and his Castle”. Matt refers them to his podcast episode 3. Marc refers listeners to the Post on The Wood Whisperer “Zero Tools and $1000”. 6th question: How to upgrade a block plane? Matt talks about replacing the irons with new blades. Hock blades vs. blue Japanese steel.

7th question: What options are there to flatten a board when one does not have a jointer or planer? Matt suggests finding a friend with tools! Marc suggests joining local wood working clubs where there is always someone willing to help a friend. Marc refers listeners to TWW The Jointer’s Jumpin episode. Marc describes his Router sled technique. Also be more selective in choosing lumber or having it done at the point of purchase.

WT2

Matt’s still cleaning up his shop and getting ready for a new slant-front desk project for his daughter. Marc finally got his new garage doors installed and mentioned working on 32 plywood rings for a customer. Email topics included wood storage, narrowing down design options for customers, antique hand-tool restoration, and when to use nails and screws. Marc and Matt then discussed shop lighting options including the differences between T12 and T8 fluorescent lights. And since Matt is in the market for a new jointer, he asked Marc his opinion on 6″ vs 8″ jointers. Marc also mentioned a great website for helping create estimates for customers.

WT1 – The Awkward Beginning

In Episode 1, Marc and Matt discuss what’s going on in their own shops as well as answer listener emails. Matt just finished up a big project so he’s in cleaning mode. Marc discussed his ongoing shop air conditioning preparations and an adhesion issue he had with a table he’s refinishing. Email topics included dealing with glue squeeze out, cleaning pitch and resin from saw blades, and how to charge for your work. We recommended two different products for cleaning blades. Matt like the T9 Boeshield Products and Marc uses Rockler’s Pitch and Resin Remover