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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.
– 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
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17 replies on “WT171 – Mind the Neck Divot!”
I actually built a slightly smaller version of the Paulk bench and like it a lot for the types of projects I do. Tons of space for tool storage when tools aren’t in use, which keeps the actual work surface clutter free. But the real benefit is the storability. I simply take mine apart, and hang the two pieces on the wall with french cleats, which satisfies my need for all my tools/benches/tables to be storable when I’m not using them.
If you hang them on the wall for storage, maybe part of the support structure is horizontal shelves you can access while its hung. just hang it from the 3/4″ holes, and have the underside sheet with the cutouts at the “temporary shelf” locations.
Just listened to the show, and was trying to find the web site of the “Tom” you referenced regarding 3/4″ stock. Sounded like Matt said Tom Buell or Bueller, but I can’t find a specific woodworker/designer by that name. Would love to see the work you guys referenced.
Hello Bob,
For Tom Buhl you can go to http://www.tombuhl.com. Click on Woodworking link and you’ll find lots of project pix including some step photos on the links at the top of the Gallery pages. Thanks for asking, happy woodworking.
Ladies and Gentlemen…mister Tom Buhl himself!
One good way to transition friends and family members out of freebie projects if you don’t want to give them a hard “no”: I tell them I won’t build it for them, but I’m happy to supervise them while they make it in my shop. Few take me up on it when I begin laying out the details of the job. It makes the time/money commitment more real when they have to own it, rather than being easy and invisible when I do it for them.
All good advise. Thanks Lucas – and thanks WoodTalk guru’s…
Thanks Lucas and DavidC, great idea…maybe I’ll hide specific tools in case they take me up on the opportunity LOL?!
Just listened to episode #3. Holy Chortle!
Isn’t there supposed to be a link to a podcast with Matt telling how he met Mark? Or did I miss it?
Thanks
Glenn
http://www.modernwoodworkersassociation.com/2014/02/mwa-podcast-episode-47-matt-vanderlist.html?m=1
Thanks for the kind words, Marc.
Good gods! The neck divot!
Re returning wood
If it’s so unsuitable, should they be selling it in the first place?
In regards to Nate’s question as to what to do while he’s recovering and can only use one hand. Now’s a great time to organize the shop, get cleaned up, sharpen pencils, etc, for when he’s fully functional. At least to the extent that he’s able to.
That workbench is just awesome. I wonder if you could design a version of it that would fold into a smaller (and sturdier) table for hand tools, then unfold to something nice and big and flat for power tools and final assembly.
Hi guys, just listening while getting ready to tear out a pocket door and replace the frame. Several points I wanted to comment on. Now let’s see if I can remember. Pro bono: I really don’t have any excuse as I don’t sell anything, but someone is always trying to get in line. My biggest interruptions come from one of my three boys (however it is great father son time) 42, 29, 27. I will be in the middle of a project or nap and someone shows up with their own project. Mark the oldest is getting pretty good but still needs my direction. I guess we all are looking for direction.
I also use the procrastination method. I have more endurance than my wife so …….
My youngest Mike has just gotten the woodworking bug, big time, and guess what his first real project was. Yup, that’s right. And you should see how nice it came out. I gave direction anytime he asked but he did all the work himself, yes including the perils and rewards of sanding. We both were blown away when he put the first coat of finish on!
WE both learned from the project. Like cut both species of wood for each width, not all maple, 1/2, 3/4 etc then do same for the sapeela (sp?) great wood by the way. The widths may come out different enough to make a difference especially if running through the joiner.
I know I am rambling (just that kind of man) (a little TWW humor) but I want to throw in a sincere complement for what you do for the hobby / craft / art dare I say. I have been woodworking all my life. I am now in my early… well mid 60’s now and my boys have brought me a renewed enthusiasm for my hobby now that I have more time to spend. And my grand kids are starting to come around the shop!
Anyway your approach to teaching is great, and thorough. Bringing me back to the internet safety thing. I could go on about how great you are but enough of that.
Mike, (youngest) now able to walk into my shop and just start using all these very dangerous tools without years of experience quite frankly scares the crap out of me. Yes I am there to guide but that just opens up a whole can of worms. I have always been aware of safe practices, but now in a roll of teaching a lifetime of experience to my boys I am coming to terms with “how did I make it this far without loosing body parts or worse?”.
So I decided to follow much advice learned or brought to light by podcasts like yours I upgraded long neglected items and practices. I never used a splitter, now I do. And the list goes on. One of your sponcers makes great push block devices and I found this guy demonstrating how they make kickback safer. The guy was man enough to post it anyway. He almost lost fingers! Makes you pay attention and pay some money. You can’t put a dollar figure on body parts for a hobby, for yourself or loved ones. That makes a great argument to the wife as to why more funds need to be directed into the shop. And a valid one.
I did not have anyone to teach me. Just trial and error. “Holly crap I better not do that again!” So the internet is now available, good and bad, a wealth of information. Folks like you are really helping more than you may think. So thanks, from me my boys and grand kids and all the folks woodworking.
Thanks, Mark