The Wood Whisperer

When selecting a wood species for our projects, its always important to be aware of how much a wood might change color over time. What we see at the lumber dealer may be a bit deceiving, since many woods will indeed change with oxidation and exposure to sun. In this episode, I review a few of the more common color-changing woods that you will likely encounter, and discuss how they will change over time. So be sure to do your research and avoid those impulse buys. Although I really need to start practicing what I preach. lol. Thanks and enjoy!

One of my favorite events of the year has got to be The Woodworking Shows. If you’ve never been, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Its basically a huge convention focused on everything woodworking. From major power tools to router bits to shop consumables, its all there. And if shopping isn’t your thing, there are ton of free demonstrations and seminars. In addition, there are a bunch of paid seminars that you can sign up for on the website at www.thewoodworkingshows.com. In part 1 pof this episode, I give you an idea of what to expect at a woodworking show and we even have a few interviews for you to check out. I hope you guys enjoy it. To find out when The Woodworking Show are coming to your town, check out their website at www.thewoodworkingshows.com.

In this episode, we have two more interviews: one with Steve Harris (President of the Arizona Association of Fine Woodworkers), and Mike Van Pelt (owner of American Sycamore Woodworkers’ Retreat and Delta representative). And then some closing remarks by yours truly.

With so many joints in woodworking, its sometimes difficult to know where to begin. But there is one joint that stands out in my mind as the first joint every woodworker should learn: the mortise and tenon. This is the joint that separates our work from Walmart’s. Are there faster ways to get the job done? Sure. But as woodworkers, with a focus on FINE woodworking, its our obligation to seek out the highest level of quality possible and to go beyond the “get ‘er done” mind set. So with that in mind, check out Part 1 of the mortise and tenon episode where I discuss and demonstrate two common ways to cut a mortise.

In this episode, I review some basic methods for creating tenons, including using a dado blade and a tenoning jig. I also demonstrate the use of the new Festool Domino as a fast and easy way to create loose/floating tenons. For more information on the domino, visit Festool or download this handy brochure.

For the very first time on The Wood Whisperer, we are going to build a full piece of furniture. I had a commission recently for a beautiful Arts & Crafts table made of alder. Only problem was, I needed to get it done quickly. And unfortunately, trying to film a podcast at the same time would prove detrimental to my promised time-frame. But since I felt this was a great project for you to see, I filmed as much as a I could and as fast as I could. So if things look a bit rushed or not as polished as usual, cut me a little slack. Here’s the final cut list: Table Top: 36″W x 72″L (4) Legs: 29 1/4″L x 3″W x 3″T (2) Long Aprons: 64″L x 3 1/2″W x 3/4″T (4) Short Aprons: 28″L x 3 1/2″W x 3/4″T (8) Side Slats: 16 1/4″L x 3″W x 1/2″ T Note: I will be using the Festool Domino to construct this entire project. If you plan on cutting traditional integral tenons for this project, please include 3″ extra length on all apron pieces for 1 1/2″ tenons, and 2″ extra length on all side slats for 1″ tenons. In part 1 of this episode, I show you the process that I go through whenever I begin a new project. This involves some educated guesses and the use of SketchUp, a free program that allows you to easily draw 3D renderings.

In this episode, I select and prepare the stock for the table legs and table top. I also review strategies for cutting thick stock, stabilizing large knots, and milling extra long boards.

Tabletop glueup and smoothing. Milling aprons and discussing joinery options. A demonstration of the Festool Domino.

In the final part of this episode, I show you how to make a curved template for the bottom rails. I also discuss joinery, finishing, and glue ups. I also show you what I find to be the easiest way to attach a solid table top to a base. This episode moves fast so hang on to your hats!

Today’s show is all about clamps. There are so many varieties out there and unless you’ve been woodworking for a number of years, its difficult to know which ones to buy. Furthermore, how do you know which ones to buy multiples of? I review all the clamps I own and show you some of the newer clamps to hit the market, namely the Jet Parallel Clamps and the Irwin Quick Grip XP’s. At the very least, I hope I can help you avoid doing what I did in the beginning: buying clamps you don’t need. Most of the items featured in this episode are available in The Wood Whisperer Amazon Store. So if you need to pick up a few clamps, that’s a great way to do it.

In this episode, I cover the basic setup and tuneup of one of the coolest tools in the shop: the bandsaw. Whether you plan on cutting veneer, re-sawing lumber, or cutting curves, the quality of the cut will improve if your bandsaw is properly tuned. Learn how to properly tension the blade, set the guides, adjust for drift, as well an many other tips can tricks. Having trouble deciding what blade to buy? I’ll help you with that too! Here are a few general recommendations: Resawing – 1/2″ Wide with Hook or Skip Confifuration and 3 TPI Veneer – 1/2″ or 3/4″ Wide with Hook Configuration and 4-6 TPI Scrolling/Curves – 1/4″ Wide with 6 TPI

In this episode, I review my 3-step method for sharpening card scrapers. The card scraper is a great time-saving and money-saving tool. But one thing that baffles many woodworkers is how to sharpen them. Fortunately, its really not as hard as it seems. Check out the video and you’ll see what I mean. Now if you need more information on how to use a card scraper, check out this helpful video on FineWoodworking.com by Brian Boggs.

A big thank you to all of you who participated in our first ever LIVE show. We made history together! For those of you who missed it, I will post the edited videos as regular podcasts (starting with Part 1 above). I couldn’t believe how much time went by. When it was all said and done, we put in about 2.5 hours!! Questions were coming in left and right from the chat room so the videos will seem long for folks who weren’t there in person. To quickly explain what was going on, I planned on a quick shop tour and a little Q&A. Nicole was operating the camera and Mom was moderating the chat room and yelling out questions as they came in. It was pretty funny. Everything went well, minus a few technical issues. Unfortunately, the live audio was via my laptop microphone. I have it all figured out at this point so the audio will be much better next time. As you will see though, the recording came out as expected. Check out Part 2 of this Updated Shop Tour: Part 2

And here is the conclusion of our live Q&A session. I apologize for the length of the video, but I guess that just shows you how much fun we had. The questions just kept coming and I really enjoyed the constant interaction. It was a very fun day and I look forward to doing more things like this in the future. Check out Part 1 of this Updated Shop Tour: Part 1

Ever wanted to make your own veneer? Well I’m gonna show you how! Its really not that hard and the benefits are worth the extra effort. Making your own veneer is a great way to conserve high quality material. If you have a one-of-a-kind piece of figured wood, why not slice it up and use it in three or four projects instead of just one? So fire up the bandsaw cause we’re cutting our own veneer!

In this episode, I show you the process of making your own vacuum bag. There are two materials to choose from, polyurethane and vinyl. My old bag is made from vinyl but this time I am going to try my hand at polyurethane, which is supposed to be more durable. My source for all for all of the materials and the instructions is one of my favorite sites on the web, VeneerSupplies.com. Not only does Joe provide detailed tutorials and information on making your own vacuum bag and making your own vacuum press, he also provides all the materials you need to do it. He even sells pre-made bags. The results of this little project are not exactly what you might expect. It was quite a learning experience. If you are considering making your own bag, this video is a must see!

When assembling projects, nothing beats a wide and spacious dead flat surface. And one of the easiest and most efficient ways to create a dead flat surface is by constructing what is known as a torsion box. A torsion box is really nothing more than a grid-work with a skin on both sides. This creates a very strong, yet light, structure that resists warping and sagging. Its very similar to the concept behind an airplane wing. This episode covers the construction of the Torsion Box top and Episode 19 covers the construction of the base.

This video covers the construction of our assembly table base. This unit has tons of storage thanks to the dual-sided design. Details covered include: cutting the sheetgoods, milling the rabbet and dado joinery, installing European cup hinges, and installing full extension drawer slides. And be sure to check out our video on creating the Torsion Box Top!

This video shows how I am using some of of the unique features of the Festool Domino to build a sturdy Step Stool. I am focusing specifically on the Domino because this is in preparation for my upcoming demonstration at the Festool booth at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas.

Just a quick video showing how I like to use a chisel to pare away excess material. Sometimes a hand tool really is the best tool for the job!

During the filming of our last podcast I decided to do a quick finishing Q&A with the chat room. I was able to get it all on tape and that’s exactly what this is. Random questions and quick answers. Enjoy.

Its been a week since the AWSF show in Vegas and I am still hyped up about the experience. Hanging out with the woodworking elite and meeting all the Wood Whisperer fans was incredible. Nicole and I would like to thank everyone who introduced themselves. This video gives you an inside look at AWSF 2007. We have live demonstrations from David Marks, Scott Phillips, and Mike Heavey. I will apologize ahead of time for the audio quality. You would not believe the amount of ambient noise in a place like that! But sometimes words are just not needed. You’ll know what I mean when you see me chatting with the one and only Norm Abram.

Well here it is! The episode you’ve all been waiting for! Thats right, it’s the exclusive David Marks interview. Come join us on this emotional thrill ride into the life and times of David Marks. His hopes, his fears, and the darker side to woodworking for television will all be revealed. OK, so none of that is really true but it sure sounds good. We do, however, talk with David about his woodworking school, the Woodworks TV show, his humble beginnings, his inspiration, and even Victoria’s role in his career.

In this part of our AWFS series, we hear from numerous manufacturers about their new and exciting products. If you want to learn more about these companies and the products they offer, check out these links: WMH Tool Group (Jet/Powermatic) Leigh Industries Ltd. SawStop Tenryu America, Inc. Steel City Tool Works Festool *note- I apologize ahead of time for the sound quality. We did the best we could under the conditions we were presented with. Nicole did a great job keeping my energy level up and encouraging me to get these interviews so we all have her to thank for it. Enjoy!

Believe it or not, there was more eye candy at AWFS than just tools. In the main hall there was an incredible display of student work. If this is how these kids are starting out, can you imagine the work they will be doing at the peak of their careers. Some of these designs truly inspire me to push the limits of my own designs. I hope you enjoy the tour.

Most of you know by now that my schedule has been a little packed lately due to a long series of commissions. I promised you that once they were over, I would be able to focus nearly all of my efforts on The Wood Whisperer. And now its time to deliver. I am finally on the last of that series of projects and will be done within the next 7-10 days. This particular episode represents a taste of whats to come. With some new editing software, a new camera, and a little more knowledge and experience on my part, we are able to offer higher quality videos and higher quality content. The new format of the show represents what we would like to think of as “Season 2″. I hope you enjoy it. I would have to say the most commonly requested episode so far has been dovetails. Handcut, machine cut, through or half blind……..you guys love your dovetails! Well, I have held off for a while because I wanted to make sure I did the process justice. This particular episode is a glimpse into the world of machine-cut through dovetails. Even though the episode is 30 minutes long, I feel like I just barely scratched the surface. The devil is in the details! And each jig differs in those little details. Fortunately, there are some common elements to all these jigs that make this episode useful to anyone, regardless of what jig you use. I happened to use what I consider to be the best jig on the market: the Leigh D4R. No matter what jig you use or even if you cut them by hand, there’s no denying the “cool factor” surrounding dovetails. If you haven’t made them yet, they are easier than they look and it is certainly worth your time to learn the process. So watch the video and find out what it sounds like, when dovetails cry………. ***Error note*** Thanks to Steve and Brian in the comments section for bringing this to my attention. During the filming of the podcasts, I was using “props” for my cuts and consequently was not as careful with my organization as I should

So how do you spend your time between projects? For me, its a great time to tune up my equipment, wax the cast iron tables, touch up the chisels, and do some general cleanup. And nothing is more inspiring than a nice clean workshop at the beginning of a new project. So watch the video and you will see some of the things I like to do between big projects.

After months of being harassed by my mother, its finally time to finish her laundry room cabinets. With the cases already installed, all that’s left to do is make the frame and panel doors. The wood of choice here is hickory. The weapon of choice? Router bits. Big ones! So come with me on this little adventure as we learn some basic techniques for making a very important component of modern-day cabinetry, the raised-panel door.

A few weeks ago, I added the Incra TSIII Fence System to my tablesaw. Unfortunately, my old outfeed table didn’t really work with the new system. So its time to build a new one. This isn’t your average outfeed table though. Its a full-size work table with a full shelf of storage. Perhaps the best part of all is the fact that it can be made with a modest collection of tools and just a few sheets of plywood. No fancy joinery here! This is what I like to call, a “Can Do” project. Enjoy! For those who are interested, here are some exact dimensions for you: Long Stretchers: 62″ Short Stretchers: 38″ Overall Dimensions: 65″ L x 39 1/2″ D x 33 3/4″H

With the holiday season on its way, its time to start cranking out those gifts!! And that’s what we are going to do in this episode. I designed these simple little pencil holders several years ago just as a way of utilizing shop scrap. Turns out they make great gifts too. So get creative and try different color/wood combinations. Its hard to make these things look bad. This video covers wood selection, milling, and assembly of a fancy little pencil holder. Stay tuned for Episode 32 when we focus solely on finishing this piece.

In this episode, I put the finish on the pencil holder. But its not just any finish. Since we are working with a beautiful curly maple, I think the finish deserves a little extra specia attention. Curly maple looks fantastic with a few coats of an oil based varnish. But it will BLOW YOUR MIND if you “pop” the grain with a dye first. So that’s exactly what we do in this episode. Thanks for watching.

I was working on a simple cabinet recently and I started thinking of all the different ways there are to cover the exposed edges of plywood. Veneer tape, solid edge banding, oversized edgebanding, and even joinery itself all do a fine job of hiding this unsightly side-effect of using plywood. And since plywood seems to enter our shops more frequently than not, its important to know how to deal with it. With a little know-how, you’ll be edging plywood like a pro in no time.

Seems like cutting boards are on everyone’s minds these days. Probably because we are all making holiday gifts. Either way, this is the time of year you can expect almost one forum post a day asking a question about cutting board finishes or “food safe” finishes. And the responses to these posts are nearly always the same: Person 1- The best finish for a butcher block is mineral oil. Person 2- NEVER use varnish or salad bowl finish on a cutting board! What are you, stupid?!?! Person 3- Mineral oil and wax are the best! Person 4- This person usually provides a bunch of extra information that you didn’t ask for. Ok so I am generalizing here for fun, but you get the picture. I have noticed as well that many of the people posing these questions may be doing so because of my advice from Episode 7- A Cut Above. To sum up, I said that my favorite finish for end grain butcher blocks is salad bowl finish (aka varnish). But remember my caveat. I said we are NOT trying to build a film. And that’s exactly what the folks in the forums are trying to say. If you build a film, the film will then be cut by a knife. The cut will allow moisture to seep under the finish and become a wonderful home for all kinds of bacteria. I can’t disagree there. But with my method, you never actually build an appreciable film. I recommend diluting the finish sufficiently so that it immediately gets absorbed into the wood’s wide open pores. Think of it like a vertical bunch of straws that you are filling up with finish. Within a minute or two, you will notice that finish is actually seeping out of the bottom of the board. This is exactly what we want. At this point, I usually set board on its side and allow it to dry overnight. I do this 3-4 times with a light sanding in between each session. By the final coat, you should start noticing that the finish doesn’t really absorb any more. You are now starting to develop a film. One last wipe with a clean cloth and call it DONE.

A few months ago we paid a visit to the offices of Fine Woodworking Magazine and The Taunton Press. It was a great experience and incredibly cool seeing how an initial idea becomes an article. This video gives you a behind the scenes look into that exact process. You’ll also get to see the Fine Woodworking shop and we’ll hear from numerous key staff members as they explain their roles in the process. And by the way, most of the interviews were significantly longer than what appeared in the video. If there is any interest, I would be more than happy to release the full interviews at a later date. Just let me know.