STL179: Barry's Insane For The Scrub Plane

STL179: Barry's Insane For The Scrub Plane

Author: FineWoodworking.com December 21, 2018 Duration: 1:00:53

Question 1:

From Tony:

We hear so much talk about  Lie Nielsen, Veritas, and Stanley hand planes but, I have a Millers Falls No. 8 that i picked up from an Antique store, that works really well. I don't think I've ever heard the Millers Falls Name be mentioned on the Podcast, so I am wondering if they're any good? They seem to have been in contention with Stanley and they are American made from New England no less, since 1868!

Question 2:

From Matt:

I have been wanting to do a project using drawbore mortise and tenon joints. Is it a bad idea to attempt this type of joint in a softer woods like cherry or walnut, rather than oak.

Segment: Smooth Move

  • Mike - Forgetting that someone commissioned something from him, not those he looks up to
  • Barry - Making a mistake on a piece, remaking the piece, then accidentally using the mistake on the final piece
  • Ben - Trying to get away with not making a proper sled and accidentally dropping a piece on the tablesaw blade

Question 3:

From Bob: Can someone explain the difference between a scrub plane and a smooth plane? They seem similar in size and construction.

Question 4:

From Phillip:

I am looking to build a dining room table to a friend of mine, and am wondering what type of wood would be best to use. I have narrowed it down to White Oak, Cherry, and Walnut. The friend that I am making this for is a military man, and so gets stationed at different bases around the country every few years. My main concern is the table warping or splitting due to the drastic location and environmental changes that he will come across. Obviously, being a dining room table it also must be sturdy and not be too prone to scratches, dings, etc. White Oak is very wear resistant, but has a medium-high shrinkage value. Cherry is pretty stable once dried, but is softer and may get more dings. Walnut seems to be the middle road, being harder and less susceptible to scratches than Cherry but less likely to shrink/warp than White Oak.

What type of wood would you suggest that is going to be resistant to scratches and dings, yet won't warp or split in drastic climate changes? 

Recommendations:

Barry - Dedicated Shop Shoes
Ben - Chris Thile's Thank You, New York"
Mike - Tom Waits' album Swordfish Trombones


Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers questions from readers on Shop Talk Live, Fine Woodworking's biweekly podcast. Send your woodworking questions to shoptalk@taunton.com for consideration in the regular broadcast! Our continued existence relies upon listener support. So if you enjoy the show, be sure to leave us a five-star rating and maybe even a nice comment on our iTunes page.


Ever find yourself in the middle of a project, staring at a tricky joint or a piece of lumber that just won't behave, wishing you could ask an expert? That's the space where Shop Talk Live-Fine Woodworking lives. Hosted by the editors and seasoned contributors from Fine Woodworking magazine, this isn't a formal lecture. It's the sound of a conversation happening right in the workshop, where real questions from woodworkers at every level meet practical, time-tested answers. You'll hear the specifics-discussions on tool tuning, finishing nuances, joinery adjustments, and design problem-solving-all grounded in decades of collective hands-on experience. The dialogue is direct and the advice is applicable, whether you're building your first box or restoring a classic piece. This podcast from FineWoodworking.com pulls back the curtain on the craft's finer points, turning those moments of frustration into breakthroughs. It’s like having a master woodworker right there with you, offering clarity and confidence for your next cut. Tune in for the kind of shop talk that makes your time at the bench more productive and a lot more enjoyable.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Shop Talk Live - Fine Woodworking
Podcast Episodes
STL260: LVL Workbench IRL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:59
Sign up here to be notified when registration opens for our newest online Foundations course, SketchUp Fundamentals for Furniture Design With Dave Richards - https://www.foundationsofwoodworking.com/sketchup Links from t…
STL260: LVL Workbench IRL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:59
Sign up here to be notified when registration opens for our newest online Foundations course, SketchUp Fundamentals for Furniture Design With Dave Richards - https://www.foundationsofwoodworking.com/sketchup Links from t…
STL259: Do homemade bandsaws make financial sense? (no) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:21
Rollie Johnson answers a batch of listener questions about dust collectors, homemade bandsaws, tool steel, cutter speed, power feeders, classic furniture drawings, machine restoration, and drying lumber. This episode is…
STL258: Making pretty things and blowing up their spots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:38
Woodworker, artist, and author, Danielle Rose Byrd joins Barry and Ben to discuss greenwoodworking techniques and culture, taking care of your body, wood allergies, sharpening, and how to find your own style. This episod…
STL257: Barry gets a tablesaw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:01
This episode is sponsored by Peters Valley - http://petersvalley.org/ 0:00 - Intro 1:26 - Shop resolutions 9:41 - Budget tablesaw woes 22:05 - Building a base for a bandsaw? 35:21 - Segments 47:55 - Finer furniture pads…
STL256: Just'a planin' and a scrapin' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:33
For more information on Mike's online course -http://www.foundationsofwoodworking.com Links from this episode can be found here - http://www.shoptalklive.com Sign up for the Fine Woodworking weekly eLetter - https://www.…
STL255: Vic's plywood workbench [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:24
This episode is sponsored by Garrett Wade Check out Mike's online class, Foundations of Woodworking. 0:00 - Intro 2:36 - Economy shop help 20:38 - Vic's Baltic birch workbench 37:01 - Sharpening a toothed blade 47:18 - S…
STL254: Iron and oak (and maple?) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:12
This episode is sponsored by Titebond, Pony/Jorgensen, and Garrett Wade 0:00 - Intro 2:33 - Shop Talk 14:23 - Ben's router lift score 18:45 - Fancy box hinges 32:06 - Ebonizing techniques 43:38 - Segments 1:02:56 - Paint…
The Innovators: Grizzly Industrial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:13
Mike Pekovich and Rollie Johnson chat with Grizzly's own Jameson Hawn to get a behind-the-scenes look at the company. Grizzly's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/GrizzlyIndustrialInc Jameson's YouTube channel: h…
STL253: Woodworking is just tricks and fixing mistakes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:16
This episode is sponsored by Titebond, The Northwest Woodworking Studio, and Pony/Jorgensen 0:00 - Introduction and catching up with Ellen 11:05 - Putting a shop into extended storage 24:30 - How long should a jointer be…