STL180: Designing Without Drawing

STL180: Designing Without Drawing

Author: FineWoodworking.com January 4, 2019 Duration: 1:02:31

Question 1: From Cameron: I'm thinking of making a bench inspired by Mark Edmundson's "Modern Danish Cord Bench" from issue #194-Nov/Dec 2007. I'm want to stretch the width to 6' to use at my 7' table.  Will the front and rear rails be enough to support 4 well fed adults or will I have a hilarious story to tell for the next 30 year about the thanksgiving collapse of 2019?

Question 2: From Mark: I saw a video where Matt Wajda drew a tool chest, full scale by hand.  Is this a common method? I draw Architecture for a living, I am tired of drawing.  I'm not interested in SketchUp, I already spend way too much time with AutoCAD. Woodworking is my release. I completely understand that you can work issues out on paper long before you even touch a board.  I am curious about designing without drawing. Does anyone you know use a design process that does not involve drawing?

Segment: Shop Resolutions

  • Mike - Learn a new skill this year
  • Anissa - Draw every day
  • Ben - Finish working on his shop, and start working in his shop… by May

Question 3: From Andy: Any idea how to go about achieving the finish in the attached image? I've never seen a finish like this one that's pretty vibrant, yet maintains the appearance of the grain. Is it just a watered down paint?

Question 4: From Bob: I have some Japanese chisels that I'm starting to use.  About 3/16" behind the edge of the blade is a cove. When you grind back to that cove, the back will no longer be flat.  Do you have to toss the chisel out at that point?


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
STL355: Pencil Geeks Assemble! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:33
Blackwing president Grant Christensen discusses pencils with Mike and Ben, while Anissa, Amanda, and Ben debate unanswerable woodworking questions. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodwo…
STL354: Go and Do the Thing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:51
Amanda and Vic chat with Erik Curtis about furniture design, teaching, and creating content. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our Wood…
STL353: A Big Bit of Community [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:45
Megan Shannon joins Ben to talk about all of the ways that her school A Tiny Bit Of Wood brings joy to her community. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more i…
STL352: I Am Miserably In Love With Wood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:23
Recorded live at Woodworking in America 2025, this episode has Alexis Dolese and Shea Alexander joining Vic and Ben to discuss the triumphs and trials of woodworking. For more information about our eLearning courses - ht…
STL351: Woodworking From UK to the USA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:51
Mike Pekovich and Phil Huber join Ben to debrief their week-long woodworking tour of England—part museum crawl, part shop class, all inspiration. From London's Building Crafts College (trade-focused millwork and stonemas…
STL350: Texas Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:24
Frank Strazza and Eric Yocom chat with Amanda about the Texas woodworking community, and the impact it's made in their lives. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning Fo…
STL349: Finishers on Flexner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:06
Mike Mascelli, Mitch Kohanek, and John Coffey talk about their friend and one of the godfathers of finishing, Bob Flexner. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For m…
STL: Zen-Wu's Low-Speed Woodworking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:40
Ben and Amanda chat with Luke Lyu, who founded Zen Wu Toolworks, a tool company making traditional chinese planes with a modern approach. Tickets for Woodworking in America - https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/72385419/woodwo…
STL348: Adam Godet and the Three Jewels of a Shared Shop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:11
Adam Godet shares the secrets of making a shared shop work, and the way he diversifies income as a full time woodworker. Tickets for Woodworking in America - https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/72385419/woodworking-in-america-…
STL347: Don't Reinvent the Bench [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:36
Ben, Amanda, and Owen catch up about our dream shops, what we would go back and change, and what's okay being left alone. Tickets for Woodworking in America - https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/72385419/woodworking-in-america…