STL187: Desert Island Dream Projects

STL187: Desert Island Dream Projects

Author: FineWoodworking.com April 12, 2019 Duration: 1:13:02

Question 1: From Paul: Heide Martin's serving trays in the May/June 2018 are beautiful and I have since made a couple. My question is about keeping the bottom boards flat. I cut some walnut that had been air dried for probably 20 years. In an hour or two both boards cupped. I then sequentially tried wetting one side, wetting both sides, soaking in water, soaking in fabric softener, each time clamping the boards to keep them flat and leaving for days and days to dry out. None of these things worked and in the end I ended up using some walnut plywood instead. How do you folks keep wide, thin boards flat?

Question 2: From Richard: In reality we all have limited amount of shop time available.  However, if the amount of time you could work on a project was not limited what one piece would you choose to make?

Segment: All-Time Favorite Technique

Mike: Using pocket holes to quickly make and change full-size mockups

Tom: Beveling an edge of a workpiece with a handplane

Ben: Riding the back of the blade to start a cut on the edge of workpiece

Question 3:   From Mark: I have been building furniture full-time for just over a year. Is it legal and/or ethical to build something from the magazine or a video workshop and then sell it? For instance, if a client asks me to build 4 Adirondack chairs, my thought is build them loosely based on what I find at Fine Woodworking, vs. reinventing the wheel with my own design every-time.

Question 4: From John: I was reading a FWW article by Steve Latta in issue #241 about draw-bored tenons where he said, "I make pins from riftsawn or quartersawn stock...". If you're making dowels, how can it possibly make any difference whatsoever if you use quartersawn or plain sawn boards? I still like Steve Latta, btw.  Keep up the great work, see y'all at FWWlive!


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
STL337: The Trinity of Woodworking Details [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:23
Amanda chats with Vic and Mike, who have both recently picked up some exciting new tools. Sign up for Randy's wood identification course here: https://courses.finewoodworking.com/identifying-wood-randy-wilkinson For more…
STL336: Applause From The Maestro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:58
Sergei Gerasimenko thought he was just dropping off his latest commission. Instead he received a well-deserved round of applause. Check out Sergei on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smgwoodworking/ Check out Sergei'…
STL335: Morley takes on Maine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:45
Ben and Amanda chat with Phil Morley, the newest Lead Instructor for Center for Furniture Craftmanships nine month comprehensive. Sign up for Randy's wood identification course here: https://courses.finewoodworking.com/i…
STL334: Understanding Hoadley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:25
Randy Wilkinson joins Amanda and Ben to discuss his work as a furniture conservator and wood identification expert. Sign up for Randy's wood identification course here: https://courses.finewoodworking.com/identifying-woo…
STL333: A bigger jointer won't fix it [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:47
Vic, Anissa, and Ben discuss jointing very long boards, woodworking with younglings, hand-tool dust clean up, and their all-time favorite tools of this week. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.…
STL332: Any way into marquetry is a good one. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:53
Amanda chats with Chelsea Van Voorhis and Albert Kleine, two marquetry artists with entirely different approaches. Check out Woodsmith's Build Your Own CNC course here: https://woodsmith.mykajabi.com/building-shopnotes-c…
STL331: "The Face of Concern" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:08
Ben, Vic, and Amanda catch up, answer listener questions, and talk about how they're wrapping up 2024. Fine Woodworking members can sign up for the issue preview livestream here: https://www.finewoodworking.com/2024/11/2…
STL330: Our least favorite questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:13
Mike and Ben answer a pile of listener questions to help you through your holiday weekend. Fine Woodworking members can sign up for the issue preview livestream here: https://www.finewoodworking.com/2024/11/26/issue-315-…
STL329: The 1-3-7 Rule [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:48
Amanda chats with Kate Swann, who runs Florida School of Woodworking, and Morgan Grove, a student and team leader at the USDA Forestry Service in Baltimore. Links from this episode can be found here - http://www.shoptalk…
STL328: Imperfect Precision [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:20
Mike, Vic, and Ben discuss the precision really needed in woodworking, methods for creating tapered bevels, and tracksaw techniques. Links from this episode can be found here - http://www.shoptalklive.com For more inform…