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
STL327: Live from Woodworking In America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:17
Rollie Johnson, Gary Rogowski, and Phil Huber join Amanda in front of a live audience at Woodworking In America 2024. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more i…
STL326: No Finish? No Problem! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:25
Seri Robinson, a.k.a. Dr. Spalting, says the best food-safe finish is no finish at all. For more information about Woodworking In America 2024 - https://www.woodsmith.com/article/woodworking-in-america-2024/ Links from t…
STL325: From logs to lumber [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:08
Amanda is joined by Brenon Plourde and Logan Wittmer to discuss milling logs, drying lumber, and their mutual "problem" of hoarding the perfect board. For more information about Woodworking In America 2024 - https://www.…
STL 324: Bridging creativity and technicality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:24
Amanda chats with Larissa Huff and Adrian Ferrazzutti, arguably two of the most creative woodworkers in our world. Both chat about boxes and prototypes, and their workflow. Mike and Ben answer a couple questions from our…
STL323: The woodworking behind your favorite records [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:55
Woodworker and recording engineer Kenny Varga joins Ben to discuss building furniture for some of the most famous recording studios in the world. For more information about Woodworking In America 2024 - https://www.woods…
STL322: Life is like a table saw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:37
Mike, Anissa, and Ben discuss new the issue of FW, beveling bookshelves, bench height, and what direction to turn a table saw miter gauge. Find out more about Woodworking In America here: https://www.finewoodworking.com/…
STL321: One podcast, two Mikes. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:15
Ben and Mike Mascelli talk finishing and upholstery, Then Amanda chats with Mike about his thoughts on our "fine woodworking" question from the last episode.. Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers…
STL320: What is "fine woodworking?" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:38
Ben and Amanda chat with Vic about bandsaw accessories and what constitutes "fine furniture" Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers questions from readers on Shop Talk Live, Fine Woodworking's biwee…
STL319: You make your own dowels? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:47
Phil, Mike, and Ben discuss store-bought vs shop-made dowels, what wood to use for floating tenon stock, and whether CAD models negate the need for full-size mockups. For more information on our upcoming woodworking trav…
STL318: Back to School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:14
Amanda is joined by Ashley Pieper and Bonnie Elisabeth Hawk to discuss woodworking education and how it has carved a path for them in their furniture making careers. For more information about our eLearning courses - htt…