STL191: A Jointer Worth Traveling For

STL191: A Jointer Worth Traveling For

Author: FineWoodworking.com June 7, 2019 Duration: 1:10:52

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Question 1:

From Joseph:
I bought a new house in 2017 and instead of moving a lot of tools, I sold most of them and started over with new ones. There are 2 things I haven't yet invested in  - a router table and a dado stack. I'm primarily a hand tool guy, but I like to use power tools for dados/grooves and rabbets. Currently I am using my tablesaw with a FTG blade to nibble away at them, but I've reached my breaking point and want something a bit faster. I've used both a dado stack and a router table in the past. Both have some pluses and minuses for me; set up time being a major minus, but equally annoying for each. I'm also open to other alternatives that don't include joinery planes. Been there, bought the planes, sold the planes. I'm a lefty, and using planes right handed isn't fun for me.

Question 2:

From Nick:
I have a question regarding a long distance relationship with a beautiful jointer. I am member of a "local" woodworking guild which has nice shop that is outfitted with a 16" jointer, a few nice planers. Unfortunately, I live a little over 2 hours away and at my home shop I currently only have a DW735 planer and no jointer. I would like to use all this nice equipment to do everything required to get straight, flat and square stock to take home and finish my projects. My concern is that by the time I throw it in the back of the truck and drive 2 hours home I would defeat the purpose. Does wood move that quickly when you're driving 80... ahem.. 70 mph? Can I get home and put in my climate controlled basement shop before I've warped everything out of flat/square? How would weather effect this (i.e. cold dry winter/hot humid summer weather?).

Segment: All-Time Favorite Technique
Mike: Peter Galbert using a heat gun to straighten out riven stock Bob: Flush cutting on the tablesaw

Ben: Drawing an extra line when sawing on the left side of your layout line

Question 3:  

From Jim:
I am planning to build a sewing table for my wife. The plans call for using cherry plywood for several major panels of the case. While the stability of plywood is certainly an advantage, it is expensive and I like the idea of using glued up panels made from 4/4 stock. What would you do and why?

Recommendations:

Ben - Sharpen your marking gauge, because you know it's dull
Mike -  Get a Soda Stream


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
STL299: Woodworking Festival Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:50
We chat with Father John Abraham of Benchcrafted and Phil Huber of The Woodsmith Shop, and Mike, Amanda, and Ben discuss all of the great woodworking festivals of late. 0:00 - Intro 2:30 - Chatting about festivals 16:35…
STL298: That's a fancy commode! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:24
Bob Van Dyke joins Mike and Ben to discuss sharpening to 80 grit, which wood is best for bending, bandsaw blade issues, and shoulder planes. Sign up for our Woodworking Fundamentals journey here - www.finewoodworking.com…
STL297: The hand tool you need to buy is a bandsaw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:33
Gary Rogowski joins Vic and Ben to discuss adjusting hinges, using a chamfer bit for box miters, and making Queen Anne furniture without a bandsaw. 0:00 - Intro 1:28 - Adjusting hinges 27:41 - Chamer bit for box miters?…
STL296: Dinkle dreams of bed frames [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:13
Bridgid from Dinkle's Woodshop joins Amanda and Ben to talk about her obsession with building bed frames, the best material for shop furniture, favorite tools, and how beginners can stop overthinking things in the shop.…
STL: Getting Geeky with ISOtunes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:54
An important discussion about hearing health, and why it's important to every woodworker. ISOtunes hearing protection merges certified protection with cutting-edge communication technology to give you a safe, enjoyable,…
STL295: It's not a router, it's a possibility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:58
Mike, Vic, and Ben discuss (for the last time) shops without a table saw, when to sell a tool, and why the simplest way to get something done is the best way. Links from this episode can be found here - http://www.shopta…
STL294: The Chair Geeks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:27
In this episode, we talk about all things Windsor chairs with Aspen Golann and Kelly Harris, as well as their involvement with The Chairmaker's Toolbox. Links from this episode can be found here - http://www.shoptalklive…
STL293: Camber Alert! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:42
Megan Fitzpatrick joins Vic and Ben to discuss round vs. square dogs, drilling at an angle, plane iron camber, and the best material to use on a bathroom vanity. 0:00 - Intro 5:00 - Square on a drill press when drilling…
STL292: Tim Coleman wasn't always great [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:13
Tim Coleman tells us about his early days in woodworking and the difficult yet rewarding choices he made on his journey. Links from this episode can be found here - http://www.shoptalklive.com Sign up for the Fine Woodwo…
STL291: Bandsaw tension secrets revealed! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:54
Not really—but Mike, Amanda, and Ben discuss their methods for kind of dialing it in, as well as prefinishing strategies, and how they use computer-aided design in their personal woodworking. Links from this episode can…