Site Upgrade

A few changes are coming to TheWoodWhisperer.com. We are almost constantly working on ways to improve the usability and appearance of the website. Much like our shops, there is always something that could be improved. So the new site will look very similar but we think you’ll find it much more pleasing to navigate. The home page will be cleaner and more succinct. The live page and all the streaming web cams will be significantly improved with iOS compatibility and a new simpler chat room. Goodbye crappy chat room! We will also be implementing a new feature that allows you to easily search our archives by specific attributes. Want to see all the Shop Tours submitted by Pros with standalone shops that are 1000+ sq. ft. with a strong focus on power tools? You’ll be able to do that. Pretty cool stuff. Look for it to arrive in your browser early 2012.

The Split-Top Roubo

The Split-Top Roubo Guild Build is about to begin and should last for at least a few months. Having this sweet bench in my shop will be a great way to start the new year as I dive into some new projects. If you are looking to get in on the build, check this out!

The Client Project (Bedroom Set)

Some of you may recall the “Summer of Wenge”. A few years ago, my favorite client commissioned a few very unique cabinets made primarily from Wenge. So I endured countless splinters as I brought the pieces to life. Well the same client is looking for some bedroom pieces, including a bed, a dresser, and a nightstand. These pieces will NOT be made from Wenge, but Bubinga and African Blackwood instead. The picture here is only a starting point as the final design will have some sweet raised panels along with the angled headboard. Not sure how many of these pieces I’ll be able to do but I am thinking we might start with the bed and go from there.

The Maloof-Inspired Rocker

I have been wanting to build a Maloof-style rocker for years. Whether in a class or on my own with a set of plans, some day it will happen! And this year just may be the year. During a recent Wood Talk Online Radio, my co-host Shannon and I realized that we both own the Charles Brock plans and thought it would be cool if we both documented a build at the same time. He would cover primarily hand tool methods and I would focus a little more on power tools. Now the question is, can we both carve out the time?

The Krenov Cabinet

I have long been an admirer of Krenov’s work. And with the last few Guild projects being fairly large, I think it’s time to do something on a smaller scale. So I am thinking the next Guild project will be a small floor-standing Krenov-inspired Jewelry Armoire. I guess you could also just call it a cabinet and put whatever you want in it. Either way, it should be a fun and useful project.

The Tilt-Top Table

My buddy Bill Akins alerted me to a table he thought I could have some fun with. It’s a classic tilt-top table from Fine Woodworking. You’ll probably notice that this doesn’t look like a “marc” project. No doubt I tend to focus more on modern designs and I don’t have much personal interest in what I affectionately refer to as, “Burgundy Grandma furniture”. If you like this stuff, don’t be offended. This is no different than me saying I’m not a big fan of dark-colored walls, young kids with handlebar mustaches, and street racers that sound like souped-up lawn mowers. Its just a personal distaste for the look. But, that doesn’t mean that I don’t have respect for the craftsmanship, elegance, and history that comes with some of these pieces. So with that in mind, I think its time for me to try something different, like this table. I will most likely make a few changes so that it becomes something I don’t mind looking at in my own home, but the fundamentals of the build will be inspired by the original. And yes, we’ll even do some turning.

Adirondack Chair Class

You probably remember the Adirondack Chair from this summer, right? Well this Summer, I’ll be teaching folks how to build it at the William Ng School. You can sign up for the 5-day class right now by clicking here. The class will run from June 4th – June 8th and should be a great time. June in Southern California?!?! Yes please!

Miscellaneous Videos

Of course we’ll have numerous other technique and small project videos as well as minis. Just a few things I have planned already are: The Shop-Made Drawing Bow, The Rockler Circle Cutting Jig, and Must-Have Router Bits.

All in all, it should be a great year at The Wood Whisperer. Thanks for making 2011 another record-breaking year in terms of traffic and video downloads. You guys are the best community a woodworking nerd could ask for!

What’s on the Bench:
Marc – Guild Build, Pocket Screws, and new (old) shop.
Matt – New dust collector
Shannon – approaching the HTS final project, just finished sliding dovetails. New Federal bed commission, will try out EWT turning tools on it.

Magazine RoundUp:
Popular Woodworking – Underhill’s article on Roubo’s bookstand
Wood Magazine – March 2011 “Easy Sliders” – Nice little review of drawer slide installations.

From the Forum:
How long does it take to build an 18th Century Highboy?
Are Woodworkers Artists?

Around the Web:
Jeff Miller started his new chair blog: Furnituremaking.com
Fine Woodworking’s new site: StartWoodworking.com
Woodworking -News Winter Newsletter – A recall has been issued for Ryobi Recalls Cordless Drills Due to Fire Hazard & Portable Table-Saws Recalled by Ryobi Due to Laceration Hazard
Anthony Hay’s, Cabinetmaker – AnthonyHayCabinetMaker.wordpress.com

Common Task Quiz:
You are making a bookshelf and it appears your shelf is too tight in the dado, what do you do?
Same question, only the shelf is too loose?
You go to do final smoothing on a board and no matter what direction you go, you’re getting tearout, what do you do??

iTunes Reviews:
BaconBacon
I love listening to the podcast and I gave it 5 stars because that’s what Matt said to do.

ChrisH – I I don’t have an enourmous amount of time to listen which is unfortunate for me. I catch up on business trips. It is the best way to pass the time on a plane or in a car. I can’t wait to get back home and look into everything i learn from these guys. Shannon is a nice addition. This is the absolute best way to stay current on the wwww (worldwide web of woodworking). Thanks guys!!!

ibuypower – I love this Show!! Its nice they take woodworking seriously but not themselves.

DublinMark – Its nice to have another hour long podcast to block out my wife, kids, and the new Wii! Great show with lots of items of interest to any woodworker.

Email:
Will Wilson
“I really want to be a good furniture maker and am torn about how and when to use Plywood. I have used it a lot but recently spoke to a “professional” maker and he said “fine furniture” never uses plywood. Problem is if I ever want to sell this stuff for some extra scratch, I need to keep it at least on the upper end of affordable which I think will mean some plywood where it makes sense. What are your thoughts / design principles on this? Maybe you could add this to WTOL for the boys to chat up?”

Tom’s Tip – RTFM!
Get more great woodworking tips from Tom’s blog: TomsWorkbench.com

On today’s show we’ll be discussing our favorite articles from the magazines and the blogosphere, a few good posts coming from the Wood Talk Online forum, and how to fix an exposed Domino or biscuit. We’ll also have a fun game of Pick the Fake Story, and we’ll have a little technique roundtable that I think you guys are really going to enjoy.

Remember, you can reach us by email at woodtalkonline @ gmail.com or you can pick up the phone and leave us a message on our voice mail at 623-242-2450. You can also find all three of us on Twitter as @MBWPodcast @WoodWhisperer or @renaissanceWW . And we’re even on the Facebook too.

What’s on the Bench:
Marc – Painting the Advent Calendar
Matt – Brese plane is done!
Shannon – walnut card table

Articles/Blog Posts:
Marc – Cutting Edge First Aid FWW Tools & Shops 2010
Matt – $5 for a 1/8? Twist Drill? Only in America… - “John’s Blog”
Shannon: Giant Cypress: Overheard at a Lie Nielsen Tool Show – NOT SAFE FOR WORK OR LITTLE EARS!
The Saw Blog

From the Forum:
Power Tools and Hand Tools Living Happily Together?
Beginner’s Tool List
Frustrated by Cutting a Straight Line
Gretchin’s Cradle

Voicemails:
Steve – Bandsaw resawing issue.
Dyami – exposed Domino on walnut surface IMAGE

Sweet Deals:
japan woodworker 10% OFF Use code holiday10

Adam King’s of Woodworker’s Journey gives us a Going Pro Tip!

What’s on the Bench?
Marc had more electrical work done in his shop and the new garage is starting to look like a shop. He’s currently cannibalizing old cabinets and using them for storage under the extension wing. He’s also teaching two classes in January at the William Ng School.

Matt finally completed Samantha’s bookcase and he’s starting a child’s dresser project.

Around the Web:
Megan’s LVL workbench video.
Charles Neil coming out with a new web series (subscription only)

Magazine Website Roundup:
PopularWoodworking.com Features
- Home Page updated automatically: new blog posts, Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/pweditors), and new articles.
- Three great blogs: Popular WW’ing Editors Blog, Woodworking Magazine Blog, Art & Mysteries Blog (Adam Cherubini).
- A crap ton of free Sketchup models in Google’s SketchUp Wharehouse.
- Feeds Feeds everywhere! You can sign up for email notification or use the RSS feed in your own reader. No ads, no spam, just content.
Exclusive video content.
- The Woodworker’s Bookshop- Matches Amazon’s prices and they have free shipping on orders more than $25. They also have a rewards program if you buy a lot of books.
- Contact Us: Direct phone numbers and email addresses for the entire staff. Let the stalking begin.
- The article index: find back issues. Search by author, keyword or date.
- A directory of all woodworking suppliers, whether they advertise or not. Get phone numbers, web pages etc. Searchable.

FineWoodworking.com Features
Free Stuff:
The free plan blog, The Tool Addicts Blog, SketchUp blog, huge user gallery, monthly gallery contests for cool prizes, a collection of free videos on our site,Free Weekly Newsletter, Getting Started in Woodworking.
Two free video workshops:
– Build a small cabinet
– Build a wall cabinet

Paid Member Stuff:
$34.95/yr (14.95 for magazine subscribers) or $4.99/month
Video Workshops: Build a project start to finish with step-by-step video.
Technique videos for members on our site.
Current Issue published online for members.
The Archive! Use the search to find tons of old articles in pdf format.

Sweet Deals:
Sent in from Michael Dove of Kaytrim’s Customs: Lee Valley Overhead Radiant Heater $55

Sent in from Kerry Drake on Facebook: $19.99 Router Base Plate with centering Pin

At WoodWerks: Delta Right Tilt 10″ 3HP Unisaws (no fence) for $699.

Zdillenger from Twitter Woodcraft: At check out, on the left side it mentions Coupon Codes. Enter 812 there and you will get 20% off all LN stuff in your cart.

It Came from the Forum:
A brown paper bag for a fine finish?? HUH WHAT?
A post by dtrust in the Wood Whisperer Forum: “I was wondering if anyone else had heard of this. A friend told me about it a couple years ago, and I’ve been doing it ever since. After all is said and done, polish the final surface with a brown paper lunch bag. It gets rid of any tiny dust nibs and leaves the surface feeling like you rubbed it with baby powder. Maybe the paper is equivilent to 10,000 grit sandpaper?”

Voicemail:
Shannon Rogers – Renaissance Woodworker – Shannon’s world is rocked because Matt is using more power tools and Marc is using more hand tools!
Roberto – Wondering if Norm was going crazy when he dipped his tenons in water.

Tom’s Tip (TomsWorkbench.com): Measure Twice Cut Once
Kari’s Tip: (Village Carpenter): Gunk on old blades.

After Show Voicemails:
Margaret from MagnoliaWorks.com tells us exactly how to pronounce Jim Ipekjian’s name.

The tablesaw is an essential piece of shop machinery, but it can also be dangerous. Learn how keep your fingers safe and avoid kickback with tips from Fine Woodworking magazine editor Asa Christiana. For more woodworking tips and techniques, visit FineWoodworking.com.

Woodworking machines cough up fine dust that is harmful to your lungs. It’s essential to develop a game-plan for dust control. Fine Woodworking magazine editor Asa Christiana shares simple strategies for taming dust and shows off the solution he’s arranged in his home shop. For more woodworking tips and techniques, visit FineWoodworking.com.

Workshop noise can wreak havoc on your ears. Learn how to keep your hearing safe from the roar of shop machines with tips from Fine Woodworking magazine editor Asa Christiana. For more woodworking tips and techniques, visitFineWoodworking.com.

The router is a versatile shop tool, but its fast-spinning bit can put fingers in jeopardy. Fine Woodworking magazine editor Asa Christiana shares simple tips on how to stay safe by keeping workpieces under control and digits out of harm’s way. For more woodworking tips and techniques, visit FineWoodworking.com.

Woodworking is inherently dangerous, but simple precautions can help you stay safe in the workshop. Fine Woodworking magazine editor Asa Christiana shares common-sense tips to keep your fingers, eyes, and ears intact.

Many folks expressed an interest in seeing the full interviews from our trip to Fine Woodworking. Only about 5% of the interview actually made it into the show, so there is plenty of good information here. Asa Christiana is the Editor of Fine WoodWorking Magazine. He gives us a lot of insight into the editorial process and how decisions are made. I also had the opportunity to ask him some of the questions that you guys wanted me to ask. Enjoy!