Episodes
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STL378: The Tweezer Man Cometh
This week, Fine Woodworking staffers Mike, Owen, and Bridgid interpret wood science for practical use in the shop. We know that drilling a hole through a tenon makes it weaker. The science doesn't lie, but is that reason enough to abandon pinned joinery for good? Join us on our Discord server! -...
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STL377: Woodworking Myth Busters!
Seri Robinson, a professor of wood science at Oregon State University, and Dan Bollock, the woodshop operations manager for Purdue Univeristy, sit down in person with Vic and Owen to bust myths about wooden cutting boards, pinned joinery, and appropriate glue usage. View the show notes here -...
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STL376: How Hefty is Your Handplane?
In this episode, Vic sits down with Fine Woodworking staffers Owen and Bridgid to talk about shop tunes, handplane weight, and ways to systematically shape wood. View the show notes here - http://www.shoptalklive.com Sign up for Woodworking in America, October 9-10 in Des Moines, IA -...
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STL: The SawStop Bandsaw with CEO Matt Howard
Crossover episode! This week Bridgid sat down with Popular Woodworking's Logan Wittmer and SawStop CEO Matt Howard to chat about the big bandsaw news revealed at IWF 2026. View the show notes here - http://www.shoptalklive.com Sign up for Woodworking in America, October 9-10 in Des Moines, IA -...
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STL375: What is Moonwood?
Fine Woodworking staffers Mike, Owen, and Bridgid sit down to discuss Handworks 2026, wood finishes for kitchen utensils, and the moon's effect on trees. View the show notes here - http://www.shoptalklive.com Sign up for Woodworking in America, October 9-10 in Des Moines, IA -...
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STL374: The Space Between the Dots
Vic shares this episode with box maker and Fine Woodworking cover author Vasko Sotirov. Vasko is an impeccable woodworker, but he's too humble to say it. Luckily, we have Vic to say it for him. In this episode, the two dicuss box making, design prototyping, and (of course) the metric system. View...
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STL373: Big Changes for the Fine Woodworking Staff
The old Taunton crew—Ben, Anissa, and Mike—sits down to discuss some exciting changes happening at Fine Woodworking and what the future holds. View the show notes here and read a special note from Ben - http://www.shoptalklive.com Sign up for Woodworking in America -...
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STL372: David Bedrosian Is a Clever Dude
Vic and Bridgid sit down with furniture maker David Bedrosian to talk about the literal ins and outs of dust collection, along with the versatility of a sliding table saw. David's Instagram Links to topics mentioned in this episode can be found here - http://www.shoptalklive.com Sign up for the…
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STL371: The Wood Gets a Vote
Adam Godet sits down with Owen and Ben to discuss honoring the customer's vision when doing commission work and how to protect your hearing long-term in the woodshop. Links to topics mentioned in this episode can be found here - http://www.shoptalklive.com Sign up for the New England American…
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STL370: Jamie Figures Things Out
Jamie Gilgen sits down with Vic to discuss building out a shop in a small space, using combination machines and vacuum pressing bent laminations. Jamie's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@gilgen_furniture Jamie's Cello Podium Build - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3BmjI5Y9wU&t=152s...
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STL369: Calling All Choppers!
Bill Pavlak, head cabinetmaker at Colonial Williamsburg, joins Ben and Bridgid to discuss what it's like working in an 18th-century shop. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our woodworking dream trips -...
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STL368: It Appeared to Me in a Dream
Vic interviews Steven Der-Garabedian, a teacher, woodworker and veneer artist, and together they answer questions about finding woodworking solutions in the quiet moments once you've allowed your brain to rest and process. Visit Steve's website - Black Walnut Studio For more information about our...
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STL367: Mike Didn't Get The Memo
Mike and accidental twins, Vic and Ben, discuss woodworking techniques they won't show, thinking about grain direction on drawer parts, prefinishing problems, Barry Manilow's lesser-known banger, and Vic and Ben fanboy over luthier Ted Woodford. For more information about our eLearning courses -...
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STL366: No Mallet is Safe
Shea Alexander is a custom furniture maker and the owner of Alexander Brother's lumberyard in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. He has years of experience guiding customers through the process of buying wood, and in this episode Shea and Vic discuss the importance of context when buying materials.…
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STL365: The Thrifty Trio Convenes
In this episode, Ben and Dinkle sit down with Phil Huber, of the Woodsmith Shop, to discuss machine upgrades (or lack thereof) along with answering some listener questions. Sign up for Woodworking Travel Tours - https://www.finewoodworking.com/tours For more information about our eLearning…
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STL364: Good Design Goes Unnoticed
Mike and Vic sit down with Konrad Sauer, of Sauer & Steiner Toolworks, to discuss the design process — what constitutes good design? And what should you do in the rare moments where inspiration strikes? Find Konrad on Instagram here: @sauer_and_steiner Some of Konrad's favorite Instagram…
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STL363: More Than One Way to Cut a Dovetail
Anissa and Ben sit down with Bob van Dyke of the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking to discuss Fine Woodworking New England and the importance of embracing flexibility in your approach to woodworking techniques. Register for Fine Woodworking New England - Register for Fine Woodworking New...
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STL362: Hold the Saw like a Baby Bird
Jeff Miller has been making furniture for 40 years, but he's not afraid to be a beginner. He and Vic sit down to discuss his new-found love of building guitars, the importance of routine practice, and proper woodworking body mechanics. Register for Fine Woodworking New England - Register for Fine...
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STL361: Working at Speed
Luthier Aaron Keim chats with Ben about modifying tools to work better with your body, making kitchen shelves with figured maple, being able to work quickly, and of course, some instrument making wisdom is shared. Register for Fine Woodworking New England - Register for Fine Woodworking New…
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STL360: Veneer Glue—Stirred, Not Shaken
Venerring gets weird when Steve Der-Garabedian joins Vic and Ben to discuss the variety of veneer tape, vacuum pumps, substrates, and why he likes his glue stirred, not shaken. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about…
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STL359: Making the Most of Shop Time
Vic, Mike, and Amanda discuss how to nibble off a project in small chunks and how they keep up their woodworking chops when they just don't have much time. The Nordic Tradition: Woodworking & Design in Denmark & Sweden: https://store.woodsmith.com/pages/tour/woodworkingtravel-2026sep-denmark A...
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STL358: He Hunts For Tools, So You Don't Have To
Joshua Clarke is the founder of Hyperkitten Tool Company, a business dedicated to sourcing and selling high-quality vintage hand tools to people who actually use them. He began collecting and restoring tools in 1999 after learning woodworking with hand tools in a small townhouse and turned that...
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STL357: Rob Spiece's Show and Tell
Rob speaks with Anissa and Amanda about his roles at Berea College and Pinecroft, and some cool projects for the upcoming year. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning Join us on our new Discord server! - https://discord.gg/8hyuwqu4JH Links from...
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STL356: Unconscious Competency
Vic Tesolin and Ben Strano talk sharpening, saw choices, scrap hoarding, favorite woods, disappointing tools, shop snacks, wood shop EDC, and the moment woodworking finally made sense. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning Join us on our new...
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STL355: Pencil Geeks Assemble!
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.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our Woodworking Fundamentals...
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STL354: Go and Do the Thing
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 Woodworking Fundamentals journey - http://www.finewoodworking.com/fundamentals…
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STL353: A Big Bit of Community
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 information about our Woodworking Fundamentals journey -...
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STL352: I Am Miserably In Love With Wood
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 - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our...
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STL351: Woodworking From UK to the USA
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 stonemasonry) to the Snowdon School of Furniture (studio furniture, domestic woods…
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STL350: Texas Edition
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 For more information about our Woodworking Fundamentals journey -...
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STL349: Finishers on Flexner
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 more information about our Woodworking Fundamentals journey -...
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STL: Zen-Wu's Low-Speed Woodworking
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/woodworking-in-america-2025-des-moines-iowa-state-fairgrounds-interim-events For…
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STL348: Adam Godet and the Three Jewels of a Shared Shop
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-2025-des-moines-iowa-state-fairgrounds-interim-events For more information...
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STL347: Don't Reinvent the Bench
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-2025-des-moines-iowa-state-fairgrounds-interim-events For more information...
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STL: It's Not a Robot, It's a CoBot!
Zach and Shawn from Shaper Tools join Ben and Logan on the AWFS show floor in Vegas to talk about BenchPilot, all things Shaper Origin, and what they're seeing in the community that excites them. This episode is sponsored by Shaper Tools Folks Shawn and Zach talked about: Kim McIntyre -...
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STL346: Ramon's Rules for Jig Making
Mike and Amanda chat with Ramon Valdez about belt sanders, magnets, and making jigs. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our Woodworking Fundamentals journey - http://www.finewoodworking.com/fundamentals Join us on...
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STL345: Rogowski's Rose-Colored Safety Glasses
Gary and Vic join Ben and discuss fancy scrapers, the durability of veneer, projects that instill a love of woodworking, and Gary declares his life's greatest love. For more information about our eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our…
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STL344: Owen Madden - Citizen Woodworker
Amanda and Anissa welcome new FW staffer, Owen Madden to the show to discuss working in a cabinet shop, bandsaw blades, and more. Also, Ben is joined by Logan Whittmer to talk about the upcoming Woodworking In America event. For more information about our eLearning courses -...
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STL343: Don't Moose It!
Ben, Vic, and Amanda talk about turning, what to buy when looking for entry level tools, and when to stop and clean your blades. For more information about our other eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our Woodworking Fundamentals journey -...
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STL342: What We Wish We Knew
Bridgid Gruber of Dinkles Woodshop shares her thoughts on what she'd tell herself 8 years ago, at the beginning of her woodworking career. For more information about our other eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our Woodworking Fundamentals...
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STL341: Catching up with Chris Gochnour
Mike and Amanda chat with Chris about his recent work and go through a list of questions we specially curated, just for him. For more information about our other eLearning courses - http://www.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our Woodworking Fundamentals journey -...
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STL340: Do You De-Tension Your Bandsaw?
Ben and Amanda are joined by TV's Phil Huber, for an episode discussing bandsaw tension, edge sanders, and downdraft tables. Get your tickets for Fine Woodworking New England - https://secure.interactiveticketing.com/1.43/83104a/#/select For more information about our other eLearning courses -...
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STL339: The Woodshop is a Play Room
Robby Simon shares his journey into woodworking, and the inspiration behind his strong design voice and creative direction. Get your tickets for Fine Woodworking New England - https://secure.interactiveticketing.com/1.43/83104a/#/select For more information about our other eLearning courses -...
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STL338: BVD's Lasagna Couch
Amanda sits down with Mike Mascellii and Bob Van Dyke to answer questions and chat about Fine Woodworking New England. Get your tickets for Fine Woodworking New England - https://secure.interactiveticketing.com/1.43/83104a/#/select For more information about our other eLearning courses -...
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STL337: The Trinity of Woodworking Details
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 information about our other eLearning courses -...
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STL336: Applause From The Maestro
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's simple but very effective website: https://www.smgwoodworking.com/ For more...
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STL335: Morley takes on Maine
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/identifying-wood-randy-wilkinson For more information about our other…
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STL334: Understanding Hoadley
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-wood-randy-wilkinson For more information about our other eLearning courses -...
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STL333: A bigger jointer won't fix it
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.finewoodworking.com/elearning For more information about our Woodworking...
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STL332: Any way into marquetry is a good one.
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-cnc-machine For more information about our eLearning courses -...