02:06 – A look at issue #263

10:00 – Question 1:

I’ve recently been learning to cut dovetail joints by hand. So far, I’ve been sticking to textbook-type joints: evenly spaced, and where the pins and tails are of similar sizes. I’ve noticed that more advanced woodworkers often design their joints with very thin pins. Doesn’t this compromise the strength of the joint?

-Randy

15:13 – Question 2:

I am looking to build a modern bench seat for my entryway, but struggling to find a design I like. Michael Cullen’s coffee table in FWW #260 caught my eye, and I wondered if this design could be used as a seat, but I am concerned about potential sagging. I could thicken the top and stretcher for additional strength, but I worry that it will end up looking ‘chunky’.  How can I prevent sagging while still maintaining a refined look?

-Matt

Articles mentioned:

• Michael Cullen – Sleek and Shapely Coffee Table issue #260
• Daniel Chaffin – A Bench That Fits Every Room issue #207

 

18:50 – Deep dive: surface prep

Articles mentioned:

• Michael Cullen – Beautiful Bandsawn Boxes issue #250
• Michael Cullen – Make Beautiful Bandsawn Boxes video workshop

36:50 – Question 3:

I am very new woodworking. I know most of you use water stones but I was wondering what your opinions are on oils stones. Could you talk about why you use water stones as opposed to oil stones?

-Levi

• Brian Boggs – Get Sharp the Diamond Way issue #242

44:48 – Question 4:

I recently got a benchtop hollow chisel mortiser. I’ve noticed that after cutting the through mortise that the auger bit causes a slight rounding of the nice clean edge of the mortise.

From your experience is that going to be an unsightly issue when it comes to the final assembly or am I just being too finicky?

• Rollie Johnson – Master The Mortiser issue#185

48:25 – Smooth Moves:

55:28 – Question 5:

If you had one last piece of furniture to make, what would it be and why?

-Tim

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Tom McKenna Editor	Michael Pekovich Executive Art Director	Matt Kenney Special Projects Editor

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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 [email protected] 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.