STL 165: Staying Safe in the Shop
Mike, Tom, and Ben discuss their favorite safety techniques, milling techniques, unfinished projects, and wide mitersEnter for your chance to win the Fine Woodworking SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw Giveaway
Question #1
What is your order of operations when milling up lumber? I’ve always been told to joint a face of a board, then place that surface against the jointer fence to square up an edge. THEN head over to the planer. Recently, I watched a video of Philip Morley where he who jointed a face, then planed the opposite side before deciding which way to present the face edge to the jointer knives to minimize tear out. Which order is correct? -Mathew in Australia
- Make a Table from a Board by Michael Pekovich #243–Nov/Dec 2014 Issue
- Video Workshop: Single Board Side Table by Michael Pekovich
Question #2
I started woodworking three years ago. After a few furniture projects, I decided to build a guitar.
I made the top and bottom, bent the sides and glued up the neck. Then I realized how much work it would be to finish this guitar. Eventually, I lost track and this thing just inhibited me to do any woodworking at all. So, I cleaned up my workshop, set all guitar parts and jig´s aside, and started a new project. But this guitar sitting there, unfinished, annoys me all the time. How do you deal with projects you can´t or don´t want to finish? Just burn it? – Thomas in Bavaria
All-Time Favorite Safety Technique of All Time… for this week
Tom – Making your own tablesaw splitter
- Tablesaw Kickback by Kelly Mehler #116–Jan/Feb 1996 Issue
- Video: The Mighty DIY Push Stick by Ellen Kaspern #265–Tools & Shops 2018 Issue
- Push pads that actually work. Are you ready? by Rollie Johnson
Mike – Keeping workpieces large, as long as possible
Ben – Always operate a chisel with two hands
Question #3
I’m building a Stickley-style box-spindle chair. The plans call for 6″ wide arms that meet a similarly wide back, joined with miters. I’m apprehensive about miters since I’ve had bad luck with them in the past when seasonal expansion/contraction open up wide miters either on the inside or at the corners. How can I better control for these seasonal changes? The plans call for quartersawn white oak, but I’m i flatsawn cherry with maple slats for a soft contrast. -Derrick in Australia
Listener Comments:
In reference to episode 163:
From Neil Brooks: Cycling’s Greg LeMond was once asked if bike racing ever gets any easier. His reply: It never gets any easier. You just get faster.
From Robby Wright: If you ever spill CA glue again, you can clean it up with nitromethane. It dissolves CA glue very quickly. It is sold as a CA glue release agent. You can get it at woodworking supply places. Or, you can go to your local RC model shop. They use it as fuel in RC cars and models. If you plan to do a lot of CA glue spilling, go to your local dragstrip – they use nitromethane in top fuel dragsters and funny cars. You can get it by the drum there.
Via YouTube:
In reference to episode 163:
WB Fine Woodworking: Super podcast. First of all the three of you convinced me that I need to buy Matt’s book.
Mat Weesner : Great episode Anissa is the bees knees. Mike’s the man. ben great job. Camera guy sold work.
On iTunes:
From nbgwdb:
Excellent podcast: Thanks for all the wonderful knowledge you impart and for keeping it entertaining in the process. And now, just like everyone keeps telling you, make it once a week. Thank you in advance.
From Mruniqueid:
The Best – If you’re a woodworker, this is essential listening. These guys go into fine detail on all the little tips and tricks that it takes to become a better woodworker. I’m a pretty new myself, and I feel like I’ve gained so much knowledge by listening to these guys chat. It’s reassuring to know that other people have the same issues as you, and it clues you in to what to look out for in the future. Not only that, but I always feel excited to get out into the shop afterwards. Whole hearted 5 stars.
Recommendations:
- Mike – China marker
- Tom – Blue shop rags
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.
Comments
Remind Dr. Kenney that Phd stands for Piled Higher and Deeper......... ;)
Another good session and as others noted full of small tips that make things in the shop both safer and easier. I suspect that Nitromethane is not much worse flammability wise than many of the other solvents used in finishing. It is certainly dangerous if not handled correctly, but so are lacquer thinner and denatured alcohol. And, once again for the video blogs, you need to get rid of the microphone monstrosity you have on the table. The booms block the video screen on the wall and pretty much cover Ben's face (not necessarily a bad thing :o) ). For an audio only blog it makes no difference, but on video it looks like something an amateur cobbled up
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