STL183: The Call of the Cordless Tool
Mike, Anissa, and Ben discuss cordless favorites, gummy camellia oil, waxing jointer beds, and recent smooth movesLeave a comment on this page to be entered in the giveaway of Craig Thibodeau’s book, The Craft of Veneering.
Peter Galbert’s FWW Live 2018 Keynote Speech – Unsurprisingly, the journey of a windsor chairmaker is rarely a straight line
Question 1:
From David:
I have avoided cordless power tools because as a hobbyist and renter, I seldom use the tools outside of the basement workshop. I’ve been told I don’t know what I’m missing, but it seems my wallet prefers it that way. I’m most concerned about trying to commit to one brand/manufacturer or contend with the expense and hassle of having multiple chargers and batteries that aren’t compatible. Do you feel as though it makes sense to keep all of your cordless power tools within the same brand? Or is my concern unfounded? If you had to commit to a brand, what would they be and why?
Question 2:
From Harry:
How can I prevent Camellia from becoming all gummy. After letting a plane set for a few weeks that had been wiped down with Camellia Oil it was next to impossible to get the plane apart. I actually caused some minor damage it was stuck so hard.
Segment: Smooth Move
Ben: Not looking at the fine print on a router bearing
Anissa: Not looking at the sticker telling her which way to assemble a part on a dust collector
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Question 3:
From J:
Hey folks, I recently volunteered to be the shop manager for my local guild of woodworkers. We have a 16” Oliver that apparently, according to some, must never have its bed waxed. They prefer it is cleaned only with kerosene, the reason being that it’s believed waxing a jointer bed will cause glue joints to fail. Any merit to this train of thought? Or can I just wax it and make everyone’s lives easier.
Question 4:
From Joe:
I’ve gotten very good at sharpening my hand plane blades as well as making my wood surface feel silky smooth off the hand plane. When using a 2 pound cut shellac as a finish, do I need to rough up wood surface with sandpaper (such as 300 grit) so the shellac can stick better to the wood surface?
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
Up to 6:50, best opening of STL EVER! I was laughing out loud at work...
Another informative podcast! Keep them coming.
I am on the wait list for Craig’s book with or local library. Sure do wish I had my own copy.
I would enjoy a signed copy of Craig's book.
That interview was outstanding.
Very entertaining and informative podcast. Just finished building a vacuum press. A copy of Craig’s book would really help in getting the most out of my new tool. Sign me up.
I always get a useful tip in each of these. Thanks!
Love the podcast! The Craig Thibodeau interview helped me get over my fear of veneer. Now if I only had a copy of his book so I could get to work. Hmmm...
I loved the interview with Craig Thibodeau. Great info for people thinking of becoming professional woodworkers.
I would love Craig's book. Thanks for another great podcast.
Also, if I'm going to have a rechargeable tool, then I would always want to have two batteries. I use my cordless drill until it dies, and then swap out the battery. So, that adds to the cost of any rechargeable tool I might decide to purchase and seems like a bit much for something like a pin nailer that I would only use occasionally.
Great podcast. The interview with Peter Galbert was one of the best I've heard in a long time.
Hey guys, in response to question 3 front J, when I was in school the lead instructor in the cabinet shop would use lemon scented Pledge on all of the machines. You have to redo it often, but it works great.
Love your podcast. Let ok forward to Craig’s book.
“Looking” forward to Craig’s book. Dumb auto correct 😱
Great discussion with CT
I have a suggestion that should not add more than 2 hours to your workdays.
When a question comes in to you that among all your expertise is not completely answered, why not go to the experts?
You have all the contacts.
Finishing question, call Flexner.
Sharpening question, call Danub.
etc., etc.
The shows banter is great, but sometimes the unanswered questions leave me hanging.
Handworks was one of the best events we have ever attended.
Craigs book would be a bonus.
Cheers, Bob
Listening to this podcast is liking waking up on Saturday morning and watching cartoons when I was six years old. I think it is time to bring in wood finishing experts. Someone familiar with dyes and stains. Shop talk French polish.
Great show today (#183). No surprise though … every show has been great.
The opening discussion on good/bad dimensions was classic STL. I am glad I was listening on YouTube -- Anissa's earnest but perplexed expressions were priceless as she tried to figure out what the heck Mike and Ben were going about. I stopped the recording to grab my tape and ran around the house measuring the dimensions on my wife's antique Louis XVI furniture. Mike is right -- 3/4" does not exist in handmade furniture.
I also laughed out loud when it became clear that Mike did not remember Anissa's Tools and Materials on the cordless 18 gauge nailer . Coincidentally I was trying to decide this week between cordless and pneumatic. Since I am a member, I searched in the FW archives and found Anissa's excellent review which convinced me to go cordless.
Great show! I laughed the minute Ben mentioned buying a pattern bit at big orange, cause I knew what was coming. Commercial hinge mortise templates are built with a 1/16" offset, no idea why, hence the 5/8 bushing. Really enjoy the show, it's most recent incarnation the best yet
Battery powered, ... JIGSAW! Retired a Craftsman radial arm from the 70s after it sassed me one last time. Got a reconditioned Festool open-handled cordless jigsaw. Built three I-beam stands for the bench when I need a rough cross cut. Fine tune the work with a sled anyway later on. Picked up some valuable shop real estate.
3/4” is such an awful measurement because it reminds us of every piece of furniture from IKEA and Target that’s made from sheet goods. Also, years ago, Craig Thibodeau mugged me on the street and stole $30 from me after I pleaded that I needed it to buy my grandmother her insulin. It would be poetic justice if I could score a free copy of his book instead of lining the pockets of that scoundrel.
More Anissa on the podcast!!!
I have to admit I've never been overly enthusiastic about veneering and marquetry, but the interview with Craig has changed my outlook. And I'd love to read his book. Thanks Ben, Mike, and Craig for putting it together!
Really ? There is no such thing as a bad measurement unless it's a guess or not on the measuring device.
It’s amazing how often you teach me something just at the moment I need it in the shop. It is great having Anissa on the podcast. I’ve listened from the beginning and she really improves your show. Sanity just when you need it. Nice job refusing to commit without context. Mike the book is amazing read it in a day and then started over. Thank you.
Really enjoyed this last episode. Anissa is a keeper! Her honest perplexion at the whole "in the weeds" discussion of good vs. bad measurements was priceless. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Another great episode!
Enjoy the show every other week. The interview with Craig was great. The book would be even better.
Just purchased a “red” cordless table saw (yeah really!) and I am loving it so far. I have a very small basement shop with limited power outlets. This thing absolutely rocks for what I need. I built a rolling cart for it with a folding/locking outfeed table so I can wheel it around and move it out of my way if need be. I also made a crosscut sled for it and I’m really impressed with the accuracy as well. Well see how it goes overtime, but right now I’m quite happy with it! The batteries last very long and have plenty of power too.
I love the "smooth moves" segment. It puts my smooth moves I'm perspective. In the moment it may not seem funny, but to be able the laugh at yourself and remember that you are woodworking for the enjoyment of it. Thank you for willing to share your humanity with us.
Craig's new book would help me figure out some tricky veneer situations I have to deal with soon. And, as a fellow San Diegan, I would love to have his book!
Would love a copy of the book. Great show everyone.
My Grizzly band saw came crated the same way. Would love the book as well.
I only recently found your pod cast about a month ago. I am listening to back issues. It is like having someone in the shop with me. Keep up the good work. I would give you 5 stars but I am not sure how. LOL
I bought that same damn router bit! Curses!
Great podcast as usual. Craig's book looks amazing!
Definitely enjoyed Mike pretending to be Ben while interviewing Craig. Keep up the good work.
Great show folks, you have found a nice chemistry, I was thinking Anissa was not playing along at the beginning, but she redeemed herself later on. Apparently I should watch the video. Must question your evaluation of a cordless pin nailer, at my local Orange store the Red brand "hoseless" is 4x the cost of the "hoser". I could pull the trigger on my first Lie Nielsen/Veritas #4 plane with the difference. (not to mention any ongoing differences in operating costs)
PS how did I get the name anon1234 on your web site, doesn't sound like anything I was clever enough to think up myself?
Veneering has never interested me until I watched 182.5. You can tell Craig love's his craft, it's different from the norm of wood working. That said, I think it would be awesome to dabble a bit and see where it may take me.
Question 2 from Harry about the oil got replaced by a tenon question. Are you going to address the issue of camellia oil getting gummy? I would like to hear more about that. Good show over all, cordless pin nailers rule!
I'm liking 10mm, 20mm, 40mm… otherwise known as 1, 2 & 4 cm…5mm has its use but truth be known, Decimetres have no place in a conversation in a wood-shop. I trust that pretty much clears that up. ;-)
Would love a copy of Craig's book. Our library doesn't have it available.
I skip over the opening chit chat as I find it a waste of time compared to the good information that comes later. This episode had a question about camilla oil listed, but I did not hear the question discussed. Instead another question was discussed. What happened?
Just catching up on listening to the podcast. If not too late, I'd love to be entered in the giveaway!!!
Great show. Your podcast is the only one that is consistently reliable and entertaining. I agree with Ben, only red, blue or yellow. There are a couple of other good ones, but these are made for pros so will be as good in 5 years as they are today. I have blue and yellow. The blue I got a great deal on at a garage sale. A bit extra expense to have two types of batteries to buy, and harder to ensure they stay charged. I'd love to have red tools, but I don't use them enough to justify the extra cost and I can't have a third set of batteries.
As to smooth finishes, I took a class from an expert in French polishing (he was head of furniture restoration at the Louvre!) He polishes to a high shine and fills all the pores before applying any shellac. It has worked for centuries. That planed finish isn't smooth enough. Shellac sticks to everything.
All the best
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