STL258: Making pretty things and blowing up their spots
Woodworker, artist, and author Danielle Rose Byrd joins Barry and Ben to discuss green woodworking techniques and culture, taking care of your body, wood allergies, sharpening, and how to find your own style.This episode is sponsored by Peters Valley
Survey: The hunt for denatured alcohol
You can purchase Danielle’s book The Hand Carved Bowl at her website.
Leave a comment below for your chance to win a copy of The Hand Carved Bowl. Winner will be selected 2/11/22.
Question 1:
From Brandon:
Every year I look at doing a “special project” with my courses that is different from your stereotypical High School “wood shop” class. I’ve done shaker boxes, and even completely switched it up to bring in my forge and anvil to have students try their hand at blacksmithing their own marking knives. In the future I was thinking about taking a stab at letting them try spoon carving. How to spoon carve is not what I’m asking, but somewhere I had heard a concern for using nut-bearing woods, such as walnut, in cutting boards because of potential food allergies. While I’d like to say I have immediate access to a class worth of cherry billets, being from Missouri my access to black walnut and hickories are far more plentiful. So when making wood projects related to eating (spoons, bowls, cutting boards, etc.) is there a concern for the species to use as it relates to possible “nut allergies”? Furthermore what would be your go-to food safety finish?
Question 2:
From Chris:
I’ve been woodworking for a few years now and most of my projects have been based on existing plans, both big and small. At Christmas I decided to make a mallet. I discovered that while I had ideas for the design, I had yet to establish a signature style of my own. Greene & Greene is a definite style. Jimi Hendrix had his own playing style. How does one find their own woodworking style or look?
Question 3:
From Matt:
I have recently changed my sharpening process on my chisels. I would like to know if you think it is a bad idea. I am sure other people do this but I have never seen or heard it discussed. I haven’t been able to think of a reason not do it other than it might take slightly longer to grind my primary bevel once it is necessary.
Just like everyone, I start with a primary bevel around 25 degrees. I then hone a secondary at 30. Once that secondary becomes to large to realize the benefit of having a secondary bevel I then sharpen to a 35 degree tertiary bevel. I will stick with this until it becomes to time consuming to get sharp and then repeat the process.
I haven’t found a way to get my primary bevel quickly. I have tried Rikon’s slow speed wet grinder, coarse DMT plates, and 180 grit paper on granite. Regardless of what method I use it usually takes me around an 1-1.5 hours depending on the size of the chisel. 1/8” and 1/4” are much faster.
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
Posting comment to win her book:)
Loving the sweater Danielle Rose is wearing during the interview. That sweater has been in the shop! I'd love to win the book.
Please enter me for the book drawing.
Absolutely fantastic episode.
Please consider me for the book giveaway.
Great show, enter me into the book giveaway.
A lot of guitar cases in Danielle's office. Woodworker and musician. Nice
I have to say wow, I love this shoptalk. Power structures and woodworking, Danielle Rose is saying what needs to be said. Shedding guilt and shame with our woodworking for a better society! Ben, please enter me in the draw for the book, but I want to buy it even if I don't win. Thanks to FWW for branching out and bringing new voices to the table, so that we can all benefit from a different perspective.
Would love the book. Thanks for having Danielle on the show.
Great episode! I'd love copy of Danielle's book!
I liked the show more upbeat and lol funny than usual
Please enter me in your book drawing.
Thank you.
Would love to win the book. If I don't win it I'll buy it. Can't wait to read about self care!
Great info! Would love to win the book.
Post comment to win Danelles book
Ben,
Cannot find the survey for denatured alcohol. Here in radical California, DN and other distillates have been outlawed. Sure is a pain not finding it in hardware and box stores. It is available for sports people as stove fuel at boat stores and REI. I was able to purchase Behlen’s Shellack thinner at Wood Craft. Don’t get me wrong I strongly endorse CA effort to combat global warming. I would also like to have a copy of the book.
Thank you, tgr.
Really enjoyed Danielle on this weekend's podcast, fun and informative. Hope I get the chance to win her book!
Really loved the show this week. I thought it would be easy to answer the walnut nut allergy ?= wood allergy question with an appeal to "the Google" but turns out it's hard to find anything reliable. So I completely agree with: if you're not 100% sure it's safe, then avoid it until you know for sure.
I enjoyed getting to know Danielle a little on this week's podcast and agree with others that it's good to hear some new voices within the FWW circle. Please toss my hat into the ring for a chance to win her book.
awesome show great job! (will eventually own the book. would be better if it were from you.)
Great episode! I would love to win her book!
Yea, interesting. Do what ever works, I just don’t tell folks how I do stuff. Woodworkers are the only people that show their work and point out the flaws…
I to0 make spoons, with a bandsaw and a gouge, and a belt sander.
It is, all about sharp, there are many roads to sharp, again what ever works. Diamonds, sandpaper, water stones, natural stones, Lapping film, and pasted strops.
What is it about stropping that woodworkers don’t get? Folks have been shaving their faces with straight razors that are stropped daily, for hundreds of years, but OMG if you strop your chisels or plane blades, you will ruin them. Yea, No.
Strop, strop on good metal polish. Danielie needs a better mic for next time, and there should be a next time.
I just recently started my first carved bowl! It lives mostly in the freezer until I have more time though...
Thanks for taking the time to answer my question! I was grinding the primary all the way to the edge of the chisel. At the time of the question I was chopping a lot of mortises in white oak. I will start leaving a small amount of secondary bevel when establishing the primary and using a more aggressive grit paper.
Sign me up for the book!
Wonderful show! I adored the discussion of “shaming” and such in woodworking—and life! I’ve long struggled with fear of making embarrassing mistakes and the like, and so much of this episode—including Danielle’s comment, “Allow yourself to be very, very bad….”—is so very, very helpful to me (and, I suspect, many, many others).
Oh, and yes, I’d love to have a copy of the book.
I first heard of Danielle’s book thru David Fisher and pre ordered it. A fantastic book. She conveys all concepts very well. Illustrations are great. Self care is something I’ve not seen in other books/programs.
And yes I’d like another copy for friends👍
Great episode. I've been following Danielle on IG for years and would love to win a copy of her book.
Great rambling, enter me to try winning book
I would like the book. Also, I can't believe anyone would hand carve hickory!
Excellent episode! I would love to win her book!
Enter me, too, please. I'd love a copy of that book!
Really enjoyed this episode as I'm a big fan of Danielle's work. Would love to win a copy but will definitely buy it if I'm not so lucky this time around.
Would LOVE a copy of Danielle’s book. Have been a fan for sometime and not easy to get the book in Canada. Plus, glad to see much more content recently from Danielle and other ladies. There’s tremendous talent out there.
I like reading amazing books!
An excellent episode! Never knew of Danielle Rose Byrd until now. So good to hear talented, thoughtful people talk about topics they have pondered over.
Good pod. Book looks great, hoping to win it.
Great podcast, and I’d love to win the book. My house is under renovation and I need to work on some smaller projects. I loved Danielle’s perspective and look forward to reading her book. Win or not.
I would like a chance to win her book. TY
Did anyone else get a contact buzz during the show? Granted, I was listening on 1.5x speed so that could be the culprit. Either way, I loved the episode and would love a chance and Danielle's book.
I really enjoyed the discussion on sharpening.
I checked out Danielle's website, the book looks as beautiful as the rest of her work. I would love a copy!
That's a seriously passionate lady! I'd love a copy of the book please ;-]
Book looks amazing! Noticed one nit with the show this week, Ben said it was episode 259 in the intro.
Dang it!
Sounds like a good book. On the denatured alcahol all I can find is fuel alcahol. I submitted to your survey.
Love to have the book. Great interview, you guys have to have her back soon.
hi, great episode. that bowls look like they could walk! like they only wait for me to put the fruits into them so they can walk away with it....they look so nice...they would get treats all the time and then they would fill up like all the bowls I have already made and which do not walk away.
I have recently started carving spoons and other utensils for gifts and home use, it takes its toll on my hands as I am primarily using Black Cherry and Curly Maple. I have considered moving on to bigger “show pieces” but the time/physical effort (early carpal tunnel) it would take me to complete something like that is daunting. I would love to learn about Daniele’s techniques for power carving and some of the Self Care Techniques that will keep me from further injury. Loved the show. CAM
Would love to win a free book!
I would love a copy of Danielle's book! Ben, I initially struggled with using an axe on spoons. Now I almost exclusively use the bandsaw and drawknife to rough out my blanks. I'm happier and I still make beautiful things. Don't care if I am doing it the *right* way.
That's a great book, I really want it.
I really enjoy Danielle's work and would love to get her book one day.
Great show, thanks for having Danielle there. I would like to be entered for the book.
Great lookin book. I’d love to read it. Also good podcast
I'd love a chance to with the book
Hi Ben and co, please enter me for the drawing!
Thanks,
Pete
Would love to win her book! If she writes one book with all she learned about sharpening at Lie-Nielsen and explains it in a simple, clear way for Woodworking newbies I will buy that book too! Thanks
Fantastic chat. Great stuff. Thanks!
Great show! If love a copy of the book!
Love this podcast and would love this book to expand my woodworking skills.
Great Shoptalk Live ! Especially like the wood allergy discussion. Please add me to the book give away.
Love her esthétique, looking forward to doing projects from the book when I win it, hint!
Would love the, you did a great job at FWW live
Would love to win the book. This was a great interview with Danielle Rose. Learned a lot...
Great podcast, wonderful to get to know Danielle a bit, excellent advice! Hope to be getting a free copy, looking forward to reading the self care part too. I want a power chisel!
Thank you.
An excellent conversation, thank you for bringing the education and entertainment.
I too would love a copy of her book, definitely something to pick up some time.
Began this episode listening through my isotunes while beginning to mill some stock, then when I realized the first question out of the gate was mine I pumped the brakes on stock prep and sat down to listen start to finish. I appreciate the responses and Barry's redirection to Dr. Robinson's work. While yes birch would be nice, and is available in MO, it's not what we tend to have to cut often at the property I have access to. Basically Oak, Hickory, and Walnut are available anytime and I understand carving hickory would not be fun, but the nature of the question was tying it back to the potential concern for food allergies. Again I appreciate your insights. Keep up the good work, and I'd love the opportunity to win Danielle's book.
Posting to enter the contest for Danielle’s Book…
What a great episode! I have watched Danielle’s video on making a shrink pot, at least 25 times! It is amazing, and simplified the process for me, and how I teach it to my students.
Thanks for this!
Really liked this episode, and the point about taking care of, and maintaining our bodies as we do our equipment. Would love to win Danielle's book.
I would love to win the book. I really enjoy the podcast.
That actually looks like a good book. Love to win it.
Fantastic episode. What a lively mind! And such an entertaining conversation. And excellent advice. I have the book already!
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