STL269: How we absorb woodworking information
Mike, Vic, and Ben discuss how they find the information they need to learn a new technique and the impulse buys that they just can't walk away from.Question 1:
From Jon:
I signed up for the unlimited membership. There is a lot of great info in there but I feel like I am not getting the most out of it. I was wondering if you could do a segment, YouTube video or a bonus episode on how get the most out of all the Unlimited membership has to offer. I have tried looking at some old magazine issues on the Fine Woodworking app on my phone and it says I have to pay to look at the old issues and special issues, like the shop issue that came out a few months ago. Am I doing something wrong? There is also such a vast amount of information it can be hard to find what I am looking for. That might be more a product of ADD than the website. I feel like my dog at the park when he sees a squirrel sometimes. “Band saw set up article…”
Thanks again. Keep up the good work.
Vic recommends:
Encyclopedia of Furniture Making by Ernest Joyce
Ben is constantly using the Fine Woodworking Magazine Index
Segments
Vic – Give yourself permission
Mike – Give yourself permission to try something. Stop looking at things.
Ben – Creating an impossible router bit in his mind and spending multiple hours trying to find it
Question 2:
From Chris:
I try to be very conscientious with most of my woodworking related purchases, but a lot of the time I find myself walking out of a Woodcraft or lumber yard with something that was not on my list. Be it a sale too good to refuse, the beckoning call of a shiny new tool, or a gorgeously figured piece of birdseye maple, I have a habit of impulse buying. Not saying it is an overly bad habit, as my wife is supportive, but just an interesting observation. What is your most memorable woodworking impulse purchase (tool, lumber, class, etc)?
This question was spurred by seeing Mr. Strano checking out at my local Woodcraft. After everything rang up, he turned around to a clearance section by the register and picked up a few more of the same item he was purchasing. I was totally NOT creeping, just behind him in line 🙂
Appreciate the witty banter and thoughtful advice on all the podcast episodes and look forward to Vic being more present!
Ben recommends buying many Stew Mac Tape Decks!
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
I’ll take a pass on another shop talk live. I’ve got better things to do with my time. You lost me a while ago.
Shop Talk Live lead me to Unlimited membership, and this was another great episode.
Tips on using the website would be very helpful. Please follow through with this.
It would be great to view the magazine in a two-page format. I have seen catalogs (Lee Valley?) that are laid out in two pages. Then when you want to view the detail, you can zoom in.
I like the addition of Vic to the lineup.
With these discussions, I wish you would consider providing more opportunities to include diversity. Ben, Vic and Mike are interesting to listen to but I certainly would appreciate hearing more from the perspectives of the infinite range of other individuals' unique attributes and woodworking experiences from a broader involvement including ethnicity, gender, age, and disability, etc. than what's presented here.
I absolutely agree that diversity is needed in every realm of woodworking. We have been working to make sure that there is a far more diverse cast on the show. Our goal is to have 50% of the episodes include a non-male identifying woodworker, and we're striving to be more diverse in other ways as well. It is something that we are actively working to get better about.
RE: Webpage Layout
Ben, doesn't InDesign allow you to save the print layout into a liquid layout for a webpage? You could still have a PDF link but making the article more accessible on a screen would be nice.
Always enjoy your Shoptalklive. Vic is a great addition. I enjoy the humor and such; In my opinion, there seems to be a trend going forward of less useful information given out. Small talk can be fun but I was fired up for the "router queen" and didn't get much out of it except the book recommendation. (I bought it.) I went back to listen to Shoptalklive #35 just now. Quite a contrast in pace and information. I listen to these podcasts in 40 min. segments (exercise machine time) and it's a nice way to think I'm doing two good things at once. Has to be tough to do these podcasts without getting careless. I know I couldn't do it. Keep up the good work though. I appreciate and enjoy it.
Ben mentioned viewing the mag on a 10" notebook so I bought a Amazon fire 10 and love it for viewing that and the other 6 woodworking mags I view through my library. I've dropped them over the years and only kept this one. Thanks Ben
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