Just when you thought the giveaways couldn’t get any better, I go and smack you upside the head with some sweet German engineering! That’s right baby! This month, we are giving away a Festool OF1400 Router and Bit Systainer to one lucky winner, thanks to our friends at Festool.

How to Enter

Normally, we pick a random winner from the comments left on our site. But for this giveaway, you’ll need to give us your email address. By doing so, you will be placed on both Festool’s and The Wood Whisperer’s email lists. One entry per person please!

Another Chance to Win

Did you know that Festool hosts their own sweepstakes every month? They do! So what are you waiting for? Go sign up!

You see, since show #1, Wood Talk has always suffered from “side project” status. But last Spring we decided to try a little experiment. We promised ourselves that we’d record every two weeks just to see how it goes. The result? The shows got better, the audience grew, and we had more fun! So much fun, in fact, that we forgot to take our regular “summer hiatus.” As if this wasn’t encouragement enough, I spoke with many of you this past weekend at Woodworking in America who expressed how much you enjoy the program and you wish it came out more often.

Well, ask and you shall receive! I spoke with the guys and we all agreed to start doing the show weekly. So from now on, we’ll record every Wednesday afternoon! Of course, life happens and there may be weeks when we need to shuffle things around a bit, but for the most part, you can expect the show to arrive on a weekly basis.

You can catch up on past episodes at WoodTalkShow.com or you can subscribe in iTunes or to the regular RSS feed.

So here’s the skinny. As an Amazon.com affiliate, we receive a small kickback from every sale we send their way (about 6-7%). And this isn’t just about woodworking related items. We’re talking toys, electronics, home goods, etc. So if you plan on doing some shopping, consider throwing a little love our way. It costs nothing more on your end and the sales are anonymous.

All you have to do is go to Amazon.com using our special link:
http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/tww-amazon
This link will take you directly to Amazon where you can do your shopping, and a cookie will be set letting Amazon know where you came from. Please keep in mind that anything in your cart prior to using this link will not count. And it’s a good idea to make the purchase within 24hrs as the cookie will eventually expire. Some of our biggest supporters have gone so far as to replace their Amazon bookmark with our link so they never have to worry about it. And our super-duper-uber fans actually set up their friends and family with this special link too. Ha!

Happy pre-holiday shopping my friends!

I am no stranger to being busy. Before my son Mateo came along, I would often work day and night and on the weekends. Work was just a way of life for me. After Mateo, I still work my butt off but I only do it Monday thru Friday from 8-5 and during naps. As a one-man operation with high aspirations, I am constantly on a quest to work smarter, not harder. But eventually, everyone reaches a point where there is only so much they can do on their own and something has to give.

A New Book

Between the free site, the Guild, the new shop, and life in general, my plate is filled to capacity! Frankly, I just don’t have much time for extra projects. But sometimes, an opportunity comes along that is so awesome I’d be a fool not to make room for it. I am currently working with Popular Woodworking/F+W Media on my first “real” book. Last year I self-published Finishing: It ain’t over till it’s over, but that was a pretty tame experience. The book was fairly short and I wrote it in my spare time on my own schedule. Working with an actual publisher is going to be……different.

Something I have working against me is the fact that I am absolutely NOT what I would call a writer. By now, most of you know I was dedicated to science in my previous life and it suited my natural writing style perfectly. Scientific papers are written in the most concise way possible with no flowery language at all. As a scientist, your job is to simply convey the facts and explain the data in a clean and organized fashion. So when it comes to writing a full-length book that is intended to be instructional as well as entertaining, I see it as a major personal challenge. And like all challenges put before me, it is one I will overcome. It’s just going to take a great deal of Spag-neurons and time.

Emails

So here’s what you can expect from me over the next few months. I probably won’t be as responsive to non-critical emails. For six years now, I have answered every email that has come into my inbox. Well, except for my daily email from Matt asking me, “So, whatcha doin’?” At a rate of 20-30 answer-requiring emails per day, this is one aspect of my daily routine that I need to tighten up. So if you do email me and you don’t receive a response, please don’t be offended. As always, the Wood Talk Online Forum is there to help you with anything you could possibly need.

Free Videos

Concerning videos, we actually have quite a bit of content to roll out during this busy period, so you might be pleasantly surprised to see MORE videos instead of fewer. Here are some of the upcoming topics: my shop build, the Thorsen House visit, an amazing Clock project from my buddy Rick Urschel, my Clear Vue Cyclone installation, as well as a bunch of videos from the old Guild archive including Bent Lamination, Flexible Sanding Strip, the Wall-Hanging Magazine Rack, and the Knife Block. So you can expect a steady flow of videos between now into the new year.

The Guild

In the Guild, things will proceed as expected. We have a new build starting in November which will be our first Advanced Series project. I am building an amazing bed with a frame and panel head board for a client. My goal is to take viewers on the journey from concept to finished product, all while working to satisfy a client’s needs. Should make for some interesting video!

WFC Charity Build

The final thing I need to mention, and it’s the one that bugs me the most, is the annual Woodworkers Fighting Cancer charity build. I simply have no time to organize and execute the event. So what I hope to do is make up for lost time with a build in the Spring. Stay tuned for details on that and I apologize to those who were really looking forward to the next charity build.

So that’s all there is to say. I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the current goings on. It’s a crazy time for me but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I feel incredibly lucky to have this book opportunity and I want to do you guys proud. After all, I wouldn’t be where I am today without your collective support. Thanks and have an excellent Fall woodworking season!

September’s giveaway is pretty sharp! A 6-piece chisel set from Two Cherries is up for grabs! The set comes in a wooden box and includes 6mm, 10m, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm, and 26mm chisels. Remember, all you need to do to enter the giveaway is leave comments on our site. Yep, we reward people for participating in the discussions. As always, “drive-by” and “throw-away” comments don’t count. That means comments like, “I’m in!” or “Consider me entered!” will never actually win. The winner will be selected at random from the meaningful comments left on the site (on any post) during the month of September.

Two Cherries is a family-owned company that has been making some of the highest quality tools at their factory in Remscheid Germany since 1858. Two Cherries offers an extensive range of woodworking and woodcarving tools that are solid forged and heat treated to acheive a Rockwell rating of 61, which although requires a bit more time sharpening, will hold an edge much longer than most other tools on the market.

New Year’s Eve 1986 was a particularly auspicious one for George Nakashima. The celebrated woodworker’s vision to transform a massive tree into a symbol of peace-which had begun three years earlier on a Long Island estate-had finally come to fruition. Before an audience of about 5,000 people, Nakashima, then 81 and still going strong, arrived at New York City’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine for the consecration of his first Altar for Peace. The massive heart-shaped slab of black walnut had been felled on Long Island, milled in Philadelphia, dried for two years, and shaped over the course of some two months. Back in 1986, Nakashima was quoted by the New York Times as remarking that the altar was meant to serve as a “tangible” symbol of peace-”if we can contribute something to the stability of this world, it would be fulfilling.”

From the original Altar for Peace was born the idea for the Sacred Peace Tables. Today, more than 20 years after his death, Nakashima’s work goes on, managed by his daughter Mira. The next Sacred Table scheduled for construction will eventually reside at the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. The Sacred Peace Table project is a costly, time-consuming endeavor. Sourcing the material, constructing the table, and shipping it halfway around the world will require an enormous sum, and two upcoming events are meant to help offset those costs. But take heart, even if you can’t attend either of these events, you can still help. The Nakashima Foundation for Peace is accepting tax-deductible donations via its website.

Pennsylvania Hardwood Dealer to Auction Slabs

Local hardwood dealer Hearne Hardwoods will host several silent auctions and raffles in conjunction with its annual open house, held Friday October 5, 2012, through Saturday October 6, 2012. Of particular interest will be two sizable black walnut logs slated for sawing at the event. One of these logs will go up for silent auction (bidding starts at $300), to benefit the Nakashima Foundation for Peace. The second log will benefit another worthy charity, The Moringa Community School of Trades.

Once again however, you don’t have to be in attendance to participate. Two 30-in. wide by 10-ft. long sapele planks will find a new home during the event. These planks will be offered up via raffle (tickets are $20 a piece). You can purchase tickets over the phone by calling (610) 932-7400, or by attending the event in person. A total of 200 tickets are available, and any tickets not sold online (online sales close a day ahead of the live event) will be sold at the door on Friday and Saturday, so be sure to act quickly! Much like the black walnut logs slated for sawing at the event, one sapele plank will benefit the Nakashima effort, while its mate will benefit the Moringa Community School of Trades, in Africa.

For those folks lucky enough to be able to attend the event live and in person, the weekend looks to be chock-full of a variety of vendors and display booths featuring presentations by the Philadelphia Furniture Workshop, the Society of American Period Furniture Makers, Lie-Nielsen, and more! Visit the Hearne Hardwoods website for the entire event lineup.

Nakashima Foundation to Host Benefit Peace Concert

On Sunday, November 4, 2012, the Nakashima Foundation for Peace will host a benefit concert at the Nakashima Studios at 2pm. The event will feature singer/songwriter Pam Ortiz and will include a performance of the “Story of the Wood,” an original composition performed at a concert honoring George Nakashima to help send off the second Sacred Peace Table to Europe in 1999. You can reserve your spot for a $50 donation to the Nakashima Foundation for Peace. RSVP at info@nakashimafoundation.org or call 215.862.2272. The event will be celebrated at the Nakashima Arts Building, 1847 Aquetong Road – New Hope, PA

I won’t sugar-coat this: these are tough economic times, yet if the woodworking community can come together to help complete the journey that George Nakashima began more than 30 years ago, perhaps that-in and of itself¬-would be the best reflection of his yearning to contribute something to the “stability of this world.”

Original Article

So if you don’t already have a shirt or hat, head over to the Wood Whisperer Store to check out the current selection!

You may have already heard through the grapevine or perhaps you noticed the new logo in the Sponsor’s Box at the top of the page: Clear Vue Cyclones is now a sponsor of The Wood Whisperer! Welcome to the family Clear Vue!

As part of our agreement, they will be offering exclusive discounts to yearly Guild members throughout the year. The first discount is a real doozie too! In fact, if you are in the market for a new cyclone, this discount could easily pay for the cost of a Superfan Membership! Here’s the skinny:

Until Monday September 24th, you can get 10% off your entire order as well as free shipping* at ClearVueCyclones.com.

If you are in the market for a cyclone, this one is a no-brainer! Sign up for one of our yearly memberships (Standard or Superfan), and you’ll get access to not only this discount, but others as well from folks like Rockler.com, BellForestProducts.com, Laguna Tools, and more!

*A shipping discount will be applied to customers outside the continental US.

Thanks to everyone who participated. This giveaway is closed.

So I admit it: I’m terrible at remembering to run our giveaway each month. I feel better now that I’ve fessed up publicly. Allow me to make it up to you. For the month of August, we’re giving away a Great Stuff RoboReel. It’s an awesome retractable motor-driven cord reel. You might not be impressed at first glance, but take a look at the video below. I guarantee you’ll be saying “WANT” by the end. This particular unit is portable, hangs on the shop wall, swivels, retracts automatically, and has numerous safety features not found in other cord reels. You can learn more about the RoboReel on the GreatStuff RoboReel Website. Let’s just say this ain’t yer grandpappy’s cord reel!

Now if you’re anything like me, you never buy ANYTHING without checking Amazon first. Since the sander rebate is issued by Porter Cable, you can get the Router and Sander rebate package for only $309.88!! If you are an Amazon Prime member and you don’t need the router bits, this is definitely a great way to go. Click for more information!

Either way, that’s a pretty smoking deal! Did you know that if you jump on this deal using our links above, we get a small kickback? The price is the same to you, but we get a small percentage of the sale as an affiliate. So let me thank you ahead of time for your support.

Many captions were repeated several times in slightly different ways. To pick the winner, we simply went with the one that was submitted first. We would also like to mention that these captions do not reflect the feelings or opinions of The Wood Whisperer, Inc. or Festool. A special thanks to Festool for offering a great prize for one of our sillier giveaways. Learn more about the Festool Surfix Applicator Set here!

If you want to attend one of these events, check out Matt’s WoodChat Page for all the details. If you’re free Wednesday nights at 9 pm Eastern, you don’t want to miss it!

The topic of the night will be Flush Trim Bits: what they are, how to use them, and how to pick the right one for your collection. I try to take questions during the demonstration and we always have a nice Q&A at the end. So even if you aren’t a Guild member, please feel free to jump in and join the discussion.

When: Tuesday, July 17th @7pm Eastern
Where: The Live Page

As for the rules, keep it short and keep it clean. This is my kid we’re talking about here! :) The winner will be selected at the end of July.

Update!

Good news! Festool is adding to the prize package with their new Festool Surfix Applicator Set. Tackle your natural oil finishing tasks in just a few simple steps, and with significantly less mess!

I realize this isn’t a one-size-fits-all sort of thing but I am interested in knowing what the majority prefers as this will help me strategize future video releases. Thank you for your time.

*UPDATE*

Thanks for all of the responses. Already, the results are very clear: a significant majority selected 30 minutes. I will certainly keep this in mind as I release future TWW videos.

I do feel the need to clarify something after reading some of the comments below. Some folks referenced the editing and that I should not aim for certain arbitrary time-frames. I couldn’t agree more and that isn’t what this is about at all. When I create a video, I am no where near organized enough to hit a particular timeframe. The video takes as long as it takes and the editing is done in the TWW style (whatever that is, lol). The situation I’m talking about here is when I have an hour of finished TWW footage to work with. The question being: how do you like your videos served? In four smaller parts, or two larger parts? As an analogy, I am offering you a 6-pack of soda. Would you prefer to have one soda a week or do you want a few cans at a time? The soda still tastes just as yummy and I’m not changing the formula just to make a certain size batch. I just want to know how you want to enjoy your grape soda. :)

I will likely never do anything the way Roy does it, but I sure don’t get bored of watching HIM do it. So here a bit of awesome news: Popular Woodworking is now releasing old seasons of the Woodwright’s Shop on DVD! Looks like they currently offer Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 20. By the way, did you know you can watch several season online right now? Watch Now!

So if you’re interested, you can place your order now! The Wood Whisperer is a Shop Woodworking affiliate so any purchases you make through this link will send a few pennies our way. As always, we appreciate the support and I hope you pick up these DVDs. They are a must-have for any woodworker’s library!

We always appreciate your support and hope you’ll pick up a DVD (or two) while the price is LOW! SHOP NOW!

So if you’re in the Arizona area, head to desertwoodturningroundup.com to get all of the details.

Spring is here and before you know it, we’ll be fighting the heat of Summer. So now is the perfect time to get inspired and start thinking about projects you can make to enhance your enjoyment of the great outdoors! All week long we’ll be posting Viewer Projects with an outdoor theme, including a kid’s fort, a backyard trellis, an outdoor sink, and a timber-frame house. And if you want to check out even more great Outdoor Projects from the past, take a gander at our Outdoor Project Archive.

So throw an extra burger on the grill, ice down those beverages, and get ready for summer with our Outdoor Project Week!

Please note that if you submit an outdoor project this week, it will not be posted during this event. But of course we welcome all project submissions.

I intentionally held off this announcement for a few days because I didn’t want anyone to think we were pulling an “April Fools” joke.

When I first started my woodworking business, I knew I needed to step up my game when it came to sheet goods. I looked at all of my options and finally decided upon the TS 55 tracksaw and a CT 26 dust extractor. That purchase alone was one of the best things I could have done for my bottom line. No longer was I tethered to my tablesaw for precision cuts in everything from plywood to MDF to solid lumber.

So if you’re anything like me in the shop, you know that the TS 55 and the CT 26 together make a KILLER combination. And thanks to our friends at Festool, we are giving this set away! Simply fill out the form on the Giveaway Page and you’ll be entered to win.

Online Harmony Dining Room Chair Class

(April 3 – May 1) – $99
This has been one of CSFW’s longest running classes, both live and online. It is a handsome dining room chair with simple pleasing lines that don’t distract too much from your table and includes the option of adding arms for the captain’s chairs on the ends. This online class will run for five Tuesday nights, 6:00-8:30 PM (MST), April 3-May 1. If you are even basically computer savvy, this might be a great option for you to learn to make this beautiful dining room chair.

Upon registration for this class, you will receive an e-mail containing a the plans and templates, as well as a tools and materials list. You are free to contact Andy any time with any questions. Click here to register!

Online Heritage Bar Stool Class

(April 4 – May 2) – $99
This has been one of CSFW’s more popular classes, both live and online. It is a graceful and sturdy bar stool that can be adjusted to fit the counter height of your bar or table and comes with an optional foot rest. This online class will run for five Wednesday nights, 6:00-8:30 PM (MST), April 4 – May 2. If you are even basically computer savvy, this might be a great option for you to learn to make this beautiful bar stool.

Upon registration for this class, you will receive an e-mail containing a the plans and templates, as well as a tools and materials list. You are free to contact Andy any time with any questions. Click here to register!

Online Serenity Studio Chair Class

(April 5 – May 3) – $99
This is the newest addition to the Chidwick School of Fine Woodworking class line-up and is quickly proving itself popular. It is a generously sized arm chair, handsome enough to stand on its own either in the study or as a unique and eye-catching part of a living room ensemble. This online class will run for five Thursday nights, 6:00-8:30 PM (MST), April 5 – May 3. If you are even basically computer savvy, this might be a great option for you to learn to make this beautiful studio chair.

Upon registration for this class, you will receive an e-mail containing the plans and templates, as well as a tools and materials list. You are free to contact Andy any time with any questions. Click here to register!

On a personal note, I wanted to let you know that the Chidwicks are donating $20 for every class sold in March to our website debacle. You can read more about it here. Thanks to everyone for their support and thanks to the Chidwicks for offering to help us so generously.

To win the giveaway, as always, all you need to do is leave a constructive and meaningful comment somewhere on thewoodwhisperer.com. We have a lot of videos and articles here on the site so have a look around and jump into the conversation. By the way, this post doesn’t count. So don’t even try it suckas!

I don’t know about you, but I just can’t get enough woodworking content. You’d think I’d be sick of it after all these years of making my own, but there is just something about a well-produced woodworking show that puts a smile on my face. I was thrilled to see a new offering from retailer Highland Woodworking. The show is called “The Highland Woodworker” and is hosted by Charles Brock, a well-respected furniture-maker who recently produced some of the best sculpted rocker plans I have ever seen.

This is not a typical project-based show. The first episode includes an interview with Roy Underhill, a visit to Whiteside to see how they make router bits, a look at workbenches, a visit to a lumber supplier to learn about walnut, and a look at a new finishing system. The show will be released quarterly and is every bit as good, if not better, than anything you might see on television. Kudos to Highland Woodworking and Charles Brock for producing a great show!

I do have to mention that the show is heavily ad-supported with significant time given to commercial messages. After all, the show is provided by a retail store. There is also an unexpected religious proverb plopped right in the middle of the video that seemed out of place. All in all, a super high quality production from a well-respected source. I can’t wait for the next installment! By the way, if you look closely during the Workbenches segment, you might see my signature from when I taught a class at Highland Woodworking. Look ma! I’m famous!

To sign up for Highland’s email list, click here!
Visit The Highland Woodworker website!

The clip is very interesting as it brings attention to the whole SawStop debacle. Pretty wild that the story hit mainstream media. But the real reason for me posting this is to give Peter a shout out. I think he did great and it was cool seeing his shop on a cable channel. And as tempting as it will be to get into a big SawStop debate, let’s not. :) I hear the dead horse whispering, “No mas! No mas!”

With the help of his father, Michael Agate, he cuts and assembles the project in the family kitchen! So awesome! To make it all the sweeter, they filmed the entire thing for our enjoyment. Does my heart good to see a budding craftsman do his thing! Congratulations Matthew and thanks to Michael for being the supportive cameraman.

Dwell magazine is running a grant competition for a $10,000 prize and the top vote-getter wins. So head on over and cast your vote by clicking the “Vote for this Entry” button at the top right. Every click helps protect and restore this piece of American architectural and woodworking history!

Help restore and maintain a piece of history! Vote Now!

Special thanks to David Mathias for bringing this to my attention.

What you can win this month:

Winner: Craig Clemans
15-Piece Bit Set – Great value starter set! Begin your woodworking career with this nice variety of the most commonly used profiles. Set includes a beautiful solid wood storage case. Two flute carbide cutters & 1/2″ shanks. From PrecisionBits.com

The folks at PrecisionBits.com also wanted to extend an exclusive 10% discount to our readers. Simply use the code thewood10 at checkout.

Winner: John Verreault
3-Month Wood Whisperer Guild Membership – The Wood Whisperer Guild is a unique and interactive online woodworking school.

“It’s your chance to enjoy the company of other passionate craftspeople as you learn from the experts whose work you’ve seen in our pages. Live demonstrations and hands-on workshops are at the heart of this limited-attendance event.”

Sound familiar? Reminds me of another event we have come to know and love from that other magazine we enjoy reading. *Cough* Woodworking in America *Cough* (it is very difficult to work that into a cough. Try it!). While this is a pretty obvious “me too” concept, I say bring it on! In many things, competition means the consumer wins and I feel this is no exception. I lost interest in the travelling woodworking shows years ago and I was surprised and elated to see the recent growth of Woodworking in America. I was even more excited with their recent promise to do two shows in two cities. But now with Fine Woodworking throwing their hat in the ring, there has never been a better time to attend a woodworking conference!

Something worth mentioning is that I don’t see any reference to a vendor area. One of the most popular features of Woodworking in America is the vendor floor. But I am wondering if that has more to do with the Hand Tool Olympics than the presence of the fancy boutique tool dealers. Perhaps leaving the vendor area out means that Fine Woodworking will be focusing more heavily on providing high quality instruction and ACTUAL hands-on opportunities. Oh, and Nick Offerman at the banquet HAS GOT to be better than the comedic stylings of Klausz and Underhill! hehe!

You can read the full announcement for yourself here. Be sure to come back and let me know your opinion. How do you think it will compare to Woodworking in America? If you could only go to one event, which would it be?

The idea started as many great ones do… late at night in a bar. At a recent gathering of woodworkers, we were sitting around a table asking ourselves, “How can woodworking be saved?” After all, with most schools no longer offering a shop class, millions of school age kids might not ever get the opportunity to work with wood. Add to that the trend toward ‘disposable’ furniture, built out of particleboard or MDF and designed to last until the next big design trend change, we were wondering if the appreciation of finely-crafted furniture would continue to be lost.

That’s when the idea hit me – we needed a special event to get folks off the sideline and into woodworking as a hobby. That’s where the idea of Get Woodworking Week comes in. This February 5 – 12, woodworking bloggers across the Internet are banding together to gear their sites toward the novice or soon-to-be-novice woodworker. They’ll cover topics as diverse as how they got started in the craft, which tools a beginning woodworker needs (without breaking the bank) and what techniques are essential to start with. There will be discussion about how to find wood on the cheap for projects, what sources of information are reliable and how making mistakes can – and do – make you a better woodworker.

I will be collecting links to each of these blog posts and listing them over at my blog, and I’ll mine the web to find some sites that would be interesting for the beginning woodworker – and for more advanced woodworkers who want to go back and take a look at where they started.

The most important part of Get Woodworking Week is that each of you reading this takes the time to get out of your comfort zone and invite someone new into the craft. It could be a child, niece or nephew, a neighbor who has always admired your work – and talk to them about what you do. If we can expose woodworking as a hobby that is interesting, fun and educational – that challenges both the left and right sides of your brain – AND can leave you with an attractive, useful project at the end, well, we’re on our way to ensuring that woodworking will be alive and well for years to come.

So, get out there and let’s Get Woodworking!

So if you’re going, I’m curious which location you prefer. And if you are planning on Pasadena, hopefully I’ll see ya there!

Site Upgrade

A few changes are coming to TheWoodWhisperer.com. We are almost constantly working on ways to improve the usability and appearance of the website. Much like our shops, there is always something that could be improved. So the new site will look very similar but we think you’ll find it much more pleasing to navigate. The home page will be cleaner and more succinct. The live page and all the streaming web cams will be significantly improved with iOS compatibility and a new simpler chat room. Goodbye crappy chat room! We will also be implementing a new feature that allows you to easily search our archives by specific attributes. Want to see all the Shop Tours submitted by Pros with standalone shops that are 1000+ sq. ft. with a strong focus on power tools? You’ll be able to do that. Pretty cool stuff. Look for it to arrive in your browser early 2012.

The Split-Top Roubo

The Split-Top Roubo Guild Build is about to begin and should last for at least a few months. Having this sweet bench in my shop will be a great way to start the new year as I dive into some new projects. If you are looking to get in on the build, check this out!

The Client Project (Bedroom Set)

Some of you may recall the “Summer of Wenge”. A few years ago, my favorite client commissioned a few very unique cabinets made primarily from Wenge. So I endured countless splinters as I brought the pieces to life. Well the same client is looking for some bedroom pieces, including a bed, a dresser, and a nightstand. These pieces will NOT be made from Wenge, but Bubinga and African Blackwood instead. The picture here is only a starting point as the final design will have some sweet raised panels along with the angled headboard. Not sure how many of these pieces I’ll be able to do but I am thinking we might start with the bed and go from there.

The Maloof-Inspired Rocker

I have been wanting to build a Maloof-style rocker for years. Whether in a class or on my own with a set of plans, some day it will happen! And this year just may be the year. During a recent Wood Talk Online Radio, my co-host Shannon and I realized that we both own the Charles Brock plans and thought it would be cool if we both documented a build at the same time. He would cover primarily hand tool methods and I would focus a little more on power tools. Now the question is, can we both carve out the time?

The Krenov Cabinet

I have long been an admirer of Krenov’s work. And with the last few Guild projects being fairly large, I think it’s time to do something on a smaller scale. So I am thinking the next Guild project will be a small floor-standing Krenov-inspired Jewelry Armoire. I guess you could also just call it a cabinet and put whatever you want in it. Either way, it should be a fun and useful project.

The Tilt-Top Table

My buddy Bill Akins alerted me to a table he thought I could have some fun with. It’s a classic tilt-top table from Fine Woodworking. You’ll probably notice that this doesn’t look like a “marc” project. No doubt I tend to focus more on modern designs and I don’t have much personal interest in what I affectionately refer to as, “Burgundy Grandma furniture”. If you like this stuff, don’t be offended. This is no different than me saying I’m not a big fan of dark-colored walls, young kids with handlebar mustaches, and street racers that sound like souped-up lawn mowers. Its just a personal distaste for the look. But, that doesn’t mean that I don’t have respect for the craftsmanship, elegance, and history that comes with some of these pieces. So with that in mind, I think its time for me to try something different, like this table. I will most likely make a few changes so that it becomes something I don’t mind looking at in my own home, but the fundamentals of the build will be inspired by the original. And yes, we’ll even do some turning.

Adirondack Chair Class

You probably remember the Adirondack Chair from this summer, right? Well this Summer, I’ll be teaching folks how to build it at the William Ng School. You can sign up for the 5-day class right now by clicking here. The class will run from June 4th – June 8th and should be a great time. June in Southern California?!?! Yes please!

Miscellaneous Videos

Of course we’ll have numerous other technique and small project videos as well as minis. Just a few things I have planned already are: The Shop-Made Drawing Bow, The Rockler Circle Cutting Jig, and Must-Have Router Bits.

All in all, it should be a great year at The Wood Whisperer. Thanks for making 2011 another record-breaking year in terms of traffic and video downloads. You guys are the best community a woodworking nerd could ask for!

First, a little history. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, you probably know how I feel about things like video pre-roll ads. In fact, I just blogged about this recently on my personal blog. Pre-roll ads are pervasive on the internet and most folks are pretty much used to them. But because we have sponsors on this site, I never felt compelled to use them for financial gain. I want the viewer’s experience to be as convenient and pleasurable as possible. That sentiment holds true today. But after having a conversation with our content host, Blip.tv, it’s pretty clear things are a-changing! I was informed that if I do not turn on video ads, I will most likely be looking for my own video hosting solution very soon.

Now if you don’t play in the world of web video, you might not know how big of a deal this is. Just for reference, the Guild videos are hosted on a paid server and I pay hundreds of dollars per month to serve those up to what amounts to a very limited audience. Imagine what the cost would be to serve our free archive of videos where download numbers are over 2 million per year! Something like that could do do some serious damage to our bottom line.

So as I see it, we have no choice but to comply by turning on the ads. How does this affect you? Well, it might not. If you download our videos using the links above the video player or if you use something like iTunes or our mobile applications, it doesn’t affect you at all. The ONLY place these pre-roll videos show up is in the embedded player on our site. The ads are typically 30 seconds and they can cover just about product. We have no control over what ads show up.

*UPDATE* Blip.tv is now removing the ability to share our video files directly on our site as this bypasses their ad system. Currently, the only way to download the videos without ads is to use iTunes. We are hoping to develop a solution as soon as possible.

This is certainly not ideal, but I can’t begrudge the host’s decision. We have been receiving low-cost bandwidth for over 5 years now and turning on ads is a small price to pay for the service we currently enjoy. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew exactly why this change was taking place before the complaints start rolling in.

Rockler Woodworking & Hardware – Woodworking supplies.
Shop Woodworking – Popular Woodworking’s Book/DVD store.

One affiliate I want to bring some extra attention to is Amazon.com. If you are doing some general holiday shopping this year, you can use our Amazon.com affiliate link to make your purchases. It doesn’t even matter what you’re buying. So do all your holiday shopping using this link and you’ll be helping the show. Some folks just use our link as their Amazon.com bookmark so they never have to even think about it. Wink wink!

And finally, here’s an affiliate program that benefits not only me, but one of our fellow woodworkers. My buddy Shannon is offering a holiday special over at the Hand Tool School. You can get 10% off any membership using the coupon code “Elf”. If you’re not familiar with the Hand Tool School, it is a similar concept as The Wood Whisperer Guild with a focus on hand tools. Check it out!

Happy holidays everyone!

If you weren’t able to build along and you would like to donate directly, you can do so here.

I posted all of the horses in a gallery but I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite pictures! You can also view a full slideshow of all the submissions.

Once all the corporate and individual sponsorship donations come in, I’ll report back on the final tally for the 2011 campaign.

Individual sponsors: Erik Gilling, Joseph Buscemi, and Jason Small.

Corporate sponsors:

So if you don’t see much activity on the site for a little while or if I’m slow to respond to emails, you now know why. I’m sure you understand. Thanks everyone for continuing to be a part of our journey through woodworking and life.

I was recently interviewed by Ken Ken Tangen over at WhatsItLike.info. If you have ever wanted some more in-depth information about The Wood Whisperer as a business, as well as me on a personal level, you’re gonna dig this interview. Check it out!

Eric has been video podcasting at least as long as I’ve been doing The Wood Whisperer and I think you’ll really like his show. He covers a wide range of topics including cooking, gardening, bee-keeping, and DIY projects. The show is always “real” and always fun. Plus, he and his wife are dog people. Gotta love that! Check it out at GardenFork.TV

My favorite quote from this video? “Caulk all the joints. Caulk, caulk, caulk, and more caulk.”

So everything changed about a year ago when I picked up a set of Rockler’s Universal Fence Clamps. They are very simple devices that are made specifically for this task. Now all I need to do is drill a couple of holes in the top of my fence stock and the clamp does the rest of the work. The biggest benefit is that I can now secure the sacrificial fence with absolutely nothing getting in the way of the work. The clamps have numerous other applications but I pretty much dedicate mine to sacrificial fence duty.

Now the reason I bring this up is because I just noticed Rockler is having an Online ONLY sale right now. You can get a pair of these bad boys for about 28% off: $12.99. At that price, I recommend buying two pair. That way you can explore some of the other interesting applications using these clamps. Below are a few pictures from the Rockler site that show how versatile these little guys are. So pick up a set before they raise the price!

First, tape off the areas that you don?t want to grow with blue painters tape. Then just add the special seed to the head with your own preference of Titebond Glue. Occasionally sprinkle your new creation with water and in a few days, presto! Your very own Wood Whisperer Chia Pet! Only $19.99

Act now and receive special soul patch seed. No wood working shop should be without one.

And this is how our good friend Bill Akins kills time on slow days. Thanks Bill!

We went for the whole genetic screening and got another ultrasound yesterday. I don’t know if I’m reading into things too much but this fetus is starting to look…..familiar. It’s almost as if its trying to tell me something about safety glasses?? Weird! (Thanks Kichelle for the Photoshop work!)

Assuming all goes well, we’ll be looking at a Christmas-time delivery. So things are going to get rather crazy for us. Two confirmed DINKS now have 6 months to make room for the smallest yet most significant change to their lives since they started playing World of Warcraft. ha!

Its been a pretty wild ride so far. Unfortunately, Nicole has been sick 24/7. Not just the normal morning sickness you see in the movies. I’m talking the “debilitating, losing weight, can’t get out of bed and needs medicine” kind of sick. So its been tricky balancing a Guild Build with making sure she’s eating/drinking properly. I guess that’s probably just a hint of what its going to be like when the baby comes. Nature really has a way of giving us practice warm-ups.

And yes, I do plan on making some baby-related items for the show. But I plan to be as practical as possible. Things like cradles are nice, but they have a limited time use. So I’m thinking more along the lines of a changing table or a custom 3 in 1 crib that converts to a toddler bed and eventually a twin bed. Fortunately, both projects would include techniques and concepts that apply to all types of furniture, even if you have no plans on building something for a baby.

And here’s the actual ultrasound picture in case any of you want to see the real alien baby. Someone on Twitter said it looks a lot like Venom. As a Marvel man, that makes me very happy! Oh and by the way, if you can believe it, I already came up with a great name: Cocobolo Spagnuolo. Still trying to convince Nicole though!

“I?m very happy to be hosting Build a Vet a Guitar II on July 15-16, 9-5 each day. Our goal is to complete 20 acoustic guitar kits, using volunteer help. The completed guitars will be donated to Guitars For Vets. G4V?s mission is to put an acoustic guitar and six lessons in the hands of vets with post traumatic stress disorder. ?The healing power of music in the hands of heroes.? There are currently chapters in 25 cities across the country. Learn more about G4V at Guitars4vets.org. You can get a feel for last year?s build by viewing pictures on our Facebook Page. Thanks in advance for your help and support for our veterans.”

This is an awesome event and a great cause, so be sure to visit the site for all the details. If you can’t attend, consider donating through the links at Guitars4vets.org.

Anyway, I’m diggin’ this move and I’d happily plunk down 19 bucks to have digital access, although this is only a few bucks cheaper than the print version. I know many folks prefer the paper magazine, but I am not one of them. I’d like to personally thank Popular Woodworking for giving us the option! If you want to subscribe to the digital version, you can do so here.

So what do you think? A smart move on their part? Will you switch from paper to digital?

Enjoy your trip Tom and be sure to say Hi to Tommy for me!

Here’s a shot of the actual book just so you get get an idea for what the real thing looks like. Its going to be a fairly quick read but I think you folks are going to enjoy it. And remember, you’re also getting some extra video content with this publication. The book has numerous links to new Wood Whisperer video minis that help explain specific topics from the book. Sometimes, words just don’t do enough to drive the point home. This is truly intended to be a multimedia experience.

For those looking to buy the book now, we will have a very limited supply on hand. The pre-order promotion consumed just about every book in our initial order. But we did manage to hang on to a few to stock the store (but not many). So if you are interested in a hard copy, keep an eye out for my announcement when they become available.

As for the e-book, I plan on making a bundle available through our store. The bundle will contain both an epub file and a pdf document. This way you have some options for how you can enjoy the book. Most readers and mobile devices can handle epub and if you are an iPad user, you can simply drag and drop this epub file right into iTunes to enjoy the book in iBooks. We are still working on getting the book “officially” into the iBookstore as well as Amazon.com.

Thanks everyone for the pre-orders. I’ve got my work cut out for me now!

And some of you may not know that Nicole is on several podcasts in the network including Ladies of Leet, The Final Score, and The Movielicious. That girl loves her games and movies!

So what’s this mean to you? Basically, it means you can expect more consistent releases of our Wood Talk audio programs, including Wood Talk Online Radio, Wood Talk Online Review Show, and Board Meetings. Other than that, it will be business as usual.

Be sure to head over to Frogpants.com and check out all the great offerings in the network! There really is something for everyone!

After several years of doing Safety Week, I am at a bit of a loss for topics. So what I need from you folks are specific safety questions (not looking for broad topics here). I’ll then create a few videos around those questions/concerns. If you are new to woodworking, this is an excellent time to ask those burning safety questions. If one person has the question, chances are hundreds of others are wondering the same thing. So feel free to leave your question here in the comments or submit them to me directly using our contact form.

Also, be sure to check out our Safety Articles and Safety Videos to confirm that we haven’t already covered the topic in the past.

The meeting will be at the Rockler store in Phoenix: 4626 E. Thunderbird on April 20th from 7:00-9:30 PM.

For more information about the AAFW and how to become a member, check out their website: AZFineWoodworkers.org

In the last year, I got to know Duane quite well. It all started with a simple email asking for help on a steamer trunk project. Duane was making several trunks for his family and for a charity auction. It wasn’t until a few emails in that he expressed the need for expedience and the reason why. After hearing his story, I knew I could do one better than simply giving him advice through email, and that’s why the Steamer Trunk series was produced.

A few months later, Duane (an active Guild member) wanted to build our Shaker Table but was a little unsure about making mortise and tenon joints. Despite the terrible side-effects of his treatments, he was determined to get the project done. And I was determined to give him as much help as he needed. Nicole and I discussed the situation, and thanks to some extra points from her business travels, we were able to fly out to Ohio to give Duane a little one on one help.

We spent a good deal of time in the shop and certainly got some woodworking done, but the most memorable thing for me was getting to know Duane, his wife, Jamie and their children, Samantha, Morgan, and Jordan. They have another son, Anthony who we didn’t have the opportunity to meet. We had the pleasure of enjoying a lovely Italian dinner with them one evening followed by a BBQ lunch the following day. I think the Moore family did their research before I arrived. :)

Since that trip, Duane and I have had numerous email chats and he was still finding the time and energy to get into the shop. He said it really helped him get his mind off things. I would venture to say it was almost “therapeutic” for him.

Getting to know Duane has been an incredible experience and I am thankful to him and his family for the opportunity. Duane will always be fondly remembered here. And perhaps, the greatest tribute I can offer is to continue pushing the charity that was inspired by Duane himself: Woodworkers Fighting Cancer

Last year we raised nearly $10,000 and I plan on doing it again this year! If you are so inclined, please head over to the Woodworker’s Fighting Cancer page and sign up for our Team, or simply make a donation. You’ll also find a few videos at the bottom of the page that will give you an idea of everything that’s happened in the past year concerning this charity and my buddy, Duane.

Duane became a great friend in a very short amount of time. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. And Duane…I hope you’re keeping busy making great projects for your family in the shop of your dreams!

There! Now that I got that out of my system I can go on with my day.

So what’s new?

Species Comparison: Compare different species side by side based on hardness and shrinkage properties.

Species: A new tool for walking through all of the species in the database, which also lists the common names and the technical info in plain English.

General Updates:
- The design of Decimal to Fraction has been reworked to be cleaner and clearer, and it now translates whole numbers in both directions
- ?Board Feet? is now ?Board Volume? and works in metric!
- Squareness has much greater precision
- Various visual design improvements

The final change is that we are no longer associated with the app. All is well between Kenneth and I, but we decided that the TWW presence there really wasn’t necessary.

Will there be an Android version? Kenneth had this to say:
“Short version: Hopefully! Long version: I?ve been waiting to see how the market panned out to see if investing the time for a *3rd* set of code to develop and maintain would be feasible. At this point I?m still not sure about that, and 2.0 (with the price increase) will help decide for real. It really is an incredible amount of work, and I?m doing this on the side. I?m hoping I could repurpose the web version, which would make it far less intense. I would also have to buy an Android device and maintain service, while this is just a side thing for me. Once I get a little breather from this mad rush I?ll dig in deeper, and definitely let you all know when I do.”

Duane’s story inspired what we now know as Woodworkers Fighting Cancer. Last year, we raised nearly $10,000 for the American Cancer Society. You can catch up with the whole story and see some great videos on our Woodworkers Fighting Cancer Page.

This year, Nicole and I have decided to take things to a whole new level of commitment and this could very well be one of our proudest moments ever! Woodworkers Fighting Cancer is now officially associated with Livestrong: an organization committed to the global fight against cancer. Our goal this year is $10,000. For every new Guild membership we receive, we’ll be donating 5% directly to Livestrong! This is retroactive so if you purchased a membership in 2011, 5% of your membership fee will be donated to the charity. We also plan on having a fundraiser similar to last year’s Shaker Table build, so that should help quite a bit.

The Woodworkers Fighting Cancer Page is the place to go for all information concerning donations and updates on our progress.

Join our Livestrong Team

Anyone can join the fight. You can become a member of our team right now (no donation required). Just go to our Team Page on the Livestrong website and sign up. If and when you are ready to make a donation, you can do so from your very own page on the Livestrong site.
Join Our Team!
Donate Without Joining
Our Livestrong Team Page

Show Your Support

Place one of these badges on your website or blog and link it to: http://woodworkersfightingcancer.com

We have a special offer for folks who plan on attending. Simply print out the coupon below and receive a Best of the Guild 2009 DVD for FREE! Print it, show up, hand it to one of the TWW crew, and you got yourself a sweet $49 DVD!! In addition, when you hand in your coupon, you’ll be entered into a little drawing for a free TWW Schwag Bag, full of lots of TWW goodies. We plan on having 4 drawings at roughly 10am, 12pm, 1pm, and 3pm. FYI, the giveaway and drawing has nothing to do with Woodcraft or their staff. So when you come to the store, try to find my station and we’ll take care of you.

Either print this page and cut out the coupon, or just right click the image and save the file to your desktop, then print from there.

The decision was so difficult, in fact, that I decided a “People’s Choice” poll might free up one of the winner’s slots, allowing us to select a 4th winner. And that’s exactly what happened. So let’s start there.

People’s Choice Winner:

Chad Eichler’s Painting Easel – Chad’s project was one of our top picks, and the people agreed. He took 26.5% of the 556 votes! A technically challenging project that was creative and beautiful, with a heart-warming story to boot. Having his mom come to the blog and post a comment was just the icing on the cake! Well done Chad!

The TWW Winners:

Clint Russell’s Scroll Portrait – When I first saw this project, I was immediately touched by the story. Perhaps it was because we also lost a loved one recently, but this project pulled at our heartstrings. It also happened to feature some technically-challenging scroll-work. An amazing way to remember a special loved one. Congratulations Clint!

Jeff Waggoner’s Bedford Falls Sign – We are suckers for classic Christmas movies in this house. This sign is just one of those fun, whimsical projects that really captures the holiday spirit. You know, the kind of spirit that makes you go all Griswold on your house? The sign is well-made and as usual, Jeff got the whole crew involved in the project. Well done Jeff and family!

Yaakov Bar Am’s “Chai Boy” – What’s not to love here?! A well-crafted project and a Hebrew language lesson rolled into one! The play on words had me laughing from the moment I saw it and the creativity and craftsmanship really won us over. L?Chaim!

So congratulations to all of our winners! Each will receive a One Year Guild Membership (or an extension if they are already a member). As cousin Eddie would say, “Clark, that’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year!” A sincere thank you to all the folks who sent in their projects and we hope you had a wonderful holiday! Happy New Year!!

The Hand Tool School is very much a modern version of an old-fashioned apprenticeship. Many folks don’t know where to start when it comes to hand tools, and Shannon makes the logical choice to start…..drum roll please….at the beginning! He’ll cover things like general tool use, stock preparation, jointing edges, sawing, basic joinery, etc…. and each set of techniques is then used to create a useful shop project. These projects are then used to make other projects as you build up your arsenal of skills, techniques, and jigs. This is 100% hand tool instruction!

So even if you don’t plan on going the full hand tool route, its well worth the time to learn these techniques. Without a doubt, they will make you a better woodworker. Shannon’s humble and frank teaching style will make you feel welcome from the second you press play. Watch this introductory video to learn more and see if the Hand Tool School is right for you.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create a beautiful and functional hanging wall cabinet. I plan on hanging mine in the bathroom, but you could certainly place this bad boy anywhere you need a little extra storage, such as the home office or even the shop! Heck, you can even modify the design slightly and create a tool cabinet! As we have done in the past, this project will be presented in two versions.

Version 1

The primary build will utilize nearly 100% solid wood construction. Techniques and features include:

• Dovetail Case Joinery
• Dados
• Mortise & Tenons
• Frame & Panel Doors
• Dovetail Drawer Construction
• Knife Hinge installation

Version 2

Now if that sounds a little too intimidating, we’ve got you covered like a varnish! The second version of the cabinet will look nearly identical to the first, but requires much less in the way of tools, materials, and experience. Techniques and features include:

• Pocket Screw/Plywood Construction
• Dados
• Reinforced Rabbet Joints
• Frame & Panel Doors
• Edgebanding Plywood
• Trim & Molding Application
• Butt Hinge Installation

Regardless of which version you choose, you’ll learn incredibly valuable techniques that will serve as the foundation for just about every project you make in the future. A worthy challenge for any woodworker! The cabinet itself is elegant, simple, and can be modified to suit your personal tastes or decor.

Of course a Guild membership provides all kinds of great benefits including three of these builds per year, access to our growing archive, and discounts with some of your favorite vendors! For more information, check out the Guild page or sign up today!

This is the video from our live holiday party! It was an incredibly fun evening and we’d like to thank all of our sponsors and the folks who attended. Happy holidays!!!

The MagSwitch Workholding System- This pack contains a starter kit, thin stock jig, resaw fence, dual roller and a lift kit. MagSwitch products truly make life in the shop easier and safer. Learn more about this MagSwitch kit!

Micro-Jig Products – MicroJig is offering one Grrr-Ripper (a personal favorite of mine), and five Zero Play Guide Bars. Learn more about MicroJig products!

Eagle America Rail & Stile Bit Set Top-notch American-made router bits. You’ll have your choice of any style. Learn more about this Eagle America bit set!

Hendrik Varju Wood Science and Design DVD- This 3 DVD set takes you through the various wood science principles that are important if you want to be able to design your own furniture. Learn more about Hendrik’s DVDs!

Rockler Woodworking & Hardware – Rockler is giving away three prizes: Bench Cookies, a 3-pc Self-Centering Bit Set, and 2 48″ Aluminum Bar Clamps.
Learn more about Rockler products!

Jessem Router Lift II- Jessem is offering its latest addition to its lineup of fine router lifts. The Router Lift II is a more budget friendly lift that doesn’t skimp on quality!
Learn more about the Router Lift II!

Greene & Greene Furniture: Poems of Wood and Light- David Mathias’ book on the wonder of Greene and Greene furniture. The book is full of eye candy and enlightening information of two of the most amazing designers our craft has ever seen. Learn more about David Mathias!

Hand Tool School Membership – Shannon Rogers recently opened his online hand tool focused woodworking membership. And now you can get one for free! Learn more about the Hand Tool School!

In addition to all this, we’ll have some assorted books and DVD’s as well as Wood Whisperer Guild memberships!

Now I should also mention that I anticipate this being one of our biggest live events ever! And unfortunately, our chat room has a 200-person limit which we could very well hit. So I can’t guarantee that you’ll get in. For those who do make it in, you’ll have a 1/200 chance of winning each one of these prizes. Those are darn good odds folks!! Special thanks to all of our Holiday Party sponsors and I hope to see you all there!

Jessem Dowelling Jig – Winner: Frank Kovach
Create 1/4″ and 3/8″ dowel holes on the end or face of your work piece. Locations of dowels can be pre-set in 1/8″ increments, perfect for creating multiple dowel hole configurations. Learn More!

Figured Maple Hobby Pack – Winner: Rob
20 board feet of 4/4 curly/tiger maple from CR Muterspaw Lumber. Pack contains random widths (5-9″) and lengths (3-5′). Zero defects! Learn More!

We recently added some new options and I thought it would be helpful if I did a post that reviewed some of the ways you can keep up with our content. In implementing these changes, we had to reset some of the feeds which resulted in a number of you seeing many of our old posts showing as new. I apologize for that but it was unavoidable. OK on to the options.

RSS Feeds

Our site is loaded with them! You can even subscribe to specific categories, comments and even Wood Talk Online Radio if you like. But the most useful RSS Feeds have been collected in one place for your convenience on our Subscription Page. These feeds can be plugged into any RSS reader.

Set Top Boxes/Devices

Have an iPhone, a Zune, an iPod, or an iPad??? We’ve got you covered! Our Subscription Page has direct links to our listings within the iTunes Store and the Zune Marketplace! Do you have a Tivo set top box? You can use our One-Click Season Pass link to watch The Wood Whisperer on your living room TV. And speaking of set top boxes, folks who use a Roku, Boxee, and Samsung InternetTV should be able to find us on the Blip.tv channel.

Television

Believe it or not, The Wood Whisperer is available in many markets on public access television. So check your local listings.

The Newsletter

Sign up for our Weekly Wrap-Up Newsletter to receive a weekly digest of the entire week’s posts, right in your inbox!

Post Comment Subscriptions

As many of you know, the blog posts and articles are only half of the story. The conversation that continues in the comments area of each post is usually just as interesting, if not more so, than the post itself. So at the very bottom of the page under the comment box, you’ll see a little checkbox that says, “Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.” Now, any time someone leaves a comment, you’ll receive an email update!

The Calendar

Now you can’t get content here, but you can keep up with the video release schedule as well as our TWW Store sales and Wood Talk Online Radio live show dates. You can view the calendar directly or subscribe using Google Calendar, iCal, or the XML file provided.

As you can see, you have lots of options to choose from. But don’t forget that the newly-designed site gives you a convenient snapshot of pretty much all the content from the last few weeks, right on the home page. So be sure to check back often!

We aren’t quite ready to make the official announcement about the next iteration of Woodworkers Fighting Cancer, but you can get a pretty good idea of what’s going on at WoodworkersFightingCancer.com. We are glad to have Steve as part of the campaign and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing him the best as he goes through some challenging times.

Application features include:
* Access to the latest episodes and an archived back catalog
* Stream episodes from anywhere and resume playback (when interrupted by a call or other distractions)
* Share episodes or articles with friends using Twitter, Facebook or Email
* Stay connected to The Wood Whisperer with the integrated Twitter feed and know when there is a live recording
* Stay up-to-date on News & Events
* Listen to Wood Talk Online Radio podcast

And before anyone even asks, we do not have an Android version available as of yet. When we do, we will announce it. Nicole has taken it upon herself to develop this stuff in her limited spare time. We decided doing this in house was the only way to keep the app free. So bear with us as we tackle the low-hanging fruit first, then move on to other platforms.

Many of us work in our garages and our tools are on mobile bases. My table saw and just about anything that had wheels would get stuck in the expansion cracks in the floor. To solve the problem I purchased a gallon can of Bondo at the HD, I think it was like $20. You clean out the dust from the cracks, put masking tape on each side, mix only about a cup at a time and force it into the crack, use a wide tool to level it. No more getting stuck, I have used this for 3-5 years now, I have had no problems with the floor because of the Bondo. The Bondo has good adhesion and is I think somewhat flexible, they use it for dent filler on cars. The tools glide over it like it is part of the concrete, no more getting stuck, If you are concerned that the Bondo would cause problems then you could do a small area for most of your tool movements, You will love this if you try it.

This is a very interesting solution to a common garage shop problem. But I don’t know enough about concrete to say definitively whether filling the expansion joints with a rigid material like Bondo would cause a problem (its not very flexible at all). I am sure we have some folks out there with lots of concrete experience who can give us more information.

In this episode, I review one of the most critical and fundamental aspects of woodworking: milling lumber. I review my 4-step milling process, which requires some big tools. And since I know many folks don’t have a fully outfitted shop, I also present numerous alternative methods for jointing edges and flattening faces. The jointer’s jumpin’ baby!!!

Update (9/10/10): After re-watching this episode, its pretty clear that I missed the ball with the name. I thought it was clever and funny at the time, but it makes it seem like we are going to focus solely on the jointer. Instead, its more of a basic review of milling procedures involving the jointer, planer, and the tablesaw. Oh well, what’s done is done. I think if I did this video over again though, I might need to add a few more alternative techniques. Primarily, the one that involves using the jointer with the guard off to plane part of a wide board, then running it through the planer with a piece of ply in the jointed area to clean up the other side. A little hard to describe so I’ll have to cover this on the site sometime in the future. All in all, I think this video still holds up in terms of giving you some ideas on how to go from rough lumber to properly surfaced boards.

Leave a comment on the original post!

So here’s how I invision it going down. I’ll start rough sketching and getting my ideas organized. I’ll keep you guys updated on a daily basis, taking feedback the entire time. And when I hit a cross-road, I will specifically ask for your opinions and perhaps even put up a poll. Sometimes the hardest part is making the choice between two or three great ideas. So that’s where the “committee” part of this comes in.

So what say you my fellow wood-chuckers? Are you up for it? If so, I’ll get started right away.

Incidentally, I make nothing on these lifts. I just wanted to pass on a smoking hot deal. Get your lift on!

As just about any woodworker will tell you, your first trip to a hardwood dealer can be quite intimidating. I can honestly say that my first trip was not only intimidating, but confusing and frustrating as well. Poor signage, no prices, and an impatient staff served to make the whole experience less than enjoyable for a woodworking noob. I know I’m not alone here. In this video, I will cover some terminology and topics that will help you be better prepared for your next trip to the lumber yard. Just a few of the topics covered include identifying different types of cuts, estimating board feet, and finding a good hardwood supplier.

Update (9/4/10): Sometimes when I watch these early episodes, I have to laugh at the delivery of my monologues. Not sure why I needed to say things like, “Wood Whisperer…..Video….Podcast…..” I guess I really wanted to make each word count. Anyway, years after posting this video, I still have the same feeling about lumber dealers. Each one seems to have its own system and rules. And I hear from countless woodworkers across the country who feel the same way about the lumber dealers in their area. I guess its just the nature of the beast. But once you have a little confidence in what you’re looking for and you shop at a particular store once or twice, its no longer an intimidating experience and you know the drill. Hopefully this video prepared some of you for that first experience. And if not, I hope it at least made you laugh. I think this marks the first of many instances where I would have to *bleep* Nicole on the show. And notice that I couldn’t even find a good censorship bleep sound effect so I had to make it with my own voice? That’s just the kind of high budget operation we run around here. haha!

Oh and if you are looking for a great way to calculate board feet on the fly, check out the Wood Shop Widget!

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Many of you know that Nicole and I are gamers. We spend many an evening playing games online with our friends. Right now, our “his and her” gaming rigs are sitting on a make-shift table in our bedroom. This table actually used to be part of Nicole’s old desk and was never meant to stand alone like this. Its not long enough, its not wide enough, and its quite unstable. Furthermore, being the unconventional couple we are, we tend to eat at least one dinner a week right there at the gaming desk. So having a little extra room would be a nice treat.

My idea is to make a simple Maloof-inspired trestle table. I haven’t designed it yet and I am still collecting ideas. I was very pleased to see the cover of the latest Woodworker West, featuring a Maloof desk. I love the look of the legs and the double rail. Hello inspiration!! So good to see you today! I also found a picture of a Maloof-inspired table that goes even further in the direction I am considering.

Now of course you know the holidays are fast approaching. And as woodworkers, we need to start thinking about this stuff even earlier than most folks if we want to have our holiday projects done in time. So I was excited to receive an email from our buddy Roberto, looking for help on how to build this advent calendar. I thought this would be a great project and certainly a little more involved than some of the things we’ve done in the past. Aaron is helping me with the SketchUp drawing and hopefully we’ll have that one ready in plenty of time for the holidays.

Yes, this is a picture of my toilet. The reason I am showing it to you is so you’ll see the future home for a new wall-hanging cabinet. A small wall-hanging cabinet is an incredibly convenient accessory for any bathroom, for all that fun stuff like toilet paper, reading material, and cleaning supplies. I am hoping that this wall cabinet will also be the subject of a class at the William Ng School next year.

So that’s about as far out as my brain can handle. What projects do you guys have planned in the coming months??

In this video, I give a full tour of my shop space and show you what I feel are the essential tools for small and large workshops. I also discuss topics like tool prices, shop setup, and tool selection. You will also get an inside look at how my days typically start. Enjoy!!!

Update (8/27/10): Seeing the old shop is really surreal. Its amazing how many changes took place in that space over the course of the next few years. Organization, tooling, lighting….these were all eventually overhauled. And now, of course, we are in a totally new space. The coolest thing about this video is that it really marks the start of what I consider to be the “Wood Whisperer-style”. That is, a woodworking show that sheds the stuffiness and isn’t afraid to make fun of itself. I imagine many folks who watched this video were either immediately attracted to, or completely appalled by what we were doing. Education and entertainment for the modern woodworker. That’s what its all about. And while TheWoodWhisperer.com has grown significantly since then, we are still the same goofy fun-loving people we always were. Grass roots to the core! Although this video was probably only seen by a couple hundred people when it was released, it has been viewed over 100,000 times since then. That’s just mind boggling. It was also pretty cool to see my poker chip trays in this video. That article did get published in Woodcraft Magazine and in fact, we made the cover.

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So whenever possible, I am going to publish short blog posts on the day’s happenings once or twice a week. Especially during Guild Builds, things are going to be relatively content-light here on the free site. So why not snap a few pictures and discuss the day’s progress? I am sure I’ll have plenty of interesting things to chat about and ideas to share. Of course, all the stuff you know and love about our content will still be posted as usual. The first post of this nature will be up tonight. Hope you enjoy it.

And the first person who says, “Don’t let this get in the way of making videos!” gets a virtual swift kick to the nads. :)

If not, maybe this will help. Ron and I had a good laugh when we saw this. To the average onlooker it just appears to be some weird exotic room divider of some sort. But those in the know will see a bunch of Wood Whisperer push sticks! This was too cool not to share. And by the way, if you actually want to buy one of these little beauties, you can do so in our store.

If you aren’t familiar with the Studley Tool Chest, check out this New Yankee Workshop clip.

Registration: Now through September 15th, 2010
Begin Building: September 1st, 2010
End Building: October 31st, 2010
End Judging: November 15th, 2010

If you are interested in signing up, you can do so by filling out this form. Good luck to all those who accept the challenge!

I once read in a textbook on wood that ?Mankind owes no greater debt than he does to wood.? If for nothing else, then for fire. Yet, we refer to a stone age, a bronze age, even a steam age, yet not a wood age? Were it not for the spear, later the bow and arow, would we still be using a stick to probe termite colonies, as our chimpanzee friends?

Were it not for wood?s uncanny ability to become, with a little help, paper, what good then Gutenberg? Without whom, there is certainly no internet. Indeed, the very air we breathe is given to us by the trees, and the water that moves through everything that lives, will pass through a tree, up through the root and out through the leaves? stomata.

As you plane and saw, sand and scrape, remember this my fellow whisperers. Those boards in your hands, likely lived longer than you have, or ever will. As they lay drying, the moisture content you seek to eradicate may have once flown through the Euphrates. Those piles of dust, which you will sweep up and toss, will join the scraps of your turkey sandwich in the landfill, becoming soil in which a new tree will root. It may well give place for your great grandson?s hammock, later to fall on his roof in a hurricane.

We may never, in all our doweling and dovetailing, give rise to anything nearly as beautiful as the precise engineering of the mighty xylem and phloem. Our silly paper towel holders and cutting boards, entertainment centers and porch swings may seem but paltry daydreams compared to the mighty Sequoia that lived several hundred years before the Magna Carta. Yet know this, as you keep your chisels honed, and pare away the slight layers of history, as you arrange those growth rings into a more stable pattern for your table top, square your shoulders and flush your cheeks, plunge your tenons into gluey mortises and clamp your jaws tight: it is as worthwhile as anything else that can be done. For kings need thrones, ships need rudders, and martyrs need a cross to bear.

Hey folks. The last time I mentioned the Woodworker’s Book Shop, the response was great. So great, in fact, they offered us an exclusive 20% discount for Wood Whisperer fans. Simply enter the code WoodWhisperer20ww at checkout.

In addition to books, they also carry a bunch of plans and DVDs. Here are a just few of my personal recommendations: