Matt's Basement Workshop HD Video Feed

506 Teak Shoe Rack Pt 1

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:14:18 -0400

Thanks to a generous donation of some amazingly beautiful Teak boards from a friend of the show, I have an opportunity to work with an species of wood I probably would ordinarily not use.

It's not that I don't want to use different species, I just have a few that I'm readily familiar with and just haven't had a reason to step out of my comfort zone before.

So the first thing I'm building with these gorgeous boards is a...shoe rack!

Tools featured in today's show:
JET Benchtop Oscillating Spindle Sander with Spindle Assortment, 110-Volt 1 Phase
SawStop Cabinet Table Saw
Steel City Tool Works 14-Inch Band Saw
Wood Slicer Resaw Bandsaw Blade
Bora Pistol Grip Clamps
Micro Jig ZeroPlay Guide Bar System

[haiku url="https://archive.org/download/506TeakShoeRackPt1/506%20Teak%20Shoe%20Rack%20Pt%201.mp3" title="MBW506"]

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505 SawStop & Me "My Full Review"

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:19:53 -0400

On today's episode I'm sharing my full review of the 110V, 1.75HP SawStop cabinet saw I received as part of an advertising deal back in October of 2012. As I had mentioned in the previous video "Hello New Saw", I wanted to spend a little time with the saw before I shared my opinions about it. And that's exactly what I do in this episode.

It's been a little over 6 months and I've had a chance to build a few projects with the new saw, this has allowed me to get a "real world" feel for whether a saw like this is worth the investment for a home woodworker or serious hobbyist.

Of course what would a SawStop review be without firing off the braking system? So we do that today too, in fact we do it TWICE just to show off that flesh isn't the only conductive material that could set off the system.

Interested in purchasing a SawStop or SawStop Accessories for your woodshop? You can find them at the following locations:
Highland Woodworking
Woodcraft.com
Amazon.com

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-505SawStopMeTheFullReview291.mp3" title="MBW505"]

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The New & Improved Matt's Basement Workshop Website Tour

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:08:13 -0400

The new website is up and running…obviously…and I have all of you to thank for making this happen. Not just those of you who donated to the fundraiser but to all of you who visit from time-to-time.

If you're a frequent visitor and remember the layout of the old site hopefully you can see a huge difference in the way things are laid out on this current version. I really like the layout of this new site and have ongoing plans to make it more informative and easier to navigate, so you'll see the occasional tweak from time-to-time.

As part of my thank you to the many donators that made this happen you'll find your name listed below…it's the least I can do to show you my appreciation for your generosity!

Thank you to each of you (listed in no particular order):
Zac Higgins
Gunnar Olsson
Brander Roullett
Fr. Thomas Bailey, OSB
Jim Ligon
Richard Law
Mitch Roberson
Brian Glendenning
Marilyn Guthrie
Chris Schwarz
Bill Schenher
Chris Michalek
Jeff Peterson
Scott Bassin
Dave Hart
Tom Collins
Randy Peterman
Steve Brassard
Larry Thayer
Chris Nichols
Jack Coats
Jim Ashley
Rik Minnich
Chet Kloss
Dyami Plotke
Frank Bivins
Tony Hamm
Neal Becker
Walter Keast
Pierre Forget
Bobby Slack
Toby Sauer
Shaun Wellert
Erik Van
Joe Wiener
Richard Hall
David Ulschmid
Tobias Eklind
Dick Moffett
Mac Lyle
Allan Grant
Brett Watson
Mark Loughran
Ben Strano
Jim Mossoney
Alan Anderson
Brian Brazil
Eric Fortin
Mick Montgomery
Wes Fullenwider
Big Cheese
Stefan Gmoser
Rick Gable
Mike Tuxen
Wilbur Pan
Jon McGrath
Jon "Dozer" Mendoza
Jack Jacobs
David Beecher
Chris Birkland
Scott Blanchett
David Lankford
Todd Clipping
Tom Hoffman
Tom Pritchard
Eric Wolf
Daniel Gardner
Matt Robinette
Shannon Rogers
Ben Minshall
Jonathan Szczepanski
Mike Llewellyn
Jay Tennier
Ron Hock
Tobias Sauer
Kevin Van Deusen
Ken Goodell
Andy Gartzke
Dennis Rozak
Scott McClaury
Cliff Merrill
John Verreault
Vic Hubbard
Christopher Landy
Marc Spagnuolo
"Drunken Woodworker"
Ron Shoemaker
Elaine Andersen
Stephen Glaesman
John Laffoon
Robert Teague
Ernesto Segovia

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April Schwag and a few changes...

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:05:40 -0400

A few things have changed since the last schwag giveaway sign-up was announced in the beginning of March. First of all, the new look of Matt's Basement Workshop is up and running now. Second, as many of you have pointed out, there's no longer a dedicated sign-up page for schwag entries. So what's a potential schwag winner to do?

As I explain in today's video there's a new way to get your name in the drawing, just leave a comment. That's right, no more form to fill out. No page to search for each month. Just a quick "hello" on this post and you're all set.

The entry method is the only thing that's changed, the rules are still the same:

1. One entry per person each month.
2. You have 30 days to claim your prize
3. If you win, please wait 60 days before re-entering.
4. Prizes maybe substituted based on your location (i.e. if you live outside of the USA and Canada it may be cost prohibitive to mail your prize, so an alternate prize will be offered)

What kind of Schwag do we have to give away? Here's what's on the list so far this month...more to come, GOOD LUCK!!!

HIGHLAND WOODWORKING WOODSLICER BLADE - 2 Winners
Micro Jig Zeroplay Guide Bar System - 3 Winners
"Build an 18th Century Workbench" & "The Workbench" DVDs - 1 Winner

"Building Kitchen Cabinets Made Simple" - 1 Winner
"Blanket Chests" - 1 Winner
"Stots Dovetail Maker & Router Bits" - 1 Winner
"3-Flute Profile Bit" - 1 Winner
"Milescraft Stubby Drill and Router Bits" - 1 Winner

Postage is handled directly by many of the schwag sponsors, but it's still a big expense for those that aren't. Please consider a small donation to help offset the expense: Matt's Basement Workshop Postage Donation.

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504 Wooden Rings

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:58:25 -0400

You've seen the pictures and some of you have even been asking how I did it? After all, jewelry might be an amazing way to win over the love and affection of your significant other. Or it could simply be a way to wow your friends who still think the only thing you can do in your shop is "claim to be building a piece of furniture" but they can't understand why it takes days, weeks or even months considering the guys on TV do it in 30 minutes or less.

Back around Valentine's Day 2013 I posted a blog entry titled "Fastest way to her heart is with wooden jewelry?" and ever since then I've been down in the shop experimenting with scraps and even buying some exotic stock to try and make new pieces that EVEN I can't believe came from me.

In today's episode I share with you some of the basics to wooden ring making I've discovered over the past few weeks. I'll demonstrate the first technique I tried and the one I'm having a lot of success with currently. It's so simple and you probably already have all the tools on hand.

Tools mentioned in today's post include:
Auriou #6 rasp
Rikon 70-100 Mini Lathe
Forstner bits
Milwaukee 49-56-0051 1-1/8-Inch Super-Tough Bi-Metal Hole Saw
IRWIN 226340 4-Inch Drill Press Vise

***UPDATE***
Since recording this video I've been experimenting with a couple more options, which appear to be easier and more successful, for creating these beautiful rings. Keep a look out for follow-up posts and maybe even a follow-up video too?

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-504WoodenRings353.mp3" title="MBW504"]

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SawStop Z.C.I. Throat Plate Sneak Peek

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:28:51 -0400

I finally had a chance to install the new SawStop Z.C.I. Aluminum body throat plate, available at Infinity Cutting Tools www.infinitytools.com, in my SawStop this weekend.

It's nice to have options when it comes to items like zero-clearance inserts for table saws and this one has some nice bells and whistles.

This is just a sneak peek at the throat plate being installed and prepped for use. I'll share more about it's overall use when I release the SawStop review episode during Safety Week 2013.

In the meantime, if you're a SawStop owner and were considering ordering a zero-clearance insert for your saw, now you have another option over the manufacturer's. Follow this link to Infinity Cutting Tools www.infinitytools.com to learn all about it.

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-SawStopZCIThroatPlate811.mp3" title="SawStopZCI"]

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503 Winter Woodworking Tips

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 09:33:28 -0500

I swear I wasn't waiting until the warm weather was just around the corner before I posted this content, but that's exactly what it looks like!

So many of our fellow woodworkers give up woodworking in the cold months of winter because their shops are located in unheated or under heated locations. Be it a garage, a shed or a large out building like a pole-barn when it's cold out even the most passionate woodworker is thinking more about burning their stock to stay warm versus building with it.

But the biggest concern isn't so much about how to heat the shop as it is on what the long cold winter months do to our lumber and our tools.

Let me start by saying I'm no expert by any means on this topic. My shops have always been in climate controlled locations of my house. But that doesn't mean I'm immune from the cold. And considering there's the occasional project or two that requires me to temporarily move into my under heated garage to complete them, it only makes sense I learn a little something about the environment I work in.

So in today's episode I cover some very basic tips on winter woodworking. Starting with some common sense tips on lumber storage, moving on to ideas to help minimize rust building up on your metal surfaces and even a suggestion or two about cold-weather glue-ups and finishing. Today's episode is as a cold as ice (not really, but it sounded cool in my head).

Tools and resources mentioned in today's episode:

Book I vaguely referenced Sandor Nagyszalanczy's "Setting Up Shop: The Practical Guide to Designing and Building Your Dream Shop"

HTC Large Machine Cover

Magnetic Tool Cover

Link to USDA "Storage of Lumber" Handbook

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-503WinterWoodworking328.mp3" title="MBW503"]

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502 Maple Table Base Pt 2

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 13:00:18 -0500

In today's episode we're wrapping up the two part series on the construction of a Maple table base for a our friend's daughter.

Previously we touched a little on the overall design of the legs and then spent the rest of the episode creating the template to duplicate the legs with our solid Maple stock.

I used the template to not only rough out the legs on the material but I also used it to finesse them on the router table by flush trimming the oversized pieces down to their finished sizes.

In this episode we're picking up where we left off last time and starting to assembly the project into the finished base. The hard part is all done, so this should be straight forward and pretty uncomplicated.

But you know me…I can't let anything be that uncomplicated. In the process of drilling holes for dowels to use in the assembly I make a small mistake that really can't be ignored.

So part of this episode is devoted to how I fixed the mistake and was able to get things back on track to a great ending.

In today's episode we're wrapping up the two part series on the construction of a Maple table base for a our friend's daughter.

Previously we touched a little on the overall design of the legs and then spent the rest of the episode creating the template to duplicate the legs with our solid Maple stock.

I used the template to not only rough out the legs on the material but I also used it to finesse them on the router table by flush trimming the oversized pieces down to their finished sizes.

In this episode we're picking up where we left off last time and starting to assembly the project into the finished base. The hard part is all done, so this should be straight forward and pretty uncomplicated.

But you know me…I can't let anything be that uncomplicated. In the process of drilling holes for dowels to use in the assembly I make a small mistake that really can't be ignored.

So part of this episode is devoted to how I fixed the mistake and was able to get things back on track to a great ending.

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-502MapleTableBasePt2357.mp3" title="MBW502"]

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501 Maple Table Base Pt 1

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 06:31:22 -0500

Today's episode is the first of a two part series on the construction of a solid Maple table base built for our friend's daughter. The tabletop is a pre-manufactured top with a Maple edge banding, so we won't be covering the construction of it.

In this first part I'll demonstrate creating a template pattern for re-creating the four legs I need and then I'll take the stock from rough to finished.

All four legs are curved and attached at 90º to each other and when designing them, our friend's already had a specific shape in mind, so it was a matter of duplicating it as close as possible.

After a little trial and error, I found a quick and easy to achieve the curves without having to buy expensive drafting devices. I'll talk a little bit about it in the beginning and hopefully you'll find it useful.

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-501MapleTableBasePt1768.mp3 " title="MBW501"]

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New and Improved MBW Website Fundraiser

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 15:31:31 -0500

It's never easy asking for financial assistance from anyone, especially family and friends, but in the seven years since I posted the first episode of Matt's Basement Workshop a lot of things have changed.

Recording equipment, cameras, hosting services, shop set-ups and even the tools and projects I've used and built over that same time.

The one thing that hasn't changed is the generosity and appreciation from the viewers and visitors of the show.

I'm still uncomfortable asking for assistance in such a manner as this, but I know from previous experience, I've always been amazed by the heart-felt support and reaction whenever I've needed help.

Amongst the many changes at MBW Podcast has been the format of the show. In 2006 the first episodes started as an audio only podcast. Shortly afterwards I recorded the first video episode, and since then, the show has continued evolving year after year.

While my camera and audio equipment has undergone significant changes the most important piece of the show, the website, hasn't had a significant change in quite a long time.

That's the reason for this fundraiser. In order to create an amazing destination for the audience to visit I need to raise the money to hire someone who can take my existing site and transform into something much more user friendly.

A place where visitors can find the content they're looking for much easier, a site that's far more uncluttered than the current and one with plenty of room for upgrades and expansion as new and better ideas for interaction with fellow woodworkers arise. I've already talked with someone who can do just THAT and can't wait to get started!

While I know many of you would be more than willing to donate money without the expectation of a reward, other than continuing to produce more and more content, I have a set of reward levels to say thanks for your donations.

Once the new website is launched I plan to post a walk-through video to show off some of the new features and the overall new look.

Level 1 - $5 - Your $5 donation gets your name posted as a "Friend of MBW" in the show notes for the walk-through video. My way of saying "Thank You" and letting others know you helped to make this much more improved website happen.

Level 2 - $10 - Your $10 donation gets your name posted as a "Supporter of MBW" in the show notes AND included in the credits at the end of the video.

Level 3 - $50 - Your $50 donation includes the same as Level 2 plus you get a "Your brain on Matt's Basement Workshop" t-shirt to wear proudly in the shop or wherever you need to look your best.

Level 4 - $100 - Your $100 donation includes the same as Level 3 plus a "468x60" banner ad for your personal message, your company or whatever you want to promote (family friendly only) during a month of your choosing after the new website goes live.

Level 5 - $200 - Your $200 donation includes the same as Level 3 plus a "Sponsorship" ad spot in the videos released during the month of your choosing after the new website goes live. A great opportunity to get your personal message, your company or whatever you want to promote (family friendly only) out to the people that can appreciate it the most.

Thank you for taking the time to check out this fundraiser video and what I have to offer in exchange for your help. Even if you can't donate at any level, I truly appreciate your visiting the site as often as you have.

"Straight Grains & Sharp Blades"

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500 Bedside Tables Pt 6

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 10:30:52 -0500

The end of the "Bedside Tables Build" is upon us. I've once again been working on them a little longer than I had anticipated, but I have a slew of excuses for that...some actually true too!

In today's episode there's a lot to cover; from assembling the body to assembling the drawers. There's dimensioning and attaching the tops and drawer fronts to a few other things in between. In other words, this is a busy episode!

But in the end, the final result is a couple of matching bedside tables for me and Samantha. Finally something that has plenty of room for our stack of bedside reading (iPads and the occasional magazine), a lamp, and maybe even an alarm clock? Not to mention a drawer for hiding midnight snacks and more!!!

Tools mentioned in today's show:
Knew Concepts Fretsaw
Veritas Low-angle block plane

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-500BedsideTablesPt6278.mp3" title="MBW500"]

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499 Bedside Tables Pt 5

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:40:28 -0500

The holidays have really set me behind schedule on completing this set of bedside tables. Luckily though, I've been promising Samantha I'd build them for a few years now, so she's use to the delayed schedule.

In today's episode I'm concentrating on getting the drawers built. Nothing fancy about these boxes. Rabbeted ends on the sides to attach to the front and back of the boxes. A simple groove for the plywood bottom. And then eventually a false front for the drawer face (a topic I'll discuss in an upcoming episode).

I know many of you will be asking why there's no dovetailed boxes or why I decided to use basic drawer slides vs homemade or a more expensive version. The fact of the matter is simply that the boxes will be closed the majority of the time, and while I love dovetailed joinery, I don't feel the need to use it all the time when there's other options.

Speaking of options, the one point of controversy I'm anticipating from today's video will be surrounding my single blade method of cutting the rabbets. I won't go into details about it here, but I stand by method and will simply state once again; it works, it's safe and if you're not comfortable with it don't do it.

Tools featured in today's episode:
Micro-Jig Grrripper

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-499BedsideTablesPt5865.mp3" title="MBW499"]

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498 Bedside Tables Pt 4

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:01:40 -0500

The last few episodes of the Bedside Table build have been all about milling of components for the project and playing around with joinery techniques. It's time to start the final assembly.

The first step is attaching the dust frames and shelves to the sides. We have a lot of joinery options to get the job done, but in my opinion the one that's right for this particular project isn't a complicated one, it's dowels.

Years ago I bought my first dowel jig and feel in love with the simplicity of the joint. Unfortunately I hated the dowel jig! So eventually I abandoned the technique for something else. Recently though I bought a better jig and have started to use dowels in more of my projects. The result is a happy woodworker!

In the line up of joinery techniques dowels appear to get a little more respect than biscuits or pocket hole joinery but aren't on the same level as mortise and tenon or other "traditional" joinery. Seems a shame considering how strong the joint can be, not to mention their versatility in location.

Tools used in this episode:
Wide capacity economy dowel jig
Bora Pistol Grip Clamps
24" Veritas Aluminum straight edge
Veritas Dovetail Saw
Wentzloff & Sons Carcass Saw
Benchcrafted Moxon Vise
Bessey Bar Clamps
Kreg K4 Kit
Kreg Micro Jig

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-498BedsideTablesPt4873.mp3" title="MBW498"]

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Tried and true dovetail technique

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 12:30:08 -0500

Did I mention anything about how unhappy I was with the alternate half-blind dovetail technique I demonstrated in the latest video?

Yeah, I probably have talked about it a little more than I should have, but I didn't want anyone to get the idea that I endorse that technique. So here's a bonus video this week - My old tried and true half-blind dovetail technique.

To get the job done, it simply involves a dovetail saw, a couple of chisels and that's it nothing more!

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-TriedAndTrueDovetailTechnique784.mp3" title="tried and true"]

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497 Bedside Tables Pt 3

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 01:17:10 -0500

At this point in the project I've milled all the components I need to get things started for the joinery work, so it's time to move on. The first joinery task to tackle is cutting dovetails for joining the top front and back rails to the legs.

But before moving on to the dovetailed ends of the rails, I need to cut them to length and then define the shoulders of the dovetails. This is a simple task, but when you're not paying close enough attention to your setup things can go wrong, as you'll see in today's video.

As for the dovetails themselves - because they're not thru dovetails, and instead half-blind dovetails, removing waste material can be a little tricky. Rather than sticking to my usual technique that involves using a dovetail saw and a chisel or two, for some reason I decided to try something different.

I'm a huge advocate of "trying something different" every now and then, but this time I should've stuck to my tried and true method. In the end the result was good, the joint is solid, but the route I took to get there was a little too windy.

Plan on seeing a special excerpt video coming later this week where I demonstrate my tried and true technique.

[haiku url="http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-497BedsideTablesPt3885.mp3" title="MBW497"]

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496 Bedside Tables pt 2

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:20:44 -0500

Welcome back to part 2 of the Bedside Table Build. We again have some wide panels that will make up the sides of the tables and they need to be milled and glued up. But rather than tackling the task by “going ALL hand plane” on the wide boards like last week I decided to mix it up a little and use both hand planes AND power tools. In other words, living up to my claim to be a “hybrid woodworker”. The task is a pretty simple one. It’s a matter of knocking down the high spots of the concave side of the board with my Jack plane until it lays flat and doesn’t rock. Then it’s over to the thickness planer to do the rest of the work. Typically it takes more time to run it through the thickness planer than to knock down those high spots, but of course the board I chose for the video was the only one of the 8 pieces that decided to be difficult and took much longer than the others. The other tasks we complete in this episode are gluing up these wide panels, including a quick touch up of the edges with my Edge Trimming Plane and then prepping the stock that will become the legs for each table. In the next episode, we’ll start working on the joinery and begin to assemble the entire project from that point forward.

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495 Bedside Tables Pt 1

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 17:00:16 +0000

I'm sure you've heard the trope "The cobbler's children have no shoes"? Well the same thing in the Vanderlist household can be said about furniture. Around here it feels like I'm always making something for someone else's house (or more than likely for my shop). For a long time now my wife Samantha has been asking me to build us a matching set of bedside tables. I keep asking if she wouldn't prefer something bigger and more awe striking like a new dining room table. But while that would be nice, a bedside table that actually has room to set a book AND a lamp seemed to be a higher priority. So, starting on today's episode I'm finally building those bedside tables for her. The design is simple. Straight lines, no embellishments and something with a drawer and a shelf. Samantha also asked that they be painted too. That's fine with me, I have a decent stash of Poplar that's been waiting to be used for quite a while now. I'll get us started by roughing out the stock that will be the 20"x18" tops and the 16"x16" shelfs. These dimensions are a little too big for my jointer and thickness planer, so it's a great excuse to break out the hand planes and flatten them by hand.

494 The Good The Bad Its Ugly

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 02:30:14 +0000

On today's show I'm walking you through the steps of building a very basic, utilitarian shoe organizer. And I'll admit it, I obviously didn't pay close enough attention to the warning signs when things started to go bad! It started out great. The components were milled in near record time, even with just having 30 minutes here and there during the week. I just never thought I'd be the victim of a glue-up catastrophe on this project! But even if the glue-up had gone perfect, this is the kind of project that gets tucked away in a closet or in the backroom where it gets used more than it gets seen. Which isn't a bad thing! Sometimes we don't want our projects just admired from a far, WE WANT THEM USED. This project was also just the kind of thing that let us take the new SawStop table saw out for a spin to see what we think about it. So far? It's a really nice table saw! And in the show today I even take a moment to demonstrate how easy it is to swap out the brake cartridge when switching from a regular 10" blade, to a 8" stacked dado set. The construction of the shoe organizer included a few joinery techniques; mitered corners, thru dadoes and even the use of dowels. In hindsight, it was a glue-up nightmare, but when tackled with a little strategy (apparently better than the one I used) it's possible to get the job done correctly.

SawStop Bypass Explained

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 16:30:13 +0000

Today's post is a short and sweet look at the Bypass system on the SawStop. After introducing the new saw just a couple of weeks ago, I heard from a few listeners that they were interested in hearing more about the bypass system that allows the user to "bypass the braking mechanism". The SawStop Bypass System isn't an ALL THE TIME option for users. It's a very deliberate action the user has to take to engage, and then once the motor is shut off after the cut, the saw returns to it's normal operating status. Then to re-engage it again, the procedure has to be repeated. The beauty of the Bypass System is that it can allow the user to test materials that they may be concerned will engage the braking mechanism or that they KNOW will engage it (such as aluminum or other conductive materials). For owners of any SawStop saw this information is all laid out and explained in great detail in the manual. They'll also find the procedures for conducting their own "Materials Conductivity Test" that can save you time and money discovering what works and what doesn't vs learning it the hard way. It only takes a few seconds to engage, but what it can save you in time, materials and money is huge! Next week, we're starting the construction of a Shoe Organizer for the Vanderlist Household, apparently we're the Imelda Marcos of the neighborhood and have to many shoes and no where to put them! The video will include plenty of cuts to try out the new saw, including a dado cut or two.

493 Table saw sled

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 01:10:40 +0000

ENOUGH TALK ABOUT THE NEW SAW, LET'S BUILD SOMETHING WITH IT!!! I'd love to tell you it would be something über cool, ultra modern and hip...but then it wouldn't be on this show if it were. Instead, the first project on the new saw is something FOR THE NEW SAW; it's a very basic, no frills crosscut sled. [caption id="attachment_6965" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Basic Table Saw Sled[/caption] The entire sled is built from scraps and cutoffs laying around the shop, the only thing I didn't make myself was the Micro Jig ZeroPlay Guide Bars. I maybe doing this on the cheap, and can easily just toss it on the burn pile and start all over, but why worry about loose miter bar guides when I can spend the money on these reusable and adjustable manufactured ones that take all the worry our for me? (In full disclosure, when we gave away a few pairs of these over the summer, I snagged myself a set from the pile...don't worry...Micro Jig already knows) If you follow the show on either Facebook or Google+ I mentioned getting ready to build one and asked what the ones look like that you've built. A number of you responded with some really interesting ideas, both simple and WAY tweaked out. I'd love to see and hear more of your creations, please send them in and I'll put together a gallery on the website to share with everyone. Email them to mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com. Items mentioned in today's show:Micro Jig ZeroPlay Guide Bars Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

492 Hello new saw

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:00:16 +0000

As table saws go, I've had an opportunity over the years to use one from each of the three body types; benchtop, contractor and cabinet. While they're all tablesaws and do the same job, the specifications of each are very different. Where benchtop and contractor saws are portable in their own ways, the cabinet saw is one you probably won't be throwing in the back of a trailer or truck and hauling around from site to site. In fact, the cabinet saw is a beast of a saw and is designed with the serious hobbyist and professional woodworker in mind. I've been using my granite topped Steel City cabinet saw for a couple of years now and have been loving the features and specifications that came with it. But just recently, an opportunity came up to try another make and model of cabinet saw that has some upgraded features and specifications I didn't think we're all that important at first, but now that its here I can't wait to test them out and share the results with all of you. In today's episode I'm introducing my brand new SawStop PCS175-TGP236 1.75HP 10" Professional Cabinet Saw. In the interest of complete transparency, the opportunity to try out this model of saw and all the accessories and upgrades that accompany it was in exchange for a sponsorship and advertising deal on my website and in the show. I'm under no obligation what-so-ever to gloss over any warts I may think the saw has as I use it over time. As of the time that I'm posting this episode, I haven't had an opportunity to put the saw through it's paces yet. But that should be remedied very shortly as we get ready to start a series of projects that will have plenty of cuts being made on the saw. Then in about 6 months, I'll come back and give it as thorough a review of what I've experienced with the saw as I possibly can. I don't expect all of you to be as excited about this opportunity as I am, and I imagine some of you will express your opinions about it with me rather loudly. But I'm interested in hearing what your concerns are regarding the specifications when compared to other manufacturers and maybe even some of the myths you've heard too. So without further delay..."Hello New Saw!" Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

491 Resawing Options

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 16:30:12 +0000

I've been doing a lot of resawing lately in my workshop. Not for the purpose of making my own veneers instead it's all about milling thin stock for the boxes I'm making for my wife's photography clients (shameless plug...www.shuttersam.com. Resawing thick stock into thinner pieces is a great way to save materials and money too! As a beginning woodworker my assumption was that thin stock, anything thinner than 3/4", was a rare item and either you settled for the warped and over-priced stuff at the home center or you repeatedly ran the stock through a thickness planer until it was the dimension you desired. Then one day the light bulb went off (actually I read an article) and I discovered resawing. In today's episode, I'll share with you a few options I've experimented with when it comes to resawing. I've tried it on the tablesaw and I've had some success with a handsaw, but my preferred way is on the bandsaw. And even that has changed slightly over the past year. Regardless of which route you choose for whatever reason; limited tools, experience or self-loathing, learning to resaw can open a whole new set of options for you in the shop and with your projects.

MBW Shop Quick Tip

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 18:30:33 +0000

Great news! That momentary interruption I was talking about is coming to an end sooner than I anticipated. The adjustment to the new school year is going great and we're practically back to a regular schedule. So this means it's time for me to get off my butt and start producing new content. A new full length episode is on its way next week and in the mean time I wanted to share this great shop tip I found in the WOOD Magazine Newsletter I get each week. I'm not being paid to promote it, but when I find something this good...I just want to share it. Sign up today by visiting the WOOD Magazine website at www.woodmagazine.com. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

490 Sharpening options

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 18:00:22 +0000

Over the years, I've done my fair share of experimenting with sharpening. From the early days of sandpaper on glass to waterstones and now on to my Tormek, I had one goal in mind...to create the scariest sharpest edge anyone could ever imagine!!! I won't claim to have achieved that dream yet, but I've managed to create edges that were sharp enough to draw blood with very little effort, usually also at the worst possible moments too. In today's episode I'll show you some of the tools and equipment I've used over the years to accomplish this goal. It's not an episode on HOW TO SHARPEN but instead an episode on options for WHAT TO SHARPEN WITH. From sandpaper to power sharpening and a few in between, I'll show you what I've tried in the past, what I'm using now and a little bit of why on each method. Just like our woodworking, sharpening methods are a personal thing, there's nothing wrong with experimenting until you find that one technique that's right for you.

July Schwag Giveaway

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:13:01 +0000

I'm really getting bad at this, I almost forgot to remind everyone of the schwag drawing this month! Not that many of you have forgotten about it, but just in case you have here's a nice little reminder to whet your appetite and ensure you stop by our SCHWAG SIGN-UP PAGE and enter your name for this month's drawing.

489 Hello Router Table

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:07:41 +0000

At the heart of my workshop's redo is the massive Bench Dog Router Table system I reviewed with ToolSelect.com - see the review HERE. Compared to previous router tables in my shop, this version is a beast! Of course it's not really a fair comparison, given its predecessors were all bench top models, but that's beside the point. The Bench Dog ProMax RT router table system provides woodworkers with a number of great options for customizing their own version. The system in my shop is a cast-iron top on an enclosed cabinet, but it could easily be a phenolic top instead. Or I could choose to have either one of those tops on an open stand. For me, what really makes this new router table system so invaluable in my shop IS the cabinet. The enclosed cabinet has enough storage space built into it that it's become my all-in-one router center. All my router bits, router accessories and even my routers can be stored in it and there's still room for more. What it takes up in floor space, it makes up for with overall storage space…I actually have some empty shelves…I wonder what I can put on those? The beauty of the system is the fact it has options! And speaking of options, one that will be making a dramatic change in my operations at the router table is the addition of a router lift. In the realm of router table upgrades this one is like going from a bicycle to a jet plane! See my review of it on ToolSelect.com HERE. Everyone who's used a router table knows the frustration there can be when dialing in just the right height between cuts. Having a router lift allows you to raise or lower your router from the top of the table where you can easily see what's happening versus the old method of reaching underneath and often blindly making the adjustments. How many times have you done this only to realize the bit is much higher or lower than you wanted? Router lifts are pricey, and to be honest I always had one on my list but I never considered it a necessity as far as I was concerned. But after using this one just for some test cuts and demonstration purposes, I wouldn't hesitate recommending it get bumped up to the top of the list for anyone who uses their router table frequently. The accuracy and ease of adjustability it provides will dramatically help with router operations in my shop. And then there's the fence system. Regardless of which table top, base or whether you choose to go with a router lift or traditional insert plate, if you don't have a good fence system it won't matter. The Bench Dog Fence system is worth the money! Links for items mentioned in today's show: Bench Dog 40-300 ProMax RT Bench Dog Tools 40-150 ProLift Bench Dog Featherboards Kreg PRS3090 3" Dual Locking Caster-Set

488 Shop Accessories

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 16:00:22 +0000

Following up on the last episode, where I revealed recent changes made to my shop to improve work flow and efficiency...at least in theory...,today's show is a closer look at some of the "accessories" and little shop helpers I've added all around it. We've all heard the cliche "it's the little things that matter". In this case, it really IS the little things that make all the difference...in how I feel about working at my various tools. As much as we want to justify buying all kinds of new fangled jigs and shop accessories the one issue we run into eventually is where to put them, and more importantly, how will we find them when we need them the most? Being organized shouldn't just refer to having a set of well thought out plans to build a project. Being organized should also refer to where and why things are laid out also. I don't know the statistics off hand but I think it's safe to say that many of the shop accidents that occur regularly each year, both big and small, probably have to do with someone not taking the extra time to use a safety accessory simply because it wasn't close at hand. Surprisingly, it doesn't cost a lot of money to get well organized, nor does it take a lot of time. The accessories I talk about in today's episode took me longer to figure out exactly where to place them than it did to purchase OR put them in their new homes. You don't have to go as far as building fancy cabinets or caddies (although that could be fun) when you decide "now I'm ready to be organized", being organized is a state of mind and a way of life. The payoff at the end of the day will make a huge difference in how we work in the shop. Of course the second half of being organized is remembering to put things back in their place...but that's for another episode!

487 Shop Redo

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:50:30 +0000

I'm not a fan of New Year resolutions. I vow to stop making them every January 5th, which usually coincides with the same day I give up on the diet/exercise program I started on January 1st. However, this year I decided to give it one more try and announced on Wood Talk Online Radio that by the end of the year I'd give my shop a much needed facelift. This is nothing new in the basement workshop, in fact it's something I had been vowing to do for a long time. For a long time now I've been getting frustrated with how cluttered my shop was feeling and even more frustrated at my inability to get work done without having to constantly move things around just to accomplish a single task. To be quite honest, the extra time it was taking me to clear a spot to plane a board or to set up a tool for a cut that should take only 30 seconds to accomplish was becoming too long. Not to mention that I was constantly losing small items and tools in the ever growing piles. In other words...SOMETHING HAD TO CHANGE! Today's episode is a tour of my new shop layout. I have yet to put it through its paces on a project, but there's room to tweak it for optimal flow and efficiency when I do. A huge thanks to the folks over at Port-A-Mate for their help with a few new items to make the shop a better and safer place to work.

486 Excuses excuses

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 22:36:22 +0000

I'd love to tell you we're starting a new build project today or I had a new tool or two to share (which I do, but that's for another day) but instead this is just a quick "heads up" of what's happening and NOT happening with the show. Unfortunately the warm days of early summer draw me out of the basement and in to the fresh air and sunlight. But luckily for the show, coming in the next several weeks, that same fresh air and sunlight will be SO HOT I'll be retreating to the basement to enjoy the rest of my summer months. So new content is just around the corner, I swear! Off on a tangent...in honor of Father's Day I have a couple of great titles written by Jack McKee of www.woodshop4kids.com. "Woodshop for Kids" & "Builder Boards" are two books filled with great ideas and projects to help you introduce your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews...whoever they are...to woodworking. Because Father's Day is next weekend (as I'm posting this) I'm offering copies of these books to one winner next Sunday. How do you get entered? Either email me a picture of the project you built with your young woodworker, or a description of it, or even leave a comment about it in today's shownotes at the website.

WIA 2012 Sneak Peek with Megan Fitzpatrick

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 09:30:11 +0000

Woodworking In America 2012 isn't until mid-October, but it doesn't hurt to start planning now if you'll be attending. I have it on good authority there's still plenty of openings for woodworkers to sign up, and attend what has become a perennial destination for anyone passionate about woodworking. This year's conference has a little twist to it. Rather than one big weekend, the folks at Popular Woodworking Magazine have taken a gamble and are offering two full weekends of some of the best woodworking lectures, vendors and get-togethers modern woodworkers have ever known. For the past few years, attendees and those who wanted to be attendees, have been asking for Woodworking in America to travel west of the Mississippi river. This year they're doing just that by holding the first of the two weekends in Pasadena, California. And as everyone knows, out west they do things they're own unique way. The West Coast WIA conference will be no different! With speakers and events specifically planned for the first of the 2012 conferences you'll find seminars and a few vendors you won't find any where else. But not to be outdone though, the 2012 Midwest WIA conference promises to be equally amazing and filled with all the best speakers, vendors, events and of course all the things we've come to expect from Woodworking In Americas in the past. For more information, visit the Woodworking In America website where you'll find everything you need for both venues. And if that still doesn't answer all your questions you can also email Megan Fitzpatrick Megan.Fitzpatrick@fwmedia.com (or any of the Popular Woodworking Editors) to get information on both the event and anything woodworking related. ...Of course listening to today's episode isn't a bad idea either!

485 Talking with Eli Cleveland

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 16:30:16 +0000

The other day I had a chance to sit down with Eli Cleveland to discuss what seemed to be our differing views of the online woodworking community. It's no secret that recently there were some raw nerves exposed over what has been perceived by many to be a slap to the face of woodworking bloggers and podcasters. It appeared to many of us that our legitimacy was being questioned and we were being branded in a negative way. The resulting volley of comments back and forth regarding this most current statement, and even ones previously, have served as a rallying cry for many to say online woodworking is stronger and more united than ever. But is it? As one of the first woodworking podcasters on the scene back in 2006, I heard a lot of less than nice things about how stupid or crazy I was for trying something like a woodworking podcast. At the time, I would reach out to "established" media resources to ask for permission to use content or ask for advice and quite often there was never an answer or even more frequently, a lot of skepticism of what I was attempting to do. But I didn't let that stop me. I knew deep down, if I wanted to see an online show(s) like what we have today, I probably wasn't alone. I could either sit back, wait and hope someone would come along to start it or just get the ball rolling myself. So after 6-1/2 years of growing my audience, making SO MANY new friends and at the same time learning and then turning around and sharing as many of my experiences as an amateur woodworker with anyone who was willing to watch an episode. To hear something that sounded like it was calling into question everything I had done...it cut straight to the bone. My first reaction was to see red and as I mention to Eli in the show, I like to think I can let cooler heads prevail, but it's hard to contain that animal instinct when you feel like your being attacked. And that's some of what you'll hear in today's episode. Let me set the record straight before anyone jumps to a conclusion about today's show. It's not meant to re-hash old grudges and continue to beat a metaphorical "dead horse". Our discussion was an opportunity for two woodworkers who feel passionate about the craft and want to see the online community building up around it grow stronger. Strength comes from trust and understanding, but to have trust and understanding, you have to be willing to realize not everything is perfect. Being able to recognize your perceptions and understandings on any given topic, aren't necessarily the right one, is a bitter pill to swallow. When I first invited Eli to come on the show, it was meant as an opportunity for me to tell him how I thought he was wrong about both his comments and also his views of the online woodworking community. After emailing with him to get things set up and then during our conversation before, during and even after the recording, I discovered we came together thinking we were ways apart in our views but ended up realizing we had more in common with what we want for this community than we may have realized.

484 The Accident

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:36:58 +0000

We're now about halfway through Safety Week 2012 and hopefully you've found that one or two golden nuggets you'll carry with you every time you step in the shop. Regardless of what it is, the most important thing is to take what you've learned this week and turn it into the kind of habit that becomes second nature. Because it's those kind of habits that one day could be the difference between a close call in the shop or a trip to the Emergency Room...or worse. Woodworking to me is the kind of past time and lifestyle that is probably best learned by observation and learning from our mistakes. No one makes perfect dovetails the first time out and no one WON'T have a close call or two in the shop over their lifetime. The real responsibility of every woodworker when it comes to safety is to develop a set of best practices they can count on to greatly minimize the chance of an accident occurring. Because the truth is, there will never be a way to completely eliminate them. Last year while working on a project for the show, I had one of those accidents that could have been life altering. I made a number of mistakes that in hindsight leave me feeling embarrassed and angry at myself. On today's episode you'll see footage from this accident. I won't lie, it's graphic so please consider that before you watch. But the big lesson for today will be about what went wrong, what I could've possibly done to prevent it and hopefully you'll learn from my mistake so you don't make one just like it or worse.

483 Home repair flash back

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Without a doubt, home ownership is probably one of the biggest catalysts to propel people into woodworking. Even if you grew up with a woodworker or took shop classes in school, being a homeowner reignites that spark and grows into a passion for tools and creating projects intended for in and around the home. Most of the time that spark occurs because once we take ownership of a house, we immediately want to make it our own. Whether it's replacing trimwork, adding crown mouldings, maybe even tackling some repairs to unsightly fixtures or features that would scare off some people. Whatever the task it suddenly means it's time to get some tools and dive headfirst into those projects. Recently a friend of ours approached me with a problem she's lived with for several years, a broken louver door to a bedroom closet. As soon as she walked in the door with it I had flash backs to when we bought our first house. It was a project I couldn't resist, especially because I knew it was one I would have been intimidated by all those years ago. On today's episode, join me on a trip down memory lane as we set aside some of our regular woodworking shop projects and tackle a little home repair.

482 Building a Hock Smoothing Plane kit pt 2

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:43:41 +0000

On today's episode we wrap up the construction of the Hock Smoothing Plane Kit from Hock Tools. Last week we assembled the pieces, glued it all up and set it aside to dry in the clamps. Today we start the work to make it a fully functioning hand plane. I'll walk you through one method of truing the sole to make it flat, which is extremely important for it to work the way it's suppose to. We'll shape the body to a size and feel that not only makes it unique from other planes on my shelf, but feels right in my hands. And then we'll take it for a maiden voyage and discuss a little bit about adjusting the blade of a wooden bodied plane vs the metal bodied versions with mechanical adjusters. If you've built a Hock Smoothing Plane or something similar, I'd love to hear about it. Send pictures if you have any available, I may even post them so others can see your work.

481 Building a Hock Smoothing Kit pt 1

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:26:15 +0000

Today's episode is the first in a two (maybe three) part build series featuring the Hock Smoothing Plane Kit from Hock Tools. Previously we had such success building the Hock Shoulder Plane it only seemed like a great idea to come back and build this kit. Just like before, all the materials for successfully building a completely usable plane were included, all you need to add is glue and some shop time. In less than a weekend you can have a great tool that will quickly become one of your favorites. In part one, we tackle the assembly process. While it's very straight forward there are a few key tasks that need to be accomplished to ensure the rest of the setup goes as planned. So follow along and see why this kit maybe your entry into the world of hand planes. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

FWWLive the interview

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:42:06 +0000

Not to long ago Fine Woodworking Magazine announced the arrival of their first live woodworking event, Fine Woodworking Live. I had the pleasure of talking with FWW Editor Asa Christiana about the magazine and to fill us in on what Fine Woodworking Live is all about. We get all the details about the upcoming event, and even a few scoops on things that may still be in the works to round out the whole weekend. Fine Woodworking Live starts on Friday and Saturday morning with a large general session discussions and then branches off into small-group sessions in the afternoon to discuss topics by a variety of experts you'll recognize from the pages of Fine Woodworking Magazine. Saturday night, Nick Offerman, star of NBC's "Parks and Recreation" and a die-hard woodworker, will be the guest speaker at an optional banquet dinner. Then to wrap it all up on Sunday, there's a number of additional sessions being offered on specific topics in a small class setting. Some of these are limited in space and number of attendees, so get registered early before space fills up. Fine Woodworking Live is being billed as a "can't-miss weekend for anyone looking to dive deep into the craft, guided by the best and the brightest in the field of woodworking. Plus it's a great chance to meet fellow woodworkers in an engaging, enlightening, and fun event". If you have any questions about the event, head on over to www.finewoodworkinglive.com and you'll find all the information we talked about in today's show. Please take a moment to answer our listener survey for Matt's Basement Workshop Podcast. A few simple, anonymous questions with a chance to win a MBW T-shirt if you choose to leave your email. Your answers are private and will never be sold to spammers or advertisers. Matt's Basement Workshop Listener surveyHelp support the show - please visit our advertisers

480 Samantha's Mirror Frame Q&A

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:44:59 +0000

After the last episode of Samantha's mirror frame project many of you wrote me to ask how I installed the mirror in the frame. It was a SLIGHT oversight on my part not to cover the topic, so I'm coming back with a third episode to remedy that mistake. While we're talking about how I did it, I'll share with you some other potential option for taking care of the same task. My own technique was a little unconventional, so it's important to see a few that are more traditional. Once we've covered the topic of installing the mirror in the frame, I wanted to address a couple more questions that came in regarding the construction process. A few of you wondered about options for cutting the rabbets using other techniques than the single blade method and a couple of you wanted to know about another way to create the stopped chamfers. Hopefully we'll answer your questions and concerns in today's show. Please take a moment to answer our listener survey for Matt's Basement Workshop Podcast. A few simple, anonymous questions with a chance to win a MBW T-shirt if you choose to leave your email. Your answers are private and will never be sold to spammers or advertisers. Matt's Basement Workshop Listener surveyHelp support the show - please visit our advertisers

479 Samantha's mirror pt 2

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:30:56 +0000

On today's show we'll continue where we left off last week on the construction of the Cherry Mirror frame I recently built for my wife. As I mentioned in the last episode we purchased a full-length mirror for our bedroom and after getting it home I decided it was just a little too plain for our tastes. Thankfully I've been holding on to a stash of Cherry for a while now and this seemed to be the perfect project to break it out for. Last week we ripped and crosscut the stock to size (I also admitted to messing that up and having to re-draw the plans to accommodate for the mistake), we also cut the mortise and tenon joinery we'll use to assemble the project. This week we rabbet an edge on the backside of the frame to support the mirror. That sounds easy, but I chose to use just the tablesaw and I had to create stopped rabbets for the stiles. Then we chamfer the edges of the rails and stiles, but not end to end, instead we create a nice little stopped chamfer on the router table. We glue it all together and then add some shop made walnut pegs to help reinforce the mortise and tenon joinery. This was a great little project that could easily be completed in a weekend and leaves you looking like a hero to someone.

478 Samantha's mirror pt 1

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:00:35 +0000

Today we start a new build project. We've (and by "we" I mean my wife) been in need of a full-length mirror in our bedroom for quite a longtime now. We (this time I mean "us") finally purchased one not to long ago and I intended to hang it behind the door in our bedroom. Even though it's beveled on the edges it just looked to plain, so we were trying to decide if it should be hidden away in a closet? It didn't take very long to think about it, but what we really needed was a nice frame to set it in and mount in position. So I headed to the basement and decided it was time to break into my stash of aged cherry. Now that we have the backstory of today's project, let's get started building it. This is a two part build video, starting with the basics of ripping and crosscutting the stock to its dimensions and then moving into "handcut" mortise and tenon joinery. Then next week we'll wrap it all up.

477 Bandsaw riser block

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:25:05 +0000

This week we return again to the stack of listener suggested topics and questions that have come in over the years. After bringing the 14" Steel City band saw into the basement workshop, many of you had questions specifically about the riser block I installed. The obvious benefits of a riser block to a 14" bandsaw is the increase in height. Normally the maximum resaw height on a saw this size is about 6" at most. By adding a riser block system you increase that significantly. What does that mean? It means all those wide boards you'd love to bookmatch for stunning panels are now possible, it means you can resaw your own veneers from WHICHEVER species of wood you want, it means all sorts of options. But with a variety of options available that also means there's some limitations too. While not necessarily significant anytime you alter a machine from it's original configuration, regardless of whether you use original manufacturer's kits, you're still going to run into hiccups that may require the machine to need a little more tweaking before using. I'd love your feedback on today's episode and your suggestion leave a comment in today's shownotes or drop us a line mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com. And if anyone noticed the video seems a little off, I've been experimenting with using my iPhone as a video camera...it still needs a little tweaking, but not too bad.

476 Which shoulder plane

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:00:23 +0000

Today's episode is the first of a series answering many of the questions and topic suggestions you the audience has sent me over the last 6 years. I frequently get questions regarding choosing tools, stock, projects and great feedback on things we've already covered. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance, all that often, to take these questions and turn them into the great content they'd make. So while I'm currently finishing up a couple of project builds, I thought we'd do start tackling the list of audience inspired episodes. In today's show, a listener asked about choosing a shoulder plane. He asked specifically about two models, the Stanley No.92 and the Ron Hock Shoulder plane kit. While I prefer not to make specific recommendations on which tool to purchase, I do have an opinion on the features that make a good one and things to consider when thinking of purchasing. I'd love your feedback on today's episode and your suggestion for this listener and also the many others who have asked very similar questions about shoulder planes also. Leave a comment in today's shownotes or drop us a line mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com . And if anyone noticed the video seems a little off, I've been experimenting with using my iPhone as a video camera...it still needs a little tweaking, but not too bad.

475 Super simple box follow up

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:59:31 +0000

Back in episode 470 I shared with you the construction of a "super simple" wooden box I've been making for my wife's photography business Shutter Sam Photography. I mentioned in the episode that since filming the original footage I had started to streamline the construction process. Just like with any project where you find yourself repeating the build over and over (think cutting boards, jewelry boxes, pens, etc.) you discover little shortcuts that can help to cut the production time down, but not affect the quality of the results. As I've mentioned before, I really appreciate tips and suggestions from you the audience. And once again, you've come through for me with a great tip that I'm using from this point out when building the boxes. Don (no last name in the email) suggested I checkout an article over at Fine Woodworking Magazine it's titled 2 Fast Ways to Build a Box and was written by Bill Nyberg. On page one of the downloadable PDF (it does require a membership to the digital media) Bill lays out a quick and easy two cut step that creates the lips of the two sides. Essentially the same thing I've been creating, but with my method I was spending way too much time setting it up. This new method cuts my setup time in HALF. Checkout today's show to see what I'm talking about. Just to let you know, I don't cover Bill's entire article, just this one little part that has made a huge difference in how I'll be cutting parts for more of these boxes and maybe even other projects down the road.

474 Shelves and drawers pt 4

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:36:25 +0000

It's a new year, but we have a little work to finish up from the previous year. As promised, today's episode is the wrap up to our "Shelves and drawers" series. In part four we complete the "Shelves and drawers" by building the drawer fronts from solid maple, attaching the bases to each of the units and then adding all the final touches from painting to hardware. A lot of you had questions about using MDO; its workability, paintability, cost and more. Rather than addressing each of your questions as they come in, I tried to include all of them in the video. Hopefully I answer yours, but if not, don't hesitate to contact me.

473 Shelves and drawers pt 3

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:20:11 +0000

In part three of the "Shelves and drawers" build we tackle the construction of the solid maple bases. All four pieces stand on the same style of bases, so except for the lengths of the support beams between the tall shelving units and the short drawer units, we can once again gang up and make similar cuts and actions. And even though the bases will, for the most part, be hidden out of sight that's no reason to not take a few minutes to design something that looks nice. You never know when someone will take a look! Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

472 Shelves and drawers pt 2

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:20:12 +0000

In today's second episode of the "Shelves and drawers" build we move on to the drawer construction. Just as we saw with the first episode, large projects can appear complicated but when you take the correct approach they can be completed quickly, easily and more importantly accurately. By ganging similar cuts for each component, you can take advantage of a single setup on your tool to eliminate unnecessary steps. Not to mention it also eliminates the possibility of making miscuts too. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

471 Shelves and drawers pt 1

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:15:04 +0000

Today's show is the first of several episodes covering the construction of a shelving and drawer set. A good friend of the family approached me about building two tall shelving units and two short units with drawers. All four pieces would stand on top of solid maple bases and the drawer fronts would be solid maple also. These would be left natural with a clear finish while the shelving units and drawer bodies will be painted a glossy white. The entire project, except the base and drawers themselves, will be made from MDO - medium density overlay. This is my first experience with MDO and as we'll talk about in the final wrap-up episode, it won't be my last. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

470 Super simple box

mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:00:18 +0000

I mentioned on a recent episode of Wood Talk Online Radio I was building some small boxes for my wife Samantha's photography business -Shuttersam.com. The boxes are best described as being nothing more than a "Super simple box". No extravagant ornamentation, no exotic species and no complicated joinery. The idea was a plain box that would be given to her clients with a DVD of their images inside, along with maybe a few proofs. I have no delusions that these boxes will be passed down from generation to generation, but in fact expect them to be set aside on a shelf somewhere or maybe even re-purposed for some other task. So the design for the box was that it wouldn't take long to build, be inexpensive and just be functional. The first few took me a little while to get the building process tweaked. But after having built about a dozen or more so far, it now only takes a couple of hours to batch out up to 6 at a time. In fact the bottleneck now is waiting for the glue to dry. I'm planning to experiment with more box making in the future. So plan to see some various designs and construction processes in the future. But for now, enjoy this super simple box. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers