Matt's Basement Workshop

12 Lighthearted Questions for MBW

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 20 May 2012 15:16:41 +0000

Sorry folks but the drought of new content on the show is continuing for another week. The effect of the warmer months are always a content killer every year. Lawns to mow, bikes to ride, and in general just a chance to be outside and not freezing to death while doing it.

But rest assured the dry season won’t last forever. As I’ve been sunning myself and sweat has been pouring down off my brow and stinging my eyes I’ve kept a log of the many things I plan to cover in upcoming episodes. I’ll share more of that with you shortly.

In the meantime, I had the chance to have a little fun answering some questions with Chris Landy over at The Lighthearted Woodworker, 12 questions to be exact. I’m really honored and appreciated the opportunity to be included.

If you haven’t visited Chris’ blog before click on this link to the article and then go explore, I have a feeling you’ll bookmark it and come back for more. 12 Lighthearted Question for Matt’s Basement Workshop.

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445 Kid’s Maple Bookcase Questions Answered (Hopefully)

Spoken Wood Podcast No. 199

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:37:10 +0000

Today’s episode was written by George Walker for the Design Matters blog. It’s titled “Apprentice Sketchbook December 2011″ and was originally posted November 29, 2011.

For more great posts like today’s visit the Design Matters blog at georgewalkerdesign.wordpress.com

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

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When Chuck talks, Matt listens!

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:43:21 +0000

It must be a touch of Spring Fever, or the fact that I finally need to get outside and start doing all the yard work I put off in the Fall because I was using the colder weather as an excuse to stay indoors! Either way, April and May episodes are a little sparse. But that doesn’t mean I’m going away for long, just tidying things up so I can devote more time to the shop.

In the mean time, I’ll be posting more Spoken Wood Podcast episodes, more Wood Talk Online Radio episodes as they become available and even the return of The Review Show as soon as I throw the kids out of the living room and reclaim my easy chair and remote control.

If you haven’t seen my “The Accident” video yet, you may want to check it out before you visit this link to my good friend Chuck Bender’s post over at his blog “Parings – A Woodworker’s Journal” Safety Week 2012 – Matt Vanderlist’s video.

Shortly after posting my episode about the accident Chuck contacted me to ask if he could write a post on his own blog talking about the incident, and then providing some more insight into what could’ve been done to prevent it.

It’s never easy to admit when you screwed up, and it’s even harder to listen to what someone else has to say about it. But the fact is, I wanted as many people as possible to learn from my mistake so hopefully they won’t make it themselves.

The goal of my video was to point out what I thought were the mistakes and missteps I made that contributed to the whole incident. What Chuck did was to take it one step further and nail them home.

Take a few minutes and read what he has to say. I know I did, and I can confidently tell you I’m very appreciative of the insight I’ve gained from it.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard for me to read some of what Chuck wrote. When you make a mistake as major as I did, it’s difficult to hear what someone else has to say about it. But I can guarantee the next time I fire up any of my routers, it’s Chuck’s advice I’ll be using to make it a safer task.

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Wood Talk Online Radio No. 97

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:08:10 +0000

On the show today, Marc and Shannon fly solo without my help. Hopefully all of you don’t start requesting this kind of format more often!

Topics on the show this time around include whether you can save money by building your own furniture, Jeff Miller’s new jigs for hand tool work, and a few topics pushed back from last week’s show including how to make a rule joint and long-term tool storage.

Around the Web:

Jeff Miller’s Jigs for hand tools Jeff Miller’s new jigs are designed to make the process of creating a mortise and tenon with hand tools quick, easy, and accurate. Matt and Shannon discuss whether or not elaborate jigs have a place in the hand tool shop.

Voicemails:

Nathan – Can you save money by building your own furniture?
John – How to make a rule joint?
MLCS Woodworking Rule Joint
WoodSmith Shop Rule Joint

Roberto – What do I use to protect my tools during long-term storage.
Cosmoline or Ballistol

iTunes Reviews:

Thanks Brian Brazil and 94Av8r!

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Spoken Wood Podcast No. 198

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:30:55 +0000

Today’s episode was written by Chris Schwarz for The Chris Schwarz Blog at www.popularwoodworking.com. It’s titled “What type of woodworker are you – honestly” and was originally posted March 22, 2012.

To read this post and others written by Chris, visit The Chris Schwarz Blog at www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/chris-schwarz-blog.

What type of woodworker are you? Find out by reading the article mentioned in Chris’ post at www.carpentryarchive.org.

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

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484 “The Accident”

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:51:36 +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.

As I mentioned in the episode, here’s a link to the video at Popular Woodworking Magazine featuring Bob Lang’s Trim Router base CLICK HERE. Don’t be surprised if it shows up on the show sometime.

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Shop Safety Checklist by WOOD Magazine

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:19:55 +0000

This is a re-post of a previous Safety Week video that I feel is worth taking another look at. I stumbled across a great article at WOOD Magazine‘s website. Not one to let a good thing slide by, I asked the folks at WOOD for permission to share it with all of you. Thankfully they said yes!

Today’s episode is based on the 12 point checklist mentioned in WOOD Magazine’s Shop Safety Checklist. It’s a great read and something worth checking out to make sure you’re working safe too.

A huge thanks to WOOD Magazine for permission to share this with all of you!

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Safety Week 2012 Begins

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:00:49 +0000

Welcome to Safety Week 2012, the one week out of the entire year devoted exclusively to the topic of Safety in the workshop. If this is your first Safety Week, please feel free to revisit previous topics from years past.

Safety Week was the brain child of Marc Spagnuolo years ago, so be sure to visit his website The Wood Whisperer to find all of his videos and links this week, and there you’ll also find a number of links to the various bloggers and podcasters taking part in the event.

In previous years we’ve covered a wide variety of topics from Dust Dangers to Excessive Noise and of course we’ve talked about Tool Safety and Best Practices, all with the hopes of educating ourselves and our fellow woodworkers on things we just might take for granted or worse yet simply neglect.

By no means what-so-ever is Safety Week meant as a way to put people down for past mistakes or misunderstandings. What you’ll find in the coming days, and in shows from years past, are lessons sometimes learned the hard way. The pictures, videos and in some cases testimonials won’t always be pleasant to read but they’re a great reminder of what can happen in a matter of seconds. But that doesn’t mean Safety topics can’t be approached with a sense of humor either, and you’ll find that here too.

If there’s one lesson to be learned this week, it should be that Safety is a topic no one will ever fully appreciate until something happens in the shop to remind them of its importance. We all have close calls at some point in our shop life, in the end, hopefully that’s all it’ll be a CLOSE CALL vs. an EMERGENCY CALL.

To get things started off this week, I invite you to visit Safety Weeks from years past here at Matt’s Basement Workshop by visiting our “Safety Week” page by Clicking Here. Here you’ll find every every show and article I’ve posted during Safety Weeks all the way back to 2008.

I plan on reposting a few of these as the week goes on and look for a new video on Wednesday, if you listened to the latest Wood Talk Online Radio, you may have heard a little sneak peek on the topic.

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Wood Talk Online Radio No. 96

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:51:30 +0000

On today’s show, we’re talking about our scariest workshop safety moments and answering a couple of emails from you the listener.

Around the Web:
Microjig Dado splitter
Glen Huey visiting the Michigan Woodworkers’ Guild May 19, 2012.
PW publishing The Woodwright Shop seasons 1-3 and 20 on DVD and in Shop Class On Demand

Listener Emails:
Mark J. asks about the pros and cons of placing the parallel guide on his leg vise higher or lower to the floor on the leg of his workbench.

Adam W. is considering purchasing a Lie-Nielsen #4 smoother with the 55 degree high angle frog. Is this a good idea to go with the high angle frog to use as his primary smoother?

Voicemails:
Dyami called in to share his Router safety reminder…a very cringe worthy reminder at that!

Contact us:
Email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or call and leave us a voice mail at (623) 242-5180 or Skype us at WoodTalkOnline.

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Spoken Wood Podcast No. 197

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:30:22 +0000

Today’s episode was written by Jeff Miller for the Chairs and more blog. It’s titled “Angled Tenons” and was originally posted March 27, 2011.

To find more posts written by Jeff, visit the Chairs and more blog at furnituremaking.com/wordpress.

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

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Spoken Wood Podcast No. 196

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:30:53 +0000

Today’s episode was written by Jameel Abraham for the Benchcrafted blog. It’s titled “A smoothing plane trick and some amazing dovetails” and was originally posted June 4, 2011.

To find more posts written by Jameel, visit the Benchcrafted blog at benchcrafted.blogspot.com.

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

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Spoken Wood Podcast No. 195

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:30:03 +0000

Today’s episode was written by Tom Schmitt for Highland Woodworking’s Wood News Online . It’s titled “Arthritis and woodworking” and was originally posted in issue No.72 August 2011.

To find more great and informative articles written for Highland Woodworking’s Wood News Online visit their website at www.woodnewsonline.com. While you’re there subscribe to receive the Newsletter free each month in your email.

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

If you haven’t done so yet, subscribe to the Spoken Wood Podcast feed so you won’t miss a single episode.

Woodworking in America 2012 Registration

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:00:48 +0000

Registration for Woodworking in America 2012 is now open and waiting for attendees to sign up. This year, rather than one location there’s two to choose from, either Pasadena, CA or Cincinnati, OH. This means all you West Coast woodworkers who haven’t been able to attend in years past, due to the long distance, can finally see what all the talk has been about.

Regardless of which venue you choose to attend (or for a lucky few, both) you’ll find all the information about instructors, classes, vendors, night time events and just about everything you need to make preparations to attend at the Woodworking in America website www.woodworkinginamerica.com.

If you plan to attend either one of the events feel free to share your plans with your fellow online woodworkers by filling out the “2012 Woodworking Conference Buddy Tracker” put together by our good friend Aaron Marshall at the Garage Shop blog.

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Spoken Wood Podcast No. 194

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:31:56 +0000

Today’s episode was written by Andrew Lunn for the Eccentric Toolworks blog. It’s titled “A Bone to Pick” and was originally posted May 21, 2010.

To find more posts written by Andrew, visit the Eccentric Toolworks blog at eccentrictoolworks.com.

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

If you haven’t done so yet, subscribe to the Spoken Wood Podcast feed so you won’t miss a single episode.

483 Home repair flash backs

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:03:19 +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.

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Spoken wood podcast no. 193

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:08:58 +0000

Today’s episode was written by Robert Pridgeon for the Little Good Pieces blog. It’s titled “Folding trivet Roubo style” and was originally posted November 14, 2011

To read more great posts written by Robert visit the Little Good Pieces blog at littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com.

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

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Spoken wood podcast no. 192

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:05:45 +0000

Today’s episode was written by AJ Hopkins for the JHop’s Blog – What not to do. It’s titled “Attitude is everything” and was originally posted August 3, 2011.

To read more great posts written by AJ visit the JHop’s Blog – What not to do at woodtalkonline.com/blog/97-jhops-blog

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

If you haven’t done so yet, subscribe to the Spoken Wood Podcast feed so you won’t miss a single episode.

2012 Audience Survey ends soon

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:34:08 +0000

SURVEY HAS OFFICIALLY ENDED. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.

Thank you to all of you who have been so generous as to take the 2012 Audience Survey so far, the information we’ve gathered will be helpful in my attempts to convince advertisers that Matt’s Basement Workshop is a good investment for their advertising dollars. Of course what this means for you the audience, is that the show will continue to be produced free of charge and coming to you uninterrupted.

I promise to keep the advertising as limited as possible in the episodes themselves, and the ad spots on the website to companies and retailers who are related to woodworking as possible. Something not every website can promise these days.

If you haven’t taken the time to fill out the survey and include your information, please take a few minutes to answer some very basic questions. There’s no need to include private information such as your name, address or such. But if you want to be included in a drawing for a Matt’s Basement Workshop T-shirt all I ask is you fill in your email address where prompted. Even that is still held privately. It’s not meant for the advertisers, just a means for me to contact you if you’re the lucky winner.

The survey ends April 6, 2012 with the T-shirt drawing occurring on April 13, 2012. Hurry before it’s too late.

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482 Building a Hock smoothing plane kit pt 2

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:10:21 +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.

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March schwag winners are…

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:55:51 +0000

It’s April 1st and while I enjoy a good joke, this isn’t one of them I PROMISE!.

Let’s all give a huge CONGRATS to March’s Schwag winners. I’m sending emails out to the winners, so check your inbox if your name is listed below.

As always, if you didn’t win this month I’ve already started taking names for the April drawing. Head over to the Schwag sign up page to get yourself entered for the drawing today mattsbasementworkshop.com/giveaway. Good luck!

HIGHLAND WOODWORKING WOODSLICER BLADE – 2 Winners
Congrats to – Raymond & George

MILESCRAFT Drill90 – 2 Winners
Congrats to – Adam & Norm

ZEM HEARING PROTECTION.
Congrats to – Sanford

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Wood Talk Online Radio No. 94

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:43:38 +0000

On today’s show, it’s all about listener mail!

Around the Web

Popular Woodworking: California considers table saw law

PBS iPad/iPhone App – Watch Wood Wright episodes!

Email

Bruce and Ryan both asked for our recommendation on the must-have tools for the beginner.
Doug wants to know what oil he should use for rust prevention on his hand planes.
Bruce wants to know how to finish his maple and walnut chess board.

Email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or call and leave us a voice mail at (623) 242-5180 or Skype us at WoodTalkOnline.

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Spoken wood podcast no. 191

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:12:00 +0000

Today’s episode was written by Robert W. Lang for the Popular Woodworking Editors’ blog at Popularwoodworking.com and is read for us by guest host John Verreault. It’s titled “Tag team secret for graceful curves” and was originally posted October 28, 2011.

To read more great posts written by Robert and the rest of the editorial staff at Popularwoodworking.com, visit the Popular Woodworking Editors’ blog at www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/editors-blog.

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

If you haven’t done so yet, subscribe to the Spoken Wood Podcast feed so you won’t miss a single episode.

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 survey

Spoken wood podcast no. 190

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:07:44 +0000

Today’s episode was written and recorded for us by Bob Rozaieski of the Logan Cabinet Shoppe. It’s titled “Hand work, efficiency, and mindset” and was originally posted June 7, 2011.

To find more great posts like today’s visit the Logan Cabinet Shoppe at logancabinetshoppe.com/blog.

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

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481 Building a Hock Smoothing kit pt 1

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:30:57 +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.

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Spoken wood podcast no. 189

mattsbasemetworkshop@gmail.com (Matt Vanderlist) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:00:38 +0000

Today’s episode was written by Chuck Bender for his blog Parings-A woodworker’s journal. It’s titled “Mr. Hogarth comes to town” and was originally posted May 12, 2011.

To read more great posts written by Chuck, visit his blog Parings-A woodworker’s journal at www.acanthus.com.

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Do you have a blog post or an article you’d like to share on the Spoken Wood Podcast? Drop me a line to get more information about how to do it today, EMAIL ME.

If you haven’t done so yet, subscribe to the Spoken Wood Podcast feed so you won’t miss a single episode.

Matt’s Basement Workshop Listener survey