Woodwork Mastery

Friday, April 4, 2025

The Woodworking Morning Show for April 4, 2025

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00:00 Technical Flubs and New Camera Setup
00:43 Morning Greetings and Tech Blame Game
01:00 Tech Love and Relationship Banter
01:37 Concert Night: Jack White Experience
02:32 Concert Pit Adventures
03:32 European Style Dining and Late Night Effects
04:34 Missouri Thank Yous and YouTube Members
06:03 Wood Talk and Long-Time Supporters
06:21 April 4th: Birthdays and Tell a Lie and Ramen Day
07:07 David Marcs’ Artwork and Store https://djmarks.com/product-category/art/
08:58 Costa Rica T-Shirt and Tool Swap Event
09:34 Woodcraft Tool Swap and Shop Details https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store-events/st-louis
12:15 Video Release: Budget-Friendly Workbench https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFTnNtRuGjs
14:36 National Ramen Day and Wood Talk Episode
15:02 Woodworking Blue Balls and Sponsor Conversations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DiZDvezAN0
15:57 Lost Treasure: Personalized Jewelry
19:41 Hand Tool Drip Campaign and Certificates
21:50 Check out Nicole’s interview with the Workshop Therapy Podcast https://www.patreon.com/posts/who-knew-that-of-125890515
23:21 3M Work Tunes Pro Connect Review https://amzn.to/420YZOB
27:22 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway https://www.instagram.com/p/DH36J7cJfOG/?img_index=1
30:23 Quilt Rack Project and Viewer Showcase
36:19 Sharpening Methods and Tools https://amzn.to/3E7K4c4
37:57 Hide Glue vs. Traditional Glue https://amzn.to/4jfqoBV
39:18 Old Projects and Concert Reflections
39:40 Cool Concerts for Formerly Cool People
39:47 Reflecting on Coolness
40:08 Merch Table Ideas
40:43 John Popovich’s Vice Question
41:36 Raphael’s Blanket Chest
42:20 Revisiting Old Projects
43:12 Teaching and Skill Development
43:33 Iterative Design Process
44:23 Legacy of Early Work
45:06 Advice for Beginners
45:46 Social Media and Skill Comparison
46:20 Run Your Own Race
46:56 Shop Visitors
48:39 Girl Scout Cookies
51:32 Tool Swap Event
52:50 Baggy Jeans and Nerve Pain
54:55 Band Stories
01:08:36 Shop Consultations https://twwstore.com/collections/services
01:08:55 Final Questions
01:11:12 Woodpeckers Dado Nut
01:11:37 Fiber Internet Installation
01:11:53 Show Setup at Home
01:12:54 Tick Season
01:13:51 Video Quality Discussion
01:15:29 Concluding Remarks and Goodbyes

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Saturday, March 29, 2025

Small workshop? Tight budget? Here’s a workbench for you!

If you’re looking for a small, mobile, budget-friendly and compact workbench that’s easy to build and surprisingly sturdy, I’ve got you covered. When I decided to start teaching in-person woodworking classes here at the shop, it quickly hit me: five students per class, three classes scheduled—and not nearly enough work surfaces for everyone.

That’s when I realized I needed to build some new workbenches. But not just any benches—I wanted something compact, storable, cost-effective, and quick to build (because I had to make four of them… fast). After some research and a whole lot of plywood, I came up with a design that checked all the boxes.

Why I Designed This Workbench

Storage space in my shop is always at a premium, so whatever I built had to be small enough to tuck away when not in use. I also wanted mobility so we could rearrange the space depending on what we were doing. And of course, it had to be something I could build multiple times without losing my mind (though I definitely tested that theory). The final design is simple, sturdy, and gets the job done—perfect for students or anyone working in a small space.

The Build Breakdown

Plywood Base: I used laminated plywood for all the base components. It’s strong, heavy, and affordable—especially if you go with shop-grade material. Credit to Rob Cosman and the Purple Heart Project for the inspiration here.
MDF Top: I went with three layers of 1″ MDF. It’s flat, stable, and cheap—perfect for a functional benchtop. You could absolutely use 3/4″ plywood (I recommend 4 layers) or solid wood (if you want an upgrade).
Knockdown Design: This base comes apart using bolts and dowels, so it’s easy to disassemble and store. I only glued the dowels into the rails, which makes reassembly simple and consistent.
Casters: I used workbench casters that are super easy to engage and disengage. With four of these benches rolling around the shop, that flexibility is a lifesaver.

Yes, I Splurged on the Vise

Okay, here’s the deal: Andy Klein’s Twin Turbo Vise costs more than the rest of the bench combined. But Andy’s a good friend, we worked out a deal, and honestly, I just wanted the students to have an awesome experience. A good vise can make or break your time at the bench. But don’t worry—you can absolutely use a different vise if you want.

I even have a coupon code if you do want to grab a Twin Turbo Vise: WHISPERER20 gets you 20% off vises at In-Kleind.com.

Building Tips and Real Talk

Cut List Strategy: The plans I offer are designed to be material-efficient, but you don’t have to follow them to the letter. Cut your plywood down into manageable chunks and do your final rips at the table saw.
Setup Blocks Are Your Friend: They make layout faster and more consistent than a tape measure.
Be Strategic With Tools: If you don’t have a full-length track saw, no problem. Just plan your cuts based on what you do have.
Hold-Downs Help: I used JessEm hold-downs for consistent, safe cuts. But feather boards or board buddies work too—or just go old-school and push carefully.
Staple with Purpose: I used narrow crown staples to speed things up, but you need to plan ahead so you don’t accidentally drill or cut through them later.

Let’s be real: laminating all those plywood parts eight times over was a grind. I powered through with caffeine and mild existential dread, but it got done.

Assembly and Final Touches

Once the base was built, I rounded over the edges, drilled the bolt and dowel holes, and fitted everything together. For three of the benches, I used large dominoes instead of knockdown hardware because I knew they’d be staying assembled permanently.

Then it was on to the tops—three layers of MDF glued together. I used my vacuum press to save time, but you could use screws and clamps just as effectively. Once the tops were squared and attached, I installed the vises.

A Note on Stability

To install the Twin Turbo Vise, I needed a big overhang on the front. That’s not ideal—it means you can tip the bench forward with enough pressure. So I just tossed a dumbbell on the bottom shelf during class and that worked fine. But if you’re building one of these from scratch, consider adjusting the base to support the vise more directly and reduce that overhang.

Still to Come…

I didn’t have time to fully finish the benches before the classes started, but I do plan to:

Add a bottom shelf
Wipe on a protective finish
Line the vise jaws with rubberized cork (I highly recommend the stuff Andy sells—it’s fantastic)
Consider wrapping bench top with solid wood

Want to Build One?

You can grab the cut list and measurements at TWWStore.com. And if you want to dive deeper into workbenches, check out the two full workbench builds I offer in the Wood Whisperer Guild: the Split-Top Roubo (our most popular course), and the Hybrid Workbench, which blends high function with a smaller footprint.

Thanks for checking out the build! Hopefully it gives you some inspiration for your own shop setup.

Important Links:

Suff You’ll Need:

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Friday, March 28, 2025

The Woodworking Morning Show for March 28, 2025

This is our new time! 10am Eastern/7am Pacific

00:00 Good Morning!
01:09 Spring Break Chaos
01:46 Schitt’s Creek Reference
02:02 Woodworking Morning Show Begins
02:16 Audience Appreciation
02:34 Live Questions and Super Chat
03:39 Patreon Supporters Shoutout
05:43 It’s National Hot Tub Day
05:51 Hot Tub Debate aka People Soup
07:55 Ryan Smith’s Custom Sign https://www.smithmakes.com/
09:05 Smith Makes and Class Posters
11:06 Maverick Abrasives Skincare Gift :)
13:20 3D Printing and Fidget Star
13:52 Wood Whisperer Store Updates https://twwstore.com
14:42 Home DIY Bike Repair Space
16:13 California Compressor Issues
17:22 Wall Control and Craft Room
18:07 CNC Workholding System
19:15 Table Saw Cabinet Pre-Order
23:03 Subscription and Customer Service
28:55 Guild Jewelry Box Question
30:30 Cleaning and Organizing Old Shop
30:30 Super Chat from Tristan
34:19 Super Chat from Eoen
34:53 Crafting a Serving Tray from a Wine Box
35:14 Choosing the Right Finish for Engraved Surfaces
35:32 Tips for Applying Lacquer
36:24 Alternative Finishes: Shellac
36:38 Sports Talk: Mike and Mad Dog
36:48 Discussing Sports Preferences
37:36 Building a Hybrid Workbench https://thewoodwhispererguild.com/product/the-hybrid-workbench/
38:00 Workbench Height Considerations
38:50 Testing Workbench Height in the Kitchen
39:29 Vision and Glasses Discussion
41:26 Making a Sofa Arm Table
42:12 Rubio Finish for Furniture
42:31 SCM Bandsaw vs. Minimax 16
45:09 Table Saw Storage Project is out for pre-order https://thewoodwhispererguild.com/product/table-saw-cabinet/
46:43 Wood Talk Podcast Updates https://woodtalkshow.com/
47:10 Wood Talk Podcast Future Plans
47:31 Health Challenges and Work Balance
49:38 The Importance of Community and Joy
53:28 Antique Tools and Personal Preferences
54:32 Nicole’s Hallmark Ornaments and Personal Joys https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18385298044064571/
01:02:03 Girl Scout Cookies and Shop Visit https://thewoodwhisperer.com/tww-shop/
01:04:16 Laser Setup and Local Help
01:05:35 Sharpening Hand Plane Blades
01:07:27 Boom-Based Dust Collection
01:14:07 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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The Woodworking Morning Show Dec 13, 2024

Show Notes Coming Soon

Some of our Amazon Black Friday finds! https://ift.tt/jbFX5cu Check out the NEW Guild+ https://ift.tt/P4DVnga Would you like your questions pre-loaded into the show? Join our YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKp44bWWZIiOPShPN_ytShw/join or Patreon https://ift.tt/qmzedxk

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Saturday, March 22, 2025

Recovered and Recovering

A Year’s Worth of Work for Paul Sellers since my ribs were broken by an assailant in Abingdon. This is how I recovered and why. I’m sorry it’s such a long post, but it is a year in the saddle for me. My Longest Single Blog Post Yet I often ask myself the question and...

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Monday, March 10, 2025

Understanding the Chair

My recent blog post on chairs was my attempt to bridge a gap or two in the age-long passage of chair making. Just how did we end up with faults through mass-making the builds in a certain unintentional obsolescence by the original designer? Whether you buy a vintage Michael Thonet from the late 1800s or...

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Sunday, March 9, 2025

Choices

I remember my introduction to machining wood. I was aged sixteen, when every task seemed to become a machining moment in small and long bites of soul-destroying boredom that just kept building. Oh, I’m not talking about the hobbyist woodworker who sets up a mini-conveyor belt system of minor operations going from crosscuts to ripcuts...

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