528: Grippy Bits

Making It · 5 Jun 2026 · 1h 05m

What this episode covers

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Diresta's restoration of a 1920s carnival crane toy and his go-kart build, Picciuto's creation of 3,500 wooden chopsticks for an art show, and Clagett's construction of a home climbing wall. The hosts then explore the value of apprenticeships and mentorship in learning new skills like upholstery, pottery, and mechanics, contrasting the intimacy of in-person guidance with the limitations of YouTube and formal education. They also share recommendations for channels like Spark Cycle Works and discuss the importance of slowing down rather than optimizing every task.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Shop Talk Live · 1h 10m

    STL318: Back to School

    Ashley Pieper and Bonnie Elisabeth Hawk, two furniture makers at the early stage of their professional careers, discuss their divergent paths through woodworking education. Pieper, who is completing a two-year online mastery program with Gary Yudowski, and Hawk, a recent graduate of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (CFC) and Austin School of Furniture, compare the benefits of in-person intensives versus remote learning. They cover design processes, the importance of tactile prototyping, retaining knowledge through notes, and navigating the transition from student to commission-based maker.

  • Shop Talk Live · 1h 05m

    STL342: What We Wish We Knew

    Bridgid Gruber of Dinkle's Woodshop joins hosts Ben and Amanda to discuss what she would tell her younger self after starting woodworking eight years ago. Gruber, a former engineer turned video editor, shares advice on avoiding niche jigs like router dovetail jigs, understanding power tool physics, and the value of taking classes or joining maker spaces. The conversation highlights her work editing workshops for Fine Woodworking and Lost Art Press, emphasizing that making woodworking accessible and overcoming the fear of mistakes are key to growth.

  • Shop Talk Live · 43m

    STL 142: Live from AWFS with John Ratzenberger and Rollie Johnson

    Host Tom McKenna and editors Ben Strano and Matt Kenny interview actor and trade skills advocate John Ratzenberger about the decline of shop classes and the critical shortage of skilled tradespeople, such as welders and plumbers, in the US. Contributing editor Rollie Johnson joins to answer listener questions, recommending basswood and white pine over poplar for secondary woodworking tasks and offering advice on milling large logs for furniture. The episode also covers new tools seen at the AWFS trade show, including Veritas and MicroFence products, and discusses sharpening strategies for beginners, emphasizing the value of good stones over cheap grinders.

  • Shop Talk Live · 57m

    STL 105: Why We Build What We Build

    Host Tom McKenna and editors Mike Pekovich and Matthew Kenny discuss their current home shop projects, including Pekovich's drop-front desk and Kenny's sugar bowl, while answering listener questions on tool selection, scraper usage on black acacia, and joinery for tapered legs. The hosts share their all-time favorite tools of the week—Kenny's jam chuck, Pekovich's routing jigs for half-mortise locks, and McKenna's Record block plane—and address wood color changes in cherry and juniper.

  • Shop Talk Live · 1h 11m

    STL339: The Woodshop is a Play Room

    Robby Simon, a Black woodworker and designer from Atlanta, Georgia, shares his journey from a corporate career at Mailchimp to becoming a professional furniture maker. He discusses his apprenticeship with mentor Rebel Awaka, the influence of his WWII veteran grandfather, and how he integrates his cultural background into a unique design language. Simon explains his philosophy that woodworking is 'magic' rather than science, emphasizing accessibility and the importance of maker spaces for underrepresented communities.

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