# STL 88: Marquetry Master Craig Thibodeau

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2015-07-02
- Length: 1h 08m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.libsyn.com/stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau

## Summary

San Diego furniture maker and Fine Woodworking contributor Craig Thibodeau discusses his transition from mechanical engineering to professional woodworking, emphasizing his use of veneer, marquetry, and power tools like the Festool Domino to run an efficient business. The hosts answer listener questions on finishing complex furniture, handling highly figured wood with scrapers, and selecting wood species for specific projects. Thibodeau explains his preference for polyurethane glue and his philosophy of prioritizing speed and client needs over traditional heirloom construction methods.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau#t=6) Introduction and Sponsor Read
- [3:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau#t=207) Finishing Complex Furniture and Pre-finishing
- [11:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau#t=676) Handling Highly Figured Wood and Tear-out
- [19:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau#t=1182) Craig Thibodeau: Background and Design Philosophy
- [25:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau#t=1552) Business Operations and Outsourcing Challenges
- [29:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau#t=1759) Tool Choices: Festool Domino and Glue
- [39:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau#t=2355) Listener Questions: Wood Selection and Movement
- [50:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau#t=3008) Tool Bombs: Jointer Planes and Sanders
- [58:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau#t=3513) Mortisers and Shoulder Planes

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Minwax (product)
- Festool Domino (tool)
- Gorilla Glue (product)
- Rescue Pearl (company)
- Fine Woodworking (company)

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- [466: This is My Workshop Trumpet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-12-19-466-this-is-my-workshop-trumpet) (Making It)
- [Episode 297: I’m not sick, just 53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-02-26-episode-297-im-not-sick-just-53) (Making It)
- [Making It #010: If it looks straight….](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-02-26-making-it-010-if-it-looks-straight) (Making It)
- [Episode 064: Pat the bushes of my brain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-03-25-episode-064-pat-the-bushes-of-my-brain) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-07-02-stl-88-marquetry-master-craig-thibodeau. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Shop Talk Live.