# STL 93: Nick Offerman's Dream Shop

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2015-09-11
- Length: 1h 14m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.libsyn.com/stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop

## Summary

Actor and woodworker Nick Offerman discusses his Los Angeles-based Offerman Woodshop, a self-supporting co-op model where independent woodworkers contribute to overhead while selling their own commissions and products. He details his approach to working with large, green slabs of red oak and walnut, his admiration for George Nakashima, and the challenges of sourcing materials in a market dominated by high-end investors. The episode also features Fine Woodworking editors Ed Fernick, Mike Pekovich, and Matt Kenny answering listener questions on flattening cupped slabs, cutting through-wedged tenons, and selecting wood species for mid-century modern furniture.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop#t=6) Introduction and Mike's Box Challenge
- [4:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop#t=278) Fixing Cupped Green Slabs
- [12:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop#t=762) Cutting Through-Wedged Tenons
- [17:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop#t=1039) Nick Offerman's Slab Furniture and Shop Co-op
- [33:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop#t=1983) Sourcing Slabs and Material Challenges
- [37:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop#t=2226) Nick's Acting Career and Books
- [50:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop#t=3015) Sanding Joinery and Wood Alternatives to Teak
- [1:00:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop#t=3630) All-Time Favorite Techniques

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Offerman Woodshop (company)
- Fine Woodworking (company)
- George Nakashima (other)
- Parks and Recreation (other)
- Gumption (other)
- Paddle Your Own Canoe (other)
- Rainn Wilson (other)
- Solemn Oath (company)
- Elderfer Lumber (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 092: Good Clean Fun with Nick Offerman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-10-14-episode-092-good-clean-fun-with-nick-offerman) (Making It)
- [Episode 326: You can always sell a drumset…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-10-22-episode-326-you-can-always-sell-a-drumset) (Making It)
- [Episode 033: More listener questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-21-episode-033-more-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [Episode 286: Did he look like this? Are the eyebrows right?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-11-29-episode-286-did-he-look-like-this-are-the-eyebrows-right) (Making It)
- [432: The Windowlicker Room](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-03-01-432-the-windowlicker-room) (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/2015-09-11-stl-93-nick-offermans-dream-shop. 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.