# STL 101: Cherry is No Substitute for White Oak

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2015-12-30
- Length: 52m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.libsyn.com/stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak

## Summary

Host Tom McKenna, along with editors Mike Pekovic and Matt Kenny, discuss the critical relationship between wood species and furniture design, arguing that cherry is a poor substitute for quartersawn white oak in Arts and Crafts style pieces due to differences in grain structure and ray fleck. The team addresses listener questions regarding finishing failures with alcohol-based dyes and shellac, and the structural movement of MDF panels in humid environments. They also share 'smooth moves' (workshop errors), including cracking an inlay by over-hammering and misaligning veneer grain on a drawer box, while offering practical advice on shop insulation and tool organization.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak#t=6) Introduction and Matt Kenny's Promotion
- [2:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak#t=171) Fixing Alcohol Dye and Shellac Compatibility Issues
- [7:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak#t=435) Solving MDF Panel Movement in Bathroom Cabinets
- [10:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak#t=642) Workshop Errors: Cracked Inlay and Mismatched Veneer
- [22:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak#t=1330) Techniques for Planing Thin Stock and Veneers
- [27:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak#t=1632) Why Cherry Fails as a Substitute for White Oak
- [35:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak#t=2104) Insulating and Heating a Detached Garage Shop
- [41:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak#t=2506) New Year's Resolutions for Woodworkers

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Factory operations & automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/factory-operations)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Fine Woodworking (other)
- Zinzer shellac (material)
- WD Lockwood (other)
- MDF (material)
- Poplar (material)
- White Oak (material)
- Cherry (material)
- Madrone (material)
- Ash (material)
- Walnut (material)
- Rosewood (material)
- Maple (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 163: Live Edge Bowling  Ball](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-04-06-episode-163-live-edge-bowling-ball) (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)
- [Making It #007 : Failure](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-01-15-making-it-007-failure) (Making It)
- [Episode 259: Pretty alright woodworking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-05-01-episode-259-pretty-alright-woodworking) (Making It)
- [Episode 162: An eyeball, tongue, ear and 2 big thumbs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-03-30-episode-162-an-eyeball-tongue-ear-and-2-big-thumbs) (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/2015-12-30-stl-101-cherry-is-no-substitute-for-white-oak. 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.