# STL 105: Why We Build What We Build

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2016-02-26
- Length: 57m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=4) Introduction and Housekeeping
- [1:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=111) Current Shop Projects: Drop-Front Desk and Boxes
- [11:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=681) Listener Question: Choosing Tools and Woodworking Path
- [17:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=1066) Listener Question: Scraping Black Acacia
- [21:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=1262) Favorite Tool: Jam Chuck and Lock Jigs
- [33:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=2020) Listener Question: High-Traffic Table Finish
- [39:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=2346) Listener Question: Joinery for Tapered Legs
- [42:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=2571) Listener Question: Preserving Wood Color
- [48:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=2891) Favorite Tool: Bowl Gouge and Wide Chisel
- [52:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build#t=3171) Favorite Tool: Record Block Plane and Outro

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Veritas (product)
- Record (product)
- Fine Woodworking (company)
- Taunton (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [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)
- [438: It Feels Like a Big Boy Saw](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-04-19-438-it-feels-like-a-big-boy-saw) (Making It)
- [357: If you had a huge piece of gum and you put it in a sock…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-06-03-357-if-you-had-a-huge-piece-of-gum-and-you-put-it-in-a-sock) (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)

## 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/2016-02-26-stl-105-why-we-build-what-we-build. 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.