# STL 127: Smooth moves and workbench woes

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2016-12-23
- Length: 58m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes

## Summary

Host Ben Strano, along with Mike Pekovich and Matt Kenny from Fine Woodworking, discusses woodworking techniques, tool reviews, and listener questions. They address a listener's issue with bowing white oak legs, debate the merits of workbench features like twin-screw vs. tail vices, and recommend specific block planes for beginners. The episode also features the 'Smooth Moves' segment where the hosts share their own woodworking mistakes, including a dangerous kickback incident involving a bar hinge cutter.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes#t=5) Introduction and Taunton Store Promo
- [3:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes#t=194) Fixing Bowing White Oak Legs
- [6:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes#t=404) Workbench Design and Vice Preferences
- [16:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes#t=965) Favorite Tools: SawStop Fence and Draw Knife
- [26:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes#t=1596) Choosing a Block Plane and Debating Rabbiting Planes
- [35:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes#t=2111) Signing Work and Wabi-Sabi Philosophy
- [38:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes#t=2292) Smooth Moves: Kumiko Breakage and Plan Errors
- [45:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes#t=2703) Drill Press Kickback and Reclaimed Pine Advice

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Fine Woodworking (company)
- SawStop (product)
- Lee Nielsen (product)
- Veritas (product)
- Stanley (product)
- Bob Van Dyke (other)
- Nick Offerman (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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 235: Dreams of Modified Tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-11-01-episode-235-dreams-of-modified-tools) (Making It)
- [Episode 332: Plywood is good](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-11-27-episode-332-plywood-is-good) (Making It)
- [486: If I Had $300, I Could Do That Too](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-06-16-486-if-i-had-300-i-could-do-that-too) (Making It)
- [Episode 157: Wizard Robes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-02-23-episode-157-wizard-robes) (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/2016-12-23-stl-127-smooth-moves-and-workbench-woes. 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.