# STL 131: Leg vise lowdown and favorite techniques

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2017-02-17
- Length: 59m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-02-17-stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques

## Summary

Hosts Tom McKenna, Mike Pekovich, and Ben Strano of Fine Woodworking discuss workshop safety, bench vices, and tool selection. They advise against drill-press mortising attachments, recommending dedicated mortisers or Domino joiners for efficiency, and debate the merits of leg vices versus twin-screw vices for dovetailing. The team also shares favorite techniques, including using specimen cups for glue storage and shellac pads for finishing, while addressing grain direction on tables with leaves.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-02-17-stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques#t=0) Introduction: Shop Talk Live 131 and Fine Woodworking Live 2017
- [2:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-02-17-stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques#t=132) Workshop Safety: Managing Blood and Metal Powder Stains
- [13:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-02-17-stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques#t=804) Bench Vices: Leg Vice vs. Twin Screw Vice for Dovetails
- [19:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-02-17-stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques#t=1195) Favorite Tools: Specimen Cups and Shop Aprons
- [31:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-02-17-stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques#t=1883) Drill-Press Mortising Attachments vs. Dedicated Mortisers
- [40:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-02-17-stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques#t=2423) Tabletop Grain Direction and Wood Movement with Leaves
- [44:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-02-17-stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques#t=2661) Favorite Techniques: Shellac Pads and Chasing the Smudge

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [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)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Fine Woodworking (company)
- Thumbtack (company)
- Veritas Planing Stop (tool)
- Festool Domino (tool)
- Gojo (other)

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- [Episode 157: Wizard Robes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-02-23-episode-157-wizard-robes) (Making It)
- [Episode 332: Plywood is good](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-11-27-episode-332-plywood-is-good) (Making It)
- [Episode 160: The Cadillac of trailers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-03-16-episode-160-the-cadillac-of-trailers) (Making It)
- [Episode 094: Being a hoarder is a big job…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-10-28-episode-094-being-a-hoarder-is-a-big-job) (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/2017-02-17-stl-131-leg-vise-lowdown-and-favorite-techniques. 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.