# STL 135: Essential handsaws and apartment woodworking

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2017-04-14
- Length: 53m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking

## Summary

Host Tom McKenna and editors Mike Pekovic and Ben Strano discuss essential hand saws for beginners, debating the merits of dovetail saws versus carcass saws and Japanese versus Western styles. They provide detailed advice on finishing drawer sides to highlight dovetails without creating color mismatches, and share their all-time favorite tools, including a Mora carving knife, Bob Van Dyke's EleFence, and a simple MDF workbench. The episode concludes with techniques for apartment woodworking, such as spoon carving and Kumiko, and a correction regarding motor capacitors.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking#t=1) Introduction and Essential Hand Saws
- [10:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking#t=630) Finishing Drawer Sides and Dovetails
- [13:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking#t=831) Favorite Tools: Mora Knife and EleFence
- [20:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking#t=1253) Favorite Tool: Simple Workbench
- [25:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking#t=1557) Hand Plane Selection: No. 4 vs. No. 6
- [30:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking#t=1830) Surface Prep for Curly Maple and Shellac
- [36:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking#t=2160) Favorite Techniques: Opposing Wedges and Kiwi Keys
- [46:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking#t=2765) Apartment Woodworking and Doweling Tips
- [51:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking#t=3069) Closing and Capacitor Correction

## Topics

- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Mora (product)
- Bob Van Dyke (other)
- EleFence (product)
- Lee Nielsen (other)
- Taunton Press (company)
- Fine Woodworking (company)
- Kiwi Keys (product)
- DowMax (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

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- [Episode 141: Jimmy Two-Shows](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-10-27-episode-141-jimmy-two-shows) (Making It)
- [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 064: Pat the bushes of my brain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-03-25-episode-064-pat-the-bushes-of-my-brain) (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/2017-04-14-stl-135-essential-handsaws-and-apartment-woodworking. 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.