# STL 142: Live from AWFS with John Ratzenberger and Rollie Johnson

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2017-07-21
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-07-21-stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson

## Summary

Host Tom McKenna and editors Ben Strano and Matt Kenny interview actor and trade skills advocate John Ratzenberger about the decline of shop classes and the critical shortage of skilled tradespeople, such as welders and plumbers, in the US. Contributing editor Rollie Johnson joins to answer listener questions, recommending basswood and white pine over poplar for secondary woodworking tasks and offering advice on milling large logs for furniture. The episode also covers new tools seen at the AWFS trade show, including Veritas and MicroFence products, and discusses sharpening strategies for beginners, emphasizing the value of good stones over cheap grinders.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-07-21-stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson#t=3) Introduction and Sponsor Reads
- [2:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-07-21-stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson#t=139) John Ratzenberger on the Value of Skilled Trades
- [10:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-07-21-stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson#t=620) The Skilled Labor Shortage and Career Advice
- [16:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-07-21-stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson#t=1013) Secondary Woods: Poplar vs. Basswood and Pine
- [21:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-07-21-stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson#t=1267) Milling Large Logs for Furniture
- [27:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-07-21-stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson#t=1620) New Tools at AWFS: Veritas, MicroFence, and Lee Valley
- [36:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2017-07-21-stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson#t=2206) Sharpening Advice: Grinders vs. Stones and Sandpaper

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Audible (other)
- Veritas (company)
- MicroFence (company)
- Lee Valley (company)
- Narex (company)
- Christian Bexpert (other)
- Walker Turner (company)
- Nick Ossa (other)
- Mike Pekovich (other)
- Wingnut and Sassafras (company)
- Joe Moskowitz (other)
- Baldor (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 141: Jimmy Two-Shows](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-10-27-episode-141-jimmy-two-shows) (Making It)
- [Episode 033: More listener questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-21-episode-033-more-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [528: Grippy Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-06-05-528-grippy-bits) (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/2017-07-21-stl-142-live-from-awfs-with-john-ratzenberger-and-rollie-johnson. 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.