# STL 155: Swelling dovetails and fishtail chisels

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2018-01-19
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2018-01-19-stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels

## Summary

Host Tom McKenna and contributors Mike Pekovich, Matt Kenney, Ben Strano, and Jeff Rose discuss woodworking techniques, including working without a jointer, using fishtail chisels for dovetails, and routing bullnose profiles. They also address material issues like swelling dovetails in pine and color mismatching in sapele, while sharing personal tool preferences and shop safety stories.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2018-01-19-stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels#t=1) Living without a jointer
- [5:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2018-01-19-stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels#t=310) Fishtail vs. skew chisels for dovetails
- [11:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2018-01-19-stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels#t=664) Favorite tools: Fishtail chisel and sketchbook
- [18:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2018-01-19-stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels#t=1118) Routing bullnose profiles on curved legs
- [24:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2018-01-19-stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels#t=1481) Evening out color in sapele
- [30:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2018-01-19-stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels#t=1816) Smooth moves: Documentation and shop safety
- [40:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2018-01-19-stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels#t=2456) Swelling dovetails and finish advice

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Lee Nielsen (other)
- Jerry's Artarama (company)
- Dick Blick (company)
- Pigma Micron (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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 163: Live Edge Bowling  Ball](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-04-06-episode-163-live-edge-bowling-ball) (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)
- [Episode 259: Pretty alright woodworking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-05-01-episode-259-pretty-alright-woodworking) (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/2018-01-19-stl-155-swelling-dovetails-and-fishtail-chisels. 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.