# STL199: In Defense of Tail Vises

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2019-09-27
- Length: 1h 09m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-09-27-stl199-in-defense-of-tail-vises
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl199-in-defense-of-tail-vises

## Summary

Bob Van Dyke, contributing editor and woodworking instructor, discusses the history and utility of tail vises, arguing that high-quality hardware like Lee Nielsen's makes them indispensable despite their cost. The hosts also address a listener's issue with sapwood discoloration on a walnut table, diagnosing it as natural sap rather than contamination. The episode concludes with the crew sharing their all-time favorite tools, including Mike Pekovich's Stanley No. 4 plane and Bob's setup blocks.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-09-27-stl199-in-defense-of-tail-vises#t=0) Introduction and Federal Style Furniture
- [10:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-09-27-stl199-in-defense-of-tail-vises#t=642) The Tail Vise Debate: Necessity vs. Cost
- [19:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-09-27-stl199-in-defense-of-tail-vises#t=1154) Workholding Alternatives and Retrofitting
- [31:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-09-27-stl199-in-defense-of-tail-vises#t=1875) Diagnosing Sapwood Discoloration on Walnut
- [43:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-09-27-stl199-in-defense-of-tail-vises#t=2607) Favorite Tools: Stanley No. 4 and Setup Blocks

## 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)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Lee Nielsen (other)
- Veritas (other)
- Stanley (other)
- McMaster-Carr (other)
- Rikon (other)
- Lost Art Press (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 163: Live Edge Bowling  Ball](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-04-06-episode-163-live-edge-bowling-ball) (Making It)
- [Episode 033: More listener questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-21-episode-033-more-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [361: It’s complicated](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-07-08-361-its-complicated) (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/2019-09-27-stl199-in-defense-of-tail-vises. 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.