# STL201: Friends Don't Let Friends Go Metric

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2019-10-25
- Length: 1h 00m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-10-25-stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric

## Summary

Hosts Mike and Ben discuss woodworking advice, starting with Ben’s discovery that a piece of cherry wood from an old crosscut sled was repurposed into a ukulele neck. They answer a listener's question on choosing a first hand plane, recommending a high-quality number five or number four smoother from brands like Lee Nielsen or Veritas, while debating the merits of tuning old Stanleys versus buying new. The conversation shifts to building a wall-hung tool cabinet with frame-and-panel construction, suggesting plywood and biscuits for budget builds, and sourcing rift-sawn white oak from Tallercio Hardwoods. Finally, they debate the safety and utility of English-style table saw fences versus continuous fences, and discuss the hosts' favorite tools, including digital calipers and a custom travel tool chest.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-10-25-stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric#t=6) Introduction: Crosscut sled scrap wood becomes ukulele neck
- [6:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-10-25-stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric#t=414) Choosing a first hand plane: Number five vs. number four
- [18:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-10-25-stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric#t=1133) Building a wall-hung tool cabinet with frame and panel
- [27:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-10-25-stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric#t=1649) Favorite tools: Digital calipers and the metric vs. imperial debate
- [34:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-10-25-stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric#t=2091) Mike's favorite tool: The essential travel tool chest
- [41:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-10-25-stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric#t=2509) Sourcing rift-sawn white oak and lumber pricing
- [50:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2019-10-25-stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric#t=3056) English-style table saw fences and kickback safety

## 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)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Maverick Abrasives (company)
- Lee Nielsen (other)
- Veritas (other)
- Stanley (other)
- Tallercio Hardwoods (company)
- Chris Gockner (other)
- Andrew Hunter (other)
- Tim Rousseau (other)
- Crane Feed (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 332: Plywood is good](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-11-27-episode-332-plywood-is-good) (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 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)

## 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/2019-10-25-stl201-friends-dont-let-friends-go-metric. 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.