# STL221: Gary Rogowski admits woodworking is hard

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2020-07-31
- Length: 1h 05m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-07-31-stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard

## Summary

Gary Rogowski, founder of Northwest Woodworking, discusses the transition to online education, the physics of wood movement, and the nuances of tool sharpening. He explains how to manage moisture swings in walnut lumber, the importance of the 'wedge' principle in chisel geometry, and why spiral flute router bits reduce vibration. Rogowski also shares a personal story about finding a vintage transition hand plane and offers advice on preventing rocking in four-legged furniture.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-07-31-stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard#t=7) Introduction and Online Classes
- [8:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-07-31-stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard#t=514) Managing Wood Movement in Walnut
- [21:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-07-31-stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard#t=1296) Sharpening and the Wedge Principle
- [35:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-07-31-stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard#t=2132) The Story of the Found Hand Plane
- [42:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-07-31-stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard#t=2557) Fixing Worn Plane Blades
- [48:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-07-31-stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard#t=2924) Router Bits: Carbide vs. High-Speed Steel
- [57:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-07-31-stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard#t=3456) Preventing Rocking in Furniture

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Northwest Woodworking (company)
- Lee Valley (company)
- Veritas (company)
- Stanley (product)
- Mark 2 honing guide (tool)
- Norton Waterstones (tool)
- Hawk iron (product)
- Freud (company)
- Handmade (product)

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- [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 163: Live Edge Bowling  Ball](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-04-06-episode-163-live-edge-bowling-ball) (Making It)
- [Episode 032: Listener Questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-13-episode-032-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [498: I’m Like a Dog](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-09-12-498-im-like-a-dog) (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/2020-07-31-stl221-gary-rogowski-admits-woodworking-is-hard. 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.