# STL227: Tom McLaughlin is serious about square

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2020-10-23
- Length: 1h 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-f1dac65a
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-1

## Summary

Tom McLaughlin, a custom high-end furniture maker and member of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters, joins Mike Pekovich and Jeff Miller to discuss finding one's style in furniture making, emphasizing deep immersion in specific periods like 18th-century or Arts and Crafts before developing a unique voice. The episode features Tom's '3-cut method' for squaring a cross-cut sled, a troubleshooting guide for misaligned drop-front desk hinges involving mortise depth adjustments, and techniques for jointing 7-foot-long tabletops on short joiners. The hosts also share practical shop tips, including using carbon paper for pattern transfer and steam bending for lightweight case designs.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-f1dac65a#t=6) Introduction: Tom McLaughlin and finding your style
- [7:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-f1dac65a#t=430) Developing a furniture style: Period immersion vs. personal interest
- [33:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-f1dac65a#t=2029) Troubleshooting misaligned drop-front desk hinges
- [47:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-f1dac65a#t=2878) Steam bending case on stand and overcoming fear of mistakes
- [57:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-f1dac65a#t=3437) Tom's 3-cut method for squaring a cross-cut sled
- [1:04:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-f1dac65a#t=3859) Jointing 7-foot tabletops on short joiners
- [1:16:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-f1dac65a#t=4562) Shop tips: Carbon paper, This Old Tony, and boat building

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Fine Woodworking (company)
- New Hampshire Furniture Masters (other)
- Stickley (other)
- Krenoff (other)
- Jerry Osgood (other)
- Ted Blatchley (other)
- Bexford (other)
- Cameron Rowell (other)
- David Lamb (other)
- Bill Thomas (other)
- Tim Coleman (other)
- John Brooks (other)
- Pug Moore (other)
- Pug (other)
- This Old Tony (other)
- That Boat Guy (other)
- Robo (other)
- Man Missing (other)

## 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)
- [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)
- [357: If you had a huge piece of gum and you put it in a sock…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-06-03-357-if-you-had-a-huge-piece-of-gum-and-you-put-it-in-a-sock) (Making It)
- [454: Getting Dressed With A Door Open](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-09-13-454-getting-dressed-with-a-door-open) (Making It)
- [Episode 297: I’m not sick, just 53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-02-26-episode-297-im-not-sick-just-53) (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/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-f1dac65a. 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.