# 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
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square-0

## 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 study of specific periods like 18th-century or Arts and Crafts. McLaughlin details his '3-cut method' for squaring a cross-cut sled using only a feeler gauge, and offers troubleshooting advice for misaligned drop-front desk hinges and concave joints on 7-foot tabletops. The conversation explores how commission work and exposure to diverse makers at Furniture Masters exhibits helped McLaughlin develop his unique voice, blending Shaker roots with Art Deco influences.

## Chapters

- [3:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square#t=182) Introduction: Tom McLaughlin and finding style
- [33:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square#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#t=2878) Mike Pekovich's steam bending prototype and mistakes
- [57:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2020-10-23-stl227-tom-mclaughlin-is-serious-about-square#t=3437) Tom McLaughlin'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#t=3859) Fixing concave joints on 7-foot tabletops

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Fine Woodworking (company)
- New Hampshire Furniture Masters (other)
- FurnitureMasters.org (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

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- [436: In Case I Saw A Witch Fly By](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-03-29-436-in-case-i-saw-a-witch-fly-by) (Making It)
- [498: I’m Like a Dog](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-09-12-498-im-like-a-dog) (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)
- [503: It’s Made Me a More Fearless Maker](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-10-31-503-its-made-me-a-more-fearless-maker) (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. 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.