# STL239: Are expensive sanders worth it?

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2021-04-23
- Length: 1h 11m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-04-23-stl239-are-expensive-sanders-worth-it
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl239-are-expensive-sanders-worth-it

## Summary

Barry, Anisa, and Ben discuss woodworking challenges, starting with Kyle's question about storing pre-milled thin lumber in a humid apartment, where they advise leaving extra length and width to account for wood movement. The hosts then address Yuri's struggle with perfectionism, with Ben suggesting 'lowered expectations' and making prototypes before selling, while Anisa notes the addictive nature of chasing perfection in spoon carving. Finally, they answer Logan's question on whether expensive random orbit sanders are worth it, concluding that while expensive models offer better comfort and dust collection, the final finish quality is similar to cheaper tools if paired with good sandpaper and hand-finishing.

## Chapters

- [5:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-04-23-stl239-are-expensive-sanders-worth-it#t=330) Introduction and Kyle's Lumber Storage Question
- [19:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-04-23-stl239-are-expensive-sanders-worth-it#t=1175) Managing Perfectionism and the 'Writer's Block' of Woodworking
- [35:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-04-23-stl239-are-expensive-sanders-worth-it#t=2124) Barry's Hand Plane Assembly Failure and Anisa's Bench Risers
- [49:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-04-23-stl239-are-expensive-sanders-worth-it#t=2991) Are Expensive Random Orbit Sanders Worth It?
- [1:00:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-04-23-stl239-are-expensive-sanders-worth-it#t=3657) Working with Cherry Burl and Veneer

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Pony Jorgensen (company)
- Atomic Modern (other)
- Craftsman (product)
- Festool (product)
- Bosch (product)
- DeWalt (product)
- Minwax (product)

## 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)
- [361: It’s complicated](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-07-08-361-its-complicated) (Making It)
- [Episode 219: Really? Plastic? Really??](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-07-05-episode-219-really-plastic-really) (Making It)
- [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)
- [465: YOU SLICED UP ROB?!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-12-13-465-you-sliced-up-rob) (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/2021-04-23-stl239-are-expensive-sanders-worth-it. 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.