Hardware Podcasts

STL270: Should I get a shaper? Oh..

Shop Talk Live · 15 Jul 2022 · 1h 05m

What this episode covers

Steve Lotta, a professional cabinetmaker and educator at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, and Bob Van Dyke, host of the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, discuss advanced woodworking techniques and safety. They cover the nuances of marquetry and cross-grain banding, comparing the versatility of router tables to the power and danger of industrial shapers. The conversation also includes a graphic discussion of shaper kickback injuries and Steve Lotta's controversial but effective practice of dropping lumber to relieve internal stresses.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Tools
Router table, Shaper, Table saw, SawStop, Wide belt sander
Materials
Baltic birch, MDF, Holly, Ebony, Walnut
Also
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, Fine Woodworking, Society of American Period Furniture Makers, Milwaukee, Time Saver, Levi Bartlett, Peter Follansbee, Silas Kauf, Frank Palumbo

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Making It · 48m

    Making It #009: Fears and Doubts

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the fears and doubts associated with using powerful shop tools and creating content. They cover specific safety concerns with milling machines, lathes, and router tables, sharing personal injury stories and techniques to mitigate risks, such as using SawStop table saws and specialized router bits. The conversation also touches on the psychological fear of failing to pass on curiosity to their children and the anxiety creators feel when branching out into new mediums like leatherwork or metalworking.

    Maker community & eventsFabrication & craft
    9 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 05m

    Episode 033: More listener questions

    Hosts Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto answer listener questions about woodworking materials like walnut and teak, safety protocols after Jimmy's table saw injury, and the business of making. They discuss the drivers of the maker movement, including TV shows and YouTube, and offer advice on sourcing reclaimed wood, managing shop fatigue, and starting electronics projects with resources like Adafruit and SparkFun. The conversation also covers dealing with difficult customers, the saturation of YouTube channels, and the importance of community among makers.

    Materials & manufacturing processesDebugging & failure analysis
    15 chapters

  • Making It · 47m

    Making It #010: If it looks straight….

    Hosts Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss listener questions, starting with Diresta's potential action figure campaign through Toy Backer and Clagett's silicone mold making using Smooth-On materials. The trio debates the value of cheap versus expensive tools like those from Harbor Freight and DeWalt, and compares sharpening systems such as the Veritas MK2 and Workshop 3000. They also offer advice on managing workshop space, comparing radial arm saws to table saws, and navigating client relationships in custom woodworking.

    Mechanical engineeringSourcing & supply chain
    6 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 06m

    Episode 157: Wizard Robes

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss various woodworking projects and tool usage. They cover building a large walnut picture frame using half-lap miters, creating a dog station feeder, and experimenting with foam core veneering. The hosts also provide detailed safety advice and beginner project suggestions for lathes, bandsaws, routers, and CNC/laser tools, emphasizing proper technique and safety gear like face shields and tool rests.

    Mechanical engineeringSensors & measurement in products
    10 chapters

  • Making It · 57m

    Episode 085: Sometimes I’m really into the laser.

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their recent projects, including Diresta’s Transformers prop built in Fusion 360, Clagett’s test drive of the Shaper Origin, and Picciuto’s woodworking videos. They answer listener questions about shop organization, the impact of YouTube on their careers, and their favorite tools, with Clagett sharing his nervous first experience using the Shaper Origin. The hosts also reflect on the value of Twitch for live prototyping and the importance of overcoming the fear of trying new tools.

    Maker community & eventsCreator business
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Shop Talk Live. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.