# STL270: Should I get a shaper? Oh..

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2022-07-15
- Length: 1h 05m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-15-stl270-should-i-get-a-shaper-oh
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl270-should-i-get-a-shaper-oh

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-15-stl270-should-i-get-a-shaper-oh#t=7) Introduction and Marquetry Techniques
- [24:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-15-stl270-should-i-get-a-shaper-oh#t=1482) Cross-Grain Banding and Wood Movement
- [33:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-15-stl270-should-i-get-a-shaper-oh#t=2009) Shaper vs. Router Table: Versatility and Cost
- [48:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-15-stl270-should-i-get-a-shaper-oh#t=2915) Shaper Safety and Kickback Injuries
- [57:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-15-stl270-should-i-get-a-shaper-oh#t=3467) Dropping Lumber to Relieve Stress

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

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

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Making It #009: Fears and Doubts](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-02-12-making-it-009-fears-and-doubts) (Making It)
- [Episode 033: More listener questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-21-episode-033-more-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [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)
- [Episode 157: Wizard Robes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-02-23-episode-157-wizard-robes) (Making It)
- [Episode 085: Sometimes I’m really into the laser.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-08-26-episode-085-sometimes-im-really-into-the-laser) (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/2022-07-15-stl270-should-i-get-a-shaper-oh. 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.