# STL323: The woodworking behind your favorite records

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2024-08-23
- Length: 1h 02m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-08-23-stl323-the-woodworking-behind-your-favorite-records
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl323-the-woodworking-behind-your-favorite-records

## Summary

Recording engineer and woodworker Kenny Varga joins Ben Strano to discuss his specialized craft of building and restoring recording studio furniture, including consoles for clients like The Black Keys and Dave Cobb. Varga details the complex process of constructing oddly shaped carcasses with no right angles, the critical importance of precise tolerances when fitting vintage audio modules, and his extensive use of Formica laminate. The episode also covers the hosts' preparations for the Woodworking in America event and features a brief segment on Phil Strano’s commission work for custom built-in storage units.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-08-23-stl323-the-woodworking-behind-your-favorite-records#t=6) Introduction and Woodworking in America Update
- [13:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-08-23-stl323-the-woodworking-behind-your-favorite-records#t=802) Phil Strano’s Commission Project
- [22:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-08-23-stl323-the-woodworking-behind-your-favorite-records#t=1327) Kenny Varga’s Background and Dual Career
- [29:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-08-23-stl323-the-woodworking-behind-your-favorite-records#t=1783) Designing and Building Recording Consoles
- [40:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-08-23-stl323-the-woodworking-behind-your-favorite-records#t=2431) The Challenges of Formica and Tolerances
- [51:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-08-23-stl323-the-woodworking-behind-your-favorite-records#t=3069) Joinery, Tools, and Professional Philosophy

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Kenny Varga (other)
- Ben Strano (other)
- Phil Strano (other)
- Woodworking in America (other)
- Matt Cremona (other)
- Mark Spagnulo (other)
- Logan Green (other)
- The Black Keys (other)
- Dave Cobb (other)
- Yamaha PM 1000 (product)
- API (product)
- Spectersonics (product)
- Formica (material)
- Wilson Art (company)
- Vintage King (company)
- Baltic birch (material)
- Domino (tool)
- Rob Cosman (other)
- Mike Pekovich (other)
- Tim Rousseau (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [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)
- [466: This is My Workshop Trumpet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-12-19-466-this-is-my-workshop-trumpet) (Making It)
- [Episode 163: Live Edge Bowling  Ball](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-04-06-episode-163-live-edge-bowling-ball) (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/2024-08-23-stl323-the-woodworking-behind-your-favorite-records. 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.