Shop Talk Live · 13 Jun 2025 · 1h 05m
Vic Teslin, Ben Strano, and Amanda Russell discuss techniques for woodworkers who rarely use a lathe, including using a router sled to cut perfect cylinders and tapers. They advise beginners buying their first lathe to prioritize power and affordability over bed length or high-end features, suggesting used equipment as a starting point. The hosts also share practical shop tips, such as using a Stu Mac nut vice for small parts, and emphasize the importance of maintaining sharp tools to avoid 'mousing' or forcing cuts. Finally, they address the difficulty of sourcing denatured alcohol in regulated states, recommending grain alcohol or culinary solvent as alternatives for shellac.
makers and hobbyists
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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.
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.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss navigating life during the early pandemic, focusing on maintaining productivity and mental health through small, incremental progress. Bob Clagett details his experience finally setting up and using a Bridgeport milling machine after overcoming intimidation, while also tackling the complex task of rewiring a vintage lathe motor. David Picciuto shares updates on his go-kart build and the challenges of tube bending, and Jimmy Diresta talks about acquiring a desktop injection molding machine from APSX and recommending Affinity software as an Adobe alternative.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the #freetools movement, encouraging makers to source used equipment from Craigslist, pawn shops, and estate sales rather than buying new. They share personal anecdotes about acquiring vintage machinery for free or cheap, such as a 1920s bandsaw and a Crescent joiner, and propose a national tool exchange to help beginners get started. The hosts also touch on the technical challenges of shooting 360-degree video for shop tours and recommend resources like Bill Hammock's 'Engineer Guy' videos and the book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up'.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the joy of acquiring and restoring old tools and machinery, with Jimmy announcing a new deal with Tormak for a CNC machine and his learning of Autodesk Fusion 360. They debate the merits of vintage cast iron tools versus modern equivalents, citing durability and 'soul,' and share stories of finding rare items like a 12-foot lathe and an antique check-canceling machine. The hosts also touch on their upcoming Boston meetup, book recommendations, and the business side of buying antiques for content creation.
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