Hardware Podcasts

STL362: Hold the Saw like a Baby Bird

Shop Talk Live · 20 Mar 2026 · 1h 07m

What this episode covers

Jeff Miller, a prolific furniture maker and author, discusses his transition into building classical guitars and skin-on-frame canoes, treating them as new creative challenges. He explains his design philosophy, which applies musical concepts like melody and harmony to furniture curves, and details his rigorous prototyping process involving comfort and aesthetic iterations. Miller also emphasizes the critical importance of body mechanics and proper tool handling, using the 'baby bird' analogy for saw grip to minimize tension and maximize efficiency.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Fine Woodworking
Also
Shop Talk Live, David Pye, Adam Savage, George Nakashima, John Benson, Darren, Beck, Nick Offerman, FurnitureMaking.com

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