# STL362: Hold the Saw like a Baby Bird

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2026-03-20
- Length: 1h 07m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-03-20-stl362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-03-20-stl362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird#t=6) Introduction: Jeff Miller and Fine Woodworking Legacy
- [4:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-03-20-stl362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird#t=254) Listener Q&A: Thinning Tapered Boards with Jigs
- [13:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-03-20-stl362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird#t=799) Jeff Miller's New Projects: Guitars and Canoes
- [19:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-03-20-stl362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird#t=1188) Design Philosophy: Music, Curves, and Harmony
- [38:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-03-20-stl362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird#t=2321) Teaching Design and Overcoming Creative Blocks
- [47:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-03-20-stl362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird#t=2870) Body Mechanics and the 'Baby Bird' Saw Grip
- [54:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-03-20-stl362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird#t=3279) The Joy of Teaching and Purposeful Practice

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Fine Woodworking (company)
- Shop Talk Live (other)
- David Pye (other)
- Adam Savage (other)
- George Nakashima (other)
- John Benson (other)
- Darren (other)
- Beck (other)
- Nick Offerman (other)
- FurnitureMaking.com (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)
- [Episode 297: I’m not sick, just 53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-02-26-episode-297-im-not-sick-just-53) (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)
- [247: Wake up big fella](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-02-07-247-wake-up-big-fella) (Making It)
- [Episode 332: Plywood is good](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-11-27-episode-332-plywood-is-good) (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/2026-03-20-stl362-hold-the-saw-like-a-baby-bird. 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.