Hardware Podcasts

STL369: Calling All Choppers!

Shop Talk Live · 27 Jun 2026 · 1h 04m

What this episode covers

Bill Pavlak, head cabinetmaker at Colonial Williamsburg, joins Ben Strano and Bridget Gruber to discuss the realities of working in an 18th-century shop, including the curriculum for apprentices, the requirement to wear period costumes, and the balance between making furniture and public interpretation. The group explores specific hand-tool techniques for cutting arched grooves and dovetails, emphasizing chiseling over sawing for efficiency, and discusses the psychological overlap between woodworking and music. They also identify timeless furniture forms like Shaker pieces and trestle tables, while highlighting tools such as the S-Wing mallet and large chisels.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Colonial Williamsburg
Tools
S-Wing mallet
Materials
Gorilla Wood Glue
Also
Frank Klaus method, Charles Hayward

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