STL371: The Wood Gets a Vote

Shop Talk Live · 24 Jul 2026 · 1h 05m

What this episode covers

Adam Godet, a commission-based woodworker, and Owen Mann, Fine Woodworking’s associate editor, discuss the complexities of client relationships in custom furniture making, emphasizing the importance of clear contracts and managing client expectations regarding design changes and wood movement. They also address shop safety, specifically recommending layered hearing protection and FM transmitters to balance music enjoyment with the need to hear machine sounds for kickback warnings. The conversation covers practical tool recommendations, including the Ryobi cordless jigsaw and Collins clamps, and touches on the workflow of using analog sketches alongside digital CAD tools like Fusion 360 for client communication.

Mentioned

Tools
Collins clamps, Fusion 360
Also
Ryobi, 3M, ISOTunes, Gorilla Wood Glue, Sutherland Wells

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