# STL371: The Wood Gets a Vote

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2026-07-24
- Length: 1h 05m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-07-24-stl371-the-wood-gets-a-vote
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl371-the-wood-gets-a-vote

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-07-24-stl371-the-wood-gets-a-vote#t=6) Introduction: Adam Godet and Owen Mann
- [7:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-07-24-stl371-the-wood-gets-a-vote#t=429) Commission Work and Client Relationships
- [11:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-07-24-stl371-the-wood-gets-a-vote#t=692) Balancing Client Vision with Design Integrity
- [25:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-07-24-stl371-the-wood-gets-a-vote#t=1506) Drying End-Grain Cookies and Wood Movement
- [36:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-07-24-stl371-the-wood-gets-a-vote#t=2180) Favorite Tools: Ryobi Jigsaw and Collins Clamps
- [50:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-07-24-stl371-the-wood-gets-a-vote#t=3045) Hearing Protection and Shop Safety

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Ryobi (other)
- Collins clamps (tool)
- Fusion 360 (tool)
- 3M (other)
- ISOTunes (other)
- Gorilla Wood Glue (other)
- Sutherland Wells (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 033: More listener questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-21-episode-033-more-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [Making It #010: If it looks straight….](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-02-26-making-it-010-if-it-looks-straight) (Making It)
- [Episode 275: It’s nice, but can we do it like this?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-09-04-episode-275-its-nice-but-can-we-do-it-like-this) (Making It)
- [Episode 157: Wizard Robes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-02-23-episode-157-wizard-robes) (Making It)
- [466: This is My Workshop Trumpet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-12-19-466-this-is-my-workshop-trumpet) (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/2026-07-24-stl371-the-wood-gets-a-vote. 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.