STL374: The Space Between the Dots

Shop Talk Live · 4 Sept 2026 · 1h 00m

What this episode covers

Vasko Sotirov, a woodworker from Orgiano, Italy, and Fine Woodworking cover author, discusses his design philosophy, emphasizing that boxes are ideal for experimenting with aesthetics like dot spacing and dovetails without high commitment. He explains his preference for analog sketching to avoid emotional attachment to digital designs and advocates for using the measurement system (metric or imperial) that feels most natural to the maker. Sotirov details his technical approach to cutting precise miters using a sliding table saw and identifies his Lie-Nielsen No. 5.5 hand plane as his favorite tool due to its balance and feel.

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