# STL375: What is Moonwood?

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2026-09-18
- Length: 46m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-18-stl375-what-is-moonwood
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl375-what-is-moonwood

## Summary

Fine Woodworking editors Bridget Gruber, Mike Pekovich, and Owen Madden discuss the folklore and science behind 'moonwood' harvesting, the tools Mike purchased at HandWorks 2026, and finishes for kitchen utensils. They address a listener's question about using walnut for trivets, debating finishes like shellac, oil, and polyurethane, and discuss personal preferences for joinery techniques like dovetail layout and lock miters.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-18-stl375-what-is-moonwood#t=7) Introduction and Moonwood Folklore
- [10:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-18-stl375-what-is-moonwood#t=658) HandWorks 2026 Tool Haul
- [23:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-18-stl375-what-is-moonwood#t=1434) Finishes for Kitchen Trivets
- [32:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-18-stl375-what-is-moonwood#t=1939) Joinery Techniques and Tool Preferences

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- HandWorks 2026 (other)
- Mass Woodworks (company)
- Tight Mark (product)
- Sterling Toolworks (company)
- Zen Wu (product)
- Conrad Sorensen (other)
- Texas Heritage (company)
- Lee Valley (company)
- Edmund Preston and Sons (company)
- Colonial Homestead (company)
- Waterlox (product)
- Minwax (product)
- Bona (product)
- New Concepts (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 162: An eyeball, tongue, ear and 2 big thumbs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-03-30-episode-162-an-eyeball-tongue-ear-and-2-big-thumbs) (Making It)
- [Episode 259: Pretty alright woodworking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-05-01-episode-259-pretty-alright-woodworking) (Making It)
- [436: In Case I Saw A Witch Fly By](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-03-29-436-in-case-i-saw-a-witch-fly-by) (Making It)
- [Episode 033: More listener questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-21-episode-033-more-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [Episode 064: Pat the bushes of my brain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-03-25-episode-064-pat-the-bushes-of-my-brain) (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/2026-09-18-stl375-what-is-moonwood. 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.