STL247: Drop the baseline
Mike and Ben discuss getting rid of marking gauge lines on dovetails, how long their blades last, more apron and pencil preferences, and why Mike has a day job.
This episode is sponsored by Pony/Jorgensen
Question 1:
From Scott:
With your skills of making furniture what made you decide to not pursue being a full time woodworker?
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Nancy Hiller’s Reality Check(list) |
Question 2:
From Steve:
I was listening to episode 211 and am convinced that I need an apron and Blackwing 602 in my life. During the episode, Mike mentioned that he’s trying out new ideas for apron pocket configuration. He also mentioned that he was trying 3 different pencil sharpeners for his 602 pencil. Since it’s been about a year since those comments, does Mike have any updates? Was there a winning pencil sharpener? Does he like his apron pockets?
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STL211: Woodworker’s aprons |
Question 3:
From Matthew:
I have heard y’all talk of the life span of your bandsaw and tablesaw blades. I am in awe of the lifespan you guys talk about. Granted, I am using big box store blades, but I am curious if you could give helpful tips to us amateurs on how to prolong the lifespan of our saw blades.
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Go clean your blades! |
Segments:
Ben’s Smooth move – Not taking a second pass over the dado stack when rabbeting a long piece.
Mike’s favorite tool – Antique whale-tale c-clamps
Question 4:
From Scott:
I often see woodworkers mark their joinery with a marking gauge leaving a visible line in the finished piece. I do not like the look of that line. How do you get rid of that marking gauge line? If you plane it away, often the joint won’t fit.
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Blanket Chest by Hand |
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Why Leave Marks on Dovetails? |
Recommendations:
Ben – Follow more local woodworkers on social media
Mike – 100 Foot Wave on HBO
Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers questions from readers on Shop Talk Live, Fine Woodworking‘s biweekly podcast. Send your woodworking questions to [email protected] for consideration in the regular broadcast! Our continued existence relies upon listener support. So if you enjoy the show, be sure to leave us a five-star rating and maybe even a nice comment on our iTunes page.
Comments
As if there can be anything left to be said about pencils - I'll put a plug in for the Dixon Ticonderoga TriWrite No. 2. Looks to have the cedar body, takes well to sharpening, and the three-sided body is comfortable in the hand and stays where its put down. And of course there is the whole related topic of mechanical pencils.
What are whale tail clamps?
It's a "C" clamp with a flat key or whale tail shaped handle as opposed to those with a rod like sliding "T" handle. Ebay and other second hand tool sellers will usually have a variety of stiles.
Firstly, I love listening to Shop Talk Live! My previous experience with sending in a question was answered on your podcast, It was about band saw drift. Which by the way, the question was totally not answered. Or I should say it was answered but whoever was on the show that day did not agree on the right answer.
Listening to episode 247 I had to respond. The first segment of why Mike is not a full time woodworker followed by the segment on pencils seemed a good segue. No one trying to make a living woodworking is going to spend several minutes with a two hole sharpener everytime they need to sharpen a pencil. Nor will they use $2.00 pencils. That being said I’m a big fan of the Blackwing pencils I’ve been using them for sketching and drawing for many years. I personally prefer the Palomino to the 602. For the shop I prefer General Cedar Tip (approx. 75 cents) I also have at least a dozen pencil sharpeners in my drawing kit including the Blackwing (it’s an amazing machine) but in my shop I have two Panasonic old school office electric pencil sharpeners. The work extremely well and they are very quick.
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