The Fitted Furniture Makers Podcast
By Alastair Johnson
The Fitted Furniture Makers PodcastDec 21, 2021
Paul's Near Death Experience
What if you stared death in the face then couldn't work for a while? With time to think, how would you feel about what you have achieved so far? Would any of it even matter all that much? Would your priorities be different afterwards?
Paul is a self employed blacksmith and small business owner, faced with a major health event and unexpected open heart surgery 2 years ago, with a wife and 2 small kids at home.
He and his wife Becky talk us through the experience, the striving that characterised his working life before, and the changes in his priorities in life and work afterwards.
My name is Alastair Johnson and I run Freebird Interiors LTD in Sheffield, England. Find out more about us at:
https://www.freebirdinteriors.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freebirdinteriors/
Extra Training and Resources: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Freebird
Pricing conversation on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17983656118423634/
**'A Fitted Furniture Apprenticeship' Training Course**:
For initial details see here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Freebird/e/50990... and check back in early January for it to go live. Or to receive updates as soon as it goes live please join the member site here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Freebird. (either tier. You will received a wealth of other training content in the member site)
Building A Fitted Furniture Business From Scratch
Are you getting into woodworking, with an interested in custom designed fitted furniture? Or are you already doing this and wondering how to take the next steps of growth? In this podcast I share with you some of my experience since starting a joinery business from scratch over 12 years ago, and growing it to a profitable business specialising in fitted furniture and employing staff and running a CNC machine.
See a video edit of this podcast with accompanying images and video of our progress from early days to present day here:
https://youtu.be/JH1dOzR_trw
Hear more about our Lean Manufacturing journey under the guidance of Bruce Polling and the team at thejoinerycoach.com in this podcast:
https://thejoinerybusinesspodcast.libsyn.com/alastair-from-freebird-talks-about-how-he-has-scaled-up-his-joinery-business-in-tough-times
My name is Alastair Johnson and I run Freebird Interiors LTD in Sheffield, England. Find out more about us at:
https://www.freebirdinteriors.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freebirdinteriors/
Extra Training and Resources: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Freebird
**'A Fitted Furniture Apprenticeship' Training Course**:
For initial details see here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Freebird/e/50990... and check back in early January for it to go live. Or to receive updates as soon as it goes live please join the member site here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Freebird. (either tier. You will received a wealth of other training content in the member site)
Talking about Creativity with Chris Ballew AKA Caspar Babypants
In this interview with the former front man of 90s band The Presidents of the United States of America, we get away from all the pressures of work and this crazy world to enjoy a free ranging discussion about creativity (in both woodworking and songwriting) and how to be true to yourself in your work.
If you are a creative person but often feel your creativity is constrained by the demands of making it pay - I am pretty sure your spirits will be lifted as you listen to Chris’s take on life .
If you are a woodworker who is also a musician I am CERTAIN you will find this chat interesting.
We discuss:
- Parallels between song writing and woodworking.
- What it was like to be in a successful rock band and why he left to do something more fulfilling.
- The long process of finding your own creative voice.
- Connecting with yourself in order to better connect with others.
- It’s ok to imitate for a while.
- Virtuosity - what does it really mean?
- Simplicity - finding it on the far side of complexity
- Finding peace of mind in a crazy world.
- Putting your ego to one side.
- Why John Lennon got together with Yoko Ono
- ... and much more!
See Chris’s current musical project (Caspar Babypants) here:
babypantsmusic.com/home
You can find out more about Alastair from Freebird and support his work to inform and inspire the woodworking community here:
www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
All About Spray Finishing, With Matt Marriott
Covering:
Some of the basics of different types of spray system.
Pros and cons of waterbased finishes
Substrate selection and preparation
Spraying technique
Dealing with defects and mistakes
....and lots more (This is a long chat to put on while you are driving or working in the workshop)
This will soon be available on Podcasting platforms too for easier listening.
The magic sponge mentioned by Matt is here this one: Find out more about Matt and Instasprayers at these links: www.instagram.com/instasprayers/
www.instagram.com/instasprayerscertified/
www.buymeacoffee.com/Instasprayers
About Alastair and Freebird:
Alongside the highs and lows of running my own growing fitted furniture business from Sheffield, England, I produce content to inform and inspire other fitted furniture makers on YouTube, Instagram, Podcasts and blog posts.
www.instagram.com/freebirdinteriors/
www.buymeacoffee.com/Freebird
www.youtube.com/c/FreebirdInteriors/
A Chat With Brady Hall
This time I am talking woodwork with my team-mate Brady, and much more besides:
- Fatherlessness and fatherhood
- Trust and relationships in a successful team
- Why Brady hasn't left and why I haven't quit (!)
- The importance of asking questions
- Personality and temperament
- Some background on how Freebird got started and my first apprentice
- The power of making a decision
Plus the usual standard questions - shaker door, chunky shelf, etc!!
See www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird for ever increasing extra content aimed at the thoughtful woodworker. Including my member-only vlog series charting our business growth as we take on a big new workshop and machinery.
To share any thoughts on this podcast please add a comment below this instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBWLsx2jzxo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
PS: About 4 minutes in, Brady mentions 'the latest video' - this is a recording we made of me doing a mason's mitre (kitchen worktop joint). At time of writing this is waiting to be edited but it will eventually land on my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/freebirdinteriors
The shelf strength test video Brady refers to (soon after 12 minutes in) is this one: https://youtu.be/qLABN-iDYiM
I mention Brian Needham (at about 13 minutes or so), here is his instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/needhamcustomcarpentry/
Freebird meets Finsa UK (Episode 8)
In conversation with Heather and Graham, we cover a wide range of topics relating to sheet materials which will be of interest to other technically-minded woodworkers.
You can find out more about me, Alastair Johnson, and my company Freebird Interiors here:
www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
You can find out more about Finsa here:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/finsauk/
Twitter: twitter.com/FinsaUK
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/finsa-uk-limited/
Email address: salesuk@finsa.com
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujS_Q4ZscdY
Phone number : 0151 6512400
Website: www.Finsa.com
Hidrofugo technical sheet: www.finsa.com/publicaciones/doc-prod05.nsf/10f8e8ecac94c9c9c1257f45002c6ba6/521a5cd6b598622ac1257f5600325884?OpenDocument
A Chat with Gary Banks (Episode 7)
In this episode I talk with Gary from the much respected bankscarpentry on Instagram about all things fitted furniture, and more besides.
Just give it a listen, you won't be disappointed!
Find Gary at :
https://www.instagram.com/bankscarpentry/
Find Alastair at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
https://www.instagram.com/freebirdinteriors/
https://www.youtube.com/c/freebirdinteriors
Some things mentioned in the podcast:
Bessey K Body REVO clamps:
https://www.besseytools.co.uk/k-body-revo-kre-600-95-2-in-a-box-beskre602koh
Finsa MDF ‘Fibrapan Hidrofugo’ (??) MDF:
Enquire with Stellafoam in Essex: http://www.stellafoam.co.uk/
Or direct with Finsa.com. UK Finsa number: 0151 651 2400
The Blum thick door profile hinge:
Blum part code: 71B9550
https://www.blum.org.uk/shop/blumotion-hinges/blumotion-clip-screw-on-hinge-95deg-947420/
Supplier of coloured silicone:
County Construction Chemicals
https://www.county.construction/
The air assisted airless system we both use is the Graco Finishpro 395:
https://www.graco.com/gb/en/products/contractor/emea-finishpro-ii-395-pc.html
A cheaper Graco spray system Gary recommends is the GX-FF
https://www.graco.com/gb/en/products/contractor/emea-gxff.html
The waterbased spray paint Gary uses is from Tikkurilla:
The waterbased paint I use is the Sayerlack AT99 from Movac:
A Chat With Matt Robertson from Spacetidy (Episode 6)
How did a joiner/site manager from Essex become an Instagram sensation with over 50,000 followers? Listen on and find out! Matt shares the combination of hard work, business systems and a chance encounter that all helped his success, alongside candid insights into his business and a generous amount of detail on his methods for building those trademark understairs storage systems!
Find out more about Matt and Spacetidy here:
https://www.instagram.com/spacetidy/
Find out more about Alastair and Freebird Interiors here:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
https://www.youtube.com/c/freebirdinteriors
https://www.instagram.com/freebirdinteriors/
Interview with Dan Brown from the Uscribe Jig (Episode 5)
We speak to doll's house chair maker extraordinaire Dan Brown from Uscribe jig!! If you have not heard of his exploits, listen on, you won't regret it, though if you are a newcomer to Uscribe you may possibly remain a little confused about the purpose of those small green chairs....
Comment at the Instagram post here: www.instagram.com/p/B-chm4-DGbE/?igshid=1sxsybac72vgx Find Dan and U- Scribe Jig here:
www.instagram.com/uscribejig/
www.instagram.com/mrdanbrown/
Find Alastair at Freebird Interiors on YouTube and Instagram:
www.youtube.com/c/freebirdinteriors
www.instagram.com/freebirdinteriors/
And special extra content here:
www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
Other links mentioned in the podcast:
www.instagram.com/jchcabinets/
www.instagram.com/jobandknockpodcast/
If I am missing a link we talked about please remind me and I’ll see if I can add it!!
Talking Mental Health with Ben Cartwright (Episode 4)
In this special extra podcast I am releasing part of a conversation I had with fellow woodworker Ben Cartwright, recorded prior to the Coronavirus outbreak, when we were talking about mental health. This was soon after media reports had come out about the high quantity of construction industry workers who are affected by this issue.
It can be nice just to hear from people in the same line of work who understand and experience the same things. I decided to release it now on the first day since we (in the UK) have been instructed to stop work and stay at home due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Please share any feedback on this video at the instagram post here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-H4h__jVb7/
As explained in the introduction to the video, the full podcast recording of this one is available to members only at my crowdfunding site https://www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
This is because, since these episodes are unscripted, sometimes things get said which I decide might be inappropriate to share publicly, but Ben and I agreed it was fine to share with the membership. The main part of the recording covered the usual standard questions and also lots of interesting information from Ben about his experience in joinery workshops prior to going self employed, and his knowledge of woodworking machinery.
Follow Ben on Instagram here:
https://www.instagram.com/bencartwright_joinery/
Follow me (Alastair Johnson) here:
https://www.instagram.com/freebirdinteriors/
And at my youtube channel here:
Episode 3 (or was it 2...): Finbarr Lucas
This episode was pre-recorded some weeks ago and in the meantime, the Sheffield Sustainability Network launch event which Finbarr refers to in the podcast has taken place, and it was extremely well attended! Find out more here: www.sheffieldsustainabilitynetwork.org/
Finbarr makes the very good point that by creating bespoke furniture of 'heirloom' quality (mostly freestanding, so customers can take it with them if they move house) he is helping to reduce the waste generated by furniture with a shorter lifespan.
We discuss the usual set of questions including learning how he makes floating shelves and shaker doors, providing insights into his methods of working with hardwoods.
Finbarr is based in Sheffield and you can follow him on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/finbarrlucas/
I'm Alastair Johnson at Freebird Interiors - providing online content to educate, encourage and build a community of supportive woodworking business owners. You can support my work creating YouTube and podcast content by donating or becoming a member at: www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird - members get extra benefits.
Find out more about plans for future content by watching this video: youtu.be/-Qv2Z_NkP5A
Episode 2: Chats from the van - MONEY
After such a great response to the first episode of the podcast, demand is growing for me to release these more regularly than the once a month I had planned! For now I am going to stick to once a month for the interview format which takes a bit more planning, but I'm experimenting with these off the cuff monologues recorded in the van when I'm on my way home from installations or quotes. Let me know what you think!
If you haven't already done so, check out my youtube channel here:
www.youtube.com/c/freebirdinteriors
And my crowdfunding page here:
www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
Episode 1: John Jones
In the first episode of our brand new podcast I discuss fitted furniture, small business matters, and instagram with John Jones from Jones Interiors in Merthyr Tydfill, South Wales.
You can find his Instagram profile here: https://www.instagram.com/jonesinteriors_sw/
You can watch the video version of this recording here: https://youtu.be/4dxs9WNwm6I
I'm Alastair Johnson at Freebird Interiors - providing online content to educate, encourage and build a community of supportive woodworking business owners. You can support my work creating YouTube and podcast content by donating or becoming a member at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird - members get extra benefits.
Find out more about plans for future content by watching this video: https://youtu.be/-Qv2Z_NkP5A