Woodworkers Podcast

Austin Waldo, of Austin School of Furniture, joins the show. Listen in as we hear about how a marketing and tech background mixed with a group of friends with a healthy woodworking fetish led this Austin from Austin to create a new school. We hear about the school’s start and successful pivots to adapt along with plans for the future ahead. A future made brighter by the Texas Woodworking Festival, coming this September 4th to Austin, Texas. A festival celebrating all things woodworking with a goal of creating even more.

Ben’s back from the Neligh Grain Mill window project. Phil’s been on the road to Marc Adams. And Ramon’s been marquetry classing, domino docking, and garden planting.

Durham North Carolina studio furniture maker, Meredith Hart, joins the show.

Phil’s outsourcing the woodworking so he can play more with his tambouring. Ramon’s turning the turret on the Valdez jig inventory, along with working on the Origin of some inlayquetry. And Ben’s been lost in the world of bid-land for so long he still thinks OSB only costs $28.

The incredibly talented, Sarah Watlington, joins us again. But this time we’re trying something a little different by going on a deep design dive with her about her absolutely stunning, Heron Chair. We felt it would be interesting to do a concentrated conversation on this one piece, and as it turns out, we think the feeling was a pretty darn good one. From its conception, as a design, designed to hurt, to its’ build evolution and construction, during a 2nd year 2nd semester at the Krenov School, we hear about the challenges and techniques of building something that speaks a familiar existing language and yet has something beautifully new to say. Hope you find it as interesting as we did. Join us won’t you?

Furniture designer and maker, Sarah Watlington, joins the podcast. Listen in as we have the pleasure of hearing how she has carved out a spot for herself in the custom furniture world. From how her early interior design training led to more hands on finely crafted work that led her to The Krenov School, and how those trainings helped accelerate her to the works she does now as the project manager for Offerman Woodshop. Fabulous work and a fantastic conversation. Join us won’t you.

Phil’s back at it after last week’s visit from the great white north. Ramon’s making pointy wenge triangles disappear. And Ben seams to need clamps for his shabby veneer work.

Long time no pod. The band’s back together! Same woodworking wanderings but with a new fancy sound system (the industry term is microphones). Phil gains an inch. Ramon likes a little inlay with a side of marquetry. And Ben’s got a finger-cam for Phil... Ahhh it’s good to be back!!

Chair maker artist, teacher, author, Peter Galbert joins the show. Listen in as we hear how, with the focused and sharpened eye of a photography degree, along with a healthy pension for woodworking, he has sculpted a specialized career in chair making and the teaching of. No tacos or pizza on this menu, just fabulous woodworking goodness.

Ramon’s taking his veneers out sledding on the Reuleaux. Phil’s brushing up on shaping his YouTube teaching skills. And Ben’s getting all torqued growing L-tomatoes.

With a training in the past and an eye for the future, Evan Berding joins the show. We talk North Bennet Street School, clean lines and fair curves, and how the word transitional can not only represent a beautiful style, but also is a real word.

T-shirt link in Woodworkers Podcast Instagram bio.

David Johnson weaves his way into the podcast and the pleasure is all ours. Hear how this woodworker, seat weaver specialist, and 1997 graduate of the College of the Redwoods has woven out a career through conserving and repairing Danish Modern chairs, along with designing and building his own work incorporating his many influences, from James Krenov, to the Danish Modern masters with whom, through his conservation work, he is so intimately acquainted.

Ramon’s showing off his big powerful wood knots. Phil’s got rockers on the horizon. And Ben’s hoping to shift into some new gears with a part time job.

Forty year studio furniture veteran, Michael Colca, joins us. Listen in as we hear how pursuing perfection has not only fueled a passion, but also, a humble adaptability. From the evolution of marketing one’s work to incorporating technology in an artistic pursuit of accuracy. All along the way incorporating a willingness to share, teach and learn from others with the never ending goal of always getting better.

Ramon’s consulting and marquetry work are looking so rosy, he’s charging by the feather. Ben’s veneer work seams to be going well. And Phil opens up about his first open time with epoxy.

Edmonton, Alberta’s own, curved and twisted, Brian Guenther joins the podcast. Listen in as we talk with the stair master and furniture maker about his start and continuing evolution in the craft, his fabulous stair and wreath work, interests in furniture making and transitioning from on site to more shop based work, along with a little tiny work to help keep things whimsical.

Phil’s gaining knowledge by accumulating errors. Ben’s overthinking the conversion. And Ramon’s pecking out some new router lift pleasures.

Ben’s practice pickin’ a dueling compound tune on the Pantorouter. Ramon’s hard at work trying to prevent his big chest from sagging. And Phil’s giving away free Katana boxes while making cheap look good.

Los Angeles woodworker, Eric Ervin, joins the episode. We talk shop, how success has led to becoming an employer, white label work, fleshing out designs for designers, and the pulls between having plenty of work and the desire to create work of your own. Along with the joys of weekend rockstarring and how, every once in a great while and although not normally recommended, it can actually work in your favor to pull up alpha.

Phil’s fixing to be shipping. Ramon’s setting records of curve subtly. And Ben’s sanding glass clean. Along with thoughts of employing by three unemployables.

Craftsmanship of luxury conductor, David Boucher joins us. Listen in as we hear how an insatiable desire to be different and better, and a willingness to incorporate those who can do things better and different, along with the sheer tenacity to stay upright in the race for forty plus years have led to Boucher and Co’s brilliant success.

Phil’s sanding chairs and fishing for whiskey cabinets. Ramon’s finding good use of the Pantorouter in the bedroom. And Ben’s fixing to be hotboxing some sash.

Incredibly talented woodworking agent, Frank Strazza, joins us for a top secret episode. Listen in as we discuss how his early interests in both woodworking and music culminated to shape and form his life, by using both to help create functional beauty with his hands. A beauty that can not only be seen, felt and heard, but also, one that lends itself to the creation of beauty within others.

AWFS, Maverick Abrasives, PantoRouter, camper restoration, Jellystone, Marc Adams School of Woodworking, Florida School of Woodworking, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Austin School of Woodworking, live television, a little window work, an awkward pause and a stellar outro.

Jack Forsberg fills in for Phil, who’s off teaching and inappropriately desecrating Matt Kenney’s photo at Marc Adam’s. We talk views of trees from trains, RustFest and metal scraping, call cigar boxes cigarette boxes and tell tales of mythical woodworking creatures of the Pacific Northwest.

Mid-Coast Maine’s own, incredibly talented and ever entertaining teacher/furniture designer/maker, Tim Rousseau graces the podcast. We talk the song writing of furniture design and the never ending evolution of learning through 20 years teaching at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship. Along with, how those twenty years are now culminating into his new gig as the lead instructor for the nine month comprehensive program. And, just to keep things exciting, we also talk about glue.

Ramon and Phil get ready to head off to Sin City. And Ben’s church doors have finally left the building.

Woodworkers Podcast turns one. Ben’s new door design looks oddly like a table. Phil’s hatching out a litter of lounges. And Ramon’s severely crooked walnut propeller stock is staying nice and straight.

Brisbane Australia’s own, Roy Schack (Mr. Blue Cheak if your nasty) joins us for a fun filled hour. Listen in as we talk lessons learned from a quarter century of woodworking, love of Japan, and running the successful Brisbane School of Fine Woodwork. All along with a laugh, a contagious smile and the occasional pieces of fine furniture thrown to the heavens.

Ramon’s catching flack for not settling his clock. Ben’s kids are rocking the socks and safety glasses look. And after a nasty bout of pins and needles, Phil regains full use of his legs.

Artist, furniture maker and pancake marquetarian, Aspen Golann joins us for a fantastic sit down. We talk North Bennet Street School, collaboration work with Pete Galbert, and her new gig at Penland School of Crafts along with how the heck she’s been able to accomplish all that she has in the last 2 years and 3 months of being involved in Woodworking.

Ramon’s awesome new jewelry cabinet looks just like him. Ben discovers just how far it actually is from South Dakota to Texas. And Phil forgets to mention some folks that were at the Texas Woodworking Festival.

From Jaguars to coffee cups, it’s a family affair at Texas Heritage Woodworks. Listen in as we have a sit down with the power couple behind the fabulous aprons, tool rolls, leatherwork and woodworking.

Ramon’s beveling the angle on the marquetry market. Phil’s moving the record console into living room storage. And Ben’s finally finished with those doors... or at least two of them.

What do you get when James Krenov asks a snowboarding bum driftwood artist to build a chair something like Escherick?

Phil’s still pissing off the audiofiles. Ramon’s getting out of speeding tickets by pleading he’s only hopped up on teaching marquetry. And Ben tries to recite his favorite Shel Silverstein poem, “A Spray Booth in the Attic.”

The Uber talented, Leslie Webb, graces the podcast. Join us as we talk beautiful timeless design, the importance of photography and marketing skills, Furniture school, internship, and making a hard earned go at it as a successful self made studio furniture maker. Toss in a derelict dust collector and few well placed pokes in the ribs and you’ll understand why we were so excited to have her on. Cheerio.

Ben finds a simple template for his angle tangle. Ramon’s getting strange looks at Petco. While Phil’s busy hiding a little Texas charm in the whiskey cabinet.

Woodworkers Podcast gets Jackified. Master woodworker and one of a kind character, Jack Forsberg, of Jack English Machines, joins us for a lively conversation about all things vintage British Iron and how you too can achieve 3-phase nirvana.

Podcast turns 6 months. Scrooge McValdez is recovering from some self-inflicted Christmas joy while doing his best to cut straight lines. Ben’s steeling veneer and giving overly complicated explanations for simple solutions. And Phil gets a new shaver in his stocking while making the in-laws sweat for Christmas.

Never a dull design or comment when Matt Kenney is around. Join us as we talk design and listen in to the always interesting perspective that gives this box making master his own unique twist.

Phil’s all hopped up. Ramon’s dock party still rages. And Ben’s revealing new doors to old openings.

Melbourne chair maker, Bern Chandley, graces the episode. Join us as we have a long distance sit down about how he makes such beautiful pieces to sit down in.

Phil’s initiating daddy candy tax. Ben’s using rear sensing technology to avoid kickback. And Ramon likes to keep it loose with his teeth in the middle.

A puzzling conversation with studio furniture maestro, Craig Thibodeau. Listen in as we peel back the layers of veneer to find out what is truly at his substrate.

Ramon's got himself a good case of the sticky shims. Phil takes the child labor force to the zoo and Ben's dust collector sucks.