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444 Maple Bookcase Pt 4 Aug 23, 2015

Show notes

In today's episode we get a look at the finished Kid's Maple Bookcase. When I originally recorded the footage I was literally minutes away from the clients picking it up, so I may have skipped over some details you'd like to know more about. But I did cover as many of the final details as I could.
The finish I chose for the bookcase was a combination of Amber Shellac to help match the color of existing pieces the client had already, and then a final top coat of Water based Arm-R-Seal by General Finishes. I could have just gone with the Amber Shellac alone, but I really wanted this project to stand up to the wear and tear it'll probably endure over the years.
If you have any questions from today's episode or any from the first 3 episodes of this series. Don't hesitate to drop me a line "EMAIL ME". Some of you already have, and I'll be addressing those questions in next week's episode where we'll devote the entire episode to answering those questions.

445 Bookcase Questions Aug 23, 2015

Show notes

If you have any questions from today's episode or any from the first 3 episodes of this series. Don't hesitate to drop me a line "EMAIL ME". Some of you already have, and I'll be addressing those questions in next week's episode where we'll devote the entire episode to answering those questions.
The Kid's Maple Bookcase project is all wrapped up now and we're about to move onto something new. But before we do, I wanted to answer some questions a few of you had that came up along the way. As you probably already know (if you've seen Parts 1-4 of the build) I tried to offer alternative methods to the construction or answer questions that I kind of figured would come up along the way. And of course I invited you to send in your questions in case I missed something.
The two biggest questions that were asked were in regards to the assembly of the side panels and then more of a comment and suggestion vs a question on the method I used for cutting notches in the shelves. I had discussed using different tools to cut the notches and included why I preferred not to use the tablesaw on this build to do it. I may have misspoke a little when discussing the tablesaw, but hopefully when you watch today you'll understand what I was trying to get at.
If you have further questions about the build or about something you've seen previously, don't hesitate to EMAIL ME.

446 Shop Tour Aug 23, 2015

Show notes

I can't remember the last time I did any kind of shop tour in my current basement workshop, so after much prodding by a few of you (especially you John!!!) I decided it was time to invite all of you down for a look around.
Really there's not a lot to look at that you haven't already seen, but I figured while you're all here I might as well explain a little bit about where and what I have in the shop. Coincidentally timed with this tour (completely unplanned I swear!) is the introduction of a new piece of equipment in my shop.
Thanks to the folks at Highland Woodworking and their sponsorship of the show we have a brand new Steel City 8" Jointer.
So without further delay, let's get this tour moving along!

**449 Building a Brese Plane Kit Pt 2** Aug 23, 2015
Show notes

In this episode we'll wrap up the final assembly of this amazing little smoother plane and I'll explain the right way to do it, while also explaining **WHAT** I ended up doing instead.
Of course luckily in the end it all came together and works just as well and amazingly as I had hoped and dreamed it would!
If you're not familiar with **Ron Brese** and his amazingly beautiful hand planes you really need to take a look for yourself. They're not just gorgeous to look at, but the feeling you have when you pick one up and take a few passes with them is mind blowing. They're a really work of art and they have the capability to elevate your planing to a new level. Don't just take my word for it, ask anyone who's had the pleasure of trying them out.
Of course I'm not going to lie and pretend this kind of beauty doesn't have its cost. **Ron** makes each plane himself and doesn't rush the construction. He makes them to exacting tolerances with the end result being tiny, wispy shavings more reminiscent of soft billowy clouds than thin see through shavings. And that's not just on any old wood, we're talking those kind of results on some of the nasty, trickiest grains out there.
Again, don't take my word for it. Ron often travels around the country with the **Lie-Nielsen Toolworks Hand Tool Event**. Stop by his booth and manhandle a plane for yourself. Maybe you could bring a sample of that board you've had trouble with before and see if he'll let you try one of the planes on it?

To learn more about **Ron Brese** or any of these amazing planes pictured above, visit his website at **www.breseplane.com**. Tell him Matt sent you!

450 1st of 2011 Aug 23, 2015

Show notes

It's official! Five years of Matt's Basement Workshop Podcast and it's still going strong. I've talked before about the beginnings of the show so there's no need to re-hash it again...but you're welcome to ask me about it any time!
In today's episode we have a bit of catching up to do from the long holiday hiatus. One of the big things I wanted to share is news that I FINALLY completed the migration of ALL the archived episodes. We now have everything from EPISODE ONE up to this post on one unified website. This has been a long time coming and WAY OVER DUE. So take a look around and find your favorite old episode or discover one you might have missed.
Also in today's episode is a look at something many of you have asked me about in the past, "What's a typical day in your life?" So rather than just talking about it, we had a crew document a day in the life of the host of Matt's Basement Workshop. Hopefully it'll answer all those questions you've had in the past.
Coming up next week, the first of a multi-part series on the construction of our friend's Walnut Buffet. A great project that was both fun and challenging for me. So make sure you come back to see it go from raw materials to finished project.

**452 Walnut Buffet Pt 2** Aug 23, 2015
Show notes

In the second part of the construction of our friend's Walnut Buffet we've completed the construction of the carcass that makes up the majority of the project. From this point forward it's now a matter of adding pieces of the structural details. The dividers between the doors and drawers, the boxes for the drawers, the drawer fronts and the doors themselves.
But before we get into all of those components, I want to add the solid walnut pieces that cover the exposed plys of our premium walnut plywood. Because the design requires the face frames to be the same thickness as the plywood itself, I had a couple of different options for how I was going to attach it. I already decided I wanted solid walnut vs a simple edge veneer. But I wanted to make sure it was securely fastened other than simply glued flat face to plywood edge.
I thought about either biscuit joinery or even reinforcing with brads. Both didn't seem very appealing, so I did a little more research. What I came up with was to use an **edge banding bit system** that created matching profiles in both the plywood edges and the solid walnut face.
The folks over at **Eagle America** were really great to let me try out this system for this project and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wanted something that did more than simply dress up an exposed edge. Because of the way the solid stock is interlocked with the sheet good, it offers an added rigidity that I'm not convinced a simple face glued strip would be able to provide.
There is a small learning process to get started, but as I demonstrate in today's episode once you do a few test cuts and even create reference blocks, setup and use is a breeze. And the results speak for themselves.
Thank you **Eagle America**!
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447 Hendrik in November Nov 24, 2010

Show notes

It's Thanksgiving weekend in the States, so I thought it would be a perfect time to bring our resident expert Hendrik Varju back to the show. ; I figure many of you have a long weekend off and could use a little something to listen too and maybe inspire you while in the shop...or being dragged along OUT to shop for Black Friday deals.Just recently Hendrik released his two newest titles to his Private Woodworking Instruction in a Box series of DVDs.

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