Working at Woodworking

Send us Fan Mail Right before I take a break from the podcast, I thought I would share how I came to start my business. It was not preordained, well thought out or meticulously launched. Nor was it a total train wreck..... Recommendations Get Out of Credit Card Debt https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/ways-to-get-out-of-debt Special Thanks to Listeners In Williamsburg, Virginia Trier, Rheinland-P...

Send us Fan Mail If people can't find you....they can't buy from you! Here are a few MUST DO steps to increase your online visibility that are inexpensive, easy and you don't need to be an IT expert.  If you can calculate board feet, you can do this! Recommendations SEO 101 Podcast Ep 454 Chapter 1- SEO Fundamentals https://www.stepforth.com/blog/2023/seo-101-ep-454-chapter-1-of-the...

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when you are faced with a problem you don't know how to solve? If you have been a pro woodworker for more than 15 minutes, you have probably experienced this or will. Here, I give 'Bob' some some helpful tips. Recommendations Saw Stop STOPPED!? https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/legislators-introduce-bill-postpone-saw-sa...

Send us Fan Mail What have you been waiting for? Why haven’t you started your business yet?  We are going to talk about SOME of the excuses you have told yourself and how to move past them and why NOW is the best time to start your new WW Business… Recommendations Woodworking Books https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/woodworking Best Woodworking Books- Rob Cosman https://youtu.be/U_32J60tPs8?si=A...

Send us Fan Mail Folding wood, faster glue ups, Etsy alert, O-rings, propane and the future of WAW all in this episode! Recommendations A Nature Work Life| Paul Sellers Vlog 019 https://youtu.be/pcZ9Po4EQcQ?si=duivV4UPolHPPcVM Amazon Handmade https://www.junglescout.com/blog/how-to-sell-on-amazon-handmade/ Department of Labor https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/misclassification/rulemaking Emplo...

Send us Fan Mail How important is the bevel angle of your bench plane? Is 27 degrees better 24 degrees? The answer may surprise you! Also, last minute tips for filing your taxes......  Recommendations Wood Database https://www.wood-database.com/ Lie-Nielsen https://www.lie-nielsen.com/nodes/4219/home-education-getting-started#:~:text=On%20bevel%20up%20blades%2C%20the,is%20set%20in%20the%20tool . S...

Send us Fan Mail Shape, sharpen and shine, it's that simple. But how woodworkers, amateur or professional, get there is where we all struggle. If you don't develop your sharpening skills, you'll not advance as a woodworker- it's THAT important! Recommendations Taylor Drill Press Sharpener  https://youtu.be/PdtDpiBSeMM?si=UpnrzI8DeiSUsgxX  Sharpening Supplies https://www.sharpen...

Send us Fan Mail Listeners have be contacting me with tips they wanted to share. Sanding, planing and finishing, I'm sure you will find these helpful. Recommendations Solidworks for Veterans https://veteran-store.solidworks.com/veteran/default.php The Edge-On-Up Sharpness Testers https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Edge-On-Up-Industrial-Edge-Tester-P1562C286.aspx Special Thanks to Listeners In...

Send us Fan Mail How good of a woodworker are you? What is your skill level? Does it even matter? If you are trying to do this professionally….YES it matters! Recommendations The US Government is About to Change Table Saws FOREVER! https://youtu.be/kb6LRfGhr_g?si=pIMZVChLMU4-otov Special Thanks to Listeners In Louisville, Kentucky Dublin, Ireland one listener in Morocco! Support The Show On:      ...

Send us Fan Mail Sanding is a challenge for any DIYer, but a professional woodworker must learn to sand quickly, effectively, and economically. Here are some tips I have learned over the years. Recommendations Sanding With Fein Multimaster https://youtu.be/3SZY2rqmkcA Largest Sandpaper Test EVER Done https://youtu.be/NZDCRFi8dKY?si=Bc4S49Ru1U0ST8jB Clark Howard on Furniture https://youtu.be/hJmohk...

Send us Fan Mail More difficult than hand cut dovetails, figuring out how much to charge for your work is a challenge for every professional woodworker. There are several ways to determine this number but you always have to keep the end goal in mind. Recommendations Essential Craftsman- How To Charge More AS A Contractor: 7 Ideas https://youtu.be/X31VMEifz8w?si=luqBR0YI1-G0opVh Woodworking Shows h...

Send us Fan Mail Happy New Year! I have 6 things you, as a professional woodworker, need to do straight away. Old timers to the podcast may have heard some of these before...but a refresher never hurt. Recommendations US Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-by-category.htm Inflation Calculator: https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflat...

Send us Fan Mail Anyone who has used an old crappy, rusty hand saw knows how frustrating it can be. The saw binds and gets stuck in the wood, probably because the saw has lost all the set in the teeth. But ancient saws, Roman, Greek even Egyptian saws apparently had no set at all. Is it possible Christmas changed that? Recommendations Luke 2:1-20 John 1:1-18 Renaissance Wood Worker 22: 1st Century...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s mishmash if tips and suggestions accumulated over the ….well, since the last T&S episode…...ways to flatten boards without a jointer, killing wood bugs, ways to safe money, ways to make more money and even why you should use Sriacha sauce! Recommendations Jointing on the Bandsaw- Paul Sellers https://youtu.be/NIEB65s3nbk?si=A2Q_daH5Pm_wRwMk Build a Kiln to treat woodwor...

Send us Fan Mail Orders still have to go out, jobs still need to get done but this can be a real challenge when you feel like crap or are walking wounded. Maybe you can take steps now to mitigate the effects illness and injury. Recommendations BANDSAW vs FINGERS. My accident and story. Kerry Corney https://youtu.be/ZYO_KP3fq0E Special Thanks to Listeners In Toronto, Ontario, Canada Arnhem, Netherl...

Send us Fan Mail Forgetting this essential woodworking tool nearly doomed the pilgrims the first year in the New World. Don't forget YOURS! Happy Thanksgiving! Recommendations Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America, Vol. 1: The Early Years”--Stan Freberg (1961) https://youtu.be/o3hzDJiVfJo Herman's Hermits "Henry The VIII, I Am" on The Ed Sullivan Show  https://yout...

Send us Fan Mail Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Are you a hack who can do a lot of things...but NOT very well or are you REALLY good at just one thing? Which will make you the most money with the best job security? Recommendations None this episode. Special Thanks to Listeners In Halls Crossroads, Tennessee Toronto, Ontario, Canada One listener in Morocco Support The Show On:     Buy Me A Co...

Send us Fan Mail Build your Core Business Information (CBI) first and your website will soon follow. Keep it simple by using Google Websites (free, no coding) or Squarespace or Wix to sell online. Recommendations EP 30- How to Build A Website For Your Woodworking Business EP 3- Your Business Name https://sites.google.com/new https://www.wix.com/ https://www.squarespace.com/ Special Thanks to Liste...

Send us Fan Mail How do you figure out how much lumber and sheet goods you need to buy just from your cut list? Create a materials and buy list! There are four ways to do this - pick the one that works for you.  Recommendations https://www.cutlistoptimizer.com/ https://www.omnicalculator.com/construction/board-foot http://www.gnumeric.org/ STOP overbuilding cabinets https://youtu.be/KmM6DOy0aMc Pe...

Send us Fan Mail If you spent $300 on wood for a project and you have a 20% to 30% waste factor.....you are leaving $60 - $90 lying on the floor. Sure, waste is included in the cost of the job.....but why let those extra dollars go to waste? Recommendations None this week....   Special Thanks to Listeners In Indianapolis, Indiana Eindhoven, Netherlands one listener in Luxembourg Support The Show O...

Send us Fan Mail There is a way hobby/DIY woodworkers do things and a way professional woodworkers do things. The difference is time and money. Are you doing what the pros are doing? Recommendations None this week....   Special Thanks to Listeners In Coon Rapids, Minnesota Spruce Grove, Alberta ...and one listener in Mexico Support The Show On:     Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wor...

Send us Fan Mail The Mattel Corporation, famous for it's Barbie Doll, started in a garage....just like you. Here are 5 Skills the owners of Mattel used to become successful. You can use them too! Recommendations Lessons from Leaders: Mattel’s Ruth Handler: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/lessons-from-leaders-mattel-s-ruth-handler/?linktype=readmore&channel=email&campaign_type=thoma...

Send us Fan Mail These three challenges, if completed, will make you a better operator of a small, one-person, professional woodworking business. Special Thanks to Listeners In Lisbon, Ohio Sydney, New South Wales and one listener in the Philippines Support The Show On:     Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/workatwoodwork     Donate Directly: https://www.workingatwoodworking.com/suppor...

Send us Fan Mail I'm done. It's finished. I'm over stressing out over, "...the latest and greatest finish of all time." I've used shellac for decades because... #1 It's a darn good finish, #2 It's incredibly versatile and, #3 It's very economical!  Recommendations Where I buy shellac:  https://www.shellacshack.com/ Step Aside, Rubio; The Game has Change...

Send us Fan Mail Yes, you are a great woodworker......but, can you sell? There is no professional woodworking solopreneur with out sales. Mastering basic sales skills can greatly increase your profitability and enjoyment of this profession. Recommendations New age https://www.masterclass.com/articles/daniel-pinks-abcs-of-selling Feature-Benefit https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/fe...