Rick
I learned so much from so many woodworkers on YouTube. My learning experience was as much about managing a YouTube channel as it was woodworking. In the beginning, I had a lot of questions about the landscape of woodworkers on YouTube: A list of woodworkers on YouTube Step one would be to create a list … Read more
Life gets in the way of a lot of things, not just your side hustle! But let’s first define what we mean by “life” since, taken literally, it’s everything other than death. In the context of this saying, it’s about how the routine of day-to-day living – aka, doing the things you have to do … Read more
I am a proud owner of a drill press, but I survived for several years without one. Why I bought a drill press I never pulled the trigger on a drill press because I always felt like I could “make do” with a straight hole jig. It was good enough at least half the time! … Read more
Laser engraved photos were the very first project I did when I got my xTool P2S laser. Why am I publishing this post now, almost a year after I got the laser? At the time, I think I was more interested in using the laser than writing about it. Plus, I didn’t think anyone would … Read more
Basswood sheets are the one laser material I always keep in stock. They are versatile and inexpensive, which makes them my go-to for a wide variety of project. The most common application of basswood sheets has been “holders” in my workshop. I’m not sure that’s the right word, but a thing to hold my Forstner … Read more
The Buena Vista Triathlon is a unique event that required a custom poker table. Poker is the third event of the triathlon. The first two events are golf and horseshoes. Super cool, right?! My brother-in-law, Steve, and I host the BVT. It’s always 12 guys and for many years we made the poker event work … Read more
Technically, I’ve had a plier set for a long time! It was an old, mismatched set of pliers that had made their way into my toolbox over the past 20 years. Why I bought a plier set Most of my tools were bought for a specific project. I bought an oscillating multi-tool because I knew … Read more
I’m surprised how often I’m asked, “How did you choose your first laser machine?” The short answer is I chose the one I thought would best meet my needs. But let me take you through the process in more detail. To set the stage, I’m new to laser engraving and cutting. This is my first … Read more
I thought about making a circle guide – aka circle jig – for use with my router. There are plenty of how-to videos on YouTube and it looks easy enough. But I didn’t have time to try and have it fail, so I did some searching on Amazon and landed on this kit from Milescraft. … Read more
I saw a video in which a guy made a zero-clearance miter saw throat plate. There are plenty of videos showing how to make these, but there was something about this video that inspired me to give it a try. I liked the idea of taking a product that is already damn good and making … Read more
