Can We Even Afford to Be Makers Right Now? | MDP005

The cost of everything has gone up, and if you are trying to get into making or woodworking right now, those price tags can feel like a wall before you even start. In this episode, I get into real talk about the current state of material and tool costs, and more importantly, what you can actually do about it.

What We Cover

• How wood pricing has changed since COVID, and where sheet goods stand today
• The real cost of getting into a cordless power tool ecosystem (hint: it is the batteries)
• Why mixing tool brands is a trap, and how to think about picking one ecosystem
• The rising cost of art supplies beyond woodworking
• Finding tools and materials in the used market: yard sales, garage sales, and secondhand finds
• Makerspaces: what they are, what they cost, and why they are worth considering
• How libraries are quietly running their own makerspaces for free
• Thinking long-term vs. immediate gratification when it comes to gear
• Setting small, realistic goals to build toward bigger projects
• Why prices are not coming down anytime soon, and how to plan around that

Resources and Links

• The Maker Dad–themakerdad.com
• Discord Community–https://discord.gg/xDpzcugFws
• Patreon–https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheMakerDad
• Apple Podcasts–https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1881396004
• Spotify–https://open.spotify.com/show/5vvoiC3ccHFG7HWt3mWxUH

Mentioned in This Episode

• Birch plywood pricing (pre- vs. post-COVID)
• MDF for speaker and subwoofer boxes
• Cordless tool ecosystems: DeWalt, Craftsman, Cobalt, Bosch, Ryobi
• Ryobi's 200+ product battery compatibility platform
• SawStop cabinet saw
• Makerspaces and library-based creative spaces
• Pottery wheels and kilns at public libraries

Subscribe and Review

If you got something out of this episode, a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify goes a long way. And if you have thoughts, leave a written review too. Constructive feedback is always welcome.

The Maker Dad is a podcast about making, building, and figuring it out as you go. New episodes at themakerdad.com.