Matt's Basement Workshop - Audio

It's time to wrap up our discussion of the block planes. Hopefully I've answered some questions and explained the hows and whys of using the block plane. It's an important tool for all woodshops, powertool, handtool or hybrid. Regardless of whether it's a low-angle or standard angle block plane, the block plane is something that shouldn't be skimped on when the time comes to buy your first or a new one! As part of the wrap-up today I asked the folks at Lie-Nielsen if we could borrow some of their specialized block planes to get a better look at them. And thankfully...they said yes! So on today's episode let's look at some block planes that look like no other, but work as amazingly as all the others. [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-TDM86136.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.

There are a lot of workbench accessories on the market, but typically they're either something that needs to be built as part of the workbench top and are nearly permanent components or they're small useful items, but don't have much versatility to them. A newer accessory that hit the market in the past year is the Veritas Surface Vise. It's a great tool that adds a ton of versatility and options to my less than adequate bench. The basic tool right out of the box worked amazing, and because it's removable head is designed to have shop made accessories attached...if necessary...the options for it's use increases dramatically. [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-422446.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.

Today's episode for The Daily Matt is a quick demo of the basic tasks in my own workshop that the block plane takes care of for me. They're very simple tasks, but almost no other plane does them as well. I'm convinced it's because of how much smaller the block plane is, when compared to the size of the other bench planes. It's easy to manipulate the plane to do what I need and get the results I wanted. And it doesn't matter whether the block plane is low-angle or standard, with a nice sharp blade the job is a breeze. [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-TDM85438.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.

Today's episode is the final in the series on the Maple, Child's Dresser build. Unfortunately as will happen on this show, I did have to jump forward in time a little as I started to fall behind my original schedule to have it completed. Up to this point the vast majority of the construction has been documented, and the only thing that was left to complete was the drawers. We can come back on another episode and talk more specifically about the drawer construction, but in this episode I'll touch briefly on what I did in this project to make them. As part of the final wrap up on the build I'll touch on some of the subtle details I used to make the dresser as kid friendly as possible. Hope you've enjoyed it, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me. Coming up for the next build project...the Maple, Child's Bookcase! [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-421607.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.

While I had originally planned for today's episode to be a look at the different ways I use my block plane. What I decided to do instead for this episode, was to demonstrate how and what I prefer to tweak on a block plane. Just like with any other tool, there are some key parts and components that just might need a little attention to make it work better. Is it necessary to take these steps on every block plane? NO, especially with models produced by the premium plane makers. But it doesn't hurt to know what you should be looking for, just in case Quality Control missed something. [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-TDM84491.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.

Today's Try It Tuesday is a look at the Czeck Edge Ruler-Stop. A handy little tool that literally fits in the palm of your hand but still has the ability to do great big things. The Czeck Edge Ruler-Stop works much like a traditional square, but with one big exception...you're not stuck with only using one kind of ruler. The vise like action of the Ruler-Stop opens to a maximum width of 1-1/4" and can accept rulers, shop made story sticks and just about anything that can fit within it's grasp. And because the sides of the body are ground flat and square to the jaws, it can easily be used much like you would a traditional square to layout lines on your projects. There's a lot the Czeck Edge Ruler-Stop can do, but you won't know until you try it out for yourself. Mine sits in my shop apron pocket so I never have to be without it. But check it out for yourself. [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-420263.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.

Today's episode is being posted a day earlier than normal, but with good reason. I wanted to give everyone a chance to clear their schedules for the next Live Wood Talk Online, which will be Monday March 22nd, 2010 at 9PM ET. If you can make your way over to www.thewoodwhisperer.com/live join us in the chat room for all the fun of a live show. A few other announcements on today's episode include a chance to win your share of the $10,000 in tools and accessories from Festool and Fine Home Building Magazine. For more information about this contest visit Festool/FineHomeBuilding Giveaway. Todd Clippinger of www.americancraftsmanworkshop.com sent us a heads up on a limited time offer by Scott Morrison of www.finewoodworker.com. Scott's offering a 15% discount on his "Building a Maloof Style Furniture" DVDs, templates and Buterfly joint kit. More details are in the show. April 9-10, the Lie-Nielsen Toolworks Show will be stopping in Chicago for a visit at Jeff Miller's studio. I'm planning on being there on Saturday the 10th, hope you can make it! It's a great opportunity to get real hands on experience with their whole lineup. And last but not least, although totally forgotten in the show, Hendrik is back in April and we're looking for your questions. Do you have questions about wood selection, wood movement, etc? Submit them before April 5th! [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-TDM83687.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.

Today's episode is the 5th part of the series on the Child's dresser. We've jumped ahead a little bit as in real time I started to fall behind so I did some assembly work with the camera off. I'm trying to document as much as I can on these projects, but occasionally things kind of fall through the cracks. For the most part, today's episode covers drawer front construction from rough to finish. And glue up of the dresser top. [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-419595.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.

Continuing along with the discussion on block planes, today's episode is an overview of some of the features I consider important in a block plane. Whether it's the overall size of the body, the angle of the bed or something as simple as the feel of the front knob. Hopefully the things we talk about today will help to answer any of your questions, and if not, maybe they'll raise some we can address on a later episode. [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-TDM82298.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.

The guys over at Bora Clamps recently introduced their latest clamping system, the Bora Wide Track Clamp Edge. A straight edge clamp that works very much like a traditional clamp with the added benefit of having a straight edge body attached to it. The beauty of a straight edge clamp is you can attach it to a surface, such as a workpiece or a tabletop/workbench and run your circular saw, router, jigsaw or most portable tools along the edge. It's a great system for those with limited space or jobsites where you don't have the luxury of large tools with fences and the like. And add to all of this the fact the Bora Wide Track Clamp has an extra wide body that will not flex while using, extra thick soft pads that can easily handle stock up to 1-1/2" thick, have the ability to angle the clamp body 22-1/2 degrees left or right while clamping or the fact that the body has a T-track system built in. [dewplayer:http://blip.tv/file/get/Mattvan-418546.mp3]Click to PlayDownload Video FileDownload Audio File Don't forget to enter for free Schwag and please support our sponsors by visiting their links here on the website.