Off the Cut Podcast

We’re diving headfirst into the latest woodworking drama: Kreg's new "loose tenon joiner" and whether it actually has the precision (and the legal clearance) to dethrone the almighty Festool Domino. Zac is currently trapped in sponsor approval purgatory with his next video, leading us down a rabbit hole of agency contracts, vanity URLs, and why DIY foam speakers actually sound surprisingly good if you throw a subwoofer in the mix.

We also debate the questionable merits of car audio upgrades, the sheer terror of filming DIY repairs in your driveway while your neighbors judge you, and why modern society desperately needs to bring back the visceral, aggressive satisfaction of slamming a flip phone shut to end a bad call. Finally, Deric brings us a masking nightmare on a hexagonal toy box panel, and we brainstorm incredibly convoluted ways to paint it white without ruining the epoxy inlay. Grab a seltzer, let's complain about tech, tools, and tape.

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

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Follow the Hosts:

Zac: @ZacBuilds

Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By: KM Tools kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO WTB Woodworking wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway Gorilla Glue http://gorillatough.com/offthecut #Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking #GorillaTough

We’re back in the shop (and the dentist's chair) this week. Zac’s sporting a brand-new crown, while someone else is apparently gaining 15,000 followers by pretending to be him. Deric got a whole ten-cent payday from Facebook monetization, and we dive deep into the absolute absurdity of the iTunes gift card scam—seriously, who is buying 100 Katy Perry singles in 2026? We also explore the dark side of 90s pop lyrics, realizing that some of our favorite radio hits were secretly about crystal meth and cocaine.

Between debating why Brita filters are for "weak people" and the soul-crushing reality of recording voiceovers until you develop a speech impediment, we actually find time to talk shop. We’re geeking out over the new Fantic cordless soldering iron, discussing the merits of soldering versus crimping for car electronics, and walking through Eric’s master plan for a sage green bathroom remodel—including the inevitable debate over elongated vs. round toilet seats. Grab your favorite drink (room temperature, if you're Eric) and let's get into it.

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

Zac: @ZacBuilds

Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By:

KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)

WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

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This week, we dive into the frustrations of "dumb" machines and the realities of DIY projects that turn into total replacements. Zac vents about his CNC snapping bits and its lack of "intelligence" compared to modern 3D printers, while Eric recounts his sweaty adventures installing a Tesla charger in a hot attic—complete with a surprising win at the hardware store checkout. The guys also discuss the "lipstick on a pig" dilemma of home repairs and how a creator’s haircut is the ultimate timeline for how long a video actually takes to produce.

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

Zac: @ZacBuilds

Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By: KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)Gorilla Glue: gorillatough.com/offthecut#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking #GorillaTough

Zac and Deric are flying solo this week! While Eric enjoys some time away, the guys get into the weeds on Zac’s new course (it’s like launching a whole new channel) and the gear grinding feeling of switching between tasks. The conversation drifts all over the place, much like that old Dodge in the driveway—from cinder-block furniture in early lofts to the dream of forklift-powered home elevators.

In this episode:

The Content Grind: Why a single course module can take 35 pages of voiceover.

Social Sprints: The breakdown of why YouTube notifications are broken and why Instagram wins the community game.

Shop Talk: A Gorilla Glue "off-label" sealer trick

Car Therapy: Replacing brake lines, fighting rusted bolts, and the nostalgia of 3D printing a hood ornament for a late-80s Dodge Prospector.

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

Zac: @ZacBuilds

Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By:

KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)

WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

Gorilla Glue: gorillatough.com/offthecut

#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking #GorillaTough

We finally solve the mysteries of the universe—or at least the ones involving aluminum cans and why your garage door is trying to kill you. We dive into the "uncanny valley" of AI-generated emails that try just a little too hard to be your friend, and why Eric would rather do drywall every day than ever touch rubber gym flooring again.

If you’ve ever wondered about the surface area to volume ratio of a White Claw versus a standard beer can, or why an HVAC technician wants you to watch a video on his iPad, this one is for you. We help Zac break down the agonizing process of filming a woodworking course when you have 8 hours of footage and no idea when to stop explaining the "why".

Highlights:

The Bubbly Koozie Engineering: Deric breaks down the complex world of 3D-printed koozies and the actual math behind can sizes.

The AI "Tom" Scandal: Zac gets a "personalized" email from an AI agent that knows way too much about his Xbox mods.

Door-to-Door Combat: Strategies for handling salesmen, including the Seinfeld "Home Phone Number" maneuver.

The Garage Door Disaster: Eric’s near-death experience with spring tension and the "Cattywampus" cable.

The 50-Blade Floor: Why Eric went through an entire pack of utility blades for one rubber floor.

Editing Secrets: The Q and W keys that will save your life in Premiere Pro.

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

Zac: @ZacBuilds

Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By:

KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)

WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking

This week, we’re officially declaring a boycott on Bubly—they took away our little tab greetings, and frankly, we’re taking it personal.

Once we cool off, we dive into Zac’s latest Steam Machine build, the logistics of launching his new course, and the wild world of fake email addresses. That naturally leads to Eric confessing his life of crime and getting detained by the police in 7th grade over a Mountain Dew Xbox 360 giveaway gone wrong. We also try to solve Eric’s bathroom renovation design crisis (to Shou Sugi Ban or not to Shou Sugi Ban?), discuss the eerie targeted ads you get when you just think of something, and share a cautionary tale about sealing off your office with fresh polyurethane on the shelves.

Grab your beverage of choice (even if it's a tab-less sparkling water), and let's get into it.

In this episode, we cover:

The great Bubly tab betrayal and morning carbonation etiquette

Zac’s Steam Machine video and course launch strategies

Why giving out fake emails is necessary (especially at car dealerships)

Eric’s accidental identity theft and police interrogation as a kid

Design advice for Eric’s half-bath renovation (Sage green? Black cabinets?)

The "Porcelain Pac" and the paranoia of targeted bathroom ads

Why you shouldn't close the door when polyurethane is curing(drying?)

The bandwidth limits of 8K monitors and the cables we are sold

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

Zac: @ZacBuilds

Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By:

KM Tools kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO

WTB Woodworking wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway

Gorilla Glue http://gorillatough.com/offthecut

#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking #GorillaTough

Let’s be honest, half of this episode is just us battling the machines.Eric finally figures out why his gigabit internet is crawling (spoiler: mesh networks are liars), and Zac drops some serious cash on a Wi-Fi 7 router only to realize it sounds like last Thanksgivings turkey in the dryer on perma-press. We also dive deep into the current state of AI—from how “tokens” actually work to why chatbots confidently overlook some Apple products and how MacBook Pros that smell like rotten eggs, are to be expected.

We help Zac workshop a name for his upcoming console modding course, Eric drops some hard truths on the absolute racket that is email marketing, and Deric tears his living room apart looking for that thumb drive he lost because he refuses to network his editing computers.Deric installed shop lights so bright his cat thinks she’s being abducted.

Chapter Markers:

00:00 - We skip the ads (You're welcome)

08:00 - Eric’s Mesh Network Betrayal & The 2.4GHz Bottleneck

16:40 - Zac’s Screaming Wi-Fi 7 Router Modification

18:34 - Using AI to Talk You Out of $500 Purchases

21:50 - What the Hell are AI "Tokens" Anyway?

28:54 - AI Hallucinations: AirPods Pro 3 & Egg-Scented MacBooks

36:00 - Workshopping Zac's Console Modding Course Name

48:20 - The Extortion Bracket of Email Marketing

55:10 - Deric Loses His Mind (And His Thumb Drive)

01:02:04 - Blinding the Cat with New Shop Lights

01:06:50 - Why Burglars Don't Want Your TV Anymore

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

• Zac: @ZacBuilds

• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By: 

KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)

WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking

We are back for Episode 210, and despite the technical gremlins trying to take down the live stream early on, we made it through. This week, Deric is back from Hawaii with a harsh reality check about trying to edit video on an airplane. Zac is deep in the trenches of filming his new console modding courses and discovering that recording voiceovers might actually be a form of physical torture. Meanwhile, Eric is buried in work and debating the ultimate woodworker's dilemma: do you build the custom dressers, or do you just swallow your pride and buy them?

We also dive into a viewer follow-up about the origins of green beer , debate whether the AI industry is conspiring to eat all the SD cards , and try to solve Eric's "chicken and egg" home renovation nightmare regarding rose gold trim.

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

• Zac: @ZacBuilds

• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By: 

KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)

WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking 

Eric and Zac try to hold down the fort while Deric is soaking up the sun in Hawaii , and predictably, it ends with Eric's internet dying and a desperate pivot to the aftershow.

Before the total system failure, the guys actually covered a lot of ground. Zac breaks down the absolute necessity of negotiating everything from your Adobe subscription to a root canal. Eric shares his nightmare week ruining a walnut desk finish and the agonizing awkwardness of sitting half-naked in a dermatologist's office. Plus, we discuss Airbnb pricing hacks , the death of WorkbenchCon , and why Staples is entering its "Blockbuster phase." 

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

• Zac: @ZacBuilds

• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By: 

KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)

WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking 

We challenged Deric to keep up an Irish accent for the whole show, he didn't even last three seconds. We kick things off with a reality check on the recent windstorms that turned our backyards into obstacle courses and honest landscapers into price gouging armies. 

Zac gets brutally honest about his latest project: XPS foam panel speakers. After being bought into the YouTube hype, he discovered that without a subwoofer and a $200 microphone, they sound less like high-fidelity audio and more like a musical birthday card.

Meanwhile, Deric shares how he turned Gemini AI into a high-functioning shop assistant by uploading photos of burnt-out capacitors. Fixing a "dead" motor for 13 bucks and balancing water chemistry without the usual guesswork.

In this episode, we also discuss:

• The Arborist "Opportunity": Why a split branch in the neighborhood suddenly costs $2,500 when demand is high.

• The Honda Fit "Clunk": Why Eric decided to "lube the bejesus" out of a strut mount bearing rather than spend $1,000 on a 16-year-old car.

• Dealerships vs. Online Buyers: Why online services often offer more for your trade-in than the local dealer ever will.

• Woodshop Cat: Deric’s solution for a cat that decided the house rugs are its new litter box.

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

Join the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast

Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ

Merch: https://www.spencleydesignco.com

Start a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432

Follow the Hosts:

• Zac: @ZacBuilds

• Eric: @SpencleyDesignCo

• Deric: @PecanTreeDesign

Proudly Sponsored By: 

KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)

WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)

#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking