A furniture maker needs several machines to build their work. But a table saw isn’t one of them.

Splinters are a sad and pointed part of a woodworker’s life. Reminders of several truths to be found at the bench. There are the attractions of wood, its beauty, its luster, and its grain. And then there are the moments when we forget how sharp wood can be and how direct. Listen to tales from the bench on memorable splinters and their removal as well as a short chapter from the new book: Handmade, Creative Focus in the Age of Distraction.

Your choice of wood can make a difference to your happiness in the shop. Learn about the differences between hardwoods, ring porous vs. diffuse and semi-ring porous woods, and how grain will affect the look but also how a piece moves over time. These little bits of information can help you choose the right wood for you and the job.

Our very first podcast opens with a chat about the new book by Gary Rogowski called Handmade: Creative Focus in the Age of Distraction. www.handmadecreativefocus.com. Gary is a furniture maker, author, former contributing editor at Fine Woodworking Magazine, and the Director of The Northwest Woodworking Studio, A School for Woodworkers, in Portland, Oregon. This maiden podcast is a short practical and philosophical stroll through some of the topics to be found in his new book. He touches on subjects like the only two things that woodworkers can agree upon, the “Right Way” of doing things at the bench, and forgiveness in the wood shop. The book argues for taking a chance on your creativity and the value of working with our hands in this digital age.