STL376: How Hefty is Your Handplane?

Vic Teslin (0:06)

Hey, folks, Vic Teslin here, welcome to Shop Talk Live, episode 376 Before we get too far into it, I just want to let you know that Bob Van Dyke has a new e-learning course called Hand Planing with Precision. See the link in the show notes for the information. Also, how exciting Woodworking in America will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, October 9th and 10th. Join leading woodworkers and makers for two days packed with workshops, demonstrations and camaraderie. We have an amazing lineup of presenters including Shea Alexander, Phil Huber, Ellen Casper, and even Fine Woodworking's own Owen Madden. Oh, and I'll be there too.

Check out the link in the show notes to get your tickets.

Today, I'm with Bridgid and Owen from Fine Woodworking magazine, and it kind of felt like three woodworkers hanging out and talking about, well, what woodworkers talk about. You know, like, what kind of music do we listen to in our shops, and whether or not we need a lot of heft in the hand planes we're using. We also chat about roundovers and how there's about a hundred different ways to do everything. I think you're going to like this one.

Owen Madden (1:17)

These headphones are also probably time for an upgrade. Now that I actually use them.

Vic Teslin (1:25)

Yeah, Ben's a Ben's a great resource for like tech gear like that, that isn't stupid expensive. He's also a good resource for tech stuff that is stupid expensive.

I found out that because I asked him about computer monitors like the speakers, because I guess when they're plugged into a computer, they're not speakers anymore, they're monitors. And then, so he sent me this link, and it was like $500. And I'm like, Ben, it looks like this is for one speaker. They don't come as a pair? He said, nope, he said, just one. I said, so if I want two, I gotta spend a grand. I'm like, nah.

Owen Madden (2:18)

It feels like the day I got serious about Woodworking, I was like, oh wait, how much is this stuff?

Vic Teslin (2:24)

Build your own furniture, it'll be cheaper.

Owen Madden (2:27)

Yeah, the one at Home Depot was $25, this is $250.

Vic Teslin (2:33)

I mean, really. Oh my goodness, it's just crazy.

Owen Madden (2:39)

So it's probably the same. You learn that it's like, oh, once you go that way, you can't go back, right? Like once you have the $1,000 speakers, you can't listen to anything else.

Vic Teslin (2:47)

No. But to be fair, I bought a $300 pair of speakers. And they're fine to me. And I'm not like, you know, mixing any music for anybody or, you know, I just wanted good sounding speakers so that when I'm working, I'm, you know, rocking out to some rush and.

Oh, yeah. Enjoying it.

Owen Madden (3:12)

Is your rush your go to while you're working?

Vic Teslin (3:15)

Yeah.

Owen Madden (3:17)

This is, see, this is where I like to, I'm sure you guys have talked about it at length, but like the music that you listen to in the shop is, is interesting. I think it says a lot about a person.

Vic Teslin (3:32)

Yeah.

Owen Madden (3:34)

Because I'm lyricless. I can't do lyrics in the shop. Has to be something.

I don't know. I'm a big jazz nut anyways, but I don't know. I can't focus if there's lyrics going through my head at the same time.

Vic Teslin (3:49)

I can't write with lyrics.

Bridgid Gruber (3:53)

Oh, for sure. For sure. I used to be a lot crazier with the music I listened to in the shop, upbeat pop music, but now I either listen to instrumentals or I get that Enya playlist going and that is my solid go-to. And I think all the time of this viral video and it was dash cam footage of this truck driver and he was driving and he was listening to Enya. And this guy veered in front of him really quick and his truck swerves, it starts hydroplaning or something and he's able to get back control. And later the man in the video, he credited Enya, he was like, Enya helped me stay calm during the possible car crash. And I think, and that's me in my shop, like she keeps my blood pressure low and I just want to give her a shout out if she's listening.

Please invite me to your castle, Enya.

Vic Teslin (4:48)

That's super cool. Maybe that explains why my dovetails don't turn out so great because I listen to Metallica while I'm doing them.

Bridgid Gruber (4:54)

I, you know, I would, I would do some sort of experiment on that.