The Joiner's Bench
“Welcome to The Joiner’s Bench — stories, skills, and conversations from the heart of the woodshop. I’m Steven, founder of The Joinery, and every other week I’ll be here sharing reflections, lessons, and stories from inside the shop. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been working with your hands for years — this is your bench too.”
The Joiner's Bench
S1E2 -The Tool That Change Everything
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The Joinery, LLC
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Season 1
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Episode 2
🪑 Episode 2: The Tool That Changed Everything
Host: Steven
Length: ~23 minutes
🔧 In This Episode
In Episode 2, Steven dives into the transformative power of tools—not just how they cut wood, but how they shape confidence, skill, and craft identity. From the humble card scraper to the mighty power mortiser, this episode is a deep-dive into the tools that make woodworking click.
You’ll hear:
- A shop story featuring a member’s “mandolin-style” card scraper moment
- Why Steven finally embraced the power mortiser (and which one now lives at The Joinery)
- Thoughts on choosing the right tool without breaking the bank—or your spirit
- A reflection on the first tool that opened Steven’s eyes to fine woodworking: a precision fence upgrade that changed everything
- Tips on avoiding "unitasker" gimmicks and spending smarter on tools
- Ask the Joiner: Rip vs. Crosscut blades—do they really matter?
🔎 Mentioned Resources
- Mark Adams School of Woodworking
- Lost Art Press – Especially the “Never Sponsored” blog on Substack
- Powermatic Mortiser
- Simple Green Cleaner for blade maintenance
- Diablo 40T Combination Blade – Steven’s go-to for most cuts
đź’¬ Have a tool that changed your woodworking journey?
Drop Steven a line at joinery@thejoinery.club or leave a comment on the episode’s blog post [link needed].
đź› Tools & Topics Mentioned
- Card Scraper / Cabinet Scraper – What it is and how to use it correctly
- Power Mortiser – Specifically, the Powermatic floor-standing mortiser now available at The Joinery [link needed]
- Mark Adams School of Woodworking – Highly recommended for hands-on learning [link needed]
- Biesemeyer Fence – The upgrade that took Steven from “industrial” to “intentional” [link needed]
- Tool buying strategy: Why waiting (and trying before buying) is often the smarter move
- The “Unitasker” Rule – Inspired by Alton Brown’s kitchen wisdom: avoid gimmicky, single-use tools
- Combination Table Saw Blades – Are they enough? (Spoiler: yes, in most cases)
- Blade Maintenance Tip: Clean with 50/50 Simple Green for a sharper edge without sharpening
🧰 Pro Tips from the Bench
- Don’t rush tool buying—try tools in class or community shops first