In this episode of Whatcha Makin', hosts Alex Duffey (Duffey Woodcraft) and Alex Adams (Type A Furniture) dive deep into the sharp world of CNC router bits. They are joined by special guest Liberty the Creator from IDC Woodcraft, who shares her journey from a small-town barista to a CNC bit expert and content creator.

The crew discusses their current projects, ranging from high-end furniture to experimental 3D builds:

• Alex Duffey: Wrapping up a custom cribbage board video for the CNC Summit, finishing a reclaimed barnwood piece, and installing a unique "L-shaped" floating walnut bookshelf for his wife.
• Alex Adams: Battling "bowed and cupped" boards for a massive walnut dining table and managing the "creative chaos" of his son’s spring break shop projects.
• Liberty: Developing a complex 3D spiral dice tower using only 2D toolpaths—avoiding 3D modeling software as a personal challenge.

Liberty pulls back the curtain on IDC Woodcraft, discussing why quality carbide and proper "chucking" (bit placement) are the difference between a clean carve and a snapped tool.

• The "Starter Six": Alex Duffey breaks down his essential list for beginners: V-60, 1/4" down-cut, bowl bit, 1/8" down-cut, 1/4" ball nose, and the specialized Lightning Drill Bit for cribbage boards.
• Pro Tips: Why you should avoid bit adapters, the science behind bit coatings, and the importance of chip ejection to prevent shop fires.
• Behind the Scenes: Liberty shares the "small-town" origin story of working with Garrett (the IDC Woodman) and how the company maintains a personal touch—velvet bags and M&Ms included.

• Broken Bits: Alex Adams laments a 1/16" drill bit permanently embedded in a door.
• Restoration Fails: A struggle to repair a sentimental shark toy with CA glue and heat before turning to construction caulk.
• Aging Makers: The group reflects on the physical toll of "wood reorgs" and moving heavy slabs.

• Edick Wood Carving: Incredible hand-carved maple owl feathers.
• Standish Wood Story: A philosophical look at when one truly becomes a "woodworker."
• Citrus Cedar: A clever, non-utilitarian dumbbell cabinet with a transforming lid.
• Alexander Brothers: Exquisite rocking chairs featuring tiny, hand-carved mice and cats.
• John Malecki: The massive, multi-material Stranger Things Upside Down table.
• Evergreen Daydream: Intricate Intarsia landscapes with natural-colored woods.
• Fog River (Ben Whitten): An 8-foot round conference table made from a single slab of the world's largest walnut tree.
• Shallow Creek Woodcraft: Ash side tables featuring striking diagonal walnut accents.

In this episode of What You’re Making, hosts Alex Duffey (Duffey Woodcraft) and Alex Adams (Type A Furniture) are joined by Logan Newman of Newman Specials Woodworks. Logan, a full-time high school opticianry teacher by day and an obsessive maker by night, shares the fascinating story of how he balances teaching students to make eyeglasses for the community with his prolific woodworking business.

The trio dives deep into the world of routers, a topic Logan knows intimately as he prepares for the release of his upcoming book on the subject.

• Alex Duffey: Ramping up production for "UFO Fest" in May, including new tiered price points for his signature UFO dioramas (complete with cows and Sasquatch).
• Logan Newman: Battling the "stress of the side-hustle" while fulfilling orders for his famous Jefferson book stands and developing a new large-format portable router table.
• Alex Adams: Sharing the ups and downs of a walnut dining table build, including the nuances of vertical glue-ups and the importance of supporting heavy panel clamps.

In this episode of What You're Making, Alex Duffey of Duffey Woodcraft and Alex Adams of Type-A Furniture dive deep into the world of woodworking finishes—how to choose the right one, the science behind how they cure, and why you might actually be eating bug poop with your favorite candy.

• The Legend of Johnny Appleseed: Celebrating Johnny Appleseed Day (March 11th) with the strange history of hard cider and a 180-year-old tree in Ohio that refused to die even after two lightning strikes.
• What’s on the Bench:
  • Alex Duffey talks about a massive rush order of acrylic sock forms for Columbia Footwear and his latest obsession: building an emergency Mesh communication network for the Pacific Northwest.
  • Alex Adams details the painstaking process of domino alignment for a walnut table and his "unpopular opinion" on why he doesn't lend out tools.
• Shop Talk & Fails: From 4.1 magnitude earthquakes in Nebraska to shattering antennas and getting "hit in the groin" with apples during a double date, the guys share the messy reality of maker life.
• Main Topic: Choosing the Right Finish: * Durability vs. Aesthetics: How to balance the "look" of the wood with the lifestyle of the client.
  • The Big Three: A breakdown of Oils (Hard Wax, Tongue Oil), Film Finishes (Lacquer, Polyurethane), and the universal binder, Shellac.
  • The "M&M" Secret: Why Shellac is actually a bug byproduct and how it keeps your chocolate from melting in your hand.
  • The Nuclear Option: When and why to use Tabletop Epoxy (and why Alex Duffey is using it for a tattoo shop coffee table).

This week on Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams are joined by the multi-talented Jeremy Hilliard of Ten10 Woodworxs and host of the Against the Grain podcast! Jeremy shares his journey from running a print shop to building a successful maker business specializing in custom foam inserts and high-end epoxy signage. We dive deep into the world of advertising for small businesses—discussing the difference between marketing and advertising, the effectiveness of direct mail and local networking, and how to represent your brand through custom banners and vehicle decals.

The trio also catches up on their latest bench projects. Alex Duffey recaps his successful run at BrewFest, selling out of his new dice games, and his recent transition into the world of Meshtastic off-grid radios. Alex Adams shares a "science fair" update on testing 3D print filament strength with his son and the nerve-wracking process of pushing a BB gun buttstock through his bandsaw.

In "Whatcha Watchin'," the hosts highlight incredible community work, including Happy Life Wood’s mind-bending wooden sneaker sculptures, a functional sculptural decanter by Mahad Art, and the playful marquetry of RP Basilio.

Whether you're looking to refine your customer "persona" or just want to hear about the "CNC vasectomy" challenge, this episode is packed with business insights and plenty of maker humor!

This week on Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams welcome the "secret third host" of the show, Patrick Gensel from Crafted with Machines! The trio dives into the often-expensive world of tool purchase regrets. From the proprietary ecosystem of the Glowforge to the surprising realization that a track saw isn't for everyone, the hosts get honest about the machines that mostly just collect dust in their shops. They discuss how targeted social media marketing can lead to "buyer’s remorse" and the importance of researching an ecosystem before committing.

The guys also share their current shop updates: Alex Duffey recaps his successful Sasquatch Fest prep using ColorCore HDPE and his seamless transition to the Bambu Lab 3D printer. Patrick details his new Thunder Aurora Light fiber laser and a clever desktop focus timer built with an Arduino, while Alex Adams continues his marathon walnut dining table build, dealing with the frustration of a track saw that fell out of 90-degree calibration.

In "Whatcha Watchin'," we highlight some incredible community talent, including Happy Life Wood's wooden sneaker sculptures, Night Carver Designs' ice-carving eulogy, and a "last of us" inspired marquetry piece by Albert A. Klein.

Whether you're looking to avoid your next bad tool purchase or just want to hear about Alex's "midlife crisis" ear piercings, this episode is packed with hard-earned maker wisdom!

Summary

In this episode, hosts Alex Duffey and Alex Adams discuss their recent experiences in woodworking, including challenges faced in the shop, the importance of finding one's style, and the impact of market experiences on their craft. They share insights on epoxy projects, CNC technology, and upcoming events for makers. The conversation emphasizes the value of experimentation, community engagement, and the journey of personal growth in the woodworking field.

This week on Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams welcome special guest Thomas from Thomas Custom Woodworks! Thomas, a former PE teacher turned viral woodworking creator, joins the show to discuss the art of the shop project. Operating out of a 198-square-foot garage bay, Thomas has mastered the niche of designing space-saving workshop furniture like flip-top tool carts and folding workbenches. He gives us a deep dive into his upcoming digital course, "Master Your Power Tools," designed to help beginners calibrate and safely operate the seven most common shop tools.

The hosts recap their own busy weeks in the shop: Alex Duffey celebrates his "Lego January" break while successfully transitioning to a Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer and prepping for Sasquatch Fest. Alex Adams shares a marathon update on his 11-foot walnut dining table, detailing the "Jenga-like" process of milling boards around hidden nails and iron staining. He also wraps up a massive corporate order of cherry serving trays and turned barbecue handles.

In "Whatcha Watchin'," the crew highlights mind-blowing work from the community, including Happy Life Wood's incredible wooden Solomon shoes, a Lord of the Rings popup book by Lyman Jeffrey, and a custom 3D-printed vintage radio designed for dementia patients.

Tune in for a wealth of knowledge on shop layout, the benefits of digital plans.

In this episode of Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams pull back the curtain on one of the most stressful aspects of running a maker business: quoting custom projects. Alex Duffey shares his hard-and-fast formula for pricing (Material Cost x 1.3 for wear + Shop Rate x 2 for profit), while Alex Adams discusses his more exploratory approach, involving detailed client interviews, sketching, and the "all-upfront" payment model to weed out non-serious leads. They also dive into the infamous "F-Off price"—when to use it and why you should never lower your rates just to "get the job."

The hosts also catch up on their current "bench" status. Alex Duffey is prepping for Sasquatch Fest using ColorCore HDPE for the first time to create unique caution signs and catchall trays. He also details his foray into resin casting with silicone molds for his UFO lamps. Alex Adams is deep into holiday serving tray production, dealing with dull helical head jointer blades, and navigating the logistical nightmare of milling 11-foot-long sentimental walnut boards filled with hidden nails.

In "Whatcha Watchin'," the duo highlights incredible work from the community, including a Lord of the Rings popup book by Lyman Jeffrey and a high-stakes table restoration video by Johnny Builds. Plus, a science-nerd tangent on the Northern Lights and solar flares!