This is the last episode of 2007 and it's been a great year for Matt's Basement Workshop.  Thank you to all of you listeners, both old and new...without you, I'm just a guy talking to himself in a basement workshop.

For this episode we once again had a chance to talk with Hendrik Varju, owner and operator of Passion for Wood.  Hendrik is returning to the show after our first interview with him regarding his new DVD "Jointer and Planer Secrets" and we have a chance today to pick his brain on hand applied finishes. 

We all could use a little help when it comes to finishing our projects, whether it's choosing the right finish to apply or just understanding which technique is best to apply that finish with.  Hendrik has some great answers and I know all of you will learn something just the way I did.

Take care over the Christmas Holiday and I look forward to starting all over in 2008.  Keep those emails and schwag entries coming in, your suggestions and ideas keep this show rolling.  Send them to mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com

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You asked for it, and you got it! A hot and fresh episode before the holiday! Topics covered include simple finishes, cheap pocket hole jigs, rough table saw cuts, and the introduction of Kaleo’s new podcast on KaleosWorkshop.com. The show is a little rushed because I had a vet appointment for my dog, but there are quite a few tidbits worth listening to. Enjoy!

So I didn't have time to put together another show on the speciality planes...with all this Holiday and Christmas stuff going on.  So for today's show I thought it was time to share some of my favorite resources on the internet with you for anything and everything hand tools.

Of course there's a long time favorite that we've been visiting and discussing for awhile now... www.supertool.com "Patrick's Blood and Gore"

Another resource for everything hand tools is www.oldtoolsshop.com, any of you "galootish" characters are probably already members of this website.

There's always www.lumberjocks.com, where many discussions of hand tools has arisen.

You can visit Bob Kaune's website www.antique-used-tools.com for finding all those parts and resources you can't find elsewhere.  And this is also true for www.highlandwoodworking.com where you can find misc. parts for your hand planes.

And of course the really big one to find planes and tools is www.ebay.com

And of course you can also turn to Planecraft , "The Hand Plane Book" by Garrett Hack and Andy Rae's "Choosing and Using Hand Tools"

Have a question about traditional joinery techniques?  Hendrik Varju returns in January to answer your questions, so get them in to the same place where you can ask me questions, enter your name for schwag or just say hi... mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com

The chisel plane is the ideal choice for getting into tight, hard to reach places that ordinary planes could never get to.

Consisting of a body with no mouth or toe, the blade of the chisel plane protrudes out the front edge.  This is what allows it to get into those tight areas, but it's also the reason that the blade must be set for very light cuts.  If the proper hand pressure isn't maintained, it's possible for the blade to dig deep into the cutting surface vs. making its paring cut.

Currently Lie-Nielsen is making a modern day version of the chisel plane.  In fact they're making two versions, one big and one small.

Click Here To See Them

My resources for all things hand planes...Patrick's Blood and Gore at www.supertool.com , Planecraft , "The Hand Plane Book" by Garrett Hack.

Have a question about traditional joinery techniques?  Hendrik Varju returns in January to answer your questions, so get them in to the same place where you can ask me questions, enter your name for schwag or just say hi... mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com

I've talked enough about it in previous episodes so let's review it.  Planecraft is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about using, choosing and understanding hand planes.

Currently available exclusively through Woodcraft.  Pick up your copy by clicking here Planecraft 

Congrats to this week's winners J. Parsons and Jerry Loethen!

Have a question about traditional joinery techniques?  Hendrik Varju returns in January to answer your questions, so get them in to the same place where you can ask me questions, enter your name for schwag or just say hi... mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com

The bullnose plane is used for making rabbet joinery, more specifically stopped rabbets.  With its short toe it's easier to fit the bullnose into tighter corners, and makes it that much more user friendly when cleaning up and adjusting rabbets.

My resources for all things hand planes...Patrick's Blood and Gore at www.supertool.com , Planecraft , "The Hand Plane Book" by Garrett Hack.

Have a question about traditional joinery techniques?  Hendrik Varju returns in January to answer your questions, so get them in to the same place where you can ask me questions, enter your name for schwag or just say hi... mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com

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This week, Matt and Marc are wingin’ it! Part of the reason is because of Marc’s technical recording difficulties. Marc is currently working on a sculpted end-table and for The Wood Whisperer and Matt brings up his concerns about The Woodworking Shows. Marc then reviews the new tools being offered by Festool. Our first email was from Austin who needed finishing advice for his new kitchen table. Our second voicemail came from Roberto who wanted to know why most folks opt for router tables, instead of shapers. Marc recommends this Fine Woodworking Article. Our emails include questions about patterns and templates, jointer chatter, finishing the inside of a box, and mortising machines.

Don’t forget if you have a woodworking question, you can leave us a message at 623-242-2450, or you can email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com

The original metal bodied router plane most people think of is the Stanley #71 followed by the Stanley #71-1/2.  Of course given that the Stanley numbering system often doesn't make sense to anyone, except for the original Stanley designers and engineers themselves, it would make sense that we might not know essentially they're both the same plane just with a slight difference.

The easiest way to explain the difference between the two is just to look at the modern versions available at Lie-Nielsen or Veritas.  Lie-Nielsen's version is equivalent to the original #71 while Veritas has based their's on the #71-1/2.

My resources for all things hand planes...Patrick's Blood and Gore at www.supertool.com , Planecraft , "The Hand Plane Book" by Garrett Hack.

Have a question about traditional joinery techniques?  Hendrik Varju returns in January to answer your questions, so get them in to the same place where you can ask me questions, enter your name for schwag or just say hi... mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com

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For the month of December, Woodcraft is featuring Whiteside's Edge Beading Bit.  A great profile bit for giving your projects that little extra something.

The 5/16" diameter bead that's cut by the Edge Beading Bit dresses up table aprons, rails, stiles, drawer fronts or can be used to make applied mouldings.

Whether used on the face or the edge of a board, the Edge Beading Bit is a nice addition to your router bit collection.

Congrats to this month's winner Jason Howard!  If you didn't win this month but you're interested in picking up an Edge Beading Bit at the great price being offered by Woodcraft, Click here to buy the Edge Beading Bit

For the month of December, Woodcraft is featuring Whiteside's Edge Beading Bit.  A great profile bit for giving your projects that little extra something.

The 5/16" diameter bead that's cut by the Edge Beading Bit dresses up table aprons, rails, stiles, drawer fronts or can be used to make applied mouldings.

Whether used on the face or the edge of a board, the Edge Beading Bit is a nice addition to your router bit collection.

Congrats to this month's winner Jason Howard!  If you didn't win this month but you're interested in picking up an Edge Beading Bit at the great price being offered by Woodcraft, Click here to buy the Edge Beading Bit

The router plane is becoming popular once again.  Both Lie-Nielsen and Veritas are making modern versions of the old Stanley No.71 and 71-1/2.

Don't let the name fool you, the router plane is not a hand plane version of the power router.  The router plane doesn't have a large assortment of profiles and cutter shapes, that would be the multiplanes...a whole different show to come.

But instead the router plane is the perfect tool for perfecting less than perfect dados and mortises.  For more information check out either Garrett Hack's "The Handplane Book" or Patrick's Superior Works at www.supertool.com

Don't forget to get your name in for free schwag, just drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com .

The next episode in our talk of speciality planes, let's talk about the edge trimming plane.  A single minded plane, the edge trimmer is meant for ensuring that edges of boards are exactly 90 degrees to the adjoining faces.

The body consists of two faces, one that is the sole of the plane through which the blade projects.  And the other is essentially a built in fence exactly 90 degrees to the blade.

The blade sits in the body bevel up and at a 25 degree angle, thus making it a great plane for end grain work...

Remember to get your name in for free schwag if you haven't done it already ... mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com