Beat Around The Bench Podcast

• Fried food fantasies launch the show with cheese curds versus spicy chicken sandwiches while Jess drops knowledge about fried lasagna rolls from Dirty Dick's Crab House and Ross explores Scotch eggs plus Italian arancini balls from county fair adventures featuring fried butter on sticks• Dovetail precision becomes the star as Ross tackles twelve jewelry cabinet drawers using his trusty 1998 Porter Cable router with digital calipers providing perfect setup measurements while dealing with a customer who switched from fabric lining to marble slabs requiring three-quarter inch plywood upgrades• Mouse invasion reaches critical levels with six critters discovered in Ross's shop leading to expansion foam warfare behind electrical panels where the little freeloaders were accessing through weatherstripping gaps and apparently dying from eating toxic foam• Colton arrives fashionably late triggering embarrassing question punishment including dead body disposal strategies and whether bald restaurant workers need hairnets plus philosophical debates about indescribable descriptions and fish thirstiness• Grandfather tribute brings emotional depth as Colton shares performing his original fishing-themed song at the funeral celebration using Zach Bryan melodies to capture family memories while fighting through stage nerves and shaky knees during the heartfelt performance• Electric motor mysteries get solved through brush checking and capacitor replacement discussions while multiple broken drill press motors pile up awaiting scrap yard destiny since repair costs exceed replacement prices for most standard workshop equipment• Logging history education spans from muscle-powered misery whips requiring eighteen hours to fell single trees through steam donkey winches and timber beetle inspired chainsaw blade designs leading to modern feller buncher machines that grab cut and stack in single motions• Trivia time tests knowledge of river pigs running floating logs downstream plus skid roads becoming skid row terminology while double-bit axes featured one sharp edge for precision cutting and one rugged edge for heavy chipping work• Rum recommendations replace whiskey talk featuring plantation single barrels and foursquare finishing plus diplomatico bottles offering better value than overpriced whiskey glasses while Kraken provides decent sipping despite being mixing rum• Workshop wisdom includes baking soda concrete acceleration tricks for faster setting plus Dawn dish soap additives for creamier stucco while Ross emphasizes dovetail layout importance and Colton discovers outlet cover restoration using Dawn PowerWash construction applications

Jess makes his triumphant return after an amazing Puerto Rico vacation where he spent days laying by the pool eating taking naps and exploring the islands and he worked until 745 PM then drove an hour to make it to the podcast recording because he is a true championThe crew dives into Puerto Rico real estate opportunities where Jess discovered you can live in downtown San Juan for just a thousand bucks a month in a two story apartment or buy one and rent the bottom to a business while living upstairs which is perfect for anyone with a remote work jobChristmas food traditions take center stage as the guys share their favorites with Jess revealing his massive cookie baking operation that went through 28 sticks of butter 10 pounds of sugar 8 pounds of brown sugar and 15 pounds of flour plus making 550 Ritz cracker peanut butter sandwiches dipped in chocolate almond bark to give out to everyoneColton shares his family tradition of chicken fried venison backstrap with his mom's signature dark gravy that she makes from all the cooking drippings and it is tenderized and breaded perfectly with just the right amount of salt making it his mom's most iconic mealRoss talks about his aunt's roast beef and Yorkshire pudding which is a traditional English meal that she only makes once a year on Christmas day because it is more difficult to prepare than you would think but it means Christmas to him since Yorkshire pudding is like a thick pita that is sweet and buttery like a crepeThe conversation touches on Starlink being an option for remote work in places like Belize where Colton tried to record from Cory and Larry's place but the WiFi was too shoddy though apparently that has been fixed now so maybe they can actually work from thereRoss drops essential washing machine maintenance knowledge about spraying bleach on the gasket and leaving it to dry which eliminates mold and bacteria plus using special fresh tablets that dissolve pet hair every two weeks so it can flush out of the filters instead of building up with bacteriaThe crew discusses how harsh chemicals can eat hair without messing up clothes and Jess explains that lye is basically what super drain cleaner is made of since it eats anything organic which is why it works so well on clogsJess delivers an incredibly detailed hot water heater repair tutorial explaining that most tanks have two heating elements and you can check the wattage on the side sticker then turn off the 220 power drain the tank through the garden hose connection at the bottom and flip the pressure release valve to speed up drainingThe hot water heater lesson continues with Jess explaining how to identify broken heating elements that have breaks in them which means the circuit is no longer complete so only one tank heats or nothing heats at all and you can replace these for just 18 to 30 dollars instead of paying hundreds for a plumberJess shares his multiple trips to Home Depot saga trying to fix a leaking 1970s shutoff valve that was soldered in and discovering it works just like a water hose spigot with a nut under the handle that tightens a rubber gasket around the shaft which he was able to clean up and tighten instead of replacing

The guys agree that Alanis Mortise Set might be the best episode title so far and kick off Thanksgiving week with Colton already up in Tioga at his in laws place chopping wood and doing horse stuff while Jess is staying local because they have a big trip planned for early DecemberRoss reveals his Thanksgiving menu game is next level with a 12 to 14 hour Cajun smoked turkey using mesquite wood and injecting flavor underneath the skin like turkey Botox plus a 14 pound brisket and he shares his third favorite which is Greek style lamb roast that requires cross hatching the meat and shoving whole garlic cloves down into the skinThe crew dives deep into the perfect lamb preparation technique which involves covering the entire roast in olive oil and rosemary then slow cooking at 180 to 200 degrees for 10 hours before kicking it up to 250 for the final two hours and Ross explains you have to put it in the night before to get that perfect fall off the bone textureThis episode delivers the promised Deep Cut hair trivia segment covering everything from barbers being the original multi tool professionals to beards representing power fashion and rebellion throughout history plus mustaches going through their own eras with styles like the handlebar walrus Fu Manchu chevron and that pencil thin villain lookThe guys drop some incredible mustache facts including that Tom Selleck had his signature Magnum PI mustache insured for over a million dollars and he was originally discovered as the Marlboro man before becoming a Hollywood icon which explains his rugged lookThey reveal that Salvador Dali famously stiffened his pencil thin mustache with shellac and waxed it vertically to impossible angles creating his trademark surrealist look and the word mustache actually comes from the Greek word mystax which translates to lip bristle or upper lip hairColton shares a story about dressing up as Tom Selleck for Halloween which is when his wife Crystal fell in love with him and there is apparently a secret bar in Houston called the handlebar with Tom Selleck pictures all over the walls constantly playing his movies on the TVsJess launches into a passionate snipe about Home Depot trailer parking spots being taken by regular vehicles when contractors with actual trailers need them and he cannot understand why Home Depot does not enforce the rules better especially since there are literally a thousand other parking spots availableThe conversation shifts to practical shop knowledge with Jess explaining the three four five rule for squaring corners using basic trigonometry where you measure three feet one way four feet the other way and if the diagonal between those points is exactly five feet then you have a perfect 90 degree cornerRoss shares two essential home maintenance nuggets including using SharkBite fittings for copper pipe connections which plumbers might not love but work great for amateur DIYers and the importance of updating old fixtures like shutoff valves and gas line connections when you have appliances pulled out since his 1976 original connections were causing water damage

The crew kicks off with an epic hot sauce showdown where Jess reveals his new number one favorite is Lolas hot sauce especially the regga original which is absolutely insane on tacos and their ghost pepper version which is surprisingly not too crazy hot because it is mostly jalapenos with some ghost pepper and has this amazing smoky flavor that he discovered when Dixies was going out of business at 95 percent offColton shares his love for Marie Sharp Belizean heat habanero hot sauce because it has enough kick to get you going but will not stay around making you sweat and miserable for hours like some of those nuclear hot sauces that ruin your entire day and the next morning tooRoss drops his three tier hot sauce system starting with Trader Joes green dragon tomatillo hot sauce for everyday use that enhances flavor without killing you then classic Franks red hot that literally goes on everything just like the commercials say and finally his special occasion weapon called Z which is the second hottest hot sauce in the world rated at 20 million Scoville units compared to Tabasco at only 1400The guys get into an absolutely wild story where Ross had to sign a legal waiver just to purchase the Z hot sauce promising not to give it to children or the elderly and then he accidentally got some on his finger and put in his contact lens which literally dropped him to the floor in pain and he had to throw away that pair of contacts because it burned for two full daysJess explains the science behind hot peppers revealing that most people think the heat comes from the seeds but actually the majority of the capsaicin is in the white pith part where the seeds attach to the pepper and he talks about the guy who invented the Carolina Reaper who just eats them straight off the vine like it is nothingThe conversation shifts to an exciting preview of next weeks episode titled Deep Cut A Hair Raising Story which will cover everything about barbers beards mustaches scissors and the strange human obsession with keratin including segments about the earliest hair rituals how barbers were the original multi tool professionals and famous hairstyles through historyRoss and Jess drop some mustache trivia including the fact that Tom Selleck had his signature Magnum PI mustache insured for over a million dollars and he was originally discovered as a model for Marlboro which was his very first gig before becoming a Hollywood iconThey reveal that Salvador Dali famously stiffened his pencil thin mustache with shellac and waxed it vertically to create those impossible angles that became his trademark look and the term mustache actually comes from the Greek word mystax which translates roughly to lip bristleJess points out how the current era of woodworking is all about beards and mustaches after noticing at Woodworking BitchCon that everyone looked the same with leather patch hats beards and similar styles making it almost like a uniform for makersThe guys also mention that there is a secret Tiki bar in Houston called the handlebar with an unmarked door in the back that has pictures of Tom Selleck all over the walls and they constantly play his movies on the TVs which sounds like an amazing place to grab a drink

The crew welcomes special guest Chad Schimmel from Turners Warehouse who Colton literally ran into by accident when he called their shop at 450 PM on one of his last days in Arizona and they were still waiting for the mail so he got to tour the whole facility and meet Chad who has been using the mullet technique ever sinceChad shares his incredible journey from being a woodturner hobbyist in Arizona to building a full time business and eventually starting Turners Warehouse which specializes in everything woodturning with a focus on pens and resin casting work making them the go to niche store for turners instead of being like Woodcraft with a little bit of everythingJess opens up about how woodturning is his absolute favorite type of woodworking because it is so personal and hands on with just you and the lathe creating something unique and he talks about the big Grizzly lathe he had at his last company where they would turn 40 inch legs for bar height tables which was a long process but incredibly satisfyingThe guys discuss how woodturning gives you that instant gratification because you can start and finish a project in just a couple hours compared to cabinet work or other woodworking projects that might take days or weeks or even months depending on how much shop time you can squeeze inChad reveals he has an 1805 foot powered treadle lathe that he rescued from a Bass Pro Shop where it was sitting in the Arizona sun getting destroyed after being a mint condition display inside the store and he plans to fully restore it with all the hand forged metal parts and actually use it to turn projects the old school wayThe conversation dives into how Chad got started in turning by making fishing lures on a lathe because he loves to fish and was making replicas of old Heddon lures before discovering pen kits at Woodcraft and eventually making so many pens for gifts that he decided to sell them just to get his money backChad explains his massive vacuum chamber setup in his shop that looks like a witches brew with multiple buckets bubbling away and how it is used for stabilizing wood and removing air bubbles from resin casting which is a huge part of the business at Turners Warehouse for making custom pen blanks and turning projectsThe discussion shifts to Facebook Marketplace horror stories where people try to lowball offers and haggle backwards offering less money after you counter their initial offer or asking you to deliver a 400 pound table saw 30 miles away for 25 bucks or ghosting after agreeing to a priceJess shares his experiences with people trying to guilt trip him into lower prices by claiming to be single mothers when selling appliances and how the whole Facebook Marketplace experience has become such a widespread frustration that there are TikTok memes and videos about it including that hilarious guy who acts out if Facebook Marketplace happened in real lifeRoss reminds everyone that next week the crew will be sharing their Black Friday deals and steals list for all the best woodworking tool bargains and Jess mentions his Brad nailer died so he might be getting a new Milwaukee M18 two inch nailer because they do not make that size in the M12 line

The crew starts off talking about Florence and the Machine and how Dog Days Are Over was that one massive hit that everyone has heard but might not realize who sings it which leads to some fun nostalgia about early 2010s musicJess shares an incredible story about a Mexican TikToker who started with just 700 dollars in his pocket living in his car and now travels to all 50 states reviewing tacos and burritos with his cousin while helping small businesses by buying hundreds of tacos and creating massive community events with DJs and thousands of people showing up for free foodThe breakfast food debate gets serious as Jess reveals that breakfast is his absolute favorite meal and he could eat breakfast foods from any country for every single meal especially American country breakfast which sparks a deep dive into everyone's perfect breakfast setupColton breaks down his ultimate breakfast bowl on the Blackstone griddle starting with crispy hash browns as the base then adding over easy eggs bacon and sausage with shredded cheese and Cholula hot sauce on top because griddle cooked bacon just hits different than any other cooking methodThe guys discover Krusteaz sweet cream pancakes which are apparently the best add water pancake mix you can buy and Colton explains his technique of pouring the batter directly onto a pat of butter on the griddle to create these amazing thick pancakes that are almost like fat crepesDiscussion shifts to thermally modified wood and Shou Sugi Ban which is that Japanese technique of charring wood to make it last forever by crystallizing the sugars so bugs cannot get in and it turns out people in countries without money have been doing similar preservation techniques for centuriesColton brings up his fence building plans and the debate between using pressure treated four by fours versus landscape timbers or trying the Shou Sugi Ban method with Jess strongly advocating that you should just spend the money on pressure treated lumber because it will last forever and save you from having to rebuildThe conversation gets into the new foam method for setting fence posts where you dig a bell shaped hole and pour expanding foam around the post instead of concrete and it sets in just minutes instead of waiting for concrete to cure plus it keeps moisture off the post betterJess explains that the foam technique is way faster because you can set a post every five minutes and move on without waiting for concrete to dry and it is somewhat porous but better than concrete for keeping water away from the wood which is what causes rot over timeRoss wraps things up with an important safety reminder about always working smarter not harder in the shop and thinking about the safest way to accomplish heavy lifting tasks like moving a massive butcher block by using equipment that is actually designed for lifting heavy objects

The guys kick things off with some hilarious memories about House of Pain's Jump Around and how it became the ultimate party anthem at college house parties and even makes entire stadiums literally shake at University of Wisconsin football gamesHalloween candy showdown gets real as the crew debates their favorites from Snickers and Reese's to the controversial Almond Joy while Colton defends his love of coconut in everything including coconut water which leads to some serious trash talk about candy corn being the worst Halloween candy ever inventedJess shares an awesome story about how his mom used to make homemade Reese's style peanut butter bars back in the 80s at school lunch which sparked his lifelong obsession with the perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolateThe conversation takes a turn into shop safety territory as the hosts get serious about woodworking accidents and share their personal experiences with close calls in the workshop including table saw incidents and the importance of always knowing where your emergency supplies are locatedRoss drops some incredible knowledge about keeping hockey tape in the shop as an essential first aid tool because it stretches well and you can apply it with one hand if you get injured plus you can rip it with your teeth which makes it way better than regular athletic tape for emergenciesThe crew talks about proper first aid kit placement in your workshop and why your eye wash station needs to be somewhere you could find with your eyes closed because when accidents happen you need immediate access to emergency supplies without climbing ladders or searching aroundJess gets real about infection being a massive concern in woodworking shops because even though your shop might look clean it is always dirty and even a minor cut can become a serious problem if not treated properly with disinfectant immediatelyThey discuss how clean cuts from table saws are actually better for reattachment surgery compared to other types of shop injuries but the real danger comes from tripping hazards impalement risks and head injuries from cast iron equipment or falling while carrying heavy cabinetsThe guys share stories about job site safety including why rebar needs those little orange caps and how Jess nearly got impaled by plumbing pipes sticking out of an epoxy floor that blended in perfectly with the clouds design which could have been a final destination momentEveryone agrees that shop accidents are not a matter of if but when so the most important thing is to slow down no matter what deadline you are facing because rushing in the workshop is when people get hurt and no project is worth losing a finger or worse

Jess, Colton and Ross kick things off with a hilarious deep dive into their favorite food bowls, from Mexican rice bowls to Mediterranean cauliflower shawarma, proving that woodworkers know their way around both a workshop and a kitchenThe guys get real about plywood selection for cabinet making and why choosing the right material can make or break your project, especially when you're dealing with painted versus stained finishesColton shares his journey setting up a proper workshop space and the challenges of organizing tools when you're constantly moving between job sites and home projectsBig discussion about pocket holes versus traditional joinery methods for face frames, with the hosts weighing in on when to use each technique and why some old school woodworkers still give them griefRoss drops a mind blowing story about getting quoted 140 thousand dollars for a covered pergola setup, which sparks a conversation about contractor pricing and DIY alternatives that could save you serious cashThe crew talks about undermount drawer slides and why they're game changers for cabinet projects once you figure out the installation process, with Jess explaining how he finally cracked the codePractical advice on dealing with shop mistakes and burnout, including the golden rule of walking away when things start going sideways instead of pushing through and making it worseStories about garage renovations and the reality of balancing client work with personal shop projects when space and time are both limitedThe boys discuss different cabinet construction methods and share tips on building quality pieces that will last, from proper drawer box assembly to choosing the right hardwareColton breaks down his griddle cooking setup and how he's been perfecting potato bowls with smash burgers, because apparently these woodworkers are serious about their food game tooReal talk about the business side of woodworking including pricing projects, managing client expectations, and knowing when to walk away from deals that don't make senseThe episode wraps with the guys reflecting on staying motivated in the trade and remembering why they love woodworking even when projects get challenging or clients get difficult

• Burger bonanza kicks off with Five Guys extra bacon recommendations competing against Kuma's Corner heavy metal burger joints serving half-pound pretzel bun creations named after metal bands while Goblin Cock burger combines Vienna beef hot dog toppings creating food comas lasting entire weekends• Guest introduction welcomes Justin Hobart from Ambrose Design whose woodworking journey began working maximum security prison sixteen-hour shifts before basement craftsman table saws launched ring-making operations using mini lathes and diamond inlays while spray foam insulation jobs provided sweaty Tyvek suit misery• Rapid-fire questions reveal cats dominate jerk animal rankings while horse-sized duck battles seem manageable compared to fifty duck-sized horses plus potato life goals involve finding Mrs. Potato Head and Taylor Swift karaoke requires ten drinks minimum before attempting• Prison code education teaches "12" means police presence somewhere nearby while Chicago terminology differs creating regional communication mysteries plus TED Talk expertise centers on inspecting cat buttholes demonstrating questionable presentation topics• Ross jewelry cabinet saga continues with drawer rail disasters requiring complete disassembly after forgotten lock channels plus moving blanket grease stains and blue fuzzies destroying fresh white paint forcing shop returns and customer negotiations for high-gloss lacquer upgrades• Benjamin Moore accent paint promises lacquer-like curing over two weeks requiring proper spray tip sizing switching from 313 to 210 nozzles preventing drip catastrophes while JC Licht paint store expertise saves projects from Home Depot bear cabinet enamel mediocrity• Undermount drawer glide advocacy intensifies as side-mount failures plague forty-inch wide drawers creating alignment nightmares while commercial cabinet companies embrace adjustable clips allowing seasonal wood movement without constant carpenter frustration• Construction progress includes Hardy siding installations over Tyvek weatherproofing plus PVC trim preventing Florida rot while custom door frame reconstruction requires super glue wood filler tricks repairing butchered hinge pockets creating professional results from disaster scenarios• Screwdriver history deep-dive explores Leonardo da Vinci's 1400s thread-cutting machine designs plus Henry Phillips 1936 cross-head patents revolutionizing Ford assembly lines while P.L. Robertson's superior square drive failed globally because licensing stubbornness lost to Phillips cooperation• Interactive trivia game starts contestants with thousand-dollar stakes bidding on fastener knowledge questions covering everything from coal tar synthetic dye origins to metric bolt 10.9 strength ratings representing thousand-megapascal tensile capacities with ninety-percent yield ratios• Metallurgy mysteries reveal grade-eight bolts display six radial lines on heads indicating 150,000 PSI tensile strength while 316 stainless steel provides marine-grade corrosion resistance and quenching-tempering processes harden steel through 1500-degree heating followed by rapid cooling• Final scores show Ross dominating at $2,450 while Justin maintains respectable $150 historical references separate winners from losers in fastener knowledge competition• Pricing wisdom shares material-plus-twenty-percent formulas plus triple-material-cost shortcuts for smaller projects while deposit requirements prevent sketch-drawing theft and hourly rates between fifty-to-sixty dollars cover garage operations versus commercial shop overhead demanding higher rates• Snuggets deliver Craftsman door jig warnings about useless router bits plus diamond plate sharpening stone recommendations for field chisel maintenance while elderly driver safety concerns prompt family discussions about retesting requirements protecting communities from intersection disasters

• Salad showdown opens with Greek salads loaded with gyro meat competing against Caesar dressing anchovy mysteries while coleslaw divides the group between vinegar-based Carolina styles and mayonnaise-heavy Southern versions plus jalapeño variations that actually work• New Patreon spotlight welcomes Greg Wally from Plat Valley Woodworks to the supporter family while Colton battles Centerpoint Energy over pole installations requiring five-foot holes through thick lake mud and mysterious wire connections nobody wants to hook up• Hurricane aftermath projects consume Jess with AC line covers running through townhouse garages after saltwater corroded underground Freon lines plus custom Kohler shower systems mixing titanium chrome parts from five different suppliers driving plumbers crazy• Window drama unfolds when six weeks of waiting produces privacy glass on every single opening instead of just the bathroom creating house-sized mistakes requiring complete reorders while drywall crews stand idle and patience runs thin• Ross hits emotional breaking point with jewelry cabinet drawer slides refusing cooperation after weeks of daily four-to-six-hour sessions leading to dovetail disasters when his father drops drawers creating expensive repairs requiring super glue and poplar reconstruction• Opera therapy emerges as Ross discovers "opera bangers" playlist providing mental escape during project meltdowns while discussing everyone's decompression strategies from food breaks to comedy podcasts plus the importance of stepping away when frustration peaks• New segment launch introduces "Oh Sh*t I Messed This Up" seeking listener submissions about construction fails and woodworking disasters illustrated by the legendary brick layer barrel rope story involving 240 pounds of bricks versus 180-pound worker creating compound injuries• Stain chemistry deep dive explores coal tar origins of synthetic dyes dating to 1800s plus Minwax founding in 1906 while covering pigments from iron oxides and ground-up cochineal insects living on prickly pear cacti producing vibrant reds• Wartime staining reveals tobacco extract usage during World War II pigment shortages plus turpentine's pine tree distillation before mineral spirits replaced faster-evaporating solvents while milk proteins provided primitive pre-stain conditioning• Professional finishing techniques distinguish between penetrating dyes reaching molecular levels versus pigment particles settling in wood pores plus factory toner applications between clear coats creating uniform coloring without grain hiding• Modern innovations showcase gel stains reducing blotchiness for beginners plus low-VOC water-based formulas requiring careful application speed while exterior stains add UV blockers and borate protection against insects and rot• Workshop wisdom includes always stirring settled pigments preventing color variations plus testing scraps with actual project sanding grits since 150-grit versus 220-grit dramatically affects penetration and final appearance• Snuggets deliver stress management through music therapy recommendations plus Colton's narrow escape from Angie's List year-long contracts costing thousands while Jess advocates S-corporation status and automated renewal reminders preventing costly compliance lapses

• Chocolate confessions launch the show with dark chocolate sea salt pretzels competing against chocolate peanut butter fudge brownies while Jess describes Halloween ghost cupcakes involving Oreos with orange filling and brownie mix creating spooky treats that impressed his wife Ashley's seasonal decoration obsession• Baby Charlie steals the spotlight making surprise camera appearances during Colton's solo dad duties while Crystal attends Dancing with the Stars watch parties forcing impromptu childcare negotiations and witching hour bottle battles that threaten podcast completion• Texas Woodworking Festival discoveries blow Colton's mind with Air Weights vacuum tables featuring customizable grid systems that section off suction zones plus revolutionary vacuum dogs that turn bench dog holes into clamping systems without traditional clamps• Clear Boot dust collection innovations combine laser positioning systems for perfect bit alignment with transparent acrylic strips replacing traditional brush fingers allowing visual monitoring during delicate CNC operations while maintaining dust extraction efficiency• Stone Coat epoxy expansions include penetrating formulas and ultra-deep three-inch applications plus urethane topcoats that roll on like paint while Boss Dog introduces colored wood glues with acetone-based CA accelerators preventing bubble formation during curing• Angie's List sales trap nearly ensnares Colton with sweet-talking representatives pushing year-long contracts costing five grand for questionable leads until Jess and Ross intervene with horror stories about credit card charges and fake phone numbers plus prepaid card protection strategies• Construction reality checks reveal cabinet tariff increases hitting seven and a half percent while Jess navigates county inspection marathons covering everything from insulation installation to drywall screw patterns plus front porch reconstruction replacing rotted cedar posts with pressure-treated alternatives• Shaker drawer front masterclass emerges when Ross seeks guidance creating twelve painted fronts leading to detailed domino joinery tutorials with climbing cut router techniques and radius corner sanding plus half-inch plywood center panels creating professional results• Lumber education revolution combines history lessons with interactive trivia covering nominal dimensions revealing two-by-fours measuring one-and-a-half by three-and-a-half inches while exploring stamp meanings like KD for kiln-dried and PT for pressure-treated lumber• Plywood grading mysteries get decoded through A-B-C-D classifications where A represents paintable cabinet grade and CDX means construction sheathing with exterior glue while FSC certification ensures Forest Stewardship Council approved sustainable harvesting practices• Board foot mathematics challenge listeners calculating twenty board feet for eight-quarter lumber measuring twelve inches wide by ten feet long while quarter-sawn techniques create vertical grain patterns essential for figured woods like tiger oak and zebra wood• Workshop wisdom includes Ross's dado relief cuts solving oversized drawer problems plus Jess's job site cleanup revelations improving customer relations and inspector impressions while Colton learns valuable lessons about seeking advice before signing sales contracts

• Crustacean talk kicks things off with crawfish boils described as eating cockroaches from ditches while Ross discovers Virginia Beach crab cakes the size of baseballs with zero filler that make landlocked Chicagoland versions look like sad breadcrumb sandwiches• Colton finally pulls the trigger on shop electricity after writing Centerpoint a check though the five to eight week wait has him considering temporary power solutions while exploring contractor work with SWE homes and reconnecting with Rick who just dropped thirteen grand on a laser cleaning machine that can strip paint off drywall across the room• Poison ivy becomes the episode villain attacking Colton in places that shall remain nameless while he channels his grief into songwriting for his grandfather's funeral using Zach Bryan melodies to capture fishing memories and family time themes• Jess returns from New Jersey family time with shirt printing machine connections before discovering his concrete removal nightmare doubled when plumbers demanded another trench for proper drainage while juggling work from home customers who freak out about power outages during electrical upgrades• Built-in cabinet designs meet reality when expensive plantation shutters don't fit the new configuration forcing difficult conversations about seven thousand dollar window treatments versus custom cabinetry dreams while Ashley handles the growing bid workload with professional scripts• Trailer organization becomes an art form as Jess transforms his twenty-four foot beast into a mobile workshop complete with electric jack systems and custom shelving that required cutting sixty-seven degree angles his chop saw couldn't handle until he got creative with wedge blocks• Ross tackles rolling jewelry cabinet construction with locking mechanisms and removable glass tops while figuring out battery-powered LED lighting systems that need magnetic mounting solutions for portable display cases that can roll around retail spaces• Work truck history spans from horse-drawn wagons to Model T runabouts revealing that pickup truck terminology originated in nineteen twenty-five when Ford first offered factory-installed beds instead of chassis-only sales requiring custom carpenter-built wooden cargo areas• Electric vehicle debates explore charging infrastructure challenges and carbon capture gasoline production while non-alcoholic beer production gets explained through fermentation timing and dilution techniques for those maintaining sobriety goals during business building phases• Workshop nuggets include motion-sensor LED strips that charge via USB-C for trailer lighting systems plus Kreg jig depth adjustments for thinner plywood that prevents screw blowout while LED strip connectors save the day when expensive light installations get damaged during installation

• Frozen dessert dreams kick off the show with Mexican coconut ice cream bars rocket pops and fruit puree sticks because nothing says Labor Day weekend like arguing about which popsicle reigns supreme while your hands get covered in sugary goo• Fall prep mode officially activated as the guys discuss seasonal shop changes with Ross dealing with spider and critter invasions while Jess gets excited about cooler weather meaning longer work hours and Colton planning material stock ups for the holiday rush• Pest control becomes a real topic when Colton introduces dirt daubers to Ross who has never experienced these mud nest building wasps that apparently love to clog up fan motors and other equipment while carrying paralyzed spiders around like some kind of wasp horror movie• Virginia Beach vacation recap brings whiskey discoveries as Ross visits the historic Cavalier Hotel with its prohibition era basement distillery while dealing with post hurricane waves powerful enough to push kids 40 feet up the beach• Jess absolutely lights up talking about framing work and learning construction terminology while building vaulted ceilings and dealing with Florida hurricane codes that require nailing every four inches because apparently Mother Nature takes no prisoners• Software discussions get technical when Colton considers upgrading from his current workflow to Adobe Illustrator after getting advice from longtime maker Vern while using Inkscape to calculate resin volumes for his CNC projects• Meranti takes center stage as wood of the week revealing how this Southeast Asian lumber got marketed as Filipino mahogany during the mid century furniture boom even though its not real mahogany but was cheap and plentiful from post war Philippines• Construction trivia becomes unexpectedly entertaining as Jess tests the guys knowledge of king studs jack studs bird mouth cuts and cripple studs while sharing real world framing wisdom about thinking fifteen steps ahead for the next contractor• Tarnished Truth distillery from Virginia Beach gets the whiskey spotlight with their three year high rye bourbon that costs 60 bucks but tastes decent enough for a vacation souvenir though definitely not worth secondary market prices• Hat cleaning wisdom closes out the show with Jess sharing his Dawn dish soap and toothbrush method for keeping work hats fresh without destroying the fabric while Colton discovers acetone removes spray foam from skin and Ross recommends hat brushes for daily maintenance

• Jess makes his glorious comeback after getting knocked down by heat exhaustion that turned into full exorcist mode puking for 24 hours plus dealing with a plumbing leak that delayed recording because Florida construction never goes according to plan• Sushi talk gets deep with grocery store Publix five dollar Wednesday deals and the eternal debate about cream cheese in sushi rolls while Ross admits he goes for the over the top dynamite and firecracker rolls instead of simple sashimi• Colton shares the heartwarming yet heartbreaking story of his grandfather passing away peacefully at 87 after one final FaceTime call where he got to show off all the inherited tools in his shop including that dangerous old radial arm saw with zero safety features• The cornhole board saga continues with a California customer who wanted changes mid project forcing Colton to pour resin directly on the CNC machine and cut into cured resin which sounds like a nightmare but somehow worked out perfectly• Butcher block restoration becomes an epic adventure when Colton fixes a cracked Paduk board that was bleeding red dust into the maple strips and learns that alcohol wipes solve the cross contamination problem way better than more sanding• Jess upgrades his life with a monster 24 foot charcoal gray trailer that matches his truck perfectly plus negotiates a sweet one year contract that guarantees steady income while his daughter moves to Tampa for college and independence• Home renovation horror story unfolds when Jess discovers copper pipes buried directly in concrete which is a big no no because concrete eats copper over time so cue the Makita jackhammer rental and careful concrete surgery around live plumbing lines• Ross inherits a 500 pound solid maple butcher block table from a customer that required two strong guys and 17 stairs worth of creative problem solving before he could router sled the whole top flat and refinish it with walrus oil• Indoor plumbing history lesson reveals that Romans had it figured out 4000 years ago with aqueducts and lead pipes but Europe forgot how to poop properly for centuries until London got so stinky in 1858 that parliament had to stop meeting• Whiskey wisdom flows as Ross explains how British Navy trade routes spread whiskey and rum around the world using ballast bricks and barrel charring techniques that accidentally invented aged spirits during those long ocean crossings to the Caribbean and back

• David returns as their first repeat guest to share the wild story of how he fought to get his company back after selling just 15 percent to a partner whose lawyer secretly worked against him in what sounds like a business nightmare straight out of a thriller movie• The heartbreaking loss of Speed the retired cop who was Davids right hand man at the shop in 2020 changed everything and forced them to completely rethink how they operate and train people since some folks are just irreplaceable legends• Moving a machine shop from Atlanta to Vegas involves lag bolting heavy equipment directly to rental truck floors and using forklifts to pull 7500 pound machining centers off trailers in the most terrifying way possible while praying nothing drops in the parking lot• Woodworking used to be an affordable hobby where you could get decent plywood at Home Depot but now young people are priced out unless they have serious cash or are trying to make it their career which has shifted Gearharts customer base• The battle between branding irons and laser marking comes down to authentic human touch versus sterile factory perfection with David arguing that people crave something with actual soul and character instead of mass produced Amazon cutting board vibes• Customer service involves lots of graphics fixing since people send everything from napkin drawings to low resolution photos while trying to balance being helpful without being condescending about basic design mistakes• Quick fire questions reveal David wanted to be a hobo as a kid and actually rode freight trains plus he would teleport to South America and wants a Vangelis soundtrack for his life• The demographic conversation gets real about how materials and costs have changed so dramatically that casual hobby woodworking is basically dead for most young people who also have limited space• Safety glasses everywhere is the golden rule after David got a hot brass chip to the eyelid and realized he was doing safety squints like an idiot so now he bought 96 pairs and scattered them around the shop like guitar picks• Family chaos provides the perfect soundtrack with crying children in the background proving that even successful business owners are just trying to survive parenthood while running companies and moving heavy machinery

• Colton calls in from a Georgia Starbucks during his epic road trip back to Houston after inheriting his late grandfather's tools and a sweet John Deere riding mower from his grandmother's log cabin in the mountains• The guys share stories about amazing meals from totally unexpected places including life changing biscuits from a Georgia gas station, incredible Cuban food hidden in a Florida flea market, and mind blowing Indian cuisine from Rapid City South Dakota• Ross finally gets his CNC machine up and running but admits he needs digital calipers and a touch sensor to dial in his cuts properly while working on that never ending coffee table project for his brother• The drummer in Ross comes alive as he talks about playing his first live show with his band and the pure joy of beating some skins again even though schlepping gear is exhausting• Jess battles the brutal Florida heat while framing a house addition and shares war stories about hurricane strapping requirements and buying his first framing nailer from Rigid instead of spending big money on Paslode• Wood of the Week spotlight falls on ash which gets used for everything from Louisville Slugger baseball bats to tool handles to Fender guitar bodies plus its unfortunately getting wiped out by those pesky emerald ash borer beetles• Trivia time covers bug resistant woods like cedar teak and cypress that naturally repel termites through oils and tannins while pressure treated lumber uses chemicals to keep the critters away• Speed squares get major love in the snuggets section for being way more versatile than most people realize with built in degree markings and roof pitch calculations• The golden rule of woodworking gets preached about always dry fitting everything and thinking through your entire build sequence before making anything permanent with glue• Vehicle inspection requirements spark a heated debate about emissions testing differences between states like Illinois requiring it while Florida basically lets anything with wheels roll down the road

Here's a fun summary of Episode 111 "Ironwood Maiden" from the Beat Around the Bench podcast:Seafood talk revealed Ross has a shellfish allergy that kicks in after handling more than a pound causing massive hand swelling but still loves Baja tacos blackened redfish and Greek bronzino while Colton goes for rare tuna steaks and Jess craves lobster crab shrimp pasta with creamy tomato sauceJess survived the hottest day on record in Tampa while building his fence throwing up twice from heat exhaustion and losing hearing in one ear but managed to complete the project with neighbors saving twenty six hundred dollars over contractor quotesThe table from hell saga concluded with Ross delivering the ugly base admitting he hated it getting agreement from the customer and ultimately throwing the whole thing in the garbage after his dad warned he'd be moving it around for four yearsColton finished a washer board project using gorilla glue spray adhesive for the marine carpet and actually charged enough to make money this time while planning Texas A&M themed stencil work with fabric paintHouse selling struggles continue for Colton with only two showings despite price drops and beautiful renovations as they prepare to pay double mortgages while slowly moving shop equipment without electricity at the new placePatreon announcement dropped as the guys revealed they're launching a subscriber service after listener requests with plans for exclusive content merch and special value additions to the podcast communityStanley plane history covered Leonard Bailey's revolutionary metal bodied planes from 1858 that replaced problematic wooden versions with original Stanley number ones now selling for fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars among collectorsWork gear trivia tested knowledge of steel toed boots hard hats and safety equipment with surprising facts like Wolverine inventing steel toes in 1930 and early safety vests being called donkey jackets in BritainHeat survival tips dominated discussion as Jess shared cooling towel techniques pickle juice for cramps and the importance of starting early when working in extreme temperatures to avoid heat exhaustionTrim installation nuggets emphasized hitting studs instead of just drywall using Loctite adhesive for backing and the stud buddy magnet tool for finding screws in walls plus proper measuring techniques for clean miter cuts

Colton crushed his metal roof installation project getting thick 26 gauge material for forty four percent savings over Home Depot prices by negotiating in Spanish with his materialist place and completing the whole job in just two or three daysThe new Huffman shop is taking shape with plans for a square garage layout that will provide better wall utilization and center space plus discussions about adding a massive pole barn workshop with concrete floors and big ass fans for ventilationPower planning became a major topic as Colton explores running electricity to the shop either aerial or underground with potential for installing multiple poles and a separate electrical panel just for the workshop areaRoss got deep into traditional mortise and tenon joinery while building his gaming coffee table and shared fascinating history about how this seven thousand year old technique spans every culture from ancient China to modern Japanese timber framingThe Festool router proved its worth as Ross praised German engineering for features like single wrench bit changes and precision depth adjustments that made cutting perfect joinery almost effortless compared to other brandsJess missed the episode due to being buried in late night projects but the guys carried on discussing shop layouts CNC software options and the importance of learning SketchUp for design visualizationSafety became a real concern as Colton shared his sketchy solar attic fan installation where he nearly fell off the roof twice and had to finish the job while dizzy from exhaustion and heatWhiskey of the week featured Old Bardstown Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Willett distillery which Ross described as drinking smoother than its 101 proof with honey and caramel notes but ultimately a one trick pony flavor profileMilwaukee nitrile dipped gloves got major praise from Colton for providing amazing grip during metal roofing work while still being touchscreen compatible and breathable enough for hot Texas weatherShop organization wisdom emphasized the importance of decluttering regularly and getting rid of wood scraps that have been sitting unused for over a year because clear workbenches lead to more actual woodworking productivity

Food talk kicked off with favorite pasta dishes featuring Jess loving lobster lasagna and steak gorgonzola pasta while Ross schooled everyone on orecchiette pronunciation and shared that Barilla has Spotify playlists timed perfectly for cooking each pasta typeJess struggled through another brutal week including failed coquina shell stucco work that had the customer's wife gasping and walking away after just one wall plus dealing with electrical problems and eight foot six mahogany doors that needed refinishingRoss finally finished his nightmare pocket door project that took nine years to complete properly and built a gorgeous walnut cabinet with traditional dovetail joinery using his Harbor Freight jig that worked perfectly on the first tryColton became the go-to lacquer repair specialist for Tony's shop after successfully fixing blush damaged cabinets using super blush retarder spray and got called in as their on-call finishing expertThe guys shared serious summertime survival tips including keeping cooling towels in coolers plenty of fluids sunscreen and aloe vera plus Colton discovered that thirty percent vinegar works amazing for getting smoke smells out of furnitureColton started planning his metal roof installation over existing shingles and learned that roofing supply companies often beat Home Depot prices with much thicker gauge materials that last foreverWood of the week featured the bizarre monkey puzzle tree from Chile that looks like AI designed a Christmas tree and gets its name because it would puzzle a monkey trying to climb the spiny branchesItalian food trivia had Ross crushing questions about risotto osso buco and arancini while Colton admitted to completely guessing on most answers but somehow nailed the gnocchi question by pure luckRoss shared his sandwich building wisdom about never letting cold cuts touch bread directly and emphasized the importance of taking lazy river style mental breaks to reset from work stressColton introduced the barn cat Squanchy who showed up desperate and friendly and already proved his worth by catching a lizard though the guys debated proper feeding schedules to keep him hunting

Big baby news as Colton and Crystal welcomed little Charlotte into the world weighing in at eight pounds one ounce and twenty two inches long with Colton getting hands on experience cutting the cord and helping with deliveryBaby Charlie sparked some hilarious woodworking connections including discovering baby nail rotary tools that work just like Dremels and hospital bassinets that reminded Colton of motorcycle lift workbenchesRoss finally delivered his table from hell project that turned into an absolute nightmare costing him thousands in CNC work and ending with a customer who refused to pay the remaining twenty four hundred dollarsThe infamous table base that Ross absolutely hated looked like a Civil War submarine according to him but the guys actually thought it was pretty cool with its alien spaceship conference room vibeJess returned after missing three weeks due to a back injury that had him laid up followed by the craziest work schedule ever including beautiful shower tile work and refinishing mahogany doors for million dollar condosTrivia time covered everything from coast redwoods being the tallest trees to the Taj Mahal foundations being supported by ebony planks and Sam Maloof being famous for his rocking chairsHistory lesson revealed that Adirondack chairs were originally called Westport chairs and were invented by Thomas Lee in upstate New York but stolen and patented by his buddy Harry Bonnell in nineteen oh fiveFood talk centered around amazing pie preferences with Ross loving strawberry rhubarb Colton obsessing over his Aunt BO pecan pie and Jess perfecting apple pie with cosmic crisp apples and brown sugar crumbleNuggets included Jess planning to upgrade to an eighteen foot custom green trailer for maximum mobile workshop efficiency and Colton sharing how lacquer retarder can save blush damaged finishes without strippingRoss learned the hard lesson about saying no to unrealistic deadlines and last minute projects while Colton discovered that baby crying is just communication and keeping a positive mindset makes all the difference