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

• 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

Ross just returned from a blazing hot New York City vacation where temperatures hit 102 degrees for three days straight making 74 degree Chicago weather feel almost chilly when he got back homeEpisode title Deep Purple Heart came from listener Lee Drummond of Dusted Knuckle Woodworks who suggested awesome band name wood species combinations and this one was absolutely perfectColton spotted his neighbor Mo using a completely insane setup with a table saw blade mounted on a weed eater edger attachment which screams OSHA violation but apparently works great for cutting small treesMoving madness continues as Colton is exactly one week away from his due date while trying to get their old house ready for market and transfer his entire shop to the new propertyThe guys shared practical moving tips including getting a 26 foot box truck with a lift gate and hiring cleaners for 225 bucks to do a full deep clean instead of doing it yourselfRoss is completely buried working on a massive CNC project that turned into 14 hours of machine time instead of the expected 4 hours plus designing a complex tulip style table base inspired by his son playing with dinosaur puzzlesWhiskey talk focused on the top five bottles under 30 dollars including Buffalo Trace Elijah Craig Fighting Cock Early Times Bottled in Bond and Bullet Rye as the number one pick for budget conscious drinkersSound engineering season has Ross running audio for bands two or three nights a week all summer long while juggling his woodworking projects and CNC workBaby watch intensifies as Crystal tries all the wives tales to induce labor naturally before next Thursday due date with Ross offering solid fatherhood advice about sleep schedules and bonding timelinesNuggets included finding inspiration from unexpected places like kids toys and remembering to design spaces for average height people instead of just what works for you personally

The trio dove headfirst into cheese heaven, debating everything from snacking favorites (smoked gouda and sharp cheddar winning) to grilled cheese perfection, with Jess championing pepper jack for turkey sandwiches and everyone agreeing fake American cheese rules for grilled cheese.Colton shared major life updates from his move to the countryside outside Houston, complete with deer rescues, flooded shop plans, and last-minute prep for baby arrival while still renovating both the new homestead and old house for sale.Jess vented about contractor headaches and door installation nightmares, including grinding concrete to fit doors and dealing with subs who claim they know drywall but clearly don't, all while juggling multiple job sites in the Florida heat.Ross tackled an insane 10-day table build challenge - a 10-foot oval tulip-base dining table with sashiko burning and Rubio black finish for a restaurant client who disappeared for six weeks then suddenly needed it yesterday.The Wood of the Week featured Lemonwood, a Cuban hardwood prized for archery bows and fishing rods due to its incredible flexibility and 1880 Janka hardness rating, plus its Brazilian cousin that clocks in at a whopping 3460 on the hardness scale.Jess unleashed a brilliant wordplay trivia game where players had to find the missing word that connected two phrases (like "dining...sauce" = table for "dining table" and "table sauce"), keeping everyone on their toes with woodworking-themed brain teasers.Ross delivered his top 5 whiskeys under $100 by region, from Japanese Hibiki Harmony to Kentucky's Peerless Double Oak Bourbon, perfect timing for Father's Day gift ideas with detailed explanations of what makes each special.The nugget section covered everything from spray foam insulation debates for pier and beam houses to self-retracting ratchet straps and quality buzzy blades, proving practical shop wisdom never goes out of style.

The guys kicked things off with an epic potato discussion where Ross shared his genius combo of mashed potatoes with Gruyere cheese and tzatziki sauce while Colton described his wild Aloha Slut Potato creation on the griddleRoss got himself a brand new GMC Sierra 1500 truck and the crew dove deep into vehicle upgrades including tonneau covers bed extenders and roof racks with plenty of practical tips for truck ownersShop organization became a major topic as Ross spent his weekend completely rearranging his workspace for better efficiency and material flow which got everyone talking about the best ways to set up woodworking shopsJess dropped some serious knowledge about the history of screws starting from ancient wooden olive presses all the way to modern Torx heads and explained why NASA has the most expensive screws in the worldThe sandwich trivia segment was absolutely incredible as Ross proved he really is a sandwich aficionado by nailing questions about everything from Italian porchetta to Vietnamese banh mi sandwichesColton shared updates on his new house purchase which got complicated when half the land was already sold to someone else but they worked out a deal that saved them around 65 thousand dollarsBaby watch continues as Crystal is getting close to her due date with little Charlie expected around July 3rd and the guys shared some hilarious pregnancy stories and adviceRoss blew everyone away with whiskey knowledge by revealing the most expensive bottles ever sold including a 2.8 million dollar Bushmills and explaining why aged spirits cost so much moneyThe nuggets section covered cabinet building tricks with Jess explaining how to keep divider panels perfectly square using scrap wood spacers and Ross sharing why drills work better than impact drivers for long structural screwsWedding season is keeping Colton busy while he finishes up his kitchen cabinet project and prepares for the big move to their new property with plans for livestock and maybe an above ground pool setup

The gang kicked off with a mouth-watering breakfast food challenge, debating favorites from Waffle House concoctions (Jess's infamous "slop on a plate") to fancy Eggs Benedict, with Ross revealing breakfast restaurants are cash cows due to cheap ingredients and high margins.Colton shared updates on his uncle's DIY sawmill project and his camper shell paint job at his father-in-law's auto body shop, noting surprising similarities between furniture restoration and auto body work.Jess walked us through his current kitchen cabinet installation in a metal-stud condo, ranting about challenging blind corner cabinets and the pros/cons of dark blue cabinet finishes.The Wood of the Week segment featured cottonwood—a surprisingly useful lumber despite being super lightweight (28 pounds per cubic foot) and soft (430 on Janka scale), commonly used for crates, plywood components, and carvings.Ross absolutely crushed Jess in the domestic hardwood trivia challenge, revealing fascinating facts about woods from Puerto Rican mahogany to Florida's bald cypress used in musical instruments.Ross delivered a deep dive on whiskey production costs, breaking down the $1,500 price tag for a 4-year barrel before bottling—including grain costs, barrels ($300 each), labor, warehousing, and the inevitable "angel's share" evaporation.The nugget section featured practical wisdom: invest in a good laser level for installation work, use proper drill press speed settings for different materials, and always wash your hands thoroughly between steps when working with reactive finishes.

The Boys dive into their favorite chicken recipes - from beer can chicken with lime juice tricks to perfectly crispy chicken parm - before jumping into their latest woodworking projects and workshop adventures.Ross shares his creative repair solution for a customer's sentimental checkerboard, using wood glue mixed with sawdust and stain to fill gaps while preserving the original character made by the customer's father.The woodworkers debate the best approaches for repairing heirloom furniture pieces, with all agreeing that preserving original character matters more than technical perfection when dealing with sentimental items.Jess recounts his challenging "Shutter Saga" of mounting custom shutters on difficult Coquina walls (seashells embedded in stucco), requiring expensive stainless hardware and creative mounting techniques for waterfront conditions.Colton details his wedding project success creating a custom domino table that guests could carve signatures into, plus his cabinet door paint struggles that were saved by Zinsser BIN shellac-based primer.The podcast reveals professional painting secrets, including using 3/8 microfiber "hot dog" rollers for cabinets and why Zinsser BIN primer (which contains insect secretions!) is the miracle solution for difficult surfaces.Essential woodworking nugget: "Hold it up and mark it" emerged as Jess's top tip for precision, while Ross discovered that simply moving a table saw fence to the opposite side of the blade dramatically improves safety and support.Fascinating woodworking history lesson covers workbench evolution from ancient Rome through Medieval Europe to modern designs, noting how traditional Roubo and Nicholson benches are making a comeback in the hand tool renaissance.Paint technology trivia reveals Sherwin-Williams introduced latex paint in 1941, titanium dioxide provides paint opacity, and acrylic paints were first developed for artists in the 1950s before revolutionizing home painting.The podcast showcases the camaraderie of woodworkers sharing practical shop knowledge with humor and real-world solutions to common woodworking, finishing, and home improvement challenges.

The guys kick things off with donut preferences, where Ross introduces the Italian "Bambaloni" with dipping sauces, Colton reveals his love for what he grew up calling "bear claws" (actually apple fritters), and Jess champions sour cream cake donuts and Bavarian cream Long Johns.Colton dishes about his house adventures, detailing plans for his pier and beam home's crawl space improvements, including spray foam insulation and blocking to distribute weight better. The crew strongly advises hiring professionals for spray foam work rather than attempting DIY.The gang dives into shop setup talk, with Colton exploring options for his new workspace. They debate electrical setups, with Ross and Jess pushing for running power from the existing breaker panel rather than installing a costly second meter.Jess introduces Tulipwood as the "Wood of the Week" - a stunning Brazilian hardwood prized for its pink to purple hues, once used by French craftsmen for luxury furniture. This transitions into a trivia segment about million-dollar furniture pieces, with the Badminton Cabinet selling for a jaw-dropping $36 million!Ross serves up a shot of whiskey history, explaining how moonshining emerged after the Revolutionary War to dodge taxes, eventually leading to speakeasies during Prohibition and even the birth of NASCAR as moonshiners souped up cars to outrun authorities.The "Snipe and Nugget" segment features practical tips: Colton warns about water-based stains not storing well in garage conditions, Jess recommends Milwaukee's special tile drilling bits and storing fillers in airtight containers, and Ross emphasizes thinking several steps ahead before making irreversible moves in woodworking.Colton shares his discovery of unconventional materials sources - informal construction material yards where he scored pine boards for $6 each and birch plywood for $36 per sheet, sparking a conversation about where these budget-friendly materials might come from.#woodworking #woodworkingpodcast #diyexperts #furniturehistory #woodshoptips #whiskeyhistory #toolhacks #projectplanning #woodturning #craftsman

The boys welcome the dynamic duo Leigh and Mush from Storytellers Tavern Podcast, who've been recording maker community shenanigans at events where the best stories happen between 1-4 AM (what happens at the campfire doesn't always stay at the campfire)!Leigh and Mush run school makerspaces where kids from preschool through high school get their hands dirty with everything from power tools to lasers—their philosophy? Crank up Lionel Richie or AC/DC while the kids create, because nobody wants a sign that says "Quiet Engineers at Work" (Leigh's mortal enemy).The teaching philosophy these guys champion isn't about fancy gadgets—it's about building students who can think on their feet when stuff breaks, Google solutions, and not run to "the old bald guy" for answers every five minutes.During the hilariously chaotic rapid-fire trivia showdown, Mush demolished Leigh with his encyclopedic knowledge of obscure woodworking tools—bet you didn't know what a "froe" was either (it's not the opposite of a "two")!The group shared how their students developed a facial training device for blind actors after discovering blind kids rocking power carving tools—prompting the school's business office to have a minor heart attack over "bringing blind kids in to play with power tools."Jess schooled everyone on the humble beginnings of those big-box hardware stores—turns out Home Depot started when two guys got fired and said, "Screw you, we'll start our own place" (and now they're making billions)!The "snuggits" segment revealed hard-earned wisdom: Ross's fingerprints are now permanent decor on a guitar because he couldn't wait 72 hours for automotive paint to cure, while Mush praised the miraculous cleaning powers of crocodile cloths (which apparently taste delicious according to Leigh).Both podcast crews proved they're cut from the same wonderfully warped wood—building communities where makers share stories, skills, and the occasional inappropriate joke about beating tools that would make middle schoolers giggle.

EPISODE 100: PADUK AT THE DISCOThe woodworking trio celebrates their milestone 100th episode with personal updates and a nostalgic look back at how the podcast has changed their lives, from building meaningful connections in the maker community to weathering personal storms togetherJess shares stories from his chaotic construction business—including a ceiling nearly collapsing—while showing off his brand new "Beast" tile saw purchased for tackling those trendy floor-to-ceiling fireplace renovationsColton reveals his impressive stair renovation project, prompting a spirited discussion about potential side hustles and the untapped goldmine of custom carpentry work for Houston homeownersRoss walks listeners through his shop reorganization masterplan, explaining how proper tool placement improves workflow and sharing his guitar refinishing adventures (plus what happens when you let kids pick your paint colors)The group dives into their "Wood of the Week" segment featuring Hawthorn—a deceptively strong hardwood with magical folklore connections that makes everything from witches' wands to virtually indestructible malletsA timely segment on burnout explores how makers can recognize the warning signs and implement practical strategies like meditation and proper work boundaries to maintain creativity without sacrificing mental healthRoss delivers a whiskey education segment breaking down the differences between Scotch, Irish, Japanese, Canadian and American whiskeys, from distillation techniques to barrel aging secrets that create distinctive flavor profiles#WoodworkingPodcast#MakerCommunity#WorkshopTips#DIYCarpentry#CustomTileWork#ShopOrganization#WoodworkingHacks#HawthornWood#MakerBurnout#WhiskeyEducation#WorkLifeBalance#PowerToolTalk#HomeRenovation#WorkshopEfficiency#CustomCarpentry#MakerJourney#WoodcraftingTips#HandymanHustle#CraftBeverages#RenovationLife#WorkflowOptimization#BeatAroundTheBench#EpisodeOneHundred#ShopSetup#CreativeWoodworking