ShopNotes Podcast

In this episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, Logan, and John cover everything from vintage woodworking tools to the surprisingly competitive gas station scene in the Midwest.

We kick things off with listener comments about the upcoming "Domino Killer" joinery tools, Kreg's woodworking-focused approach to tool development, and the ongoing debate between premium and budget woodworking equipment.

Then Phil shares the ups and downs of rebuilding his vintage Delta/Rockwell drill press—including seized bearings, stubborn chucks, hydraulic presses, and why old machines aren't always as easy to restore as YouTube makes them look.

Plus, we somehow spend a significant amount of time discussing Casey's, QuickStar, QuickTrip, breakfast pizza, and the convenience-store culture of Iowa.

Vintage Delta/Rockwell drill press restoration

Woodworking tool repairs and maintenance

Kreg vs Festool discussions

Grizzly Makers Challenge

Woodworking side-business opportunities

Router table storage projects

Custom furniture design process

Church door construction and installation

Used woodworking tools and machine restoration

Midwest gas station culture

Have a question, comment, or smart remark? Email us at woodsmith@woodsmith.com or leave a comment below.

In Episode 273 of the ShopNotes Podcast, the crew dives into everything happening in the woodworking world — from hand tool events and lumber prices to TV show updates, shop projects, and new tools coming to the market.

Logan shares a full recap of his trip to Hand Tool Haven at the Plain Wellness event in Pennsylvania, including tool vendors, demonstrations, silent auction finds, and a few close calls with buying even more hand planes. The guys also discuss upcoming events like Woodworking in America 2026 and why woodworking competitions at county and state fairs are worth entering.

Back in the shop, John wraps up filming for Season 20 of The Woodsmith Shop TV show, Phil works through design details on his latest desk project, and Logan gets dangerously close to finishing a set of custom church doors — while also getting pulled into unexpected woodworking side quests.

Plus, the crew talks about Kreg’s newly announced cordless loose tenon machine, the ongoing corded vs. cordless debate, walnut from Chunk A’ Trunk, listener comments about lumber suppliers, and plenty of woodworking shop banter along the way.

Got a question or comment for the show? Send it to woodsmith@woodsmith.com or leave a comment on the ShopNotes Podcast YouTube channel.

Episode 271 of the ShopNotes Podcast is packed with shop talk, project updates, and the chaos of last-minute woodworking projects before big life events. The crew dives into garage vs. basement shops, lasers and 3D printing, restoring an old cabinet for graduation season, building church doors, and why every “quick weekend project” somehow turns into a four-month adventure. Plus, woodworking rabbit holes, lumber with a story, and the return of the infamous dumpster fire discussion.