In this episode Ross does a Deep Dive into all things AI Related for makers and content creators.

In this week’s episode we Dive deep into AI

• Colton adds lime to his fajitas

• Jess asks where does all of the time go?
• Ross takes us on a wild AI adventure.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen this is your captain speaking and welcome aboard Beat Around the Bench Airlines flight 132 with nonstop service to Sassafras Country. Were cruising at an altitude of pure woodworking knowledge with your flight crew Jess Colton and Ross. Flight time today covers espresso machines hand tool techniques cutting board construction and sassafras wood discussion. Seatbelts fastened dust masks in upright position as we prepare for departure.

First up on beverage service were talking coffee and espresso. Colton got himself an espresso machine for Christmas brewing cappuccinos every morning. Two ounces espresso two ounces steamed milk foam on top ready to tackle the table saw. The crew discusses lattes versus cappuccinos how a latte is basically a milkshake with caffeine. Ross drops knowledge about Cuban cafecito fifty fifty cane sugar to espresso hits harder than a belt sander on walnut. He switched to Americanos with four shots of espresso diluted with water. Jess built a whole coffee bar with pot filler and Torani syrup pumps on a spinning acacia wood holder.

Reaching cruising altitude the boys dive into shop projects. Jess working on his massive cabinet build hand cutting dados and grooves. Coltons building cutting boards with his daughter teaching wood selection grain patterns proper glue ups. Father daughter woodworking time is the best shop time. He picked up black walnut comparing grain patterns density and working properties.

Main destination is sassafras wood discussion. This aromatic hardwood grows across eastern United States with unique characteristics for woodworkers. Distinctive smell like root beer because sassafras root was used to make root beer before FDA involvement. Relatively soft for hardwood works easily with hand tools and power tools takes finish beautifully. Color ranges from pale yellow sapwood to orange brown heartwood. Not dense as oak or maple but character makes beautiful furniture relatively affordable compared to exotic hardwoods.

Woodworkers discuss sourcing sassafras finding local sawmills best applications for underutilized species. Outdoor furniture boxes small decorative pieces all work with sassafras. Naturally rot resistant great for weather exposure projects.

Tool talk includes hand planes chisels marking gauges vintage versus modern production debate. Proper tool maintenance sharpening techniques buying quality tools once beats buying cheap tools three times. Jess shares wisdom about setting up hand planes correctly because poorly tuned plane is expensive paperweight.

Finishing discussion gets deep when Ross runs out of Halcyon mid spray. Calculate finish needs before starting because running dry halfway through a coat is turbulence over Rockies. He compares oil based versus water based polyurethane cleanup differences grain raising properties why oil based leaves richer tone. Application techniques spray versus brush proper ventilation non negotiable.

Ross brings AI automation knowledge implementing workflow automation for spirits sales territory. Chat bots lead generation systems Facebook auto responders. Technology moves faster than jet stream wind what you learn today outdated in three months but gotta start somewhere. Knowledge is power whether hand tool techniques or digital automation.

Safety nuggets include proper dust collection setup tool maintenance calculating finish quantities teaching next generation of woodworkers investing in future of craft.

Beginning descent now catch that Mullet Tools discount code BATB for five percent off at mullettools.com because quality dust collection accessories matter.

This has been Beat Around the Bench flight 132 where coffee is strong wood smells like root beer knowledge flows smoother than freshly planed sassafras. Thank you for flying with us remember to like subscribe and share this podcast. On behalf of entire flight crew we hope you enjoyed your journey see you on the next flight.

STEP RIGHT UP FOLKS FOR EPISODE 131 OF BEAT AROUND THE BENCH

Thats right ladies and gentlemen we got your hosts Jess Colton and Ross serving up the finest woodworking podcast this side of the Mississippi and theyre diving deep into Osage orange wood like you never heard before. Blue Osage Cult baby because nothing says rock and roll like dense hardwood that weighs more than your anvil.

You want vegetables with that? Course you do. These boys are talking broccoli preparation brussels sprouts cooked in bacon grease with pancetta and balsamic glaze sweet potatoes done up right and grilled asparagus that pairs perfect with a thick steak. Pro tip right here folks soak them brussels sprouts in cold salt water first gets rid of all that bitterness. Hot honey red pepper flakes lemon butter you name it theyre covering it all while the saw dust flies.

But wait theres more. Jess is building drawers for his big cabinet project using hand tools because sometimes you just gotta feel that wood under your fingers. Coltons got himself a Veritas dovetail saw and hes singing its praises louder than a Saturday night gospel choir. Tool reviews dont get better than this woodworking friends.

Now heres where it gets wild. Osage orange wood discussion that goes on longer than a Thanksgiving dinner argument. This woods got more nicknames than a career criminal hedge apple bodark monkey brain horse apple you name it. Native to Texas Arkansas Oklahoma but now its growing everywhere from New York to Nebraska. The wood itself is orange as a sunset denser than a brick harder than saying no to free pizza and itll dull your tools faster than you can say Blue Oyster Cult.

They talk sourcing this legendary lumber where to find it how to work it why your planer blades are crying. Jess shares his Osage experience Colton drops knowledge about wood movement and Ross keeps the whole show rolling smoother than a freshly waxed table saw top.

You get shop safety nuggets too because nearly getting brained by falling PVC dust collection pipes aint no joke. Ross almost caught his death when his dust collection system decided gravity was still a thing. The fix? Drive screws through those PVC joints folks. Tape aint enough when you got ten feet of six inch pipe hanging over your dome.

Dust collection talk runs deep with tips on magnets to catch metal shavings before they spark up your whole operation static electricity problems and the eternal struggle of keeping that shop air clean while youre making fine furniture.

Workshop wisdom flows like cheap beer at a county fair. Take your time on joinery layout. Check your dust collection rigging regular. Ground your system if the static is driving you bonkers. Get yourself a Sams Club MasterCard for that 5 percent cash back on gas if youre hauling lumber around.

Tool talk includes Rockler boom arms for dust collection benchtop planers that sound like angry hornets festool products that cost more than some folks cars and the eternal debate about which tools are worth the investment versus which ones are just pretty to look at in the catalog.

These three woodworkers keep it real keep it funny and keep the knowledge flowing faster than sawdust through a cyclone separator. From vegetable cooking tips to exotic hardwood properties from hand tool techniques to power tool reviews its all here in one spectacular episode.

The chemistry between hosts is tighter than a well cut dovetail joint. They joke they teach they share war stories from the workshop trenches and they remind everyone that woodworking is supposed to be fun even when youre wrestling with wood that fights back harder than Osage orange on a bad day.

So tune in subscribe share it with your woodworking buddies and whatever you do dont fear the reaper when that Osage orange dust starts flying. This is Beat Around the Bench Episode 131 where the wood is hard the laughs are easy and the knowledge is free for the taking.