In this episode of Whatcha Makin', hosts Alex Duffey (Duffey Woodcraft) and Alex Adams (Type A Furniture) dive into the mailbag to answer listener questions. But first, they catch up on a busy week of shop projects, including a custom "Casa de Pollo" sign for a refurbished chicken coop and the massive undertaking of wiring 75 UFO-themed lamps for an upcoming festival.

• National Days: Celebrating the unlikely pairing of National Apple Pie Day and International Hummus Day.
• Shop Projects: Alex Duffy shares his experience building a large batch of LED lamps and his recent acquisition of a proper soldering station.
• CNC Talk: A deep dive into the Next Wave CNC May special, discussing the benefits of the 10.1-inch pendant upgrade and the XYZ touch plate.
• Market Prep: Alex Adams discusses cleaning out his 3D printing room and thinning out inventory (goodbye, earrings and croc charms) for the upcoming summer farmers market.
• The "Tree-Bush" Saga: A comedic look at the struggle of removing a stubborn, 3-foot-wide landscaping stump that refused to budge—even with ratchet straps.
• Special Announcement: Alex Duffy is heading to the Texas Woodworking Festival in September to teach a class on custom CNC game design!

Proudly Sponsored by Next Wave CNC.

In this episode, hosts Alex Duffey and Alex Adams sit down with Corey Rush of Fortress Fine Woodworks to discuss the mindset behind "unbelievable" builds. From solid walnut toilets to fire-vortex tables, Corey shares how a willingness to learn on the fly is more important than existing skill when tackling ambitious projects.

• The "Dragon Toilet": The engineering behind Corey’s most viral project, featuring a heated seat and a functional bidet.
• Planning vs. Obsession: Using Fusion 360 for complex designs and the "blessing and curse" of late-night problem-solving.
• Overcoming Fear: Advice on getting over the "hump" of working with expensive, high-stakes materials.

• Alex Duffey: Batching UFO nightlights for the McMinnville UFO Fest and experimenting with walnut butcher block for cribbage boards.
• Alex Adams: Setting up his new Next Wave CNC and designing a sentimental military memorial plaque.
• Corey Rush: Modeling a massive 10-foot Gothic wedding arch and finishing a high-end table with angled joinery.

In this episode of Whatcha Making?, hosts Alex Duffey and Alex Adams are joined by mixed media artist and educator Brittany Carbone. We pull back the curtain on the artistic process, exploring how personal history, identity, and science intersect with creativity.

• The Intersection of Art & Science: Brittany discusses her unique approach to mixed media, why she transitioned from art education to professional creation, and how she navigated a "creative pivot" in her own career.
• Art-Based Research: We dive into the fascinating academic side of Brittany’s work, specifically how she utilized art as a therapeutic tool during a challenging physical injury and the psychological impact of loss of social identity.
• Mastering Epoxy: Brittany shares her journey of learning epoxy art—from frustrating early experiments to understanding the chemistry behind creating those perfect, cell-like "ocean" effects.
• Whatcha Doin? (Shop Update): Alex Duffey preps for the upcoming UFO Fest with 3D-printed card embossers and AI-generated, laser-engraved coaster designs, plus a recap of his recent DIY home repairs (including some intense roofing work).

Brittany Carbone is a mixed media artist and educator known for her stunning landscape work and deeply emotional, research-based art. You can follow her creative journey and see her latest pieces as she continues to develop her craft.

Note to Listeners: We experienced some minor technical difficulties during our "What You're Watching" segment, resulting in some audio loss for our guest. We have minimized these gaps, and the rest of our main interview and shop talk is fully captured and clear!

This episode of What You’re Making features Ashley Pieper of Shallow Creek Woodcraft, a talented maker from York County, Pennsylvania, who specializes in fine furniture and heritage handcrafted brooms.

The hosts, Alex Duffey and Alex Adams, dive into the world of "brushes, brooms, and hand tools" with Ashley. The conversation explores the intersection of traditional heritage crafts and modern furniture design. Ashley shares her journey from self-taught woodworker to professional maker and teacher, detailing her unique approach to creating functional art.

• The Art of Broom Making: Ashley explains the process of working with sorghum grass, from dyeing the fibers to weaving intricate patterns like the popular "turkey wing" design.
• Heritage Meets Modern Design: A look at Ashley’s furniture portfolio, including her "Beauty Queen" standing cabinet, which features bird’s-eye maple and playful pink "ballerina" legs.
• The Power of Hand Tools: Why Ashley prefers the quiet and control of hand tools and how they allow for a personal, "hand-done" aesthetic that machines can't replicate.
• Woodworking Education: Ashley discusses her role as a teacher for Plain Wellness, an organization that supports mental health through woodworking, and the joy of seeing students (both kids and adults) empower themselves through the craft.
• Farm Life: A glimpse into Ashley's life outside the shop, managing beef cows and her family's deep roots in the dairy industry.

• Alex Duffey: Prepping for "UFO Fest" with 75 D&D dice boxes, Sasquatch and UFO earrings, and custom LED UFO lights.
• Ashley Pieper: Finishing a set of countertop stools and a scale model commission of a historic corner chair for a client.
• Alex Adams: Recovering from a busy track coaching schedule and preparing to set up his new Next Wave Shark CNC for upcoming projects.

The crew discusses inspiring work from the community, including:

• KG Woodcraft: A massive 48-inch hand-carved musky fish.
• Lou Taylor: Vibrant marquetry patterns and brooches.
• Merg Works (Morgan Pell): Incredible pictorial woven brooms.
• Nora Burghardt: A whimsical 8-foot tall rocking chair collaboration.
• Giles Newman: Intricate nature-themed carvings and wooden rings.
• Shock the Fox: Specialized CNC-aided guitar building.
• Legards Furniture: Elegant seating with unique stretcher designs.

Guest Info: Find Ashley Pieper at shallowcreekwoodcraft.com or on Instagram @shallowcreekwoodcraft. Learn more about her classes at plainwellness.org.

Hosts Alex Adams and Alex Duffey welcome a powerhouse duo to the show: Hunter Locke and Brandon Smith co-hosts of the upcoming Maine Woodworking Event. This episode is a deep dive into high-end shop setups, niche product development, and the hilarious perils of Facebook Marketplace.

Shop Talk & Tool Envy: The Alexes' get a virtual tour of Brandon’s impressive shop, featuring a massive "tool wall of fame" stocked with Woodpeckers, Bessie clamps, and premium saws. Meanwhile, Alex Adams shares his recovery from a back injury and the chaos of prepping his garage for a brand-new CNC delivery—all while helping his son navigate the "teachable moment" of a woodworking mishap involving a bowl gouge.

Niche Craftsmanship:

• Hunter Locke discusses his fascinating shift into the world of traditional Chinese tea ceremonies, designing custom Kumiko tea tables for a certified tea sommelier.
• Brandon Smith reveals his new "Book-Tok" inspired product line: laser-engraved bookmarks themed for horror and sci-fi, sparking a collaborative brainstorming session on creative packaging.
• Alex Duffey is in "full UFO mode," prepping 80 custom lamps and painting Northern Lights-inspired wall art for the upcoming UFO Fest.

The "What’s Your Breaking Point" Segment: Hunter recounts a heartbreaking (and relatable) "Marketplace Fail" where he sold his current drum sander before securing a new one—leaving him sander-less but with enough cash to pivot into a new 3D printer.

• Special Guests: Hunter Locke & Brandon Smith
• Sponsor: Next Wave CNC (American-made desktop CNCs)
• Patreon: patreon.com/whatchamakinshop
• Instagram: @DuffeyWoodcraft | @TypeAFurniture

Hosts Alex Adams and Alex Duffey are back after a week off to talk about the intersection of woodworking, technology, and life’s unexpected hurdles. Recorded on April Fool’s Day, the duo kicks things off by dissecting the best industry pranks—from Vectric’s "Easy Clone" software to Festool’s "wireless" wormhole dust collection.

In the shop, Alex Duffey shares his progress on a massive batch of D&D dice boxes and reveals his "cheat code" for sourcing metal tulip bases from overseas. He also gives a deep dive into his latest artistic endeavor: two walnut end tables featuring intricate patterns made from 1,400 pennies (which required a trip to nine different banks!).

Meanwhile, Alex Adams discusses the technical challenges of large walnut panel glue-ups and the importance of "show face" positioning to manage glue squeeze-out. The conversation takes a turn into lifestyle and health as Alex recount his son's "Candy Sushi" birthday party—including a Pinterest-fail Jell-O experiment—and a gym-related back injury that put him on the sidelines.

Topics covered include:

• April Fool's Shenanigans: Reviewing the best and worst pranks from CNC bit manufacturers and tool brands.
• What's on the Bench: Penny-inlay tables, walnut furniture, and prepping for the upcoming UFO Fest.
• Maker Tips: Using blue tape on panel clamps and sourcing small quantities from Alibaba.
• Personal Life: March Madness, retro Pokemon emulators, and recovering from back spasms.

• Sponsor: Next Wave CNC (Makers of the Shark CNC)
• Patreon: patreon.com/whatchamakingshow
• Instagram: @DuffeyWoodcraft | @TypeAFurniture

In this episode of Whatcha Makin', hosts Alex Duffey (Duffey Woodcraft) and Alex Adams (Type A Furniture) dive deep into the sharp world of CNC router bits. They are joined by special guest Liberty the Creator from IDC Woodcraft, who shares her journey from a small-town barista to a CNC bit expert and content creator.

The crew discusses their current projects, ranging from high-end furniture to experimental 3D builds:

• Alex Duffey: Wrapping up a custom cribbage board video for the CNC Summit, finishing a reclaimed barnwood piece, and installing a unique "L-shaped" floating walnut bookshelf for his wife.
• Alex Adams: Battling "bowed and cupped" boards for a massive walnut dining table and managing the "creative chaos" of his son’s spring break shop projects.
• Liberty: Developing a complex 3D spiral dice tower using only 2D toolpaths—avoiding 3D modeling software as a personal challenge.

Liberty pulls back the curtain on IDC Woodcraft, discussing why quality carbide and proper "chucking" (bit placement) are the difference between a clean carve and a snapped tool.

• The "Starter Six": Alex Duffey breaks down his essential list for beginners: V-60, 1/4" down-cut, bowl bit, 1/8" down-cut, 1/4" ball nose, and the specialized Lightning Drill Bit for cribbage boards.
• Pro Tips: Why you should avoid bit adapters, the science behind bit coatings, and the importance of chip ejection to prevent shop fires.
• Behind the Scenes: Liberty shares the "small-town" origin story of working with Garrett (the IDC Woodman) and how the company maintains a personal touch—velvet bags and M&Ms included.

• Broken Bits: Alex Adams laments a 1/16" drill bit permanently embedded in a door.
• Restoration Fails: A struggle to repair a sentimental shark toy with CA glue and heat before turning to construction caulk.
• Aging Makers: The group reflects on the physical toll of "wood reorgs" and moving heavy slabs.

• Edick Wood Carving: Incredible hand-carved maple owl feathers.
• Standish Wood Story: A philosophical look at when one truly becomes a "woodworker."
• Citrus Cedar: A clever, non-utilitarian dumbbell cabinet with a transforming lid.
• Alexander Brothers: Exquisite rocking chairs featuring tiny, hand-carved mice and cats.
• John Malecki: The massive, multi-material Stranger Things Upside Down table.
• Evergreen Daydream: Intricate Intarsia landscapes with natural-colored woods.
• Fog River (Ben Whitten): An 8-foot round conference table made from a single slab of the world's largest walnut tree.
• Shallow Creek Woodcraft: Ash side tables featuring striking diagonal walnut accents.

In this episode of What You’re Making, hosts Alex Duffey (Duffey Woodcraft) and Alex Adams (Type A Furniture) are joined by Logan Newman of Newman Specials Woodworks. Logan, a full-time high school opticianry teacher by day and an obsessive maker by night, shares the fascinating story of how he balances teaching students to make eyeglasses for the community with his prolific woodworking business.

The trio dives deep into the world of routers, a topic Logan knows intimately as he prepares for the release of his upcoming book on the subject.

• Alex Duffey: Ramping up production for "UFO Fest" in May, including new tiered price points for his signature UFO dioramas (complete with cows and Sasquatch).
• Logan Newman: Battling the "stress of the side-hustle" while fulfilling orders for his famous Jefferson book stands and developing a new large-format portable router table.
• Alex Adams: Sharing the ups and downs of a walnut dining table build, including the nuances of vertical glue-ups and the importance of supporting heavy panel clamps.