The Joiner's Bench Podcast
|

🎙️ The Joiner’s Bench – Episode 3: “Wood Moves… and So Do We”

BySteven Ricks

Host: Steven Ricks
Release Date: July 20, 2025
Length: ~33 minutes

Listen in as Steven explores the ever-shifting world of wood movement—what causes it, how to plan for it, and how it’s more than just a technical detail. From humid summers in Wisconsin to blown-apart breadboard joints in Texas, this episode blends woodworking wisdom with a bit of lived humility.

⸝

🪚 What You’ll Learn:
• Why wood moves (hint: it’s not just a tree being difficult).
• Practical tips for:
• Acclimating lumber to your shop
• Managing moisture during milling
• Designing with seasonal expansion in mind
• The surprising physics of “a bundle of straws”
• Real-world examples: from Juniper firewood to Hickory heartbreaks

⸝

🔧 Tools & Tips Mentioned:
• Unifi by Ubiquiti video camera system: Ubiquiti’s UniFi product line
• USDA Wood Handbook — the go-to guide for movement values by species
📘 Download the PDF here
• By Hand & Eye by George R. Walker and Jim Tolpin
🛒 Available from Lost Art Press

⸝

🪑 Segment Highlights:
• Bench Notes – Upgrades at The Joinery: video monitoring, facial-recognition door locks, and mentoring moments.
• The Craft – A deep dive on how, why, and when wood moves—and what that means for your projects.
• Maker’s Moment – Steven shares the story of his beloved (and betrayed) hickory blanket chest.
• Ask the Joiner – A question from listener Steve on how to approach proportions in furniture design, with a sneak peek into future episodes on the topic.

⸝

📬 Have a Question?

Send your woodworking quandaries to: joinery@thejoinery.club
Steven might answer it on a future episode!

⸝

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a friend, or leave a review—it helps us grow this community of curious, confident woodworkers.
Until next time: keep making and keep discovering what you’re made of.

Similar Posts

  • Pet Portrait Class Openings

    BySteven Ricks

    [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]In this one day, four hour class, Vicki will teach you the basic watercolor…

  • End of May Update

    BySteven Ricks

    Hello everyone, and sorry for the delay between posts.  There’s been a lot happening on the business side that does not make for exciting updates.  Having said that, I do have some exciting milestones we have completed.  We are now an official Wisconsin company registered as The Joinery, LLC.  I’m amazed at how simple it…

Leave a Reply