41 Comments

From Williamsburg, Virginia. We subscribers make up what could - and quite frankly, should - only be known as: The Ass Faction.

*dramatic bow*

*hangs, lifelessly at the waist*

*curtains close*

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Kim from Louisville, Ky., here, and I just want to add my support for The Ass Faction. Thanks.

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Nick, I am hoping you have an answer to this question even though I haven't found it in any of your books. I also haven't found it in any of the volumes in my bookcase of woodworking books by Moxon, Roubo, Nicholson, Jones, Wearing, Hayward, or Schwarz. Exactly how many shop clamps is enough? I ask because I never seem to have that ideal number and it's starting to keep me up at night.

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You can never have enough clamps!

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Hi Nick! This is Boaz from Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, PA. We crossed paths once on a cheese-related project and I wanted to check in with a question. I know that you're passionate about nature and the outdoors. Are you also a gardener? If so, what's in your garden?

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From Acton, MA:

Have you read Mike Schur's book about ethics/morality? Which school of thought do you find yourself most drawn to?

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Hello. I'm Beth from a cabin type thing in bourbon country rural Kentucky. I consider myself fairly adaptable and maybe even more handy with tools than the average millennial city scum (which really doesn't mean much compared to an actual competent handy person), but I would say that inheriting a fixer upper farm has left me feeling a bit in over my head. Do you have any advice for someone in the, "Framing a wall seems easy enough - I can do that ...right? ... but what if I'm wrong and I screw it up royally" phase? I'm standing on the high dive of a metaphorical carpentry pool and I need someone to tell me to jump, and also maybe a lifeguard.

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Nick,

Sandwich talk is incredible and important. Thank you for taking the time to do this. I SO look forward to your next book regarding this topic. It makes me think of when I was younger. I used to help do yard work and my grandparent's house as they were getting older and weilding a rake became more difficult for them. My grandpa used to make me a mountain of a sandwich for lunch and often it would include a variety of meats and cheeses, sliced tomato, lettuce, mustard, pickles, and olives. I loved those sandwiches because of the time my grandparents took to make them. It was a gesture of love. I miss my grandparents and wish I was able to sit at their old kitchen table and eat with them one more time.

Thank you for making me think of their love.

Sincerely,

Mark from MN

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Keep 'em comming papa!

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Hi Nick, have you ever made a musical instrument? My father owns a mandolin & the wood working is a work of art. I have a terrible habit of coming back to Memphis Soul Stew, as a song shining a light on otherwise dark parts of the stage, and casting various characters, actors or components. Who would be what in your version and why? Kindest, Leah from Rochester, Kent, England UK.

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Greetings from Northern Ireland.. Storm Eunice has passed but not without incident. A woman whose husband lost his glasses (blown off apparently) has posted an appeal for their recovery on Facebook…A video of a young woman whose shopping got violently blown from the carrier bag at high speed is also circulating. I am home alone in quarantine with Covid and a slight touch of cabin fever but I am grateful to still have my glasses. Have you had a scary encounter with the forces of nature lately? What are you grateful for today? Did you know it is illegal for an Irish person to drink scotch? 🤗

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Looks like a wonderful chair. Hope you can complete it soon. Thanks for making people laugh and hope you have a "Dagwood" sandwich soon. Perhaps when you are out on the road you could do some whittling to help keep you in touch with nature.

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Hi Nick, I’m from the UK. You mentioned this above - For example, I have been writing humorous monologues and songs and touring them all over the place to make people laugh in live theatres. - I’m so excited by this, and before the pandemic struck, you were due to come to the UK. I had front row tickets for myself and my son (a Lagavulin lover!) in Brighton. I wanted to know if you are planning to come over and do the shows. Please and thank you, Mel Chandler

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I like McBrayers

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Donkeyhead!

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If I am already a Parrothead and now might be a Donkeyhead, what could that gene pool be called?

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Hi Nick. I got to meet Peter Galbert a few years ago at FineWoodworking live when he was the keynote speaker. There, I found out that his shop is close to home in the same building as my friend Al Breed. He is truly a nice person and been very generous with his time when I’ve stopped by to say hi. I have to say my wood working OCD is screaming finish the chair.

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Fortunately for my OCD, there are several such projects around the shop, which cause me to turn about in befuddled circles until the shop elves slip a chair beneath me as I smile, overwhelmed with my ineffectuality.

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Steve, I am acquainted with both Al and Peter. I would like to say they are friends but that is wishful thinking on my part. I have taken classes with both and got to know Al a bit more often outside of class. Both are incredible artisans and any one with an opportunity should try to learn all they can from these two. For who today, would pass up learning from Michelangelo or Stradivarius...no one!! Some day people will same the same re: Peter and Al.

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Scott, the funny thing is even though I knew of Al as a woodworker in town we ended up meeting and connecting over our shared love of cycling.

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Nick, I’ve recently learned the IDNR considers the DuPage River to be a non-navigable waterway. I’ve ‘walked’ the river several times so I know this to be untrue. Given Minooka is near to the DuPage I thought you might have some insight.

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Jason, what do you mean by "non-navigable", and what does this signify please?

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That’s a very good question. I live in Plainfield and have taken my kids down the DuPage in our canoe countless times. Apparently the determination was made in the early 1900’s. While it seems likely the decision makers at the time also had access to canoes, perhaps their knowledge of riparian navigation was lacking. I’m guessing it has something to do with commercial vessels. How do I know it I haven’t been hopelessly lost since my first float? That’s more than ten years now…

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Ah, so "navigable" means you can make a profit off it. In that case, I say cheers to non-navigability. And to you.

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