From a shepherd who just picked up a border collie pup to help herd the sheep, thank you for including Bella in your videos. I love seeing her bounce up onto the workbench to see what you're up to. - Nick from Precott, AZ
Have owned and trained border collies all my life. Love the breed. Bella is my first kelpie, the collie's Australian cousin. Even more energy, if you can imagine that.
Another great video Nick. I’ve been woodworking for over 40 years starting under the tutelage of my dad. He always said that if you can read, you can figure anything out- but I must admit that properly executed videos have been a great help to me. You are consistently one of the video sites that I trust (some sites leave me with the hair on the back of my neck standing up…). I appreciate your videos because like my dad, you explain WHY you do it this way rather than tell you how to do it. The WHY is every bit as important as the how because it helps with other related tasks. Happy Woodworking!
Well said. I would describe it: With the why attached, skills memorize much better cause you can easily re-derive the 'formula of success' from the why. Good woodworking everybody
@@TomSaw_de So true. Many years ago, when working towards a pilot's license, I had a good deal of trouble learning to land the airplane -- my instructor simply gave me a series of procedures with no theory or theme to connect them. I happened on a book written by a famous pilot who detailed his trials learning to bring a plane down safely in which he explained the physics and the traditions behind each step -- the whys, as you put it. It was eye-opening. Furthermore that info enabled me to improvise safely in later years when the weather or runway conditions weren't as amenable as they were when I was just learning. The whys aren't just necessary to doing it right, they are vital to doing it when the circumstances call for creativity.
@@WorkshopCompanion I love woodworking and flying and plan to get my pilots license at some point in life, do you by chance remember the title of said book written by a famous pilot? Or perhaps you remember the pilot's name? I would appreciate it, if you even read this, if you could reply whenever its convenient and thank you in advance if you do. Also a big thank you to you and your helpers for providing all of these amazing videos!
As much as I appreciate the implied compliment, I am about as far from being an arhat as the next woodworker. Fact is, most of the time, I feel a lot closer to samsara. I'm just decent craftsman and fair-to-middlin' teacher working hard at just being.
We're so lucky to have Nick as our Workshop Companion! A True Legend of the Art! Thanks for all the work and dedication. It is a great inspiration and resource for all of us.
Thanks for the tip on waxing the screw. That will sure help when I’m putting screws in old studs to hang cabinets. Love your twirling hammer. I kept wondering why Bella was hanging out so close. Now I know. She’s a real cute dog. Thanks for what you do. Debbie
Found this channel only a few weeks ago and feel cheated in how much I've missed not seeing his content when he first started. Man this stuff is amazing!
Sir I only discovered your videos a week ago. Now you are like an old friend. My God how I have learned from you. Deeply grateful for not just the knowledge but for how professional you present it and especially for the perfect humor you add. Why can’t other RUclips people be a tenth as great as you are? I get so tired of vulgar know it alls. You put them all to shame. I truly wish I could shake your hand and just sit down and talk with you. I’m also a teacher but on a very different subject. People like us are sadly going extinct. I savor your every word and cannot tell you how great your videos are. Deepest respect to you. Love your dog too. Adds a fun touch of humanity.
Good video, thank you! I worked in machine job shops for forty eight years and the most dangerous machine in the shop is the drill press. Drilling and counter drilling brass or brass alloys are especially dangerous. They will suck the bit down into the material and either lift the work off the table, or jerk it out of your hand, sometimes even when the workpiece is in a vise. Clamp the part, vise, or work holding device to the table for safety. If a person drills lots of brass for ornamentation, grind a flat on the lip of the drill to dull it and it won’t suck into the workpiece and it still cut fine. You may need drills done this way just for use on brass. Some grainy woods will do the same thing and the dull lip method may cause a hasty hole, so clamping is the best method. Counter drilling for a closer sized hole will be the most opportunity for sucking the drill in brass, thin or sheet metal, and some woods. Longer pieces can rest against the press column to prevent spinning. A fence can be a great safety feature as well. Another thing to help counter drill for size is to grind a small radius on the drill flutes. This really helps the drill size the hole correctly and prevent suck down in wood. The only times I was ever cut badly in all my many years was drill press injuries. Be Careful and Stay Safe!
Thanks for sharing. And you're quite right about the drill press -- it's just as dangerous as the tools with whirling saws and knives. Perhaps more so, because you're not on you guard as much with a drill press as you are with a saw or and jointer.
Been watching a lot of woodworking videos where people talk about their thought processes and dramatize their voyage, to the point I have to fast forward through the thing. These videos are well-paced, well-narrated, and full of good info. I don't subscribe to many channels but this was worth it, and might check out the merch section ;)
Good tip on the glove wearing, great video nick .👍 Always very informative even for myself being a time served carpenter. Sometimes it’s good to go back to basics
I dont even do a lot of woodworking at home. Just occasionally cut some two by fours or flooring when upgrading my house, but I watch all the videos on this channel regularly. The host is such a personable and friendly guy, and his way of teaching and talking is so relaxing that I sometimes spend up to an hour just watching his videos. Thank you for making these videos, you and the dog are awesome. 😎
I really appreciate these videos. Sometimes there is information new to me and other times I enjoy the reminders. Also, thanks for featuring Bella. She adds to the enjoyment I have watching the video and I appreciate the interaction you have with her.
All great tips; thank you (...and it's fun to see how enthusiastic your dog is :) My cat also always wants to be part of everything I'm doing - walking across my work, laughing at "harm's way" ;))
I'm so glad I saw the last tip about never drilling with gloves! I often use gloves when doing woodwork so I will definitely take them off before drilling anything. Thank you!
No harm in telling the truth. Bella is fantastic comic relief. I suspect a great many viewers think of Workshop Companion as "the woodworking channel with the dog."
Wow! Just wow! How have I not heard of/found this channel before now?! Subbed! I’m kings pepper to say I had heard of and indeed used a few of those tricks/tips, though not all of them. I’m an auto tech so I’m mostly dealing with metal however the one thing I always try to impress on those that work with me, is use the clutch on your drill/screw gun! Especially working in plastic interior bits! The clutch is your best friend! I use that exact same Milwaukee installation driver for much of my work and I’m almost never in drill mode unless I’m actually drilling! The diff is so awesome too!
You're a fantastic teacher, Nick. All these tips are great. I would add a caution on the tape trick, because it only works to the point where the tape fills with dust, pushes upward, and then you blow out the back of what you're doing. Also, thank you for the "no glove" tip - really, you should never wear gloves for the same reason associated with the drill press, with any power tool.
The dog stole the show.....as always! While I don't have one yet, woodworkers also have fractional twist bit sets. These cover the slightest sizes between standard bit sets
I don't know where you're writing from, but here in America we commonly have twist bits available in fractional, metric, numbered, and lettered sizes. It's a ridiculously confusing system and you need a huge chart to determine what's what, but the result is that we have over 150 diameters commonly available between .013" and .5" (.33 mm and 13 mm).
Love these videos so much. Between the knowledge, presentation, great humor, nice editing, and that adorable shop dog, this is my absolute favorite woodworking channel. Keep 'em coming, guys, you're doing fantastic work.
Nice vid. I’ve been watching for a short time on your DIY tips and how to’s , and I always notice that wood propeller hanging on wall! Which got me to pondering. Could you maybe make some large ceiling fan blades and demonstrate how to make them?? I have a few motors laying around that the factory blades did not hold up
Excellent advice ... I have a friend who was "degloved" while wearing a glove at the drill press. His injuries were so severe, he underwent numerous surgeries and eventually was fitted with a prosthetic device.
Just discovered your RUclips channel a couple of days ago. I’ve already watched a number of your videos and I have found them to be extremely informative, knowledgeable, and helpful… please keep them coming!! Ordered your Using the Bandsaw book this morning and can’t wait to receive it.
I love a good drill press, the speed adjustment on them might be overlooked but I find it a close second to a router table for versatility in a shop tool. Reminds me to set up a little kit around the one at my job. Be good to have some scrap pieces to adjust the height, I'm usually doing the awkward reach to adjust w. the crank. 🥺
The latter. She will do anything to make us laugh. When she was a pup, my wife and I laughed when she chased her tail. Nowadays, when things seem to be getting too serious or stressful, Bella starts chasing her tail.
Really useful tips as usual. The glove thing made me think of the other day when I was drilling a hole in some wood and it slipped off and the bit caught my sweat shirt twisting itself up in it just as your demonstration with the glove which I don't wear while doing those tasks
Good advice. I would add that it's important to select the correct RPM range for a particular size bit and material. Generally, smaller bits require higher rpms. And wood is much softer than steel or brass which require slower speeds and may need a lubricant. Find a chart online that gives this info - it should not be difficult to find.
I also learned the hard way not to wear gloves while using the drill press. I was young and working at a place that built sleepers for semi truck's. The frames are made out of aluminum. As I was drilling, a long piece was swinging around the bit, and I had the bright idea to knock it off with the back of my hand. Needless to say, it caught the glove on my middle finger. It wrapped the leather glove around the bit and ate right through the leather down to my finger. Praise the Lord the drill press stalled out enough to where I could shut it down before it ate through my finger or wrapped it around the bit. Lesson learned there!
A breath of fresh air, just good straightforward advice without typical RUclips editing with jokes and filler bs.
From a shepherd who just picked up a border collie pup to help herd the sheep, thank you for including Bella in your videos. I love seeing her bounce up onto the workbench to see what you're up to.
- Nick from Precott, AZ
Have owned and trained border collies all my life. Love the breed. Bella is my first kelpie, the collie's Australian cousin. Even more energy, if you can imagine that.
@@WorkshopCompanion more energy?! Border collie cousins from down under must be like most other things from there, more intense! :)
@@AZHighlandHomestead True that. I swear.
Not only am I learning a lot, but watching these videos just leaves me with a warm, comfortable feeling.
Thanks for saying.
This is the best woodworking channel on RUclips on every level.
50 years a skilled tradesman and I'm still learning from you.
And I'm still learning from folks like you. This is a never-ending process.
Another great video Nick. I’ve been woodworking for over 40 years starting under the tutelage of my dad. He always said that if you can read, you can figure anything out- but I must admit that properly executed videos have been a great help to me. You are consistently one of the video sites that I trust (some sites leave me with the hair on the back of my neck standing up…). I appreciate your videos because like my dad, you explain WHY you do it this way rather than tell you how to do it. The WHY is every bit as important as the how because it helps with other related tasks. Happy Woodworking!
Thanks for saying.
Well said.
I would describe it: With the why attached, skills memorize much better cause you can easily re-derive the 'formula of success' from the why.
Good woodworking everybody
@@TomSaw_de So true. Many years ago, when working towards a pilot's license, I had a good deal of trouble learning to land the airplane -- my instructor simply gave me a series of procedures with no theory or theme to connect them. I happened on a book written by a famous pilot who detailed his trials learning to bring a plane down safely in which he explained the physics and the traditions behind each step -- the whys, as you put it. It was eye-opening. Furthermore that info enabled me to improvise safely in later years when the weather or runway conditions weren't as amenable as they were when I was just learning. The whys aren't just necessary to doing it right, they are vital to doing it when the circumstances call for creativity.
@@WorkshopCompanion I love woodworking and flying and plan to get my pilots license at some point in life, do you by chance remember the title of said book written by a famous pilot? Or perhaps you remember the pilot's name? I would appreciate it, if you even read this, if you could reply whenever its convenient and thank you in advance if you do. Also a big thank you to you and your helpers for providing all of these amazing videos!
@@Fangman123789 "Kill Devil Hills"
Thank you, Nick for putting out such great videos. Bella was the star of the show, however.
I love dogs and IMO dog lovers are more compassionate people than dog haters. Great videos!😊
Thanks.
Another amazing clip. He is a Bodhisattva 😊
As much as I appreciate the implied compliment, I am about as far from being an arhat as the next woodworker. Fact is, most of the time, I feel a lot closer to samsara. I'm just decent craftsman and fair-to-middlin' teacher working hard at just being.
Another good one in the books. My kid loves seeing Bella pop up.
Finally! I have learned the dog's name!
@@Mighty_Atheismo I think I saw it in one of the other comments, assuming that's accurate.
We're so lucky to have Nick as our Workshop Companion! A True Legend of the Art! Thanks for all the work and dedication. It is a great inspiration and resource for all of us.
Thanks for the tip on waxing the screw. That will sure help when I’m putting screws in old studs to hang cabinets.
Love your twirling hammer. I kept wondering why Bella was hanging out so close. Now I know. She’s a real cute dog.
Thanks for what you do.
Debbie
Found this channel only a few weeks ago and feel cheated in how much I've missed not seeing his content when he first started. Man this stuff is amazing!
The paste wax screw tip is money! Thanks Nick!
Sir I only discovered your videos a week ago. Now you are like an old friend. My God how I have learned from you. Deeply grateful for not just the knowledge but for how professional you present it and especially for the perfect humor you add. Why can’t other RUclips people be a tenth as great as you are? I get so tired of vulgar know it alls. You put them all to shame. I truly wish I could shake your hand and just sit down and talk with you. I’m also a teacher but on a very different subject. People like us are sadly going extinct. I savor your every word and cannot tell you how great your videos are. Deepest respect to you. Love your dog too. Adds a fun touch of humanity.
Thanks.
This guy's delivery is top notch. Subbed.
Thanks...and welcome.
Bella stole the show there!
She usually does.
Love you man. You remind me my grandfather. God bless you.
Good video, thank you!
I worked in machine job shops for forty eight years and the most dangerous machine in the shop is the drill press. Drilling and counter drilling brass or brass alloys are especially dangerous. They will suck the bit down into the material and either lift the work off the table, or jerk it out of your hand, sometimes even when the workpiece is in a vise. Clamp the part, vise, or work holding device to the table for safety. If a person drills lots of brass for ornamentation, grind a flat on the lip of the drill to dull it and it won’t suck into the workpiece and it still cut fine. You may need drills done this way just for use on brass. Some grainy woods will do the same thing and the dull lip method may cause a hasty hole, so clamping is the best method. Counter drilling for a closer sized hole will be the most opportunity for sucking the drill in brass, thin or sheet metal, and some woods. Longer pieces can rest against the press column to prevent spinning. A fence can be a great safety feature as well. Another thing to help counter drill for size is to grind a small radius on the drill flutes. This really helps the drill size the hole correctly and prevent suck down in wood.
The only times I was ever cut badly in all my many years was drill press injuries.
Be Careful and Stay Safe!
Thanks for sharing. And you're quite right about the drill press -- it's just as dangerous as the tools with whirling saws and knives. Perhaps more so, because you're not on you guard as much with a drill press as you are with a saw or and jointer.
TRAVIS!! You're the man!!! Bella! What a lovely name for a dog. This is truly youtube's best woodworking channel bar none.
Thanks for taking on this topic and really drilling in.
Thanks -- I thought I gave it a good spin...
I’m so distracted by your dog, such a good boy!
Love this guy, love the doggy too !!
Must be nice to have Bella in the shop! ❤
Absolutely.
You Sir, are literally the Geppetto of woodworking... one thing that I don't like about your videos is: they end.
Carry on Sir!
Thanks for the kind words.
Found it very Bore-ing. Great tips, thanks! Awesome dog
Videos requires to be watched a couple of times, so many nice advices to pay atention to.. thnaks for sharing it.
Most welcome.
Been watching a lot of woodworking videos where people talk about their thought processes and dramatize their voyage, to the point I have to fast forward through the thing. These videos are well-paced, well-narrated, and full of good info. I don't subscribe to many channels but this was worth it, and might check out the merch section ;)
Thanks for saying.
thank you for the no gloves safety tip!
Most welcome.
Thanks, Nick and Bella, for the great video 👍
We all thank you.
Good tip on the glove wearing, great video nick .👍
Always very informative even for myself being a time served carpenter.
Sometimes it’s good to go back to basics
Thanks Nick - Always a great Video.
Your companion is one hellofa wonderful fellow. Intelligent he is!
She thanks you for saying. Bella is either a Kelpie or a McNab Sheperd -- both close cousins to border collies and just as smart.
Best ending to any video ever. Great tips as always thank you sir.
Great video and the South Park-esque opening character is brilliantly done! Love it!
Thanks.
Thank you for sharing
Nice video, Nick and Travis and Bella!
Thanks from all.
Love this guy!
Alot of food for thought and entertaining as well, (your dog stole the show).
Good information...thank you. Your dog is awesome!
Thanks for saying.
Best teacher on the web! Thanks for the great tips. Seen solutions here that I have never seen anywhere else.
Thanks for the kind words.
Every good woodshop should have a furry helper!
I dont even do a lot of woodworking at home. Just occasionally cut some two by fours or flooring when upgrading my house, but I watch all the videos on this channel regularly. The host is such a personable and friendly guy, and his way of teaching and talking is so relaxing that I sometimes spend up to an hour just watching his videos. Thank you for making these videos, you and the dog are awesome. 😎
Thanks for the kind words, from Bella and me.
Anubis! Love the ears and the smile. Thanks for more dog in these recent videos. And of course thanks for the tips. And the glove warning.
Most welcome. And I hadn't noticed but the prick ears and long nose are very similar to Anubis. Great observation.
Thanks so much for all of your woodworking wisdom.
Most welcome.
Great idea. Thanks!
You have a very good helper!
Agreed.
The dog is awesome.
I thinks so too.
I really appreciate these videos. Sometimes there is information new to me and other times I enjoy the reminders. Also, thanks for featuring Bella. She adds to the enjoyment I have watching the video and I appreciate the interaction you have with her.
She steals the show; let's admit it. Thanks for saying -- from both Bella and me.
Man, you have really great stuff in your channel.
Thanks. We try.
All great tips; thank you
(...and it's fun to see how enthusiastic your dog is :) My cat also always wants to be part of everything I'm doing - walking across my work, laughing at "harm's
way" ;))
Thanks for sharing.
You are very smart👌🥰
Nick, I say this with all due respect: You are a nut! keep it up!
Your Bella is a smart pup... really knows the drill!
It's never boring when Bella's in the shop.
I greatly appreciate all of your videos. Every video you put out I learn something new, you are very educational, thank you very much..
I love your puppy 😄
Me too.
thanks
Now I know why I stripped a few screws. The drill was set too high. Glad you put that in there. Thanks
Most welcome.
@@WorkshopCompanion Love your dog too - have 4 myself.
@@MystiqueULH That's almost enough.
Great tips as usual Nick! Must be nice having Bella as your assistant pouch in the shop! 👍👍🐶🐶
She's a handful, but she's good company.
I always learn something new from your videos. Thank you
Most welcome.
Thanks Nick I’m always impressed with your methods of sharing your knowledge.
Most welcome.
I'm so glad I saw the last tip about never drilling with gloves! I often use gloves when doing woodwork so I will definitely take them off before drilling anything. Thank you!
Most welcome.
Came for the woodworking, stayed because of Bella. Ok, not entirely true, but you have great content, I’ve learned a lot
No harm in telling the truth. Bella is fantastic comic relief. I suspect a great many viewers think of Workshop Companion as "the woodworking channel with the dog."
Wow! Just wow! How have I not heard of/found this channel before now?! Subbed! I’m kings pepper to say I had heard of and indeed used a few of those tricks/tips, though not all of them. I’m an auto tech so I’m mostly dealing with metal however the one thing I always try to impress on those that work with me, is use the clutch on your drill/screw gun! Especially working in plastic interior bits! The clutch is your best friend! I use that exact same Milwaukee installation driver for much of my work and I’m almost never in drill mode unless I’m actually drilling! The diff is so awesome too!
You're a fantastic teacher, Nick. All these tips are great. I would add a caution on the tape trick, because it only works to the point where the tape fills with dust, pushes upward, and then you blow out the back of what you're doing. Also, thank you for the "no glove" tip - really, you should never wear gloves for the same reason associated with the drill press, with any power tool.
Thanks for those tips again ,
Thanks for your sharing, very detail and easy to understand.
Most welcome.
I love this channel. Great knowledge, great presentation, and great dog.
Travis, Bella, and I thank you.
Greeting from Cologne, thanks for your very well made videos!
Thanks from Ohio.
You have the most informative channel , and it's entertaining!
The dog stole the show.....as always!
While I don't have one yet, woodworkers also have fractional twist bit sets. These cover the slightest sizes between standard bit sets
I don't know where you're writing from, but here in America we commonly have twist bits available in fractional, metric, numbered, and lettered sizes. It's a ridiculously confusing system and you need a huge chart to determine what's what, but the result is that we have over 150 diameters commonly available between .013" and .5" (.33 mm and 13 mm).
Great video, thanks for sharing your tips 🙂
Thank you Nick, always a pleasure to listen to your useful tips 👍
Most welcome.
Love these videos so much. Between the knowledge, presentation, great humor, nice editing, and that adorable shop dog, this is my absolute favorite woodworking channel. Keep 'em coming, guys, you're doing fantastic work.
Thanks.
Love this guy. This is the kinda teacher I wish I had when I was younger 😊
Great video Nick, keep them coming.
That's the plan.
Good tips
Thanks.
Just found your channel, and I'm loving the content.
Also that's a really sweet pup and she adores you!
Bella and I thank you for the kind words.
Nice vid. I’ve been watching for a short time on your DIY tips and how to’s , and I always notice that wood propeller hanging on wall! Which got me to pondering. Could you maybe make some large ceiling fan blades and demonstrate how to make them?? I have a few motors laying around that the factory blades did not hold up
We may do a video on making a propeller in the far-distant future, but fans and props are two different things.
@@WorkshopCompanion blade is a blade lol. Just delet the middle part 😂
Thanks for the video, you are the best. Saludos desde Argentina
You're welcome from Ohio.
Excellent advice ... I have a friend who was "degloved" while wearing a glove at the drill press. His injuries were so severe, he underwent numerous surgeries and eventually was fitted with a prosthetic device.
Yikes!
Great video. Nice dog!
Another great video and a great compliment to your books!
Thanks.
Just discovered your RUclips channel a couple of days ago. I’ve already watched a number of your videos and I have found them to be extremely informative, knowledgeable, and helpful… please keep them coming!! Ordered your Using the Bandsaw book this morning and can’t wait to receive it.
Great Video as usual, and nice catch Bella
Bella says thanks.
Love me some Bella. Hey...good tip about the gloves. Thanks, Nick. (Oh, yeah...the other tips were good, too.)
Thanks.
Love that you've been sharing some of your book knowledge here.
Thanks for saying.
I adorable just love watching it... as simple as that
Thanks for the great insight. All the best!
Most welcome.
I love a good drill press, the speed adjustment on them might be overlooked but I find it a close second to a router table for versatility in a shop tool.
Reminds me to set up a little kit around the one at my job. Be good to have some scrap pieces to adjust the height, I'm usually doing the awkward reach to adjust w. the crank. 🥺
That beautiful Bella is either masterfully trained or she has an impeccable sense of comedic timing 😁
The latter. She will do anything to make us laugh. When she was a pup, my wife and I laughed when she chased her tail. Nowadays, when things seem to be getting too serious or stressful, Bella starts chasing her tail.
Hmmm...why is Bella so interested in the bench top? It's cute and all, but...oh! I get it🤭 Good doggo🐕
All very sound advice Nick. Thanks for presenting, and to Bella also!!
Most welcome.
Awesome as usual, thanks!
Most welcome.
Sir, you are a prise! Consistent constant genius ideas and techniques; timeless thoughts!!
Thanks for those kind words.
Really useful tips as usual. The glove thing made me think of the other day when I was drilling a hole in some wood and it slipped off and the bit caught my sweat shirt twisting itself up in it just as your demonstration with the glove which I don't wear while doing those tasks
I love the tips, but honestly, my favorite part of the video is the dog.
Another great video always learn a little something. And huge thank you for your router dropping bit video. Haven't dropped a bit since.
OMG! Thanks for saying.
Good advice. I would add that it's important to select the correct RPM range for a particular size bit and material. Generally, smaller bits require higher rpms. And wood is much softer than steel or brass which require slower speeds and may need a lubricant. Find a chart online that gives this info - it should not be difficult to find.
I also learned the hard way not to wear gloves while using the drill press. I was young and working at a place that built sleepers for semi truck's. The frames are made out of aluminum. As I was drilling, a long piece was swinging around the bit, and I had the bright idea to knock it off with the back of my hand. Needless to say, it caught the glove on my middle finger. It wrapped the leather glove around the bit and ate right through the leather down to my finger. Praise the Lord the drill press stalled out enough to where I could shut it down before it ate through my finger or wrapped it around the bit. Lesson learned there!
Thanks for sharing
Always enjoy your videos. Entertaining with great information. Thank you.
Most welcome.