Ep. 47 Product Failures, Stir Crazy Projects, and Crow Grudges

Ep. 47 Product Failures, Stir Crazy Projects, and Crow Grudges

Welcome back to another episode of What You Making! After a brief hiatus, the guys are back on the bench to catch up on life, share their latest shop updates, and dive into the messy world of product and project failures. IN THIS EPISODE: * Life Updates: Alex Duffy returns from a two-week medical leave following leg surgery. He shares how going stir crazy on the couch drove him to tackle some light laser work and an upcoming backyard mushroom-growing project. Meanwhile, Alex Adams celebrates his anniversary and discusses his recent yard-seeding adventures. * On the Bench: Alex Adams showcases his beautiful, custom laser-engraved cherry wood plaques made for graduating senior runners, detailing his process for converting photos into line drawings using ChatGPT and Lightburn. * CNC Adventures: Alex Adams recaps his first experience installing and flattening his new NextWave MDF spoil board kit, navigating the learning curve of Vetric software, and surviving his first emergency-stop battle scar. * What Went Wrong: The guys talk about workshop hiccups, including phone overheating issues while filming in a hot garage, the absolute mess of carving black MDF without a dust collection system, and a terrifying, ritualistic discovery in the backyard that leaves Alex Duffy praying he didn't offend the local crow population. KEY TAKEAWAYS & PRO TIPS: * Laser Engraving Tip: Alex Duffy shares a technique for making wood engravings pop by doing a double-pass burn, applying a clear coat, filling the engraving with black paint, and sanding it flat. * Budget Landscaping: Need a lot of soil? Check local hardware stores for broken bags of garden soil, which are often heavily discounted just to clear inventory. * CNC Zeroing: When you're brand new to a CNC machine, using the paper method for micro-adjustments on the Z-axis can be a safer, nerve-saving alternative to a metal touch plate while you learn your machine's movements. CONNECT WITH US: * Support the Show: patreon.com/whatchamacallitshow [http://patreon.com/whatchamacallitshow] * Alex Duffy: Instagram & YouTube @DuffeyWoodcraft [https://www.instagram.com] * Alex Adams: @TypeAFurniture [https://www.instagram.com]

Ep. 46 Flying Solo with Jeff of Maker's Way

With Duffey away, Alex Adams (Type A Furniture) is flying solo to host a jam-packed, off-the-cuff episode of What You're Making. Joining him on the bench is Jeff from Maker's Way, the right-hand man and producer for the popular Johnny Builds YouTube channel. In this episode, Alex and Jeff dive deep into the world of 3D printing, workflow efficiency, and the realities of running a maker business. Alex shares how he tackled his son’s early summer break by putting his Bambu Lab printers to work on a massive, 200-hour 3D-printed Millennium Falcon "Lego" set. The guys discuss the trial-and-error of dialing in printer settings, the upcoming launch of Bambu's new tech, and how Alex puts his son on "salary" to assemble keychains for local farmers' markets. Shifting from plastic to sawdust, Alex talks about his current passion project: crafting custom graduation gifts for his senior cross-country runners. He opens up about the design process of converting athlete photos into clean laser-engraved line drawings, the struggle of sacrificing his premium cherry wood inventory for larger-than-planned plaques, and why testing the details—especially faces—makes all the difference when creating a meaningful keepsake. WHAT WE DISCUSSED: * Off the Cuff Intros: Alex holds down the fort and introduces Jeff from Maker’s Way/Johnny Builds. * The 200-Hour Falcon: Using 3D printing to replicate a massive Lego-style set to teach patience (and sanity) during summer break. * Bambu Lab & Tech Talk: A look at the Bambu Lab printer fleet, the helpfulness of the Maker Lab/Studio apps, and the "Cyber Brick" plugin for seamless time-lapses. * Market Strategy & "Child Labor": Why print-in-place articulated models and keychains dominate the markets, and negotiating a salary box register with family. * Going Big for Graduation: Transitioning scrap wood projects into high-detail, laser-engraved cherry plaques for senior athletes, and how to properly test image conversions before hitting print. Sponsored by: Next Wave CNC. Looking for the best CNC on the market to complement your shop? Look no further than the Shark CNC from Next Wave. Connect with the Hosts: * Alex Adams: @typeafurniture [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/typeafurniture] on Instagram * Jeff: @makers_way [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/makers_way] on Instagram / Johnny Builds on YouTube

Ep. 45 Finding Your Niche

In this episode of Watcha Makin, hosts Alex Adams (Type A Furniture) and Alex Duffey (Duffey Woodcraft) dive into the core concept of finding your niche as a maker, while sharing their latest updates from the workshop bench. ON THE BENCH & WHATCHA BREAKIN' * Alex Duffey celebrates finishing all of his inventory for the upcoming UFO Fest four days ahead of schedule! He shares details on his custom UFO lights with miniature Sasquatches, cows, and trees, showcasing a magnetic levitating model on Instagram, and dives into his thoughts on the government's recent UFO file drops. * Alex Adams has been running his 3D printers non-stop to restock for the local farmers market. He breaks down his latest prints—from self-locking hitch covers and articulated "derpy eye" animals to complex wind spinners and a massive 8-piece Stormtrooper helmet. He also recounts the trials of printing with brittle filament, 3D printing snafus, and a backyard stump-removal project that turned into a muddy mess. THE PRICE IS WRONG (SELLING UPDATES) * Duffey highlights a massive win: selling three of his large light-up UFOs before the festival even starts, completely covering his booth fee. * Adams recaps his successful experience at an early-season farmers market preview and how his son's toy mortar print helped grab the attention of passersby. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Alex Duffey will be out for the next two weeks undergoing a minor leg surgery. There will be no episode next week. The podcast will return the following week with Alex Adams and a special guest host! > Show Sponsor: This episode is proudly sponsored by NextWave CNC. Check out their month-long May accessory specials and learn how you can earn $500 through their Project of the Month program by teaching a CNC project to the masses. > > Support the Show: Want to join an elite club more exclusive than the astronauts who walked on the moon? Support the guys directly on Patreon [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.patreon.com/whatyoumakingshow].

Ep. 44 Listener Questions & Shop Talk

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. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: * 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.

Ep. 43 Ambitious Projects with Corey of Fortress Fine Woodworks.

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. HIGHLIGHTS: * 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. ON THE BENCH: * 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.