5 tips youtube woodworkers give that professionals HATE

5 tips youtube woodworkers give that professionals HATE

To try everything Brilliant has to offer—free—for a full 30 days, visit https://brilliant.org/ENCurtis/ . The first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant’s annual premium subscription.

I felt like being a little snarky today. Because sometimes it’s fun. And because sometimes you need to remind people that tips and tricks are great in a pinch, but practical advice can get distorted on social media. So, here are 5 tips that youtube woodworkers give that professionals generally don’t use. Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please consider supporting my channel by subscribing and hitting that notification bell. It really helps small channels like mine.

This video was sponsored by Brilliant.

—————————————————————————————

Items I use in this video (some are affiliate links which help sponsor this content):
CA glue and activator: https://amzn.to/3qIFcTz
Blue Tape: https://amzn.to/3Cna2Um
Double Stick Tape: https://amzn.to/3X6p6zA
Osmo Oil: https://amzn.to/43AzIck
Titebond I Wood Glue: https://amzn.to/3zRXHGv
Shellac https://amzn.to/3N3woPZ
Quick-Fill Burn-in Sticks: https://amzn.to/461reN2
Seisso Wax Sticks: https://amzn.to/3N5PN2w
Mixol Universal Tints: https://amzn.to/3X18JnA
TransTint Dye: https://amzn.to/3Pbsh6X

———————————————————-

Items I keep on hand in the shop:
Glue:
Titebond I Wood Glue: https://amzn.to/3zRXHGv
Titebond III Wood Glue: https://amzn.to/3MVnG6j
Titebond Quick and Thick: https://amzn.to/42HGuMC

Power Tools and Accessories:
Table Saw Blade – Woodworkers II: https://amzn.to/42bIOLa
My favorite trim router: https://amzn.to/3LbCbTF
DeWalt Trim Router fence: https://amzn.to/43cYwr2
My Festool Router Setup: https://amzn.to/3ZPIQal
Extra Fence: https://amzn.to/3KHi9jI
1/2″ dia Router bit: https://amzn.to/3UkRFYI
A Better Alternative (Spiral Up Cut): https://amzn.to/3mcPsSp

Sharpening:
Ohishi Waterstones: https://amzn.to/3TkoZhP
1,000/8,000 Combo (great budget option): https://amzn.to/3Lqj7Sh
Angle Setting Jig Plans: https://www.lie-nielsen.com/pages/downloads
Inexpensive Honing Guide: https://amzn.to/3Jo2Uub
Lie-Nieslen Honing Guide: https://www.lie-nielsen.com/nodes/4239/honing guide
Sandpaper for Flattening: https://amzn.to/3Jor73F

My Finish Mix:
Minwax Polyurethane: https://amzn.to/3kPgpuO
Liberon Finishing Oil: https://amzn.to/3kXkIEf
Danish Oil (alternative): https://amzn.to/3Njlabs
Liberon Beeswax: https://amzn.to/3Jm2yFN
Turpentine: https://amzn.to/3SWFznB
Mineral Spirits (alternative): https://amzn.to/3oKU83h

TotalBoat Epoxy:
For 5% off any TotalBoat product, visit https://www.totalboat.com/encurtis

You can stay up to date with my work here:
http://www.instagram.com/encurtis​/
https://www.facebook.com/ENCurtis
https://encurtis.com/

50 Comments

  1. Old Top on June 24, 2023 at 1:31 pm

    Sage advice here. I’ve clicked the subscribe button. I haven’t tried the Rubio Monocoat stuff, but have been seeing it a lot. I’m old, so stick with shellac (especially for things for the grandkids), thinned poly and tung oil varnish. These work well for me and are easily obtainable locally.



  2. Joy Knollenberg on June 24, 2023 at 1:32 pm

    I used double stick tape on a piece earlier this week. I couldn’t get the pieces apart. I had to use a small crow bar to separate them, and I couldn’t get the tape completely off



  3. Adam Frederick on June 24, 2023 at 1:33 pm

    Sigh. The c channel absolutely helps keep something flat. I supposed breadboard ends don’t do anything either huh? I wouldn’t turn my nose up at the sawdust and glue trick. Honestly, it’s a great tool to have in your pocket. “Professionals would NEVER use stain!” “But here’s these dyes which are so much different.” Lmao. Honestly, you seem kind of a snob. Looking at your other videos confirms it.



  4. John C. Reid on June 24, 2023 at 1:34 pm

    I wonder how many of these would be triggers for Ben Crow and @CrimsonCustomGuitars.



  5. Scott Hildreth on June 24, 2023 at 1:37 pm

    I’d like to see a video on closing gaps in joinery. I have never liked glue and sawdust, but I don’t know what else to do when gaps happen.



  6. Joshua Bray on June 24, 2023 at 1:38 pm

    I’m glad you mentioned about the "blue tape/CA glue" tip. I’ve never understood why so many recommend that. Sure, I can see a use for it. For example, if you need to hold down something that’s painted, and you don’t want the double sided tape to pull off the paint. But, usually, for CNC work, you aren’t doing that, and double sided tape is much easier… AND, the sawdust in glue trick, to me, always looks like wood filler. I mean, for a "weekend warrior" like myself, it’s fine, but if I was going to make something to sell, not sure I’d be doing that one… I have wondered if the "C channel" trick actually works (I’ll admit, I’ve tried it… it didn’t work).



  7. Bob Habsolute on June 24, 2023 at 1:39 pm

    Great video! I really like that you don’t throw everything and everyone under the bus but instead presents alternatives and educate us. More elaborate opinions are not always easy to convey on YouTube as most people are looking for a black or white answer, but I, for myself, prefer to live in a colourful world. Thanks.



  8. AndyC on June 24, 2023 at 1:39 pm

    Only Five ? , I can see at least one follow up to this video ! 😉😁



  9. Simon Marcoux on June 24, 2023 at 1:40 pm

    There are REALLY good double stick tape for CNC Machining… it is a game changer and I don’t know why people still bother with the blue tape method…



  10. Ron Lonsbury on June 24, 2023 at 1:43 pm

    I would love to see your technique on your dye or tinting your finishes.



  11. Paul Maryon on June 24, 2023 at 1:46 pm

    Great video , thank you, I agree on almost all your points here, but as a restorer of some 40 plus years stains are invaluable, I could not do my work without them, many of which I make or mix myself. Keep up the good work, have subscribed. Greetings from the UK



  12. Captain Fruitbat on June 24, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    First time I saw the blue tape and superglue trick was on a British guitarmaker’s channel. If I recall correctly, the specific reason he had for doing it was that he had not been able to find double-stick tape that would release easily from the wood without leaving chunks of tape and residue behind. For him, at least back then, it wasn’t about using what you have or saving money. Since then it has morphed into a ridiculous internet "miracle solution" thing.



  13. PBWC on June 24, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    00:23 Fvck Yea it is



  14. OD Guitars on June 24, 2023 at 1:49 pm

    I’ve tried so many double side tapes and found only one that was strong enough for CNC holding, however the shop I found it from, stopped getting them, so I started using the CA and tape trick which has amazing hold power, never failed me on the CNC. (I’m not in the US, so we don’t have everything within reach)



  15. Chris Hornberger on June 24, 2023 at 1:49 pm

    Glad to hear the comments about c-channel. I’ve been doing metal and wood stuffs a long time; I have no idea how this silliness got started, but it’s bullshit. It’s utter and complete bullshit. Wood movement (especially in terms of warping or bowing) is a freaking force of nature and a little bit of bendable steel is not going to prevent it.



  16. Bob Martin on June 24, 2023 at 1:49 pm

    Congratulations on your achievement! That’s a true testament of your level of craftsmanship; thank you for sharing that with us!!



  17. Bob Smith on June 24, 2023 at 1:51 pm

    I liked this. Good video. Thank you very much. I’ll take these thing to heart.



  18. Njao6q4vrv73 on June 24, 2023 at 1:51 pm

    Thank you for your unique voice in this eco chamber



  19. B30pt87 on June 24, 2023 at 1:54 pm

    Yes, it was very educational. I subscribed.



  20. DALG Guitars on June 24, 2023 at 1:56 pm

    I hope he was just mugging for the camera when he did that masking tape and super glue demonstration! That was at least 10x the amount of glue needed and obviously it will get all over the wood. Also, shout out to Jeff Jewitt, luthier and finish master who makes Transtint.



  21. Tom McGraw on June 24, 2023 at 1:56 pm

    Love to see a video on the aniline dyes, and tints in general! Awesome videos!



  22. Paul Mitchell on June 24, 2023 at 1:57 pm

    So with respect to your c channel comments, are you suggesting that there is nothing that can be done to keep a tabletop flat other than milling and drying wood properly? I’ve not used c channel, but certainly wooden cleats are a common method that many pros use and I’ve used with success over the years. Trestle tables are another example, the trestles don’t help keep the top flat?



  23. Daniel Cordoba on June 24, 2023 at 1:57 pm

    Good to know staining is not a thing. I hate it. But I love toner. Learned it from Bob Flexner’s book. Great book by the way. (Understanding Wood Finishing)



  24. joujimiichi1 on June 24, 2023 at 2:00 pm

    I agree with the double stick tape over CA glue but if you must use CA glue, don’t pour a quarter of the bottle on your blue tape like this guy. CA glue is typically the choice because it’s strong. That said, you don’t need to use a lot of it. You don’t even need to apply a line the full length of the tape. A couple drops are all you need to get a good hold and not ruin your material.

    I agree; if you’re too dumb to use CA glue effectively, you should definitely listen to this guy and use double-stick tape.



  25. J Dahle on June 24, 2023 at 2:03 pm

    Got a new viewer, and new subscriber. There’s a time and a place for okay woodworking… but to cross over into fine woodworking is my dream and I’m very happy to have found your channel!



  26. Shawn Daugherty on June 24, 2023 at 2:03 pm

    Where do I get a mug like that????



  27. Lon Hetrick on June 24, 2023 at 2:03 pm

    Okay! That’s enough to sell me on subscribing! Thanks for sharing options.



  28. Blake Pizzey on June 24, 2023 at 2:03 pm

    Thank you for the C channel comment……..!!!!!



  29. Darin on June 24, 2023 at 2:05 pm

    thanks



  30. Lance Rawlings on June 24, 2023 at 2:06 pm

    Interesting video. Thanks for clearing up that Osmo and Rubio really are the same thing. I have used “C” Chanel before and really doubted they work. If wood is going to move it will move. White glue and sawdust, never done that, along with CA glue and blue tape. You’re right those tricks are not used in a professional shop.



  31. Douglas Jones on June 24, 2023 at 2:07 pm

    Thank you! I don’t stain, ever. Tint yes. TransTint and shellac make for great way to match color for repairs or to get the tone just the way you want.



  32. Codeyellow on June 24, 2023 at 2:10 pm

    I think the biggest thing is that starbond sponsors a lot of YouTubers. The minor use case is that I need to align two pieces and I need that setup time from the ca glue. But that’s not nearly enough of a use case to use it as often as YouTubers use it.



  33. R Kerby on June 24, 2023 at 2:12 pm

    Wow, a very Informative video!
    Thank you!!



  34. El Oscuro on June 24, 2023 at 2:12 pm

    In the 1980’s when I was in high school, I mostly used walnut stain on oak and most other light woods. In the 90’s I used the (much easier to use) gel stains to the same effect. But at the turn of the century where I now had a family and was making furniture for it, I stopped using stains entirely. Besides being less expensive, I figured: Why not just showcase the original wood color, whatever it actually is?



  35. ENCurtis on June 24, 2023 at 2:13 pm

    To try everything Brilliant has to offer—free—for a full 30 days, visit https://brilliant.org/ENCurtis/ . The first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant’s annual premium subscription.



  36. Dustin Whitten on June 24, 2023 at 2:16 pm

    I still don’t understand why you haven’t worn a Leonidas outfit or helmet yet. Greek warrior woodworker lol… THIS IS SPAR-URETHANE😅



  37. Terry Miller on June 24, 2023 at 2:17 pm

    Be happy for yourself. That is like a Michelin star in your profession.



  38. R.M. on June 24, 2023 at 2:17 pm

    Great video lots of good info. Yes, it would be nice to see the finishes tech.



  39. Robert H. O. Todd on June 24, 2023 at 2:17 pm

    Brilliant



  40. Jack Williamson on June 24, 2023 at 2:18 pm

    training is usually underestimated by those without any.



  41. Gideonmack on June 24, 2023 at 2:19 pm

    I’ve never used Rubio but I did make solid oak kitchen furniture professionally for a few years and we would use at least 2 coats of Osmo, the first coat raises the grain, let it cure overnight, knock it back with 240 grit and refinish. I’m honestly shocked that a product similar to Osmo would advertise itself as "monocoat".



  42. Dionysios Van Der Heynen on June 24, 2023 at 2:21 pm

    I think this is the first video of yours I watch. Absolutely Brilliant (lol), couldn’t agree more. YT/social media echo-chamber I think may be the real culprit here. Subbed!!

    One thing I think you didn’t stress enough though; the difference between a Hobbyist and a Professional. Some techniques are perfectly acceptable for non-pros (thinking of the glue+saw dust vs investing in an assortment of colour-matched putties might be overkill for those who aren’t making a living as Woodworkers.) But your point remains, these techniques are portrayed as ‘gospel’ and ‘professional’ alternatives are rarely presented.
    The c-channel thing never made sense to me though.



  43. PBWC on June 24, 2023 at 2:21 pm

    2:20 nope, won’t do it
    4:30 I only do small stuff
    11:04 I use this for really small gaps and then for bigger i use resin n sawdust or kitty hair (custom fiberglass fab history). i never do the rub.



  44. Jeremiah Collection on June 24, 2023 at 2:22 pm

    Hmm. I’ve been a professional for about 30 yrs and I agree with everything but the Rubio Monocoat thing. First off osmo is a good product and I used to use it. But if you ship a cabinet or anything that doesn’t breath when you open the doors is smells rancid. Maybe they’ve fixed that problem buy now but I would not ship a boxed up item to a customer for them to open the doors and be hit with that smell. I also used to use a home made finish I called the Traveling Wilburys because it was a super group of all the finishes. Poly, danish, tung and linseed oil and some naprha to help it kick. But the was wayyyy to smelly. If you’re going to be in this industry for a while, you need to start watching out for things like breathing chemicals, But when i found Rubio it changed my world. Easy to apply. Molecularly bonds to the fiber of the wood so water seeps around the fibers instead of in them to make it swell. You can apply it in a dusty shop. It’s fantastic. Almost every furniture and cabinet maker I know only offers the client, Rubio monocoat, or conversion varnish. Just my opinion❤ btw it does dry out but it’s really easy to just refer the client to the website for maintenance products and info. Also it’s not as safe as they make it seem. My eyes always burn after a day of Rubio.



  45. Bullfrog Pond Shop on June 24, 2023 at 2:23 pm

    Agreed on the blue tape and super glue nonsense. Double-sided tape works better, faster, and easier.



  46. Ivan Illidge on June 24, 2023 at 2:24 pm

    We NEED a video about colorants!



  47. Chris Hornberger on June 24, 2023 at 2:24 pm

    It’s **absolutely** a marker of success. I remember the first time I had anything published; it felt great, and it got me my next job after that. Take the win.



  48. Feist77 on June 24, 2023 at 2:27 pm

    yes, "c" channel is for a mounting point not for warping or cupping.



  49. MOT ! on June 24, 2023 at 2:27 pm

    I make my own finish with beeswax, and natural oils. Non toxic, and beautiful finish.



  50. In The Beginning... on June 24, 2023 at 2:28 pm

    Just a comment on the CA glue and tape trick. As a luthier, I use a ton of custom router setups with very tight tolerances. Using the CA glue (medium) and tape trick, without the accelerator, gives me time to position the components that double stick tape does not.