Whatcha Makin' Show

Alex Adams & Alex Duffey
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Join the conversation with Whatcha Makin', the podcast for makers of all kinds! Each week, Alex Duffey and Alex Adams dive into their latest projects, share woodshop insights, discuss selling your creations, and highlight cool finds in the maker community. From learning new techniques to balancing your hobby and business, we tackle the real stuff. Expect a mix of education, entertainment, and genuine chat about the crafts you love, including woodworking, 3D printing, and more. Subscribe and be part of the Whatcha Makin' family! 

  1. 3D AGO

    Small Shop Solutions and Mastering Power Tools with Thomas Custom Woodworks

    This week on Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams welcome special guest Thomas from Thomas Custom Woodworks! Thomas, a former PE teacher turned viral woodworking creator, joins the show to discuss the art of the shop project. Operating out of a 198-square-foot garage bay, Thomas has mastered the niche of designing space-saving workshop furniture like flip-top tool carts and folding workbenches. He gives us a deep dive into his upcoming digital course, "Master Your Power Tools," designed to help beginners calibrate and safely operate the seven most common shop tools. The hosts recap their own busy weeks in the shop: Alex Duffey celebrates his "Lego January" break while successfully transitioning to a Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer and prepping for Sasquatch Fest. Alex Adams shares a marathon update on his 11-foot walnut dining table, detailing the "Jenga-like" process of milling boards around hidden nails and iron staining. He also wraps up a massive corporate order of cherry serving trays and turned barbecue handles. In "Whatcha Watchin'," the crew highlights mind-blowing work from the community, including Happy Life Wood's incredible wooden Solomon shoes, a Lord of the Rings popup book by Lyman Jeffrey, and a custom 3D-printed vintage radio designed for dementia patients. Tune in for a wealth of knowledge on shop layout, the benefits of digital plans.

    1h 51m

  2. JAN 28

    Ep. 31: Quoting Custom: Formulas, Red Flags, and the F-Off Price

    In this episode of Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams pull back the curtain on one of the most stressful aspects of running a maker business: quoting custom projects. Alex Duffey shares his hard-and-fast formula for pricing (Material Cost x 1.3 for wear + Shop Rate x 2 for profit), while Alex Adams discusses his more exploratory approach, involving detailed client interviews, sketching, and the "all-upfront" payment model to weed out non-serious leads. They also dive into the infamous "F-Off price"—when to use it and why you should never lower your rates just to "get the job." The hosts also catch up on their current "bench" status. Alex Duffey is prepping for Sasquatch Fest using ColorCore HDPE for the first time to create unique caution signs and catchall trays. He also details his foray into resin casting with silicone molds for his UFO lamps. Alex Adams is deep into holiday serving tray production, dealing with dull helical head jointer blades, and navigating the logistical nightmare of milling 11-foot-long sentimental walnut boards filled with hidden nails. In "Whatcha Watchin'," the duo highlights incredible work from the community, including a Lord of the Rings popup book by Lyman Jeffrey and a high-stakes table restoration video by Johnny Builds. Plus, a science-nerd tangent on the Northern Lights and solar flares!

    1h 25m

  3. JAN 21

    Ep. 30: The Blueprint for Success: Crafting Woodworking Plans and Digital Assets with Winnie

    Send us a text This week on Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams welcome the talented Winnie from Standish WoodStory! Joining us from Ontario, Canada, Winnie shares her journey of building a thriving YouTube channel and business by creating accessible, step-by-step woodworking plans for the "weekend warrior." We dive deep into the business of digital products—how to design plans in Fusion 360, the effort required to document a build (spoiler: it's a lot!), and how Winnie uses free plans and newsletters to grow her audience. The trio also discusses their latest shop updates and "new year resets." Alex Duffey recaps his transition to Bambu Lab 3D printing (and the mysterious disappearance of his delivery driver), while Winnie shares tips on shop maintenance, including how she finally fixed her stubborn Laguna bandsaw foot pedal. Alex Adams provides an update on his massive 11-foot walnut dining table project, including the high-stakes task of digging buried nails out of sentimental lumber. In "Whatcha Watchin'," the hosts spotlight incredible projects from the community, including a vintage-style radio for dementia patients, a 3D-printed Hangman book game, and a hyper-realistic fossilized-look tackle box. Whether you're looking to start selling your own plans or just want to hear about "Lego January," this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice! Tags #WhatchaMakin #StandishWoodStory #WoodworkingPlans #DigitalProducts #YouTubeWoodworking #BambuLab #3DPrinting #ShopMaintenance #CNC #MakerCommunity #FurnitureDesign #Fusion360 #LumberSourcing #WorkshopOrganization #WoodworkingPodcast #DIYBusiness Support the show

    1h 32m

  4. JAN 14

    Ep. 29:Knockdown Success: Building Mobile Bars and Making it Functional with Yesi of Knockonwood

    Send us a text This week on Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams welcome the "Wonder Woman" of woodworking, Yesi from Knock on Wood Florida! A former attorney who traded the courtroom for the workshop, Yesi shares her explosive growth in the maker community and her unique niche in creating knockdown furniture. We dive deep into the business of mobile bars—how she transitioned from a hobbyist to a pro, the logistics of shipping large units across the US, and her process for designing high-end, functional retail displays that can be assembled in minutes. The trio also catches up on their current "bench" status. Alex Duffey recaps his Lego January tradition and his upcoming burley maple guitar build, while Alex Adams details his simulated live-edge serving trays and his latest adventures in 3D printing battle bots with his son. In the "Whatcha Breakin'" segment, they cover everything from snapped Kreg pocket hole bits to 3D printer bed adhesion woes and frozen dehumidifiers. In "Whatcha Watchin'," we shout out some incredible makers, including the hand-carved robots of Sawdust Imagery, the hyper-realistic embroidery of Embroidery by Nusik, and a hilarious influencer parody by Woodwind LLC. Whether you're looking to scale your furniture business or just want to hear how Gumby became a shop companion, this episode is packed with practical business advice and shop humor! Tags #WhatchaMakin #KnockOnWoodFlorida #MobileBars #KnockdownFurniture #WoodworkingBusiness #3DPrinting #CNC #MakerCommunity #BambuLab #Makita #Vetric #ShopOrganization #LegoJanuary #SmallBusinessTips #CustomFurniture #Intarsia #WoodworkingPodcast Support the show

    1h 30m

  5. JAN 7

    Ep. 28:Lights, Camera, Action: Mastering Maker Content in 2026

    Send us a text Welcome to the first episode of 2026! Alex Duffey and Alex Adams dive deep into the world of content creation for makers. Whether you are a "beginner" filming on an old iPhone or an "intermediate" creator investing in lighting and specialized gear like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, this episode breaks down how to get started and refine your style. The hosts discuss the importance of "frictionless" filming, the power of good audio, and how even mundane shop tasks like flattening a router sled can go viral with the right camera angles. In the shop, the guys are shaking off the holiday rush. Alex Duffey recaps his factory tour at Next Wave CNC in Ohio (and a legendary "punch bucket" incident), while Alex Adams is deep into milling a massive walnut dining table and troubleshooting 3D printer bed adhesion issues caused by the winter cold. Plus, the duo talks about their current "Lego January" tradition and the launch of a new CNC coaching community with Andy Bird.  #WhatchaMakin #ContentCreation #MakerCommunity #WoodworkingPodcast #3DPrinting #CNC #NextWaveCNC #YouTubeForMakers #ShopOrganization #LegoJanuary #BambuLab #MakerBusiness #VideoProduction #Vetric #DigitalMarketing #DIYContent  Support the show

    1h 31m

  6. 12/31/2025

    Ep. 27: 2025 A Year to Remember: Markets, Milestones, and 2026 Goals

    Send us a text In the final episode of 2025, Alex Duffey and Alex Adams take a trip down memory lane to recap a massive year in the maker community. Alex Duffey shares his experience visiting the Next Wave CNC headquarters, offering a sneak peek into his factory tour and a major upcoming announcement. Meanwhile, Alex Adams detail his "ordeal" of milling a massive walnut tree and the meticulous process of removing buried nails to save his blades. The hosts dive into their Best and Worst of 2025, covering everything from the triumph of the 27 church pews project and the redesign of the light-up UFOs to the disappointment of overproduced items like wooden notebooks and cheese knives. They also look ahead to 2026, setting ambitious goals for YouTube content, expanding retail partnerships, and making the pilgrimage to Maker Camp. The episode wraps up with a huge thank you to the patrons who have supported the show's first year and a look at upcoming events, including the 2026 CNC Summit and Papa Chad’s spring event. Support the show

    1h 38m

  7. 12/17/2025

    Ep. 26:Props, Sets, & Storage: The Business of Theatrical Woodworking

    Send us a text This week on Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams talk theatrical sets and props with special guest Danny Van Meter of Upper Room Creations! Danny, a retired firefighter and experienced prop master, shares how he got into the unique business of building and renting out set pieces for local schools and community theaters. He gives insight into the logistics of creating custom items like the Cinderella carriage, dealing with storage for large, bulky props, and the revenue model of renting versus selling show-specific items. The hosts also catch up on their week: Alex Duffey is in the final stage of his shop rebuild, installing faux wood paneling on the walls, and is officially done with his holiday markets, being down 20% year-over-year but up 7% in transactions (selling out of D&D boxes and pocket cribbage boards). Alex Adams has been upgrading his 3D printing setup with a filament dryer and new PETG filament for outdoor projects. In "Whatcha Watchin'," they spotlight fellow makers making awesome creations, including a walnut and ash river hutch, a stop-motion Gumby interview, and a terrifyingly realistic dead mouse stuck in epoxy (with hilarious community responses). Tune in for a fascinating look at a specialized niche of woodworking, tips on liability and pricing in the rental market, and a reminder about the Woodworkers with Disabilities fundraiser. Support the show

    1h 32m

  8. 12/10/2025

    Ep. 25:Rough vs. Milled: Sourcing Lumber for Your Maker Projects

    Send us a text On episode 25 of Whatcha Makin', Alex Duffey and Alex Adams tackle a core topic for any woodworker: the pros and cons of sourcing wood rough versus pre-milled (S2S, S3S, S4S). Alex Adams explains his preference for rough lumber due to the flexibility and cost savings when dealing with thicker slabs and figured woods, noting that processing rough stock is necessary to access larger and more unique material. Alex Duffey discusses his transition to buying milled lumber for production runs on his CNC, valuing the efficiency and time savings. The hosts share crucial advice for buying any type of wood, emphasizing the importance of asking sellers about drying methods (kiln vs. air-dried), being wary of movement and warping when buying pre-milled stock, and letting new lumber acclimate in your shop for at least a week before cutting. The hosts also catch up on their busy week: Alex Duffey is in the final stages of his shop upgrade, assembling a new mobile bench, and a successful but slower holiday market weekend. Alex Adams is troubleshooting PETG bed adhesion issues due to winter temperatures and is focused on building up stock of popular 3D prints for upcoming charity donations and holiday markets. Tune in for tips on setting up a lumber sourcing database, best practices for dealing with wood moisture, and how to be a "small cookie" when visiting professional lumberyards. Support the show

    1h 11m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Join the conversation with Whatcha Makin', the podcast for makers of all kinds! Each week, Alex Duffey and Alex Adams dive into their latest projects, share woodshop insights, discuss selling your creations, and highlight cool finds in the maker community. From learning new techniques to balancing your hobby and business, we tackle the real stuff. Expect a mix of education, entertainment, and genuine chat about the crafts you love, including woodworking, 3D printing, and more. Subscribe and be part of the Whatcha Makin' family! 

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Adams & Alex Duffey
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Alex Adams & Alex Duffey
  • Show Website
    Whatcha Makin' Show

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