Beat Around The Bench Podcast

Colton, Jess and Ross
  • 5.0 (3)
  • LEISURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

This is a maker's Podcast about woodworking, good times and general Jack-Assery. The story of these three dates back to WorkBenchCon 2023 where they met and quickly became bestest friends. Since then, their trials and tribulations have been on display on this very Podcast. Jess hails from Tampa Bay, FL and has been a carpenter for over 15 years. (@Jess_BuildIt) Colton calls Houston, TX home. He makes custom cornhole boards (@ColtCrit) Ross comes from Chicago, IL. He makes custom furniture (@RandCDesigns) #woodworking #makers #furniture #carpentry #jackassery #goodtimes #woodwork

  1. 3D AGO

    Ep 124: Cage the Ecalyptus

    The crew welcomes special guest Chad Schimmel from Turners Warehouse who Colton literally ran into by accident when he called their shop at 450 PM on one of his last days in Arizona and they were still waiting for the mail so he got to tour the whole facility and meet Chad who has been using the mullet technique ever since Chad shares his incredible journey from being a woodturner hobbyist in Arizona to building a full time business and eventually starting Turners Warehouse which specializes in everything woodturning with a focus on pens and resin casting work making them the go to niche store for turners instead of being like Woodcraft with a little bit of everything Jess opens up about how woodturning is his absolute favorite type of woodworking because it is so personal and hands on with just you and the lathe creating something unique and he talks about the big Grizzly lathe he had at his last company where they would turn 40 inch legs for bar height tables which was a long process but incredibly satisfying The guys discuss how woodturning gives you that instant gratification because you can start and finish a project in just a couple hours compared to cabinet work or other woodworking projects that might take days or weeks or even months depending on how much shop time you can squeeze in Chad reveals he has an 1805 foot powered treadle lathe that he rescued from a Bass Pro Shop where it was sitting in the Arizona sun getting destroyed after being a mint condition display inside the store and he plans to fully restore it with all the hand forged metal parts and actually use it to turn projects the old school way The conversation dives into how Chad got started in turning by making fishing lures on a lathe because he loves to fish and was making replicas of old Heddon lures before discovering pen kits at Woodcraft and eventually making so many pens for gifts that he decided to sell them just to get his money back Chad explains his massive vacuum chamber setup in his shop that looks like a witches brew with multiple buckets bubbling away and how it is used for stabilizing wood and removing air bubbles from resin casting which is a huge part of the business at Turners Warehouse for making custom pen blanks and turning projects The discussion shifts to Facebook Marketplace horror stories where people try to lowball offers and haggle backwards offering less money after you counter their initial offer or asking you to deliver a 400 pound table saw 30 miles away for 25 bucks or ghosting after agreeing to a price Jess shares his experiences with people trying to guilt trip him into lower prices by claiming to be single mothers when selling appliances and how the whole Facebook Marketplace experience has become such a widespread frustration that there are TikTok memes and videos about it including that hilarious guy who acts out if Facebook Marketplace happened in real life Ross reminds everyone that next week the crew will be sharing their Black Friday deals and steals list for all the best woodworking tool bargains and Jess mentions his Brad nailer died so he might be getting a new Milwaukee M18 two inch nailer because they do not make that size in the M12 line

    1h 24m

  2. NOV 7

    Ep 123: Florence & The Mahogany

    The crew starts off talking about Florence and the Machine and how Dog Days Are Over was that one massive hit that everyone has heard but might not realize who sings it which leads to some fun nostalgia about early 2010s music Jess shares an incredible story about a Mexican TikToker who started with just 700 dollars in his pocket living in his car and now travels to all 50 states reviewing tacos and burritos with his cousin while helping small businesses by buying hundreds of tacos and creating massive community events with DJs and thousands of people showing up for free food The breakfast food debate gets serious as Jess reveals that breakfast is his absolute favorite meal and he could eat breakfast foods from any country for every single meal especially American country breakfast which sparks a deep dive into everyone's perfect breakfast setup Colton breaks down his ultimate breakfast bowl on the Blackstone griddle starting with crispy hash browns as the base then adding over easy eggs bacon and sausage with shredded cheese and Cholula hot sauce on top because griddle cooked bacon just hits different than any other cooking method The guys discover Krusteaz sweet cream pancakes which are apparently the best add water pancake mix you can buy and Colton explains his technique of pouring the batter directly onto a pat of butter on the griddle to create these amazing thick pancakes that are almost like fat crepes Discussion shifts to thermally modified wood and Shou Sugi Ban which is that Japanese technique of charring wood to make it last forever by crystallizing the sugars so bugs cannot get in and it turns out people in countries without money have been doing similar preservation techniques for centuries Colton brings up his fence building plans and the debate between using pressure treated four by fours versus landscape timbers or trying the Shou Sugi Ban method with Jess strongly advocating that you should just spend the money on pressure treated lumber because it will last forever and save you from having to rebuild The conversation gets into the new foam method for setting fence posts where you dig a bell shaped hole and pour expanding foam around the post instead of concrete and it sets in just minutes instead of waiting for concrete to cure plus it keeps moisture off the post better Jess explains that the foam technique is way faster because you can set a post every five minutes and move on without waiting for concrete to dry and it is somewhat porous but better than concrete for keeping water away from the wood which is what causes rot over time Ross wraps things up with an important safety reminder about always working smarter not harder in the shop and thinking about the safest way to accomplish heavy lifting tasks like moving a massive butcher block by using equipment that is actually designed for lifting heavy objects

    2h 2m

  3. OCT 31

    Ep 122: House Of Pine

    The guys kick things off with some hilarious memories about House of Pain's Jump Around and how it became the ultimate party anthem at college house parties and even makes entire stadiums literally shake at University of Wisconsin football games Halloween candy showdown gets real as the crew debates their favorites from Snickers and Reese's to the controversial Almond Joy while Colton defends his love of coconut in everything including coconut water which leads to some serious trash talk about candy corn being the worst Halloween candy ever invented Jess shares an awesome story about how his mom used to make homemade Reese's style peanut butter bars back in the 80s at school lunch which sparked his lifelong obsession with the perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate The conversation takes a turn into shop safety territory as the hosts get serious about woodworking accidents and share their personal experiences with close calls in the workshop including table saw incidents and the importance of always knowing where your emergency supplies are located Ross drops some incredible knowledge about keeping hockey tape in the shop as an essential first aid tool because it stretches well and you can apply it with one hand if you get injured plus you can rip it with your teeth which makes it way better than regular athletic tape for emergencies The crew talks about proper first aid kit placement in your workshop and why your eye wash station needs to be somewhere you could find with your eyes closed because when accidents happen you need immediate access to emergency supplies without climbing ladders or searching around Jess gets real about infection being a massive concern in woodworking shops because even though your shop might look clean it is always dirty and even a minor cut can become a serious problem if not treated properly with disinfectant immediately They discuss how clean cuts from table saws are actually better for reattachment surgery compared to other types of shop injuries but the real danger comes from tripping hazards impalement risks and head injuries from cast iron equipment or falling while carrying heavy cabinets The guys share stories about job site safety including why rebar needs those little orange caps and how Jess nearly got impaled by plumbing pipes sticking out of an epoxy floor that blended in perfectly with the clouds design which could have been a final destination moment Everyone agrees that shop accidents are not a matter of if but when so the most important thing is to slow down no matter what deadline you are facing because rushing in the workshop is when people get hurt and no project is worth losing a finger or worse

    2h 3m

  4. OCT 24

    Ep 121: Wu Teak Clan

    Jess, Colton and Ross kick things off with a hilarious deep dive into their favorite food bowls, from Mexican rice bowls to Mediterranean cauliflower shawarma, proving that woodworkers know their way around both a workshop and a kitchenThe guys get real about plywood selection for cabinet making and why choosing the right material can make or break your project, especially when you're dealing with painted versus stained finishes Colton shares his journey setting up a proper workshop space and the challenges of organizing tools when you're constantly moving between job sites and home projects Big discussion about pocket holes versus traditional joinery methods for face frames, with the hosts weighing in on when to use each technique and why some old school woodworkers still give them grief Ross drops a mind blowing story about getting quoted 140 thousand dollars for a covered pergola setup, which sparks a conversation about contractor pricing and DIY alternatives that could save you serious cash The crew talks about undermount drawer slides and why they're game changers for cabinet projects once you figure out the installation process, with Jess explaining how he finally cracked the code Practical advice on dealing with shop mistakes and burnout, including the golden rule of walking away when things start going sideways instead of pushing through and making it worse Stories about garage renovations and the reality of balancing client work with personal shop projects when space and time are both limited The boys discuss different cabinet construction methods and share tips on building quality pieces that will last, from proper drawer box assembly to choosing the right hardware Colton breaks down his griddle cooking setup and how he's been perfecting potato bowls with smash burgers, because apparently these woodworkers are serious about their food game too Real talk about the business side of woodworking including pricing projects, managing client expectations, and knowing when to walk away from deals that don't make sense The episode wraps with the guys reflecting on staying motivated in the trade and remembering why they love woodworking even when projects get challenging or clients get difficult

    2h 2m

  5. OCT 10

    Ep 120: Old Crow Meranti Show

    • Burger bonanza kicks off with Five Guys extra bacon recommendations competing against Kuma's Corner heavy metal burger joints serving half-pound pretzel bun creations named after metal bands while Goblin C**k burger combines Vienna beef hot dog toppings creating food comas lasting entire weekends • Guest introduction welcomes Justin Hobart from Ambrose Design whose woodworking journey began working maximum security prison sixteen-hour shifts before basement craftsman table saws launched ring-making operations using mini lathes and diamond inlays while spray foam insulation jobs provided sweaty Tyvek suit misery • Rapid-fire questions reveal cats dominate jerk animal rankings while horse-sized duck battles seem manageable compared to fifty duck-sized horses plus potato life goals involve finding Mrs. Potato Head and Taylor Swift karaoke requires ten drinks minimum before attempting • Prison code education teaches "12" means police presence somewhere nearby while Chicago terminology differs creating regional communication mysteries plus TED Talk expertise centers on inspecting cat buttholes demonstrating questionable presentation topics • Ross jewelry cabinet saga continues with drawer rail disasters requiring complete disassembly after forgotten lock channels plus moving blanket grease stains and blue fuzzies destroying fresh white paint forcing shop returns and customer negotiations for high-gloss lacquer upgrades • Benjamin Moore accent paint promises lacquer-like curing over two weeks requiring proper spray tip sizing switching from 313 to 210 nozzles preventing drip catastrophes while JC Licht paint store expertise saves projects from Home Depot bear cabinet enamel mediocrity • Undermount drawer glide advocacy intensifies as side-mount failures plague forty-inch wide drawers creating alignment nightmares while commercial cabinet companies embrace adjustable clips allowing seasonal wood movement without constant carpenter frustration • Construction progress includes Hardy siding installations over Tyvek weatherproofing plus PVC trim preventing Florida rot while custom door frame reconstruction requires super glue wood filler tricks repairing butchered hinge pockets creating professional results from disaster scenarios • Screwdriver history deep-dive explores Leonardo da Vinci's 1400s thread-cutting machine designs plus Henry Phillips 1936 cross-head patents revolutionizing Ford assembly lines while P.L. Robertson's superior square drive failed globally because licensing stubbornness lost to Phillips cooperation • Interactive trivia game starts contestants with thousand-dollar stakes bidding on fastener knowledge questions covering everything from coal tar synthetic dye origins to metric bolt 10.9 strength ratings representing thousand-megapascal tensile capacities with ninety-percent yield ratios • Metallurgy mysteries reveal grade-eight bolts display six radial lines on heads indicating 150,000 PSI tensile strength while 316 stainless steel provides marine-grade corrosion resistance and quenching-tempering processes harden steel through 1500-degree heating followed by rapid cooling • Final scores show Ross dominating at $2,450 while Justin maintains respectable $150 historical references separate winners from losers in fastener knowledge competition • Pricing wisdom shares material-plus-twenty-percent formulas plus triple-material-cost shortcuts for smaller projects while deposit requirements prevent sketch-drawing theft and hourly rates between fifty-to-sixty dollars cover garage operations versus commercial shop overhead demanding higher rates • Snuggets deliver Craftsman door jig warnings about useless router bits plus diamond plate sharpening stone recommendations for field chisel maintenance while elderly driver safety concerns prompt family discussions about retesting requirements protecting communities from intersection disasters

    1h 58m

  6. SEP 26

    Ep 119: Hootie & The Bubinga

    • Salad showdown opens with Greek salads loaded with gyro meat competing against Caesar dressing anchovy mysteries while coleslaw divides the group between vinegar-based Carolina styles and mayonnaise-heavy Southern versions plus jalapeño variations that actually work • New Patreon spotlight welcomes Greg Wally from Plat Valley Woodworks to the supporter family while Colton battles Centerpoint Energy over pole installations requiring five-foot holes through thick lake mud and mysterious wire connections nobody wants to hook up • Hurricane aftermath projects consume Jess with AC line covers running through townhouse garages after saltwater corroded underground Freon lines plus custom Kohler shower systems mixing titanium chrome parts from five different suppliers driving plumbers crazy • Window drama unfolds when six weeks of waiting produces privacy glass on every single opening instead of just the bathroom creating house-sized mistakes requiring complete reorders while drywall crews stand idle and patience runs thin • Ross hits emotional breaking point with jewelry cabinet drawer slides refusing cooperation after weeks of daily four-to-six-hour sessions leading to dovetail disasters when his father drops drawers creating expensive repairs requiring super glue and poplar reconstruction • Opera therapy emerges as Ross discovers "opera bangers" playlist providing mental escape during project meltdowns while discussing everyone's decompression strategies from food breaks to comedy podcasts plus the importance of stepping away when frustration peaks • New segment launch introduces "Oh Sh*t I Messed This Up" seeking listener submissions about construction fails and woodworking disasters illustrated by the legendary brick layer barrel rope story involving 240 pounds of bricks versus 180-pound worker creating compound injuries • Stain chemistry deep dive explores coal tar origins of synthetic dyes dating to 1800s plus Minwax founding in 1906 while covering pigments from iron oxides and ground-up cochineal insects living on prickly pear cacti producing vibrant reds • Wartime staining reveals tobacco extract usage during World War II pigment shortages plus turpentine's pine tree distillation before mineral spirits replaced faster-evaporating solvents while milk proteins provided primitive pre-stain conditioning • Professional finishing techniques distinguish between penetrating dyes reaching molecular levels versus pigment particles settling in wood pores plus factory toner applications between clear coats creating uniform coloring without grain hiding • Modern innovations showcase gel stains reducing blotchiness for beginners plus low-VOC water-based formulas requiring careful application speed while exterior stains add UV blockers and borate protection against insects and rot • Workshop wisdom includes always stirring settled pigments preventing color variations plus testing scraps with actual project sanding grits since 150-grit versus 220-grit dramatically affects penetration and final appearance • Snuggets deliver stress management through music therapy recommendations plus Colton's narrow escape from Angie's List year-long contracts costing thousands while Jess advocates S-corporation status and automated renewal reminders preventing costly compliance lapses

    2h 4m

  7. SEP 19

    Ep 118: Little Birch Town

    • Chocolate confessions launch the show with dark chocolate sea salt pretzels competing against chocolate peanut butter fudge brownies while Jess describes Halloween ghost cupcakes involving Oreos with orange filling and brownie mix creating spooky treats that impressed his wife Ashley's seasonal decoration obsession • Baby Charlie steals the spotlight making surprise camera appearances during Colton's solo dad duties while Crystal attends Dancing with the Stars watch parties forcing impromptu childcare negotiations and witching hour bottle battles that threaten podcast completion • Texas Woodworking Festival discoveries blow Colton's mind with Air Weights vacuum tables featuring customizable grid systems that section off suction zones plus revolutionary vacuum dogs that turn bench dog holes into clamping systems without traditional clamps • Clear Boot dust collection innovations combine laser positioning systems for perfect bit alignment with transparent acrylic strips replacing traditional brush fingers allowing visual monitoring during delicate CNC operations while maintaining dust extraction efficiency • Stone Coat epoxy expansions include penetrating formulas and ultra-deep three-inch applications plus urethane topcoats that roll on like paint while Boss Dog introduces colored wood glues with acetone-based CA accelerators preventing bubble formation during curing • Angie's List sales trap nearly ensnares Colton with sweet-talking representatives pushing year-long contracts costing five grand for questionable leads until Jess and Ross intervene with horror stories about credit card charges and fake phone numbers plus prepaid card protection strategies • Construction reality checks reveal cabinet tariff increases hitting seven and a half percent while Jess navigates county inspection marathons covering everything from insulation installation to drywall screw patterns plus front porch reconstruction replacing rotted cedar posts with pressure-treated alternatives • Shaker drawer front masterclass emerges when Ross seeks guidance creating twelve painted fronts leading to detailed domino joinery tutorials with climbing cut router techniques and radius corner sanding plus half-inch plywood center panels creating professional results • Lumber education revolution combines history lessons with interactive trivia covering nominal dimensions revealing two-by-fours measuring one-and-a-half by three-and-a-half inches while exploring stamp meanings like KD for kiln-dried and PT for pressure-treated lumber • Plywood grading mysteries get decoded through A-B-C-D classifications where A represents paintable cabinet grade and CDX means construction sheathing with exterior glue while FSC certification ensures Forest Stewardship Council approved sustainable harvesting practices • Board foot mathematics challenge listeners calculating twenty board feet for eight-quarter lumber measuring twelve inches wide by ten feet long while quarter-sawn techniques create vertical grain patterns essential for figured woods like tiger oak and zebra wood • Workshop wisdom includes Ross's dado relief cuts solving oversized drawer problems plus Jess's job site cleanup revelations improving customer relations and inspector impressions while Colton learns valuable lessons about seeking advice before signing sales contracts

    1h 39m

  8. SEP 12

    Ep 117: Cherry Poppin' Daddies

    • Fried food fantasies launch the show with cheese curds versus spicy chicken sandwiches while Jess drops knowledge about fried lasagna rolls from Dirty Dick's Crab House and Ross explores Scotch eggs plus Italian arancini balls from county fair adventures featuring fried butter on sticks • Dovetail precision becomes the star as Ross tackles twelve jewelry cabinet drawers using his trusty 1998 Porter Cable router with digital calipers providing perfect setup measurements while dealing with a customer who switched from fabric lining to marble slabs requiring three-quarter inch plywood upgrades • Mouse invasion reaches critical levels with six critters discovered in Ross's shop leading to expansion foam warfare behind electrical panels where the little freeloaders were accessing through weatherstripping gaps and apparently dying from eating toxic foam • Colton arrives fashionably late triggering embarrassing question punishment including dead body disposal strategies and whether bald restaurant workers need hairnets plus philosophical debates about indescribable descriptions and fish thirstiness • Grandfather tribute brings emotional depth as Colton shares performing his original fishing-themed song at the funeral celebration using Zach Bryan melodies to capture family memories while fighting through stage nerves and shaky knees during the heartfelt performance • Electric motor mysteries get solved through brush checking and capacitor replacement discussions while multiple broken drill press motors pile up awaiting scrap yard destiny since repair costs exceed replacement prices for most standard workshop equipment • Logging history education spans from muscle-powered misery whips requiring eighteen hours to fell single trees through steam donkey winches and timber beetle inspired chainsaw blade designs leading to modern feller buncher machines that grab cut and stack in single motions • Trivia time tests knowledge of river pigs running floating logs downstream plus skid roads becoming skid row terminology while double-bit axes featured one sharp edge for precision cutting and one rugged edge for heavy chipping work • Rum recommendations replace whiskey talk featuring plantation single barrels and foursquare finishing plus diplomatico bottles offering better value than overpriced whiskey glasses while Kraken provides decent sipping despite being mixing rum • Workshop wisdom includes baking soda concrete acceleration tricks for faster setting plus Dawn dish soap additives for creamier stucco while Ross emphasizes dovetail layout importance and Colton discovers outlet cover restoration using Dawn PowerWash construction applications

    1h 47m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This is a maker's Podcast about woodworking, good times and general Jack-Assery. The story of these three dates back to WorkBenchCon 2023 where they met and quickly became bestest friends. Since then, their trials and tribulations have been on display on this very Podcast. Jess hails from Tampa Bay, FL and has been a carpenter for over 15 years. (@Jess_BuildIt) Colton calls Houston, TX home. He makes custom cornhole boards (@ColtCrit) Ross comes from Chicago, IL. He makes custom furniture (@RandCDesigns) #woodworking #makers #furniture #carpentry #jackassery #goodtimes #woodwork

Information

  • Creator
    Colton, Jess and Ross
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Colton, Jess and Ross
  • Show Website
    Beat Around The Bench Podcast

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