Upper Cut Woodworks Welcome to Woodchat

Woodchat is a weekly online woodworking chat hosted by Matt Gradwohl (Upper Cut Woodworks), Chris Wong (Flair Woodworks) and Scott Meek (Scott Meek Woodworks) and others in the online woodworking community. Woodchat is affiliated with the Modern Woodworker’s Association, and the hosts maintain a Google+ page. Woodchat is a welcoming and encouraging chat, and it’s very easy to get involved. All the transcripts are saved (see below), and we have video now as well on the Upper Cut Woodworks YouTube Channel.

Getting Started

Here’s what you need:

An internet connection
Free time on Wednesdays at 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern
A Twitter account

To connect, you can use your favorite Twitter client and include the #woodchat hashtag in your tweets, but the easiest way is to enter the Woodchat Chatroom. There you can chat with the woodworkers and watch the live video of the hosts and guests responding to your questions.

Upcoming Shows

March 13th, 2013: How to Be Successful at Woodworking Shows

Our First Four Woodchat Principles

1. Easy for People to Get Involved

There are lots of woodworkers already on twitter, and it’s easy to sign up, so continuing to use the #woodchat hashtag makes things very easy. No special download, no separate account. So we’ll start on twitter but may incorporate other technology as things progress. Right now, Tweetchat is the easiest way to participate.

2. Approachable for All Skill Levels

If you’re a beginner woodworker, you will be welcomed in to the chat and find people ready to help and encourage you. If you’re a skilled woodworker, you’ll also find encouragement and help, and be asked to share your experience and knowledge by welcoming and being helpful to new woodworkers.

3. Focused on Actual Woodworking

In the past #woodchat drifted off topic at times. We’ll focus on woodworking: inspiration, design, stock prep, joinery, finishing, tool selection, shop safety, or shop layout, for the beginner, part-time hobbiest or full-time woodworking business. No preference towards power tools or hand tools.

4. A Team to Make it Successful

To make sure that chats happen on Wednesdays without one person carrying the workload, we’re going to work together to ensure success. We all have busy schedules with our day jobs and families, but with three (or more) people committed to making this successful I’m sure we’ll establish a regular rhythm.

Woodchat Prime Directive: Woodchat is Yours

Ultimately though, woodchat is driven by those who participate, so we need to know what topics you’d like to discuss, what technology you might suggest that we incorporate, what days and times work best. Let us know on Twitter or leave a comment below. See you all Wednesday night.

Transcripts of Past Shows

If you miss a Woodchat, all chats are transcribed and posted here.

Yes, this section needs an update

To help the Woodchat hosts know what you’d like to discuss, answer the poll below: