This question of ends (goals) and means (methods) is an important issue in woodworking discussions. Some swear by hand tools and wouldn’t touch a table saw with a 10' pole. Others see hand tools as inherently backward and nostalgic. Many say each has a place but are fuzzy about what that place is exactly. In this episode, Mike and Joshua tackle this thorny question head on. When do they choose pre-industrial methods over modern technology? Don’t they see the irony in podcasting and blogging about hand tools? How do they see these things as coexisting? In this episode, they suggest that before examining our “means,” we would do well to examine our “ends.”

28 – Should Work Be Easy?

41 – Making Wooden Planes

Many woodworkers get into hand tools because they are drawn in by the joinery: dovetails, mortises and tenons, etc. As they continue building pieces in their shops, some begin to wonder if it’s possible to “cut the cord” even further. What would it be like to build from scratch without any machinery whatsoever? How would one start with rough boards and end with a beautiful drop-leaf table without ever firing up the dust collector? In this latest episode, Joshua and Mike discuss these questions in light of Joshua’s forthcoming book, Worked: A Bench Guide to Hand-Tool Efficiency. Joshua makes the argument that “engineer” woodworkers and “monastic” hand-tool-only woodworkers operate on the same strange assumption: that hand tools are supposed to produce machine-like results. Joshua and Mike discuss another way.

42 – Is Hand-tool-only Woodworking Actually Viable?

If any of M&T’s work is worth pausing to reflect on at the close of the year, this year’s would be a prime candidate. Not only has the House By Hand project occupied the bulk of Joshua and Mike’s time in 2022, but M&T also published a new book (Worked: A Bench Guide to Hand-Tool Efficiency), ran several Apprenticeship terms, hosted a Summit gathering, and more. Before blindly setting out on the next 12 months of hurried activity, Joshua and Mike take this episode to recap this season of work in order to resolve to make the most of the next steps.

50 – Reflections & Resolutions

In this episode, Joshua and Mike kick off a mini-series chapter-by-chapter walkthrough of David Pye’s classic book The Nature and Art of Workmanship. Lots of craftspeople have heard of Pye, but few today understand (or have ever even read) his illuminating book. In this episode, the guys discuss the introduction which charts the course to dispelling myths and misunderstandings. Craft matters. And because of this, Pye invites us to engage in it thoughtfully.

51 – Unpacking David Pye’s “Nature and Art of Workmanship” - Part 1

In this episode, the guys dive right into the heart of Pye’s vision in this book: identifying and appreciating various qualities of workmanship. This is the longest and most detailed chapter in the book but skimming past it guarantees you’ll miss his point.

55 – “Quality in Workmanship” Pye Ch 4

In this episode, Joshua and Mike pick up where they left off with David’s Pye classic discussion about the value of craftsmanship in a mechanized age: The Nature and Art of Workmanship. This chapter explains that diversity is essential in design and that the artisan’s handwork “picks up where design leaves off” to give us that lively tactile quality that we appreciate at the close proximity of daily use.

58 – “Diversity” Pye Ch 7

Another installment of the “Nature and Art of Workmanship” podcast series. Chapter eight deals with the subject of “durability.” Does precision mean durability in all circumstances? Who’s “to blame” when a product fails: the designer or the craftsman? All these questions and more are addressed in this episode.

59 – “Durability” Pye Ch 8

Our metaphors matter. When we are in the throes of a busy schedule, our culture encourages us to “crank it out” in order that we might emulate the hard worker who remains steadfast “like a machine”. We are encouraged to “recharge” with enough sleep and “fuel up” with caloric intake only so that we can be all the more efficient the next day. The problem with this metaphor is obvious: We are, in fact, not machines. Embodied creaturely life is organic, not mechanical. In this episode, Joshua and Mike remind us that our work should be aiming for “fruitfulness”, not efficiency, because all good work has latent within it the seeds of further fruit.

64 – “Fruitful Seasons of Work”

This episode was recorded on the road back in September, and in it Joshua, Mike, and Eden explain the various ways they’ve sourced lumber in rural Maine. As a from-the-hip recording, this conversation traverses quite a varied terrain – from the house project status to purchasing lumber in unconventional ways to the damage solar farms have done to the state of Maine. Buckle up – this one’s taking you places you never thought you’d go.

66 – Road Trip for Lumber

John Ruskin once said, “Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.” In this episode, Joshua and Mike discuss the brand-new “Mechanical Arts Program” that they’ve launched in partnership with Greystone Theological Institute. Inspired by 12th-century theologian Hugh of Saint Victor, their aim is to help thoughtful learners reintegrate the work of the head with the work of the hands. The guys take this episode to discuss the first class held in their Maine woodshop this October.

67 – Reviving the Mechanical Arts

Not everything in life needs to be “set it and forget it.” There are all sorts of things that we would do well to tend to – to care for – to pay attention to. In this episode, Joshua and Mike discuss the value of maintaining the stuff of our lives. Rather than consider it a burden that ought to be overcome, the guys argue that there is something inherently valuable in the practice of tending. Whether it’s seasonally adjusting shifting doors, maintaining old wooden windows, or repairing your own vehicles, the act of maintenance is an act of participation, rather than consumption. This podcast conversation is a call to challenge yourself to undertake things you’ve never done before, because in so doing, you may find that the more you faithfully pay attention to, the more you will grow – not to mention, the more you might learn to appreciate and enjoy the mundane details of life.

68 – “In Defense of Maintenance”

In this new episode, the guys talk with woodworker and author Andy Glenn, whose new book Backwoods Chairmakers: In Search of the Appalachian Chairmaker was published by Lost Art Press. If you’re interested in handmade and vernacular furniture, this new title should be on the top of your list. Glenn covers, not only the nuts-and-bolts discussions about building these chairs, but also an intimate glimpse into the lives of these makers still actively selling chairs today.

69 – “Backwoods Chairmakers with Andy Glenn”

In this new episode of the podcast, Joshua and Mike talk about the proverbial practice of making hay while the sun is shining – as soon as the days start to get longer in the Maine spring, it’s time to get to work. They discuss the “House by Hand” 1821 Cape house restoration project and all the progress that has been made since the start of the year, with the goal of getting the Klein family moved into a somewhat completed building by winter. But how “finished” is finished enough? And what does the previous history of this house teach us about the iterative process of living in a structure while working on it? Drawing from Nevan Carling’s upcoming Issue Seventeen article, the guys make the argument that an old house is an indispensable article of material culture, and that preserving and living in it is a way of conversing with, and learning from, the past.

70 – “Making Hay”

Do you believe it’s healthier to work with your mind or is it better to work with your hands? We hope you said, “Neither.” Why the dichotomy? In this episode, Joshua and Mike argue that getting stuck in one mode or the other to the exclusion of all else undermines a person’s overall health. We are more than brains, and we are more than bodies. Because of this basic reality, seeking to restore balance after a time of intense work is essential to be able to carry on to the next stage of life.

71 – Finding Balance

In this episode, Joshua and Mike explore the pros and cons of working at a larger scale than furniture making. Whether you’re constructing something as immense as a barn or simply working in batches, trying your hand at a project that will take you more than a few days’ work will expand your capacities. Inspired by Joshua’s upcoming article in Issue Eighteen all about how he’s handplaning all the floorboards for his house, this episode was recorded to inspire you to roll your sleeves up for the long haul. There’s a lot of good work out there that needs to be done – too much to stand around just thinking about it.

72 – Working at Scale

In this episode, the guys discuss their upcoming special publication: The Tenth Anniversary Issue. They’ve poured out untold energy and creative reflection to make this the most compelling title they’ve ever released. This issue features: Joshua A. Klein, Michael Updegraff, the Yale Furniture Study, Steve Latta, Sally Bernstein and Joel Moskowitz, George Sawyer, Anne Briggs, Glenn Adamson, Kenneth Schwarz, Wendell Berry, and Jögge Sundqvist. This one will be talked about for years ahead. Available by pre-order only. Order yours before April 27, 2025.

73 – The Tenth Anniversary Issue

In this podcast episode, Joshua and Mike begin a new book discussion series. This time, the guys tackle Bill Coperthwaite’s inspirational work A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity. As is evidenced by the way Coperthwaite’s name continually resurfaces at M&T, this book has proven to be deeply foundational in the thought and vision of this publication. Just as they did with their podcast series on David Pye’s The Nature and Art of Workmanship, Joshua and Mike will be working through this book, chapter-by-chapter, summarizing his ideas and offering their own reflections (and occasional pushback) along the way. Bill Coperthwaite was a true visionary, but one who was firmly grounded in living out what he believed. The book is not to be overlooked or easily dismissed. Join the guys as they crack into this rich work.

74 – A Handmade Life by Bill Coperthwaite

In this episode, Joshua and Mike tackle the first chapter in Bill Coperthwaite’s A Handmade Life: “Society by Design / Design by Society.” This chapter is worked through section by section, explaining and interacting with Bill’s relentless call to deliberately reorient our lives toward the best and most beautiful ends. This “democratic” call is for everyone to participate in self-reflection and purposeful action. The guys made it through the first half of the chapter, which ends with an intriguing critique of electric can openers, of which Bill said he “can’t think of anything more ridiculous.” This is technology criticism in action. 

75 – Coperthwaite, Chapter One: “Society by Design / Design by Society”

In this episode, Joshua and Mike pick up their discussion of Bill Coperthwaite’s first chapter in A Handmade Life. The discussion meanders through questions of the value of expertise, being an apprentice who is preparing to one day be a master, and blending the best of human cultures.


76 – Coperthwaite Chapter 1 Part 2

In this episode, Joshua and Mike tackle Bill Coperthwaite’s discussion of beauty. The focus of this chapter is relatively narrow, zeroing in on the intangible aspects of beauty such as the production context: Who made this? Under what circumstances was it made? Etc. Coperthwaite argues that the process of deepening your knowledge of a thing enriches your sense of its beauty (or ugliness, as the case may be). When we fill our lives with things that are truly beautiful instead of only superficially so, the stuff we use on a daily basis becomes that much more meaningful. So meaningful, that we might even find ourselves apologizing to a broken teacup. 

77 – Coperthwaite Chapter 2: “Beauty”

In this episode, the guys discuss Bill Coperthwaite’s chapter on labor: the goodness of it, the exploitation of it, and some of his ideas about how it can be improved. This is an idealistic vision that Joshua and Mike both resonate with and critique. Prepare to have your hackles raised. No matter where you’re coming from, you are sure to be offended by at least a few things in this episode.

78 – Coperthwaite on “Work/Bread Labor”

In this episode, the guys tackle Bill Coperthwaite’s discussions about education – the kind that stifles us, and the kind that is conducive to a fulfilling life of engagement. Bill, as he is won’t to do, seeks to breaks down barriers and facilitate cooperation in his vision for a “handmade life.” Joshua and Mike appreciated so much in his take even if he seems to overreach at times. As a counter, the guys agreed that mentorship is important and that sometimes we don’t have the oomph to follow through on hard things. In times such as those, our souls need a spanking. Cultivating self-discipline is an important part of education. Listen in on Joshua and Mike interacting with Bill’s musings.


79 – Coperthwaite on Education/Nurture

New book in our store: Zach Dillinger's "With Saw, Plane & Chisel" as well as new stickers.

We discuss our new 200-year-old hand-hewn workshop build underway.

Excerpt from our YouTube video "What is a Fore Plane?"

01 - "With Saw, Plane & Chisel", Our New Timber Frame Shop, and What is a "Fore Plane"?

In this episode, Mike and Joshua discuss the relationship between tradition and innovation in today's woodworking culture. This topic is near to their hearts and something they talk about often. Based on their interactions with readers about this over the past few years, this conversation touches on defining “tradition” and “innovation”, the advantages of one over the other, and how our individual and personal motivations for woodworking inform the way that balance plays out in our lives.

Theme Music by: Austin V. Papp and Jesse Thompson

02 - Tradition & Innovation in Woodworking

This time, Mike and I tackled one of the most common discussions we have with readers: how to get started on the hand-tool route. What change of mindset is needed to make the switch from power tools to hand tools? Should we be cutting practice joints? What are the biggest hurdles we encounter on this journey? We hope this episode is an encouragement to you to get into the shop to work with your hands. Have further questions? Leave us a comment and we’d love to help. Thanks for listening!

03 - Beginning Your Hand-tool Journey

Episode 4 of our podcast is centered around sourcing lumber for furniture making. In reality, Mike and I both source our wood from all sorts of places. We harvest our own from the woods, use a lot of salvaged material, and also order from lumberyards. In our discussion, we go over the best way to store lumber for air drying (it’s simpler than you think).

04 - Sourcing Lumber

We had lots to talk about today. On the magazine front, pre-orders for Issue Four opened yesterday, and we’ve been releasing the Table of Contents for the past two weeks leading up to the big event. We talk about our soon-to-be-released t-shirt design, commissioned from artist Jessica Roux. In our discussion, we go over the ins and outs of setting up a workshop specifically based around the use of hand tools. We consider decisions to be made around lighting, heat, and tool storage, along with details from period shops that might inform the way we approach this task today.

06 - Setting Up a Hand-tool Workshop

Because Mike and I just finished Issue Four, we dedicated this episode to discussing what it’s like to produce the magazine, what’s featured in this new issue, and what to expect in the coming weeks.

07 - The Creation of Issue Four

In our most recent episode of the Mortise & Tenon Podcast, we spent time discussing how to make the most out of this social distance isolation most of us are experiencing. We talk about how we see the way this could open up new opportunities to experience life in a rich way both now in the midst of the virus and into the future once its passed. This episode is dedicated to inspiring you to not lose heart and to not give up on intentional living and craftsmanship.

Mortise & Tenon Magazine

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