Jeremiah Baker

Do you keep your workshop perfectly organized, or do you embrace the chaos?

TOOL TIP TUESDAY: The combination disc/belt sander is one of those tools you don’t think about much until you really need it. Then it becomes the hero of the shop! It handles quick miter touch-ups, rough sharpening on knives or chisels, and freehand shaping on wood handles. Not flashy, rarely talked about, but incredibly handy when the moment hits. #Woodworking #DIY #ToolTipTuesday #FabricatorsFieldGuide #grownostr

Here’s a screenshot of the rough cover for the woodworking machines e-book I mentioned yesterday. Still tweaking a few things, but it’s finally coming together. This project has been slowly taking shape since the summer, and I made a good bit of progress over the weekend. Now that the draft is around 40 pages, it finally feels real enough to start sharing pieces of it. More updates as I keep polishing it… Cheers!

I’ve been slowly building an e-book since the summer, and I made some great progress on it this weekend. It’s now sitting at about 40 pages. It’s a beginner-friendly guide to the main woodworking machines I use in my own shop, written from my real experience. Every tool in the book is one I actually own and use, and the photos are all from my shop. The goal is to help new woodworkers figure out which machines really matter and how to build a capable home shop without wasting money. Getting close to wrapping up the draft. More updates soon… #woodworking #diy #grownostr

Fiat Appliances… Over the weekend, my wife and I needed to get a new oven… Our old one died after 7 years. The salesman said to us that due to energy standards most appliances are only expected to last 7-8 years! This is because of all the electronics embedded in them. How in the hell is this a good idea? Every 7 years we get to replace a major appliance? Supposedly to save the planet? We have a LONG way to go to bring back sanity in this world! #grownostr

New video up! It’s a quick reminder not to overlook the boring stuff in your shop… Even scrap materials have potential if you know what to do with them! Cheers! #woodworking #grownostr https://youtu.be/XxwVIoMA76A

TOOL TIP TUESDAY: Need equal spacing between things in a project? Most will use nails, however they can fall down… I needed spacing in a project over the weekend and used washers. They worked great and don’t fall over. When you need spacing under 1/8 inch. Washers do the trick! #grownostr #diy #tools #woodworking

This is great… In a very nerdy way! https://youtu.be/uqwC41RDPyg?si=gAqigiO7sDMx_7dO

I took last week off from posting about the classes, but I’ve been thinking a lot about what would make them actually useful. The idea that keeps coming up is micro skills… the small, foundational abilities that make every project easier. Things like making a clean cut, measuring accurately, choosing the right fastener, or understanding what a tool is really doing. Most people never get taught these basics. But once you learn them, everything clicks. So I’m sketching out simple lessons built around these micro skills, taught step by step to build real confidence with tools. If you could learn one small skill that would make everything else easier, what would it be?” #grownostr #asknostr

This week’s video is hot of the press! Cheers! 3 Better Woods for Woodworking Beginners (Stop Using Pine!) https://youtu.be/a6WwZjWBcao

Tried clear alder for a project last weekend... Very nice! Cuts clean, sands smooth, and has a really nice, consistent grain. Way less sap than pine, and the finished look is a step up without costing more!

Pine is everywhere… Big-box stores make it the default, but it’s not always the best choice. This week’s Fabricator’s Field Guide Newsletter dives into three inexpensive woods that cut cleaner, finish nicer, and look way better than pine… all perfect for a small shop! Want to see what they are and how to use them? Sign up here: https://fabricatorsfieldguide.substack.com/

Here’s the truth about shop accidents: They don’t usually happen when you’re focused and careful. They show up when you’re relaxed, when the work feels “easy,” when you think you’ve got it all figured out. That’s when the soldering iron sneaks a burn. The table saw takes a bite. Stay intentional. Stay aware. Even on the routine stuff. ~Cheers! #FabricatorsFieldGuide #tools #grownostr

Can you spot the bitcoin ‘Easter egg’ in the video? nostr:note14tj8kn0jw5k0a88ewngngvqv0je95hshew3p68venq07tkqvd3sst5tvhe

You don’t need a CNC to cut complex shapes… Just a few simple tools and an old-school trick… #grownostr #woodworking #tools https://youtu.be/ppqLK1Cb5Eo

I’ve been working behind the scenes on how to make these hands-on classes actually work… Not just as another online course, but something people really learn from. Still early days, and I’m balancing it with my regular videos, but it’s starting to take shape. I’m still collecting feedback, so if you haven’t yet, check out the original post and drop your vote (A, B, or C) or your thoughts in the replies. It really helps me shape where this goes next. No big announcements yet… just steady progress! Cheers! #grownostr #asknostr #woodworking #tools #diy nostr:note1cl6qnh7hgq8qss44ae4el3vz2qxeyrd9hf4ndm4wej6y68nwek0quttzuz

“A good shop isn’t built—it evolves.” — Unknown

Ahhh… the chip brush… A disposable brush for all your minor painting and finish work. Just use it and throw it away… But, forget this rule and you will possibly ruin your finish! #woodworking #grownostr #diy https://video.nostr.build/9b88262f88fa4018b86c585d7ccefdd276d011ca073499c0eb291127d7c4131b.mp4

This was one of the most entertaining… and surprisingly insightful replies. “Pre-trade school” really stuck with me. Learning about tools, materials, and how things fit together early on just makes sense. It got me thinking… what if we actually built something like that? A way for both kids and adults to learn real, hands-on skills again. It’s never too late to get comfortable with tools, materials, and fixing things yourself. If there were a modern “pre-trade school,” what would you want to learn first? Drop a comment below 👇 #grownostr #asknostr nostr:note17t3jxzwdx7nhgs63qr0tsnlrrqz3wzcva0zegkgutjz8zfwnqgyszusd5x

MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION WEDNESDAY: I gave clear alder a try for the first time this weekend, and I was surprised by how nice it is to work with. It’s got that same kind of softness and texture as pine, but with a smoother, more even grain. It can get a little chippy when routing edges, but overall it cuts clean and finishes well. For the price, it’s a really solid option, definitely one I’ll be using again. Cheers! #grownostr #woodworking #diy #proofofwork