In episode 353 of Store Discuss Dwell, host Ben Strano and cohost Mike Pekovich cowl new happenings at Fantastic Woodworking earlier than sitting down with Michigan woodworker Megan Shannon, founding father of Tiny Little bit of Wooden, a community-based woodworking college in downtown Lansing. The episode opens with lighthearted store discuss concerning the newest Instruments & Retailers problem—celebrating the return of peel-off mailing labels—and Mike’s retrofit of his fluorescent store lights with LED strips. In addition they preview new content material, together with Vic Tesolin’s “No Desk Noticed, No Drawback” characteristic on different store workflows, Andrew Finnegan’s lathe upgrades, and Adam Govier’s deep dive into sandpaper and ending. Ben teases his upcoming 3D Printing for Woodworkers course, exhibiting how digital fabrication instruments like Fusion 360 and 3D-printed templates can streamline jig and {hardware} work in conventional outlets.
Join Ben’s 3D Printing for Woodworkers class now!
The second half options an inspiring interview with Megan Shannon, who left a 15-year instructing profession to create Tiny Little bit of Wooden, a welcoming, hand-tool-focused college emphasizing accessibility, inclusion, and neighborhood. She discusses sourcing native city lumber, constructing her house downtown, and creating inexpensive lessons for adults and children alike—together with woodworking summer season camps, free-build tasks, and neighborhood efforts like a “Little Free Pantry.” Megan shares the challenges of balancing funds, insurance coverage, and licensing together with her mission to maintain lessons inexpensive and open to all, in addition to her plans to transition the college right into a nonprofit to develop scholarships and outreach. The dialog captures the guts of community-driven woodworking and the methods small outlets can develop into hubs for creativity and connection.
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Present transcript:
Store Discuss Dwell — Episode 353
Individuals: Ben Strano (Host), Mike Pekovich (Co‑host), Megan Shannon (Visitor)
[Intro]
Ben: Welcome to Store Discuss Dwell, episode 353. We’ve received a enjoyable present in the present day. I’m joined by Mike Pekovich for some store discuss, after which an interview with Michigan woodworker and college proprietor Megan Shannon of Tiny Little bit of Wooden. I’ve adopted her feed for a very long time—she’s constructing a real neighborhood store, with a lot of youngsters’ lessons and approachable instruction.
Mike: Sounds nice. I’m undecided if I’ve seen her feed, however I’m in!
Ben: You’ll adore it. She mills her personal lumber, runs inexpensive lessons, and actually embodies the way forward for woodworking—community-centered, inclusive, and energetic.
[Tools & Shops Issue — Mailing Label Fix]
Ben: Instruments & Retailers simply got here out. It was a beast to provide, however it’s a superb one. Better part? In case you attempt to peel off the mailing label… it really peels off!
Mike: That become a saga with our new printer. We needed to clarify why readers need labels that take away cleanly—collectors hold points for many years. We lastly solved it. I examined it at Florida College of Woodworking and waited for a second copy simply to make sure earlier than celebrating. Search for a “label that peels off” be aware in my Letter from the Editor round problem 321.
Ben: I didn’t notice how huge a deal that was to people. However judging by the emails—yup, it mattered. Glad it’s fastened.
[Shop Lighting Upgrade]
Ben: Store lighting—replace?
Mike: A buddy helped retrofit my fluorescent fixtures with adhesive‑again LED strips. We yanked the ballasts, added drivers, and reused the previous housings. It’s vivid, easy, and I want I’d accomplished it sooner.
Ben: Can’t wait to see it.
[Lathe “Hot‑Rod” Follow‑Up]
Ben: Andrew Finnegan—professional turner who reviewed mid‑measurement lathes—is “sizzling‑rodding” a lathe for us. He’s demanding in one of the simplest ways: nice machine, then swap banjo, rests, facilities—make it sing. We requested him to point out precisely what he’d improve on a brand new lathe and what any of us may do to spice up efficiency.
Mike: That article goes to be implausible.
[“No Table Saw, No Problem”]
Ben: Our co‑host Vic has a characteristic: “No Desk Noticed, No Drawback.” It’s not simply “use a bandsaw for all the pieces.” It’s an entire working system that doesn’t depend on a desk noticed.
Mike: In England we visited a faculty that used the desk noticed just for ripping. The whole lot else had one other path. You are able to do actual woodworking with out a desk noticed as the middle of the store.
[Sandpaper Deep‑Dive; Hard‑Wax Oils]
Ben: Adam’s “All About Sandpaper” is large—actually a 101‑via‑301 therapy. He additionally coated sanding lights, instruments, and supplies. He’s an unsung hero—tremendous thorough.
Mike: He additionally did that glorious arduous‑wax oil end evaluation I’d wished for years. Nice work.
[Ben’s New Course: 3D Printing for Woodworkers (with Fusion 360)]
Ben: I’ve received a course popping out—“3D Printing for Woodworkers”—with a mini intro to Fusion 360. It began as a brief class from Woodworking in America, then grew. We’ll launch it earlier than the following podcast—focusing on November 11. It’s aimed toward woodworkers who wish to deal with the printer as a store device, not a interest in itself.
Mike: Good intersection. You’ve been utilizing 3D printing within the store for a very long time.
Ben: Precisely. I present printable router templates for hinges—L‑formed and offset knife hinges—with a 3/16 in. sample bit from Amana that makes crisp mortises quick. I display bushing‑guided and flush‑trim approaches. Templates are low cost to print; I usually toss them afterward and reprint when wanted. For giant jobs like Soss hinges, I’ll print multiples to work manufacturing‑fashion.
[Q&A: “Free” Walnut with Raccoon Urine & Concrete Storage]
Ben: Listener Michael writes: a buddy provided free walnut boards saved in a barn for 40 years. Some have been peed on by raccoons; the stack sat on a concrete flooring. Value a 300‑mile drive and a U‑Haul?
Mike: Completely sure. I just lately re‑sawed an outside‑saved walnut beam—soiled exterior, attractive inside. Air‑dried walnut is particular: richer shade than steamed, and basically no inside stress, so it saws and stays flat. Any contamination possible impacts solely the outer fraction of an inch on the highest boards—aircraft or noticed it away. Put on gloves, perhaps a masks, however go get it.
Ben: Worst case you see a buddy and produce house half the stack. I’m satisfied—go for it.
[Ad Break]
Ben (learn): Hold Gorilla Wooden Glue on the bench—water cleanup, pure shade, bond stronger than the wooden. Additionally take a look at Gorilla Wooden Filler for sturdy repairs with stainability, paintability, and sandability.
— INTERVIEW —
Visitor: Megan Shannon — Tiny Little bit of Wooden (Lansing, MI)
[Background & Origin]
Ben: First off, apologies—I as soon as referred to as you “Shannon” as a primary title. Your final title is Shannon—Megan Shannon. You launched Tiny Little bit of Wooden in 2022. The place did the college concept come from?
Megan: My skilled background is elementary schooling—15+ years. I used to be woodworking on the facet, then left public colleges to construct furnishings full‑time. Working alone was isolating, so I attempted a pair lessons in my house store. Curiosity exploded, and I moved to an even bigger house the following 12 months.
[Local Lumber & Milling]
Ben: You’ve been milling your individual wooden for years—nonetheless regionally harvesting?
Megan: Largely, sure. I work with native arborists and neighborhood members. When a home-owner doesn’t need logs, I’ll take them. I’ve additionally began collaborating with the Metropolis of Lansing to mill storm‑felled and growth‑eliminated timber for varsity use. I realized milling from an older sawyer and ultimately upgraded to a Wooden‑Mizer (about 22 in. capability). No hydraulics—a lot of pry bars and pipes—however it works.
[Downtown Location & Space]
Ben: Your house appears to be like vivid and welcoming on-line. The place are you situated?
Megan: Proper downtown Lansing—close to the baseball stadium and the Capitol. The store is about 3,500 sq. ft. with a wall of south‑going through home windows. It was a motorcycle store. I saved the construct‑out minimal—ADA restroom, consuming fountain, rubber flooring—so I didn’t should go huge prices to college students.
[Tools & Teaching Approach]
Ben: What machines are within the college?
Megan: Largely hand‑device targeted to maintain it approachable—plus bandsaws, a SawStop desk noticed, a miter noticed, and a jointer. I mill and prep inventory at house on bigger machines, then convey it in so college students can concentrate on format and joinery safely.
[Classes, Schedule, and Growth]
Ben: How has your class lineup advanced?
Megan: I began with a handful of subjects (frames, small packing containers, slicing boards), and now rotate ~80 subjects throughout spring/summer season/fall/winter semesters—usually three class weekends monthly (~12 periods/month). Many college students have progressed with me for years, so I’ve added extra superior lessons regularly. I need it enjoyable and attainable—not a $1,000 “excellent espresso desk” on day one.
[Kids’ Programs, Camps, and Logistics]
Ben: You additionally educate quite a lot of youngsters—how did that come collectively?
Megan: That was the unique aim, however the logistics (insurance coverage, licensing) took time. I lastly launched youngsters’ lessons and camps. A typical Saturday session mixes ages 5–16 in venture‑based mostly lessons (toolboxes, hen feeders, three‑leg stools with shavehorses), plus supervised bandsaw work. In summer season and through college breaks, we run week‑lengthy camps: study a device every morning, free‑construct time, and a neighborhood construct (like a Little Free Library/meals pantry for outdoor the store). We hold a 1:3 grownup‑to‑youngster ratio (10 youngsters, 3 adults).
Ben: What about licensing and insurance coverage?
Megan: It took calling many brokers to insure youth lessons with actual instruments. Camps longer than a couple of hours/day require youngster‑care licensing; our first summer season ran 10–2 to suit the foundations, with plans to develop to full‑day as soon as the license is in place.
[Affordability, Diversity, and Community]
Ben: You emphasize affordability and inclusivity.
Megan: Sure. The aim is accessible, welcoming lessons at costs the neighborhood can attain. Meaning I educate so much to cowl lease and overhead, however it’s price it. Our grownup lessons are numerous throughout age and background; loads of first‑timers. Children love rasps, information, spokeshaves—they usually’re usually extra current and cautious on machines than nervous adults.
[Other Arts & Visiting Instructors]
Ben: I’ve seen ceramics, drawing, and extra in your web site.
Megan: We host visiting instructors in adjoining crafts—hand‑constructed ceramics (fired off‑web site), observational drawing, life drawing, papermaking, stamp carving, and display printing. It retains the house energetic and invitations new people into the store. Subsequent steps embody hiring a woodworking teacher so I’m not instructing each weekend.
[Nonprofit Plans & Sponsorships]
Ben: What’s subsequent?
Megan: We’re working to function the college as a nonprofit. A neighborhood legislation agency helps professional bono. It takes time—separating property, college renting house from the enterprise—however the aim is to unlock sponsorships and supply free or scholarship‑based mostly youngsters’ packages for the neighborhood.
[Closing]
Ben: Megan, thanks for all the pieces you’re constructing—it’s inspiring and very important for the craft.
Megan: Thanks! I’m having a blast.
Ben (closing): Observe Tiny Little bit of Wooden on Instagram, present Megan some love, and get impressed. In case you’re on YouTube, hit thumbs‑up; should you’re on Discord, there’s a hyperlink within the description. And due to our Limitless members and subscribers—your assist retains this podcast going. We’ll be again in two weeks.
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