Hacker News Reader

Comment by MatthiasWandel | Hacker News Reader

Matthias here. Surprised to see my website hit the front page of HN overnight. Got any questions for me?

Hi Matthias!! Huge admirer here in Providence, RI. Your site is extremely helpful, but would you recommend seeking a master to learn from? I feel I'd progress faster as an apprentice than as a YouTube learner. My goal is to do dining tables, bed headboards, fancy boxes, currently I'm just doing picture frames.

Also, that pantarouter is incredible, kudos! When you routed 3 dowels I was very impressed. How did you envision the machine?

Being an apprentice is probably bretter, yes. But I have no idea where you would find a master who wants an apprentice, let alone a master at all.

Parts of Europe (including DE) and many parts of Asia / Japan still have a strong master/apprentice culture.

I recently went to a woodworking show in the mid-Atlantic region. There were some masters there teaching classes who seemed very concerned about traditional woodworking skills dying out - from the average age of attendees I can see why - and some of them take on apprentices still. A show like that would be a good place to look.

Hi fellow geek/woodworker from Providence. RISD has lots of woodworking related classes that you can take without being a full time student.

Hi Matthias, fellow woodworker here who shares a love of toolmaking and problem solving.

Have you ever felt constrained by your selection of tools? It appears to me you rely mostly on woodworking tools for your projects. In my own experience I've frequently felt that if I had the capability to mill or turn materials to exact dimensions I could more easily produce better quality tools.

It seems to me that your style of work would naturally lead, at least in part, to using machining tools and metal as material. I'm curious why your path hasn't lead you to transition here.

Thanks!

I'd love to know how much you make on your software... I imagine much more than the youtube ad revenue. This seems like a great formula for success- youtube content provides free advertising for your side project. EEVBlog does the same thing with his meters..

I did buy your gear template generator and tried it on the laser cutter. It's cheaper than the solidworks add-on that does the same thing :-)

Which is more successful, your plans or your software?

The software is a good chunk of the revenue, but youtube makes more than the sw. But when others talk about how much they make on youtube, it's alwas more than me per view. Biggest revenue contributor is plan sales.

Hey Matthias! I know this is off topic for the thread but thanks for jhead! I used it for years in order to sync up the exif times from friend's cameras when we traveled together. I was pleasantly surprised to see your name when looking at the man page.

Love your channel. All the best with your new little one!

I'm subscribed to your channels and it's pretty much the only thing I watch on YT (besides some other channels you recommended like Jeremy Fielding).

Is there any tool / machinery design in your head that you've been unable to execute yet due to time / space / $$$ constraints?

+1 for your thoughts on patents.

Mostly time constraint. Have been thinking about building a gear cutting machine using a table saw or angle grinder as the cutter. Sort of a single purpose CNC machine.

Hi Matthias. I'm a guy who recently discovered a love for building things with wood. I don't have any family who are experienced in this area, do you think think this is something that a person can learn to do from home with practice, or is in-person instruction an invaluable component?

Lots of woodworking youtubers have had no background in it. Its evident that they are learning it as they go, but it also shows that it's possible without schooling or a teacher.

How do you feel about your most popular videos on YT being mice-related? :) Did that catch you by surprise? Bother you at all? I guess not, since you seem to enjoy making those fun videos.

Matthias it's so good to see you here! I consider your videos my gateway drug into woodworking. What do you think is an essential skill a woodworker should that is not usually mentioned?

Oh hai there,

no question but some praises, not only your wood related material (pun slightly intended) but also the video editing, it's very well balanced and extremely relaxing. A joy to watch..

May you sand for long

Hey Matthias,

Long time admirer of your work. I'm curious how you manage the massive amount of content on the site. Is your website plain HTML and CSS? Or are you using some kind of cms?

Cheers, Ben

Just plain HTML, versioning managed with GIT. Just can't be bothered to learn and deal with a CMS.

Hey Matthias,

Recently got a new tabletop saw. What are the essentials jigs I should build first?

Put another way:

Hey <programmer>, I just bought a new laptop. Which IDE should I install on it first?

I don't think this is a correct analogy, as I like wood working and program for a living.

I would say it would be more of "what types of extensions or addons should I use", which in itself, is less than cut and dry, since a lot depends on what you want to build.

However for table saws, you'll want a sled and zero clearance plates (for different blades and angles) for sure. Should you make a tenon jig, among other things, will depend on what you hope to build.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com