MWA Episode #97 - Ben Strano

We had a chance to sit down and chat with Ben Strano. Those of you who have been in the community for a while may have known Ben through twitter. We chatted with him to discuss and celebrate his recent job at Fine Woodworking.

What’s in the shop?

• Dyami
• Ceiling Hatch Frames
• Planter Pot Hangers
• A Bandsaw that Doesn’t Cut
• Chris
• Ben
• A new house
• Hanging with Patrick McCombe
• A Shedural Side Table

Main topic

• Design and mockup maquet
• Working in the same building at Fine Homebuilding

I took a furniture design class with @pekovichwoodworks this weekend. At first I was disappointed in my own imagination. Watching him draw a piece effortlessly and then drawing the same junky boxes over and over was annoying. Then I realized I'm on day one of sketching furniture and he's on day 6,000. The real breakthrough came when we started mocking things up. This is based on a bad drawing I did quickly. It's nothing new but it is new to me. Make a leg and a quarter of all the other parts. Stick it between two mirrors and bam(!) you can see a really convincing version. Take it apart and change it all you want in minutes. Killer technique and well worth the price of the class.

A photo posted by Ben Strano (@benstrano) on Jan 24, 2016 at 3:32pm PST

• Photoshopping Kumiko
• The thrill of working at Fine Woodworking
• Twitter, Instagram & woodworking social media
• 10 questions episode
• I challenge Ed, Matt, FWW & Patrick

Where can you Find Ben?

• Intragram
• Twitter
• Fine Woodworking Magazine on Instagram
• Fine Woodworking Magazine on Twittter
• finewoodworking.com

Where can you find us

• Woodworking in America 2016
• September 16th through 18th
• Covington, KY

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If you want to find out more about the Modern Woodworkers Association, be sure to visit modernwoodworkersassociation.com, follow the MWA on twitter @MWA_National, like the MWA on Facebook or circle Modern Woodworkers Association on Google+. While you’re there, join the MWA Google+ community for project sharing, discussion and loads of woodworking banter.