YouTube woodworking spotlight Jay Bates

There are a lot of people producing free woodworking content on YouTube making this a great time to learn the craft. With so many viewing options, it can very challenging for a video producer to find an audience and get his message out.This new feature on Woodworking for Mere Mortals will showcase YouTube channels you may not be aware of and encourage you to subscribe. My criteria is simple: spotlighting shows that offer valuable woodworking content on a consistent basis.Remember: subscribing to YouTube channels is free, shows your support for good content, and keeps you informed whenever a new video is released.

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Jay Bates is a DIYer who learned woodworking from free content on the internet. He has over 150 videos and two web sites filled with useful projects and plans. He features a lot of "trash-to-treasure" projects and reveals the beauty in construction grade lumber.
Additionally, Jay produces a fantastic series of SketchUp tutorials that are a must-watch for anyone interested in learning SketchUp, which has become almost a necessity for designing woodworking projects.

• Visit and subscribe to Jays YouTube channel
• Jays Custom Creations web site
• Woodworking with SketchUp web site
  

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YouTube woodworking spotlight Izzy Swan

Izzy Swan began creating woodworking videos just a few months ago but is rapidly gaining a strong following. His focus is on building shop projects, jigs and creating all sorts of innovative homemade tools. Definitely a great channel for those of you who love to tinker in your shops and want to save money on tools.

Visit and subscribe to Izzys channel here.

I picked out a couple of videos to give you a sampling of Izzys work. In the first one, he makes a bowling ball (wait, what?) on a table saw. Obviously this is something very few of us will ever try, but its fascinating to watch!

Second, here is a fantastic tool he designed for disassembling pallets that he calls The Pallet Pal. Definitely looks like a great way to take them apart. If youd like to download plans, he sells them for $2.95.

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YouTube woodworking spotlight Tim Charles

Tim Charles is something of a hybrid woodworker, combining woodworking and more recently metalworking and blacksmithing. (I love this video on making a railroad spike drawknife.)

His videos  illustrate a can-do spirit with everything he builds. A large portion of his work focuses on using pallet wood and repurposing other objects, such as making a card scraper from an old saw blade.

I am fascinated by his blacksmith videos, something I knew nothing about until Tim began experimenting with the craft. I hope he continues to combine metal and wood in his projects. Its a great angle. 

Subscribe to Tims A Slice of Wood Workshop on YouTube and add his show to your regular viewing.