If you like this style of video please let me know. If you want to see any other styles also, please let me know. Thank you again for all the support.

For what it is worth, I find you relatable and positive. I've been at this for about four years now and have loads to learn. Mistakes happen. I am slowly learning not to be hard on myself. I've also learned that almost all of the mistakes made were only ever noticed by me. The recipient never sees the issues and they absolutely love the results. You bring that idea to life. Work around your issues. Please continue in this vein. Well done.

If you’ve managed to break even whilst building that workshop then that’s a win in my book! Well done and thanks for your content. Your channel is probably my favourite find this year.

Quick tip for the Smooth top router table. If you pass by an Ikea, they always have a trash bin section where they sell returned things. You can pick up a cabinet door front (super smooth) for almost no money.

Mark - we’re all students and woodworking is definitely a never ending journey of learning. Admitting when you’re wrong and sharing it with others will benefit all of us in the long run! Thank you for this honest review. Also, totally agree with you about tenon saws for straight cuts! I tend to use them to start rips then switch to my Japanese saw once I’ve established the Kerf.

Break even is excellent, especially for one year. Well done, mate!

What appeals to me in your videos is your honesty. Errors are not hidden but explicitly shown. This way the followers can avoid these.

I only found you today. I have to watched several of your videos. I like your videos and think what you are doing is really fantastic. I thinks it’s great that you have broken even. Cool. I also think you are an excellent presenter.

I like this style of video, I think as long as you are honest with people and keep telling them how it REALLY is then you will continue to gather subscribers. I really like you videos because you don’t pretend to know the answers and admit your mistakes. I’m going to continue watching !

Love that you followed up on some of your previous suggestions and their potential shortcomings.

There is always something to learn from your videos. They are somewhat entertaining as well. 👍

No woodworking channel is perfect, but you have been a very positive influence on my woodworking projects this year. Thanks. I forget you are across the pond, and think "who posts videos at 4am?"

I wish you happiness and health as well! Thanks for all of the great videos and for the care you show for your viewers!

Thanks for 2023 & looking forward to 2024

I know I'm late to the video here, but the sliding jig storage idea seems like an absolute game changer to me, and tbh you seemed to speed past the idea much quicker than I think was due. I hope that this is because it's going to appear in its own video soon, because it's a great original idea

Kudos to a great year! I watch way too many woodworker videos, but I’m also a maker. I a constantly stretching my skills and trying to do things way above my skill level. They have been super satisfying and personally rewarding. It’s wonderful to learn from your own and from others mistakes. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing what you build this year.

I subscribe to way too many channels however, I like yours because you are willing to show the mistakes and goofs. This makes you a real person who is doing a channel not a company just out for the money. Thanks for that!

What I love about your channel is your honesty. I have learnt such a lot from watching your videos. Thank you for helping me believe I can make things. All the best for the season. Keep the excellent videos coming.

Got quite a few bits I bought then realised it’s either not fit for purpose or I should have bought quality of price. Love the honesty

You've got a great presenting style, very natural; it feels like we're having a conversation. It's good to see your subscriber numbers going up, but it's better to see that you enjoy doing this. Thanks for the content.

I do the best I can, until I know better, then I do better. Thanks for all your posts here, I have learned many tips from you. Take care & stay safe. Merry Christmas to you & yours.

I don’t think you were wrong with any of your recommendations. At that particular stage of your learning journey you were right given your experience and knowledge. You can only be wrong if you knew a better solution but didn’t select that solution or didn’t execute that solution very well. I made a magnetic jig for my Japanese pull saws to cross cut square. Much prefer that to using Western saw with a hook. The Kreg crosscut station is fine as it is. What’s important is for beginners to gain confidence in having an affordable and easy to use solution to cross cut square. Use these commercial jigs to make your own jigs, eventually replace the Kreg crosscut station with your own homemade version with custom mods. You have a very likeable personality and your video content is great. Hope 2024 brings you some net profit. I assume lots of video content on table saw sleds and jigs are scheduled for 2024? I can see lots of pallet wood projects coming soon….

Painter tape dispenser was one of my earlier projects made out of scraps. I used a blunted metal saw blade to cut. It can hold 3 tapes. It costed nothing finished in about half an hour of work. Was ready around a day later.

Mark, "an unexamined life is not worth living." Some famous guy said that. As always, love it! As for the jig cabinet, if it works, it's not silly. If you're thinking of Patreon as a revenue source, you may make some money, but you could also exclude some of us from being able to follow you. You're a humble and good man. Merry (Happy,in the jolly old) Christmas.

Breaking even after a year is no small feat especially with that workshop build. The videos are great and I love how relatable you are in them. Don't worry about the table saw purchase, in all of the woodworkers I watch it seems to be an absolutely necessary item in a wood shop and almost all of them tell you their shop revolves around a table saw. Keep it up and I excitedly await the next one :)

Another fabulous video. Well done and, more importantly, you remain very accessible, not a woodworker snob. Thank you.

Great to hear your doing well on KZfaq. Happy Christmas you and your family

Congratulations!, my friend, on the wonderful successes, of both your shop and your channel. AND in only 1 year. 👍👍👏👏👏👏 As you noted, there are many good wood worker channels out there. What sets you apart is your personality, positive attitude, skill with relating to the camera and editing skills. On top of that, you are a craftsman, as demonstrated by the box repair/redesign you showed. You made a mistake, got nasty tear-out but instead of just saying Oh Sh** and throwing it away to start over, you fixed it with an imaginative redesign, making it better than it was and as though there was never a mistake. That is craftsmanship. 😁✌🖖

Great video Mark. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I really like this style of video. Good to see a KZfaqr admit when he was wrong. Appreciate you and here's to an even bigger year in 2024! 🥳

I wouldn't consider you were wrong just because you changed your mind on a few things. It indicates to me that you are continuing to learn new ways of doing the craft as well as about new tools & products. Nobody on earth ever knows the perfect way to do everything. All sorts of advancements in woodworking are aways being made & they won't stop. I think your idea of a jig tray cabinet is a great idea. I did not go out & buy any tools as a result of watching your videos, but I did learn of a few tools I had not known of before. I have had a Shinto rasp for 25 years & it's as useful as you say. I look forward to viewing your new videos in 2024.

Thanks for this, it's this kind of thing that makes your channel feel relatable which helps give the feeling that we can get our handy on and build something. Have good holiday and here's look forward to next years videos.

Good morning . It’s 04:44 am and I’m rattling over the M25 on the commute to work. I’ve just stumbled across your channel and immediately subscribed. I’m trying to get into wood work and yours is the only content I’ve found from a fellow English man , or doesn’t appear to have a billion pounds in tools and an aircraft hanger for a workshop. I have no clue how to use hand tools and many makers I’ve come across use power everything and I’ve followed a few set up videos that have led me to a screwfix and a host of erbauer regrets . I’ll be going through your playlist and maybe checking out any links to tools etc . Thanks and have a great day

I have been subscribed to your videos for several months and I have seen several of original videos you mentioned. Your style of presentation and content is interesting to me. I am looking forward to seeing what you do next year. Happy holidays.

Great to see you revisit past vids and re-comment on them, woodwork is all about learning from our mistakes no one is perfect as with all hobbies they are a learning curve. I have ms so have to try different ways of doing things some because of movement issues with hands and some due to other issues but if your wrong your wrong this is how we learn, loving the vids, merry xmas to you and your family and wish you more success in the new year, Mike

Sick as a parot at the mo this vid is belting I find it hard to get in the shed sometime with the tik tok in my head watching your vids helps me so much you are doing a belting job I'm proud of you rkid for being so determined give your self a pat on the back love watching your vids belting 👍👍 o ye merry Christmas 😊

I just started watching you today first video was the part one tools you regret not buying the better option early the one with the self centering bit. And i liked it and subscribed because i felt you are genuine and passionate. And that meant a lot to me. I appreciate your generosity of sharing and wish you all the best and i hope you will get millions of subscribers. Keep up the good work man! Thank you

Thanks for getting to the point fast. thanks, thanks

Love those centering bits, have kept all my hinges looking nice

Break even including the workshop build is fantastic. You've done brilliantly.

Looking forward to seeing how your table saw works out.

To break even in the first year of any business is epic. Well done. 👍🏼

Good to see you reflect on your past videos and refresh your opinions. I'm really looking forward to see what you do with your table saw, I own it's smaller brother and I really like it. I built a table for it to sit in complete with a "flip" for my table saw. I even found room to place a router into it. Works brilliantly for a small shop👍👍

Perfect timing for this kind of video! End of the year we should all be evaluating where we wanted to be at the beginning of the year and see if we met our goals.

I really appreciated this more than I can articulate. Thank you.

Hi mark, I'm lucky enough to have had that table saw for 5 years. Your in for a treat, I've used several table saws at work and this one is by far the best I've tried. It is so accurate and reliable and even possible to make a zero insert for. The only 2 downsides on my model is the stop button and volume of the motor. That being said I now the switch has been fixed on the newer model your have to let me know about the motor DBS in a vid

Another great video Mark, im the williswoodwork guy, great inspiration my partner made me insta as you know and this lead me to getting a job in the trade. Genuinely you give me the kick to just try and get stuck in and only hope to keep doing what im doing and be part of a community and keep learning. keep up the good work fella and i hope the channel keeps growing so it can be your full time thing your videos are something special honest and i think you inspire way more people than think you should be proud buddy. 🙏

thank you mark for everything you have done for me sorry for late reply been away have a good new year buddy much appreciated thank you so much nick 😁😁😁😁

I would definitely put you up there with the likes of Ruth Amos and the great Colin Furze as an inspiration for what can be achieved in a small space, as a result I hold you personally responsible for the addition of a 10’ x12’ workshop in my garden!! Keep up the great work

Congratulations mate! Not only because this year has been a grinding success for you, but also because it was all worth it. Your candor is something of a rare quality. Really happy for you. Happy Christmas and New Year. Take care and make things that you can show us. Best of luck

Mark, just want to thankyou for 23 and for being honest with us. Have a great Christmas and a very Happy new year. Look forward to 24 and all the vids you have planed. Cheers.🎉

Looking forward to next year ❤

Ive just started watching u and think u r one of the most honest and best advisor out there!! Thank u!

Router table, make it simple by all means. Waxed MDF is fine. One thing, add a single guide pin. A mini fence if you will.

Positivity and communication are key to the watchability of your videos mate, honest follow ups such as this are the cherry on top, other channels might brush their mistakes or misdiretions under the carpet, or simply just not revisit with updates, kudos. Been following about a year, always watch your channels output on the day of uploading and quite often binge a few episodes every week, so your videos stand the test. This year I bought an accessory for my makita trimmer/router which I've found extremely useful, a bevel base, in the absence of a table saw I can use it for trimming angles or cutting angled dados, it allows me to make things with different shapes than ordinary right angle corners with great accuracy repeatability and speed. Thanks for all your work on the channel, take a well deserved pat on the back as well as a well earned break over yuletide, looking forward to seeing more in the future. Kind regards 👍🏻

Keep up the great content. Thanks for making woodwork accessible to everyone. Great channel.

First, let me just say thanks for a great year of videos. You've really inspired me to become a better woodworker... Sure, that wasn't going to be too difficult given my basic skill-set but I have improved through your channel. The best tool that I bought off the back of your channel was the Dewalt right angled screwdriver bit thingy. When you showed it I thought, 'Meh! Maybe it would be useful but really, I'll survive.' Then I started building my daughter some wood storage boxes and I wanted all the screws to be on the inside... After burring half a box full, not to mention a couple of drill bits, I took the plunge and got it. It took me two screws to get used to how to apply pressure but then I was away! What an amazingly useful tool!! I'm so glad you recommended it. My Makita trim router is right up there, as well but because I watched your videos in a linear fashion, I already had that by the time you introduced it. ;) What wasn't worth it, though, was the box of router bits I bought to go with it. a) You only really used about 4 bits. b) Cheap bits break! The one bit of advice I would give is to save your pennies and try and buy a known quality brand. Bargains are out there if you're patient but for me cheap brands come with consequences (see below) I've been drooling over the DWE 7492 for ages. I've got a really cheap table saw with the advanced 'RFA' option (Random Fence Angle), that will cut wood at any angle apart from 90 degrees no matter how carefully you set it! Drives me nuts! I now use a straight piece of wood that I have to clamp into position every time, making anything but repetitive cuts a pain. Next year's wish list: DWE7492, a decent quality mitre gauge (that doesn't have any play in it), sash clamps of various sizes, a cabinet scraper and, once I've re-roofed the shed, some sort of air filtration because despite having dust extraction, fine dust gets EVERYWHERE (and it's a shared use space). Top projects for me next year: Loads of boxes with various joints (just for the practice really), a Moxon vice and a workbench with space for a DWE7492 on the end. :)

Hi Mark hope your well, I've only been on you tube since May, I have watched video's before over the years on a lot of wood workers, but when I'm watching it's enjoyable and honest and like most things it's real and as it is . Keep making these videos I value your opinions and so what you you made a few hic ups but who doesn't I do all the time. So carry on were you left off and let start making again in January and beyond. I wish you and you family the best wishes for Christmas and I will catch you soon mate, take care👍

i always enjoy ALL your videos you have a good since of humor and honesty havent watched all of them but am working on it. have a Merry Christmas and super great New Year and Have FUN from Oklahoma

Hi Mark. I watched my first video from you some months ago, and it has been a nice trip so far. I enjoy your content, and i'm certainly happy that you have the opportunity to keep it running! I also envy you a bit, since i can't do that, but i guess it's just a matter of persistence and keep producing. Anyway, i will see you in the next one, my fellow european! :)

And another great video, thank you Mark, as a seasoned woodworker/restorer (some 40+years) I really enjoy your videos and your honesty, even though I don't always agree with you, your videos often make me rethink some of the methods I have been using and that's a good thing. Have a great Christmas and I look forward to seeing more in the new year, particularly the workshop costings. Have a good one, stay lucky

ive been tryiing to think of some way to store my small corded tools.. sanders, jig saws small routers.. and maybe your drawer idea is where its at.. the cords are the problem they get all tangled on the shelf and its a drag trying to take one down but if i can make a drawer set up with a clip affixed to it to hold the cord.. that might be what im looking for.. im going to look at doing that : ) thanks for the great video

Thank you for inspiring us to get past our uncertainty and self doubt and just 'Start making' 😊

That was nice and, as a result of finding you, I have subscribed. Have a healthy and successful 2024 🌞

Been such a good year for you! It’s been a huge pleasure watching your journey. Even bigger and better things in 2024! 🚀

M8 what a cracking video nice to see you go back look iver some the stuff youll be doing a 3 hour montage next like some channels ave been watching. Congrats on breaking even and we knew youd do it and am still saying 30k by end the year. Can't wait for next year and the first time you turn on that Yellow and black saw glad youve FINALLY bit the bullet and got one. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍👏

Love this style of video. You did a good job pointing out "why" not just "what" the mistakes were, and I appreciated that a video like this isn't 75% recycled or repeated footage, haha. Just found this channel recently after discovering the "lesser-known woodworking channels to watch" video, which was also really well done. Very glad you are breaking even so you can continue gaining traction and growing the channel. Based on the quality I've seen so far, you should be well on your way!

An excellent video again Mark, as always you are very informing and interesting, thank you for your honesty and all the advice. You deserve all the accolades you get and to break even in your first year including that fantastic workshop build is nothing but brilliant and well deserved. May I wish you, your family and friends and all your subscribers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Looking forward to next years content and improving my own woodworking skills.

Let's hope that this time next year you tell a lot more of us that you have made a profit. Have a Merry Christmas.

Very well presented Mark. I definitely could have used one of those right angle bit holders recently. Happy new year to you man.

Great video as usual. I only started watching your videos in the past few weeks and I have found them really good and informative. The workshop build was brilliant and in some parts funny. I only started woodworking just as Covid kicked in as a way to unwind after work. I was given some used pallet tops about a year before that. I had some ideas what to use them for, but I ended up making other things. I've got a very basic collection of tools and I'm adding to it slowly. Keep up the great work and videos

Great retrospective. Thank you for the transparency and honesty. Merry Christmas.

Great stuff! Did my cleats on the wall itself but I see the appeal of a board. You had some great ideas for holders.

Merry Xmas Mark, love your videos and rational explanations for what you do in woodwork. Hope the New Year brings you love and prosperity.

Thanks for the video. I just stumbled upon your channel recently. I have yet to see many of your others. I have enjoyed what I have seen, happy holidays to you as well.

trouble with melamine is its usually on particle board which is prone to bend and sag, you could sand plywood smooth and apply some paste wax to make your router table slippy and smooth.plus everyones got bits of ply lying around, saves buying a sheet of melamine board

Love the video. I appreciate your honesty and recommendations. Please keep making videos.

Good luck in the New Year.

Fantastic share yet again. I am so glad you broke even. You are worth more, so next year should be very good. Thanks for every one you made. Merry Christmas.

here is the thing with pocket hole jigs, just get enjoywood one, much better quality than any kreg one, and it can be both fixed and removable

Thank you Mark. I have enjoyed following you this year and have used several of your recommendations. Loved the workshop build and the learning curves that you share in your projects. Looking forward to your 2024 content have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Great video Mark. Love the honesty. Looking forward to seeing how that saw works out and more content next year. Happy Holidays.

Thanks for doing what you do...Happy Christmas and a great New year...all the best for the next year!

Appreciate your summary, admitting mistakes and putting yourself out there like that deserves a subscription for sure! And its very informative, wish others summarize their good and bad advice! Good luck in 2024 and look forward to your future videos.

What an honest video. Great year - you certainly did the right thing to start this channel. Looking forward to your videos in the next 12 months. David

Oof-that roofing material episode. Brutal. But you survived! I don’t think it’s a bad thing to examine “mistakes;” sometimes you just make the best call at the time.

You're so real and relatable. Keep up the good work.

Main thing is that you have enjoyed doing it 👍

Thank you for this video. I really appreciate your transparency. I truly enjoy your videos.

Solid content pal.. Appreciated

I'm a recent subscriber. I really enjoy your content. Keep up the good work and have a great Christmas. 👌🏻

I got the right angle 1/4" drive Dewalt on your recommendation and I love it. I also got the Bosch self centering bits you recommended, they went on sale so I got them for 39$CAD, can't wait to use them. Love your channel

Hi Mark, Congratulations on a brilliant year, it's been an absolute pleasure following your journey. Breaking even including the construction of your shed is a huge achievement, the shed build was a huge investment in money and your time but it should really start paying for itself by providing you space to do even more awesome things. If I might share a personal mistake... I bought an old Stanley 50 combination plane with the a box of cutters because I'd never seen one before (I was very new to woodworking then ) and it was cheap and beaten up so I though I'd enjoy restoring it... I was right I really enjoyed restoring it. A while later I found another cheap beaten up Stanley 50, I didn't need two but well... I also enjoyed restoring that one. Then as I learned more I discovered the Stanley 45 combination plane. This time I deliberately stalked eBay looking for a cheap fixer upper, and evntually bought one... and had more fun restoring it. But I didn't have any 45 cutters until another eBay opportunity presented itself... a beat up 45 with cutters at a good price... more restoration fun. More time passed, two more 'crazy cheap' 50s jumped into the back of my car and insisted on coming home with me, and another 45 with a veneer cutter mysteriously arrived from eBay (yeah. I'm starting to joke to deflect away from admitting "I have a tool hoarding addiction"). So was my mistake buying redundant tools? No, my mistake was thinking I'd bought redundant tools. It's obvious in hindsight, but I liked restoring those combination planes more than I liked using them. They are a joy to use when set up correctly, but I was spending more time changing cutters and then resetting the plane, than I was spending actually making shavings. Yup my real mistake was only having one ' working' combination plane on my workbench. I finally had the moment of enlightenment (my exact words were "I'm a complete ####ing idiot!") when I realised I have enough combination planes and cutters to be able to set a dedicated plane for each step of a project. This was a total game changer, all the fiddling with blade changes had prevented me getting into the flow of the job, that zen like state when we feel like we're watching our hands doing a really good job for us. So don't make my mistake of feeling guilty about buying duplicate tools, and don't hide that guilty secret in the back of a store cuboard, but instead recognise that some duplicate tools can make you more productive ! That said, I also have far too many screwdrivers and they're not useful, they just create clutter... I've sorted those which I'm going to throw out, I just haven't thrown them yet (wot hording addiction?!?!). 🙂 So go on Mark, get your 45 down from that top shelf (we can see it there!) and give it a try, and if you love it you should totally allow yourself to acquire a couple more.😊

Very recently found and subscribed to your channel Mark, great content and as others have said I love your honesty, warts and all!! Really looking forward to see what comes next year 👍

I want to make a router table like yours so much! I can agree about that Makita Vacuum, it is simultaneously too powerfuk and not powerful enough. Its so powerful it clogs up right away, and this ende up not being powerful enough. It needs a cyclonic separator or something like that.

Enjoying the channel and I have learnt a thing or two so thanks for that. Merry Christmas and all the best for next year. 🙂

Hiya Mark, Another great video matey and the message was clear. We all make mistakes here and there, and there can’t be one of us in this community who looks at something we’ve made and thought, “ I’d do that different next time”. That’s the joy of woodworking. Your honesty and self effacing views just reinforce that genuine bloke persona so keep at it our kid! In the spirit of trying something new, I’ve just put my lathe to use and learning to wood turn. I’ve had the most fun and strangely therapeutic experiences and just lost myself in the time I was making something. I’m looking forward to the saw station build. I have a station in place and love it to bits, especially mastering the dust extraction, so I’ll look out for that vid. A big thumbs up for breaking even matey. Well done. Wayne

If nothing else you've KZfaqd your way to a new workshop. Well done. 👍

So glad to be a subscriber of your channel too. U do informative and honest vids. Keep it up.

Not watched to the end yet, but just wanted to chime in on the Veri-expensive -tas honing guide. I bought mine - the MkII, if I'm not mistaken - and it it definitely one of those, wish I hadn't items. Despite all the rave reviews about the wide wheel, and the fancy setup jig for getting the correct angle, I always ended up having to re-grind the chisel as it simple wouldn't sit square. I don't use anything larger than a block plane on a regular basis, so I'm afraid the same applies when sharpening. I've owned an Eclipse since the 90s and have always found it to be flawless - even onsite when I just use sandpaper, water, or even oil to sharpen my tools. Anyway, back to the video....

Great video as always Mark congrats on all your success this years and Thank you for all your honesty and great reviews of all the great tools and products this year. Wish you great success in this next year you deserve it you are one of the hardest working makers on KZfaq as far as I’m concerned. Can’t wait to see what you do in the next year. Merry Christmas to you and your family and a Happy New Years