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William Sampson

William Sampson is a lifelong woodworker, and he has been an advocate for small-scale entrepreneurs and lean manufacturing since the 1980s. He was the editor of Fine Woodworking magazine in the early 1990s and founded WoodshopBusiness magazine, which he eventually sold and merged with CabinetMaker magazine. He helped found the Cabinet Makers Association in 1998 and was its first executive director. Today, as editorial director of Woodworking Network and FDMC magazine he has more than 20 years experience covering the professional woodworking industry. His popular "In the Shop" tool reviews and videos appear monthly in FDMC.

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Woodworking Industry News

Bosch, SawStop officials react to ITC ban on Reaxx saw

While SawStop officials applauded a U.S. International Trade Commission decision blocking the import and sale of the Bosch Reaxx saw, Bosch officials are still holding out hope that presidential review will reverse the ruling. Concluding a lengthy investigation, the ITC on January 27 ruled that the Bosch Reaxx saw violates two patents held by SawStop for technology designed to protect users from accidentally being cut by the saw. The ITC issued a cease-and-desist order banning Bosch from importing or selling the saws as well as any supporting parts in the United States.
By William Sampson, February 1, 2017 | 9:57 am CST
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Video

In the Shop: Centipede instant work supports

It seems like you always need another work surface. Whether it’s in the shop, and the workbenches are all taken up, or on the job site with no workbench in site, it’s handy to be able to set up an instant temporary work table. In the past, that’s typically meant looking for or banging together some saw horses and throwing a piece of plywood across them. Now I just reach for a Centipede. What’s a Centipede?
By William Sampson, January 23, 2017 | 9:25 am CST
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Project Gallery

Is it wood or concrete?

When you see the latest designs from JM Lifestyles, a custom shop in Randolph, New Jersey, the dramatic rustic-style tables, countertops, and sinks will definitely stop most woodworkers in their tracks. Craftspeople will ask typical questions about the wood species and how each piece is made. But most won’t even think of the real question they should be asking: Is it wood or concrete? The answer is a marriage of concrete and high craftsmanship.
By William Sampson, January 13, 2017 | 9:57 am CST
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FDMC Magazine

Industry executives express optimism for 2017

After a strong IWF show and despite an uncertain political climate most industry leaders are optimistic about the outlook for woodworking companies in 2017. We talked to a number of experienced woodworking executives and found out exactly where they think business is going.
By William Sampson, January 9, 2017 | 12:44 pm CST
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Show Us Your Shop

Wood-framed bicycles increasing in popularity and sophistication

Wood is making a comeback in several engineering and manufacturing areas, from skyscrapers to bicycles. Two-wheeled wooden transport is going from purely a novelty to serious manufacturing as more companies enter the field. They are engineering bikes that not only offer no compromise over traditional metal or more modern carbon fiber frames, but also they are adopting sophisticated construction techniques that pair the beauty, warmth and shock-absorbing qualities of wood with the simple advanced technology of the most efficient transportation device man has ever invented.
By William Sampson, January 6, 2017 | 9:57 am CST