Nick Offerman's Guide to Building Things That Last

Long before Nick Offerman became the mustached, straight-faced Ron Swanson of Parks and Recreation, he was a woodworker. [04:09] Growing up in Minooka, Illinois, he described his childhood home as “Little House on the Prairie”—a place where everyone made their own things, carefully crafting furniture, clothing, and tools by hand.

And as a skilled woodworker and general handy person, Nick appreciates good tools. This is fortuitous, because Wirecutter’s staff are similarly obsessed. For this episode, we sat down with Nick to talk about his new book Little Woodchucks () , the joy of learning to build things, and the essential things he recommends that anyone should have in their toolbox.

Our colleague Rose Lorre also sat down separately with Nick to discuss the foundational tool in his kit–a claw hammer–and documented her journey following his advice for buying a great hammer and learning to pound nails (www.nytimes.com/wirecutter//reviews/nick-offerman-hammer-advice/).

Here are some of the conversation highlights:

• [07:58] Hands-on work builds confidence and independence: Doing things with your hands—whether it’s woodworking, sewing, or fixing something around the house—teaches problem-solving and self-reliance.

• [09:25] A few quality tools and materials are worth the investment: Cutting corners might save money upfront, but investing in tools or materials that last saves frustration and disappointment in the long run—and often makes the work itself more enjoyable.

• [14:08] The meditative and spiritual qualities of a hobby like woodworking.

• [20:20] Discipline in one area feeds success in others: Patience, planning, and attention to detail learned in one pursuit—like woodworking—translate to other areas of life.

• [22:03] Keep it simple when building a toolkit: A few versatile, high-quality essentials can get you started and teach you the fundamentals before you invest more.

• [25:47] The Estwing claw hammer is still Nick’s favorite tool of all: Nick is a longtime fan of Estwing hammers.

• [27:08] What Nick learned from working with his collaborator and co-author Lee Buchanan.

• [31:37] Nick's favorite thing he recently made (a ukulele)

Wirecutter Picks In Nick’s Workshop:

• The best hammerEstwing E316C ()

Nick says he also keeps a cordless drill, a multi-bit manual screwdriver, a set of wrenches, and a saw. Here are Wirecutter’s picks for these handy staples:

• The Best Cordless DrillDeWalt DCD701F2 Xtreme 12V Max Brushless 3/8 in. Drill/Driver Kit ()

• The Best MultiBit ScrewdriverMegapro 13in1 Ratcheting Driver 211R2C36RD ()

• The Best Hex WrenchesAmazon Basics Hex Key Allen Wrench Set with Ball End ()

• The Best Adjustable WrenchChannellock 8WCB WideAzz 8Inch Adjustable Wrench ()

• The Best HandsawShark 102315 Carpentry Saw 15Inch ()

Other products Nick loves:

• The unsung hero in Nick’s workshopLie Nielsen Hand Planes ()

Additional Reading

• Nick Offerman Told Me That Swinging a Hammer Might Change My Life ()

More Nick Offerman:

• Instagram ()

• Facebook ()

• Website ()

• Nick’s new bookLittle Woodchucks ()

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

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