While not an accredited “university” in the literal sense, Woodworking University is dedicated to perpetuating and growing the craft by helping folks improve their skills, their shops and their satisfaction from making things with their hands from wood. New and veteran woodworkers alike can take detailed online courses focused on mastering specific projects, tools or techniques; browse through the growing collection of free tutorials and vlogs; and get expert advice on tools and shop upgrades.

James Hamilton is a full-time woodworking instructor, author, blogger, video producer and publisher. He’s been an instructor at Popular Woodworking in America and The Woodsmith Workshop; a fan favorite at woodworking shows and retail store events around the country; a popular speaker at local woodworking guilds and has contributed to several periodicals including Wood, Popular Woodworking, and Woodsmith magazines.  

James is the author of The Homemade Workshop (Popular Woodworking Books, 2015 / Random House 2018) and the upcoming The Stumpy Nubs Guide to the Router and The Stumpy Nubs Guide to the Table Saw.

He’s the producer of one of the longest running woodworking channels on YouTube (since 2011), with nearly a million subscribers and an annual viewership of over 30 million. He’s the primary instructor at Woodworking University and the editor of the newsletter, Stumpy Nubs Woodworking Journal.

In 2017 James received The Woodworking Network’s “40 under 40 Award”, given to innovators in the craft. In 2015 he was thrilled to present alongside Roy Underhill in Kansas City. In 2019 he developed and filmed a table saw course on the set of PBS’ The Woodsmith Shop and over the years he’s written and produced commercials to air during The Highland Woodworker and for many popular woodworking brands.

James and his wife live in Michigan. Besides woodworking he enjoys artwork (oil, acrylic, pastels, pen & ink pointillism), creative writing (historical fiction) and outdoor activities.

In the early years of YouTube, the focus was less on education and more on just having fun. It was common for channels to use humorous names that were easily remembered. Who would forget a woodworker named “Stumpy Nubs,” right? As time passed and the focus of the channel turned more toward teaching, the name became less desirable. But a brand had been born and it was too late to change it!

No, James Hamilton has never been known as “Stumpy Nubs” in real life, and he has all of his fingers. But the name remains part of the legacy of the YouTube channel that started it all.