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    <title>VARØ Industries — The Workshop Blog</title>
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    <description>Woodworking projects, laser cutting guides, Etsy shop stories, and maker tools from VARØ Industries in Massachusetts.</description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Laser Cutting vs CNC Routing: What's the Difference?]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[Both cut shapes from flat material. They're completely different tools for completely different jobs. Here's how to know which one you actually need.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Laser Cutting File Formats Explained: SVG, DXF, AI, PDF — What You Actually Need]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[SVG, DXF, AI, PDF — laser cutting files come in a lot of formats and it's not always obvious which one you need. Here's a plain-English breakdown.]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Laser Engraving for Beginners: 10 Tips from a Full-Time Maker]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[Things I wish someone had told me when I started laser engraving. Settings, materials, common mistakes, and why your first 50 test pieces are an investment.]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Is a Glowforge Worth It in 2026?]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[The Plus, the Pro, the Aura, the Spark — Glowforge has four machines at very different price points. Here's an honest breakdown of which one makes sense for what.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Which Wood Switch Plate Works in Which Room?]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[Walnut in the kitchen, cedar in the bedroom? Here's how to match wood species to room style — and what to avoid.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 01 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[What's Actually on the Voyager Golden Record]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[NASA launched a record into interstellar space in 1977. Here's what they put on it — and why it makes such a compelling clock face.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 01 Feb 2025 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[The NASA Voyager Golden Record Clock: A Piece of Science History on Your Wall]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[The Voyager Golden Record is one of the most fascinating objects humans have ever made. Here's why I turned it into a clock, and what makes it work.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[How to Install a Wood Switch Plate (It's One Screw)]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[Installing a laser-cut wood switch plate takes about 60 seconds. Here's exactly how to do it — and what to watch out for on older boxes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 01 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[The Complete Wood Species Guide for Custom Switch Plates]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[Walnut vs maple vs oak vs cedar — every wood species I offer for laser-cut switch plates, what they look like, and which rooms they work best in.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[The New Orleans Water Meter Cover Clock: A Piece of NOLA on Your Wall]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[The iconic cast iron covers that dot New Orleans streets make for one of the most distinctive clocks in my shop. Here's the story behind it.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 01 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[The New Orleans Water Meter Cover: City Icon Since 1921]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[Edwin Ford designed it for the city in 1921. It's been stolen, reproduced, trademarked, and fought over ever since. Here's the full story.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Why Wood Light Switch Plates Are My Best-Selling Etsy Product]]></title>
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      <description><![CDATA[I've made hundreds of these. Here's what makes laser-cut wood switch plates so popular — and why they might be the easiest home upgrade you're not thinking about.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 01 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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