Woodshop Junkies is my favorite woodworking channel in South Africa! Actually, it’s the only woodworking channel in South Africa that I’ve found so far. But it’s still one of my favorites!
Channel Data Points
| Channel Name: | Woodshop Junkies | Handle: | @WoodshopJunkies |
| Owner: | Jean Nel | Country: | ZAF |
| Date Joined: | May 7, 2017 | Subscribers: | 311,000 |
| Views: | 34,327,941 | Videos: | 173 |
| Views Per Video: | 198,427 | Videos Per Month: | 1.58 |
These data points were accurate as of the publish date of this post. See the YouTube Woodworkers Dashboard for current data.
Sample Videos
Published March 8, 2026. This video is actually the last in a series that illustrates a very creative approach to a multi-tool workbench.
Published April 18, 2025. Cleat walls were all the rage a few years ago – I still have one, and I’m a fan. But in certain applications, OSB walls are more efficient.
Published August 6, 2023. This is the video that got me interested in Woodshop Junkies. At first glance, it’s just another wall cabinet. But it doesn’t take long to see that it’s a very clever way to efficiently store a lot of small stuff that tends to get lost in drawers.
Video Production
Like most hobbyist woodworkers, Jean’s first few videos were rough. But he did two things right. The content was interesting and the videos were short!
Over time, the video quality improved. The lighting got better, more camera angles and close-ups were included, and the audio got clearer. Long-running clips were replaced with a series of clips that were more smoothly stitched together.
The audio is basic, and I mean that in a positive way. You’ll hear woodworking sounds and Jean’s voice, and that’s it! There’s no music to distract you.
Content
What sets Woodshop Junkies videos apart from most is Jean’s ability to explain both what he is doing and why he chose to do it that way. The reasoning behind the decision is sometimes more important than the decision itself. This is particularly true if, like me, you’re working in a small workshop.
On top of that, when it comes to space-saving ideas, Jean is the most creative woodworker on YouTube. Even if he does something that doesn’t quite work for you, he will give you an idea you can modify for your needs.
On that note, most of the projects you see on the Woodshop Junkies YouTube channel are available on The Woodworkers Plans website.
Conclusion
Statistically, Woodshop Junkies is a mid-tier woodworking channel. But the channel really caters to one-person woodworking businesses operating in very small spaces. For that very specific audience, the channel does an excellent job!
Final grade: A-
Disclaimer
I want to be clear Moto Woodworks is not affiliated with this channel or its owner. I did not receive any gifts, products, or other compensation to write this review. If you are the owner of this channel and believe I’ve misstated something, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss it (please use the contact form). I’m not likely to change my opinion, but I will correct anything that is factually inaccurate and sometimes edit to provide better context.
