rough cut tommy mac...lame or what? and some other stuff

[jefrey smith]

First I will state I miss New Yankee Workshop..even watching repeats gave me insights and refreshed my knowledge base...aided in my design and assembly of custom projects... actually a show that every one could learn from because there actually was "work" being accomplished...

Rough Cut..lame in so many ways..If I hear "alright guys" one more time I will kick something..( could be a drinking game though).and though Tommy is a talented wood worker his show sucks..there is no real "work" being done..just a lot of "talk" about what was done..it should be a radio program...no video required..his guests are as relevant as selecting  which paint stick to stir stain ...there is no useful knowledge shared on his show...

This leads to my assessment...

all the new shows on HGTV and DIY have gotten into the "reality of stupidity" mode

I watched one show where they bought a new side by side over a drawer refrigerator and it would not fit through the door.. the mother son team were stumped..no idea how they ever got it in..

And the rehab/ remodel shows...are as interesting as watching grass get mowed..TOH still has relevance...and the silliness of Ask TOH is entertaining and educational....

thank God for "the wood wrights shop" "American woodshop" "woodsmiths shop" and "Hometime" at least there are still shows that entertain and educate..

I must admit I learned all I know from my Grandfather, a 30 year Union Carpenter..whose work is still seen in St  Louis..he would refer to his self as a "wood butcher" and"saw dust creator"  but he was rehabbing and flipping homes in the 50's and 60's...also had rental property that he rehabbed but was sold to make room for Hwy 44 improvements... He could do anything and everything from the foundation  to the truss on a house...

I was removing a wall for a friend in his new "old house"  and my younger brother was helping/watching..My brother asked me"where did you learn to do all this rehab stuff" I said "all those weekends I spent at grandpa's house  I was learning how"  of 6 grandsons I was the only allowed unsupervised in his shop..(and I can still count to 10 on my fingers)..I built and assisted on many proje

[David Dean]

Sorry guys but who is tommy mac and does he show his work on here or is he a what to be?

[T.J. Pinta]

Couldn't agree more. NYW was/still is the best for educating us weekend woodworkers. Norm got me interested in going further in the shop and trying techniques I had never thought possible.  Tommy Mac is annoying with his "alright guys" delivery and you hit the nail on the head about his not doing anything on his show. A radio woodworking show,,,ummm..he might pull that off.

[jefrey smith]

David Dean said:

Sorry guys but who is tommy mac and does he show his work on here or is he a what to be?

has a show on PBS  "roughcut"  he does nice work but his show sucks..

[jefrey smith]

T.J. Pinta said:

Couldn't agree more. NYW was/still is the best for educating us weekend woodworkers. Norm got me interested in going further in the shop and trying techniques I had never thought possible.  Tommy Mac is annoying with his "alright guys" delivery and you hit the nail on the head about his not doing anything on his show. A radio woodworking show,,,ummm..he might pull that off.

And if it does I bet I do not get the credit...

[James P. Cottingham]

Sorry guys but who is tommy mac and does he show his work on here or is he a what to be?

Thomas MacDonald is a professional woodworker like Norm Abram. Follow the link for more info.

The Woodsmith Shop is another program similar to Norm's. There is also another PBS show but I can't think of its name right now.

I know people who hated Norm's show because he didn't do things the way they thought they should be done (too much glue, using mechanical fasteners like Kreg screws, not enough hand tools, etc.) . You can find good and bad in anything, I guess. I watch as many woodworking shows as I can just to pick up some tips.

[jefrey smith]

"the wood wrights shop"

"American woodshop"

"woodsmiths shop" and "Hometime" at least there are still shows that entertain and educate..

Hating New Yankee because of the fastening systems used is not even close to the reason I posted for disliking rough cut...the issue is the work demonstrated...Tommy mac "infers" work  Norm actually did work....and if you watch roughcut  for tips you will be sadly disappointed....

[Leslee]

 

 Okay, Fellas.

 I could agree with you more about the "woodworking" work on rough cut. In the first season he did show some stuff like offsetting wood to join them to make a coat tree by making it with different kinds of wood. Also it reminds me of Norm taking us to different shops around the area to show us the different joinery in some of his projects. Tommie Mac also showed how to pick the best parts of the wood when dealing with knots in the wood.

 I think some shows have time restrains and they could only fit so much. Woodsmith shop shows you a little better in their show because they are short and to the point. Tommie talks too much.

[James Myatt]

I miss new yankee as well but i like tommy macs show. I hate that i switched cable companies and i dont get the woodwrights shop and a few others so im happy to still have a few things to watch. Not every show is going to please everyone. New yankee to a lot of people was dry and boring, it only appealed to the craftsman, today producers will not let that happen.

[Steve in Marin -Mere Mortals]

Traditional broadcasting is becoming a dinosaur. I wouldn't look to old-school television for woodworking. The medium is not a good fit.

The internet has tons of good shows on demand, and suitable for any skill levels or tastes. If you want to watch videos on your TV, I suggest getting a Roku box. They are great!

[Stan Nelson]

I also agree, Tommy Mac is an accomplished woodworker, but, the show is not educational at all, I'm very disappointed.  Norm is still the King!!!

[Kenneth Carmody]

The New Yankee Workshop is/was the best woodworking show on television.  It is sad not to see it every Saturday on PBS.  The Tommy Mac Roughcut show is ok.  I agree with the others in this forum when he talks too much about nothing.  But I will watch Rough Cut over the American Workshop any day.  Scott Philips is incredibly annoying.  When I hear him talk about his dust collection, hear him say "left and right", or cyanoacrylate glue....I change the channel

[Dave F]

No DIY or woodworking show measures up to the NYW. Norm never put on a poor show.