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

[Gerry Janesek]

NYW was my inspiration .  Nashville TV does not show  Scott Phillips.  Tommy Mac's show goes too fast to learn about tools or techniques. DIY has no interest in WOODWORKERS. Norm will always be the King.

[Dave Dye]

I agree, Norm is the best, Woodsmith is ok, but a lot of repeats.

[Tony Thibodeaux]

NYW Should be the blueprint for any new DYI program.  I agree Tommy Mac talks too much... and too fast.  He once said he'd gotten comments on how fast he talked.  He basically just said "tough" just follow as much  as you can.

[Steven Jaynes]

Here's my Score Card for the current crop:  In decending order of preference...

1)  Woodsmith Shop.  The best currently on.  Insightful, instructive, and loads of on-line support.  Their prices for their DVDs of the shows is absolutely the best and the only ones I've ever purchased (due to outrageous prices of the other shows' DVDs.

2)  The Woodwright's Shop.  LONGEST running DIY show on PBS, and for some folks THE BEST.  Roy Underhill is an artist and a skilled craftsman.  More importantly, he's a great teacher/storyteller.  I LOVE to watch his shows and am no longer afraid of my hand tools.  Thanks Roy.

3)  Woodturning Workshop. The name says it all.  Tim Yoder's presentation is instructive AND entertaining.  He's doesn't take himself too seriously.  I suspect he's totally comfortable with his competence, which is awesome.  He's first to agree there's more than one way to turn a project, and is OK that your milage may vary.  I've tackled much more complex turning projects since finding Tim's shows.  Love them.

4)  American Woodshop.  Host Scott Phillips is clearly component.  He's safety oriented.  Scotts comes off somewhat as "his way is the only way" which annoys me a little.  I usually find a sparkler of information in each show, but he's not up to the standard of NYWS or Woodsmith Shop.  Scott's presentation can be a little condescending, but I can't put my finger on the problem.  My wife won't watch him unless I force her to watch to see a particular project or approach.  Scott has turned his house construction into a long-running TV show, with side trips for various furniture or techniques episodes.

5)  Rough Cut.  I first found Tommy Mack on Podcasts on the iTunes store several years ago.  Then one day, boom, he's on PBS, in what appears to be the "Replace Norm" role.  Tommy is a formally trained New Englander, a great furniture maker, but has a deep need of presentation skills training.  I love his blend of hand and power tools.  Again, he can get in a rut that he way he learned to do something in school is the ONLY way.  I disagree strongly and frankly have much more experience than he does.  I KEEP learning new ways to approach a task every day, and sort out the best to keep in my "Kit".  I think he'll get it with the mellowing of age.  Tommy needs to think more and speak less.  He's too wordy and talks too fast.  I sometimes feel I'm watching a woodworking show being presented by Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers....

LAST - Special Category: PodCasts

Two favorites, and there are SOOOO many good ones:    The Woodwhisper and Matt's Basement workshop.  Exceptional advice and inspiration from bare-bones production budgets.  WORTH a watch.  Matt's insightful but Mark's a damn genius.  I think he got a PhD in chemistry or something but took a turn at "life's too short" street.  I'm really glad he shares his techniques, knowledge, and inspirations.  Mark is the best presenter I've seen on the home-brew PodCast offerings.

Learn something.  Apply it.  Refine it.  Share it.    Peace,

Steve Jaynes

Portland, OR

Firewood in 12 or more exotic species since 1963....

[Jeff]

Wow, I haven't watched "The Woodwright's Shop" in years--didn't know it was still on first run.  I agree that Roy Underhill is an inspiring teacher.  You watch him and just know he's a guy who loves craftsmanship.  Even though you may not do everything by hand the way he does, the knowledge will help you use even your power tools better.  I'll have to look it up on the local schedule.

[Steven Jaynes]

FYI, with all the new digital TV channels, many major PBS markets have split most of their DIY and crafts shows to an alternate channel.  We now get our dose of all the DIY's except American Workshop on our "alternate" PBS channel called OPB Plus (Oregon Public Broadcasting)..  You may see something similar in your PBS broadcast area.

[Greg J Powers]

My favorite woodworking shows:

1. Woodwhisper - great instruction, Marc explains how to do stuff period. ( found this in Tivo podcast list)

2. Woodsmith shop - Great projects for anyone, you can get the magazine to get even more detail on a project

3. American Woodshop - Scott is a reclaimer, love his projects where he repurposes parts of furniture   

 

Watched a few of Tommy Mac's new Rough Cut but the show does just not feel right. I do not like the first segment of each show when he goes on a "road Trip".  The rest of the show is just that a show. Just never clicked.

[jefrey smith]

"Create  Channel"  a PBS digital channel shows the woodworking shows..from Woodwrights to WoodSmith shop..

And Tommy Mac..needs to stick to woodworking and forget the TV show part..we all would be better off...

[Charles H Franks]

This old house still has some good shows but I do miss Norm's New Yankee Workshop but you can still visit his web page and watch video. http://www.newyankee.com/index.php?id=56#ecwid:category=0&mode=... You can still get a lot of his plans as well. An other one is Woodsmith Shop  http://www.woodsmithshop.com/  depending on where you live and if your PBS carries it. allso internet television at the “The Woodworking Channel,” an online web site billing itself as The World’s Workshop. there are some good ones on the internet you just have to search for the and decid which ones are good for you

[Blake Dozier]

I vote for the Woodsmith Shop.  It is entertaining and informative.  Even when the topic is not one you might feel a need to watch, there is always a how-to hint or one of those why-didn't-I-think-of-that moments.  Of course, it only takes them 30 minutes to build a table.  Must be the high dollar equipment.

[Jeffrey Pike]

i agree the new yankee work shop was the best all of the other shows suck royal ass

[Kent Hogan]

He is so full of his self. I can't stand him, like the projects.