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

[Rick]

Russ Morash truly was a genius.  He was the pioneer of the "how-to" genre.  His work has spawned entire networks.  He began with Julia Child and today we have food and cooking networks.  Next was the Victory Garden and now we have landscaping makeovers.  This Old House was next with a revolution of home improvements, home centers and home networks.  Finally, because he wanted a workshop in his back yard, he hired contractor Norm Abrams to built it.  New Yankee Workshop became the first and the best of all the woodworking shows.

Morash changed the lives of every day Americans through the media without using actors.  Using regular folks, he inspired the rest of us "regular folks" to attempt things -- successfully -- that we night never of dreamed of.

[Paul Smith]

Theres a guy I've seen on youtube who I think has got some great idea's and is witty Chad Stratton they call him Big Chopperoo. You mite want to check him out. He makes his funny not boring. Great for people new to woodworking aswell as older folk.

[Eric Dunn]

Steven Jaynes said:

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....

[Eric Dunn]

Rough Cut - Tommy Mac gives me the impression he's talking to a group of Jr High kids. Very condescending to this 64 yr old. Show S..Ks.

[Mark K]

You're right Jefry ... one more "alright guys" and I'll be screaming right along with you.  Makes it kinda "low brow" for lack of a better term.  It's not a bad show, but the production and execution could be soooo much better if it was just  tad less down-home(ish). 

[Drumthumb]

Alright - a couple things: Norm is to woodworking what De Niro is to acting. When you watch him, you know you're watching professional. Yes, Tommy Mac is an idiot. I think his parents come from money (how else could HE get a show?). His work is time consuming and tedious. He works so inefficiently and dangerously, I can't believe he hasn't lost a finger yet. The American Woodshed WAS a semi-interesting show, then he introduced his wife (ugh) into the show. This is the kiss of death. Anyone with a modicum of success who tries to get their family involved has failed miserably. (Remember Handy Ma'am? or the Router Workshop?)

All the woodworkers I know only watch American Woodshop hoping to see him lop off a thumb at some point. Its almost like a drinking game: whenever he does something stupid, DRINK! You'll be 3 sheets to the wind before you know it! (does anyone else remember when this moron actually threw a bucket of stain on a project to get the finishing of a cabinet started?) LOL

 

[Gary roofner]

Norm Abrams as I remember started with doing infomerials for Shopsmith on TV. Then shortly after he got the program New Yankey Workshop. There were several guy that did good Shopsmith infomersials. I always watched his show on Saturday. Only show I now watch is the Woodsmith show.  I don't think I every have built any of the projects on the show. I have used some of the tips and techniques. I djd  build a project from Shop notes magazine a folding work table that use all the time.