What's up with NYW?

[Laurie Brown]

What is Norm doing lately? I just saw a new episode of NYW this morning, and I could not believe the cheap tools he was using this week! I know he has a DJ15 jointer in his shop, but he used a little aluminum Shopmaster benchtop jointer this week on his project?

Granted, the projects weren't all that big, but if I wanted straight pieces and had one in my shop, I'd still be using that DJ15, not a Shopmaster. I had a Shopmaster, and sold it as soon as I got a better jointer.

And he was using the same lunchbox planer that I have because I can't afford a better one! ;) They don't even make that kind any more...

Is Delta trying to get the audience to buy more lower end tools because they're not selling or something by having Norm use them?

The episode was listed as being a new one, but could it have been an older episode relabeled or something? He was making serving trays.

[Michael Peet]

Interesting. I haven't seen NYW in a while, but I swear I saw Norm using wobble-type dados before too.

Maybe this is a case where the skill of the worker trumps the quality of the tool?

[Rick Potter]

They are recycling.....new intro, old show.

Rick Potter

[AL Ursich]

That is what I thought too.... Recycled Shows with a new intro... Today we look at a OLD Project we produced in the NYWS......

So the tools are going to be Circa 1980's & 90's...... At the end of the show the credits show 2009....

I think that show will start in 6 minutes here.

I am going to miss NORM when he retires. I wish our PBS stations had more woodworking shows like the Router Workshop and others.

My Brother is in West Palm Beach, he is in a Norm FREE Zone. Cooking shows are the priority....

AL

It is the same show and they say we are taking a look at shows from the PAST.... Well it is STILL GOOD NORM......

The Jointer did look like a small Delta unit?.....

In my Navy Days I was on a old Tin Can Destroyer in 89 and I went to the Persian Gulf for Tanker Escort Duty before the first Gulf War. My wife recoreded and send me Boot Leg VHS tapes of NORM. They were very popular in my Chief's Mess and then made the tour to the berthing spaces where bored sailors watched Norm. This was in the days before Satellite TV on Ships, eMail or Pay Phones.... Yes... Pay Phones on Destroyers.....

[Greg Hines, MD]

Yes, Laurie, the show is apparently on hiatus this season, and all of the episodes will be rebroadcasts of older shows. I am particularly enjoying it, actually, to see some of his older tools and techniques. Though, I must confess, I would have rather that he did something like all of his workshop improvements, so that we could get them on DVR without all the commercials of DIY Network.

Doc

[Laurie Brown]

Well, nuts. Here I was thinking I was finally getting new eps only to find out they're old ones. Grrr....

I have been DVRing, editing out commercials, and burning onto DVD to make my own collection of a lot of shows for a couple of years now. I've got 55 eps of NYW now, 21 Router Workshops, and 39 Woodturning Workshops. The last two shows they started playing on our PBS station last year, but they're gone now, replaced by The American Woodshop and Woodsmith Shop, which I have about half a dozen eps each of now.

[David Christopher]

Well, nuts. Here I was thinking I was finally getting new eps only to find out they're old ones. Grrr....

I have been DVRing, editing out commercials, and burning onto DVD to make my own collection of a lot of shows for a couple of years now. I've got 55 eps of NYW now, 21 Router Workshops, and 39 Woodturning Workshops. The last two shows they started playing on our PBS station last year, but they're gone now, replaced by The American Woodshop and Woodsmith Shop, which I have about half a dozen eps each of now.

Laurie, would consider making a copy of all the shows that youve recorded and sell me a copy ???

[Mike Heidrick]

Norm has a 8" DJ20.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Norm has a 8" DJ20.Now, but not originally.

[Rick Moyer]

Older shows. Look at Norm's hair!

[Pat Germain]

Consider yourselves lucky. My local PBS affilliate always shows last year's NYW episodes. And NYW is the only woodworking show they broadcast. No Router Workshop. No American Woodworker. No kidding.

Since DIY nixed Wood Works and NYW, last year's NYW on PBS is all I got.
:(

I do recall seeing some NYW episodes where Norm used some small power tools. I even saw him use a benchtop jointer once. He must have had to think long and hard how to use that one. I'm sure Delta was pushing to present their new line of smaller, lower end tools. Just like in the old days, the sponsor has a lot of pull.

Vermont American used to be a sponsor for NYW. I must admit it convinced me to buy a Vermont American TS blade many years ago. I never bought another. :rolleyes: At least it was inexpensive.

[Charlie Plesums]

As I recall, some of his older shows tried to show a variety of equipment. For example, I recall one that only used smaller pieces of recycled wood (I don't remember what he was making), but it was done with a small benchtop jointer, etc., apparently to promote the idea that there were things you could build with tools from WalMart.

[Tony Haukap]

Consider yourselves lucky. My local PBS affilliate always shows last year's NYW episodes. And NYW is the only woodworking show they broadcast. No Router Workshop. No American Woodworker. No kidding.


For all of you that say you don't get "The New Yankee Workshop" anymore or don't get the current season, do you ever look at your local PBS "point" digital channels?

PBS-HD airs "The New Yankee Workshop" on Saturdays at 1 PM (eastern) and the PBS-CREATE channel airs it 2 times a week 4 times a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The HD and Create channels are different from your local member station in that their programming is nationwide (everybody gets the same thing), as opposed to your member station where they have an option to choose what and when they show the programing they purchased.

[Pat Germain]

Dish Network used to have a "PBS-U" channel which I watched. However, I don't think it's available anymore. I have the local PBS station available on my satellite, but that's it. No HD, no Create. And I have the HD package on my Dish. (??)

Maybe this is available only with DirecTV now. But when I had DirecTV before last October, I again had only one PBS station available.

I can get PBS Create with my antenna, but I've never seen NYW, or any other woodworking show, on that channel. I will check it out.

EDIT: Sure enough, my local PBS Create channel does indeed show NYW. Now I just have to figure out how to record it on my DVR.

[Fred Floyd]

This year's shows are rebroadcasts of shows from about 1999. I am enjoying them because I recorded those shows on video tape in 6hour mode and the new ones are (a) full length and (b) better video quality. PBS-Create is running episodes 8 times a week (always the same one)

In 2004, I purchased a DVD recorder and have all 260 episodes -- for personal use only. Back in 2000 or so, HGTV broadcast NYW every day at 3AM and I was able to get the old shows.

When I am home and not in the shop, I can have my own "Norm Marathon".

[Derek Lyons]

For all of you that say you don't get "The New Yankee Workshop" anymore or don't get the current season, do you ever look at your local PBS "point" digital channels?

PBS-HD airs "The New Yankee Workshop" on Saturdays at 1 PM (eastern) and the PBS-CREATE channel airs it 2 times a week 4 times a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Assuming of course that you have a dish of some kind, or digital cable, or whatever fancy doo-dad is required to receive these channels.

Not everyone does.

[Tony Haukap]

Assuming of course that you have a dish of some kind, or digital cable, or whatever fancy doo-dad is required to receive these channels.
Not everyone does.


Nope. No fancy doo-dad required! They are free over-the-air DTV channels.

If you don't know what PBS channels you can receive at the following URL you can input your zip code and it will show you what's available in your area... http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/

[Laurie Brown]

We bought a DTV converter box and an over air HD antenna, but we still can't get PBS with it. Either they're not broadcasting yet in our area, or we can't get it in our location. (We do have lots of mountains around us)

[Derek Lyons]

Nope. No fancy doo-dad required! They are free over-the-air DTV channels.

If you don't know what PBS channels you can receive at the following URL you can input your zip code and it will show you what's available in your area... http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/

Well, from some points of view that counts as fancy doo-dad.. :):):) I'm on basic cable, so I'd have to add a DTV antenna to the snakefarm that is already behind my TV. (But the two PBS stations in my area are already on my cable anyhow...)

[Steve Rozmiarek]

One of the best things about Directv and DVR or Tivo, is always having a few episodes waiting for you. Just watched the "Lolling chair". Might change a few structural details and try one or two.

[Dick Strauss]

Laurie,
The old saying goes something like...it's not the tool but the woodworker...that makes the project. Norm is a good example of this. His shop equipment is very nice (much nicer than mine) but not top of the line.

OT...
Derek,
I get one PBS channel (with a total of three subchannels) over the air and hope to get one more once the other PBS digital station goes to full power. Often there is no special antenna required...old rabbit-ears still work fine for many (including me). You do need a TV with a digital tuner or a DTV box ($40-$60) if you have an old analog set like I do.

Another advantage to DTV is you can get channels like the Retro TV Network (RTN). I get to see the old programs from the 60-80s like The Rockford Files, Magnum PI, Banacek, To Catch a Thief, Night Gallery, etc.

[Derek Lyons]

I get one PBS channel (with a total of three subchannels) over the air and hope to get one more once the other PBS digital station goes to full power. Often there is no special antenna required...old rabbit-ears still work fine for many (including me). You do need a TV with a digital tuner or a DTV box ($40-$60) if you have an old analog set like I do.

I live many miles from the antenna with many hills in the way... But I get all the PBS currently available in my area on cable anyhow.


Another advantage to DTV is you can get channels like the Retro TV Network (RTN). I get to see the old programs from the 60-80s like The Rockford Files, Magnum PI, Banacek, To Catch a Thief, Night Gallery, etc.

Tripling my current costs in order to get channels I wouldn't watch seems like poor economy to me.

[Dick Strauss]

Derek,
I don't have to pay monthly fees for TV. Now I enjoy picture quality that is better than my cable ever was...and at no charge!

PS-I should receive 6 PBS stations in a few more days!

[Karlan Talkington]

Recycled shows or no, I think a good woodworking show would be able to use top of the line tools and mid-grade tools to show that it doesn't take a $5000+ shop to make fine furniture. It does take more skill and attention to details but it can be done.

I do like to watch fine furniture being made and watching the fine machinery at work while doing it but I tend to find myself thinking, "Man if only I had a saw/jointer/drum sander/etc like that." When I should be paying more attention to technique and thinking of ways I can do the same thing with the equipment I have available to me, even if they are hand tools.

Like maybe toss in the New Yankee, the Old Yankee, a bit of Fine Furniture for the common people into a blender... that would be a great show. ;)

I wish they would have more wood working shows on TV. I miss David Marks for inspiration.

[Jonathan Spool]

Interesting thread. I was recently thinking that Norm "dumbed down" the show. The ongoing joke was always "yea, but who owns one of those? ie 50" drum sander!). I think the network is shooting to atract woodworkers that don't have a full cabinet shop at hand. Nice to see Norm do some turning without the duplicator! I like it, but concur that I would like to see more shop improvement, and project methodology shows.

Jonathan

[John Lucas]

...

In my Navy Days I was on a old Tin Can Destroyer in 89 and I went to the Persian Gulf for Tanker Escort Duty before the first Gulf War. My wife recoreded and send me Boot Leg VHS tapes of NORM. They were very popular in my Chief's Mess and then made the tour to the berthing spaces where bored sailors watched Norm. This was in the days before Satellite TV on Ships, eMail or Pay Phones.... Yes... Pay Phones on Destroyers.....

Oh fellow Tin Can Sailor, boy do I miss those days. I was on USS Frank E Evans (DD754) from 59 - 63. No videotape of pay phones. Do you remember getting near Hawaii on way back from WesPac and the ship-to-shore radio was offered to married guys. Even tho they were told it was a "public" line, we still listened in -- made a deck watch pass by much faster. As to chief's quarters, you did have the most bumpy ride didnt you. I was invited up for "coffee" after a mid-watch and there would still be a table full playing cards...I could barely hold on.

My office and PC wallpaper screen:
http://woodshopdemos.com/index.294.jpg

[Derek Lyons]

http://woodshopdemos.com/index.294.jpg

Pictures like that remind me of why I joined the Submarine Service! :)

[John Lucas]

Pictures like that remind me of why I joined the Submarine Service! :)

Derek,
I wanted SS but they just made a rule that you had to have 1+ years of "small combatant." I didnt know what that was at the time, so I said put my name in. Got it and after the first sea sick episode (awg terrible) I loved it and my specialty was anti-submarine warfare officer, or ASWOFF. When I started, our sonar was so bad that the sub would have to surface to give us a clue. But after FRAM II shipyard stay, we got a great sonar and a good chance to picking up one. Funny, we surfaced a russie off phillipines and got our case of jack danials...and that was with old sonar. but I always felt sorry for the skipper. his career was probably shortened and not his fault. His sub had so much noise, we could track with no real effort.
I had 4 days of sub duty as part of ASW School. A lot of fun. very eerie to have no sound around you. to be able to talk in low voice and be heard and afternnon rats.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I had the opposite Naval experience. I spent 8 years and 8 days in the Navy.....I spent 8 days at sea aboard a sub-tender AS-18 Orion. I was attached to it for the last 9 months I was in the Navy. I was a 1st Class and had been in for over 7 years before I saw a US Navy ship with my own two eyes.:eek::o

[Pat Germain]

I miss David Marks for inspiration.

Let the people say, "Amen!".

[John Lucas]

Anyone who is still on the Navy sub-thread, here is great youtube of the Evans destroyer getting refueled off the Hornet carrier...just a typical refueling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEqMNAVYR7Y&feature=PlayList&p=BA86A826C91C35AF&playnext=1&index=3

[Doug Donnell]

The shows are definitely vintage shows with current intros. There is an explaination on the website, though doesn't explain why the format change. Besides the lack of gray hair, it is interesting to see some of the earlier tools in the shop.

One tool he has used on several of this season's retreads is a band resaw with a blade that must be 4-5" wide. I have never seen him use this tool in more modern episodes, in fact, he has done some resawing with his 14" bandsaw more recently, so I assume the resaw is history.

I wonder if the addition of the Timesaver sander forced the culling of some of his tools to make room? Or perhaps it was judged that a resaw was just too far out of the likely collection of even a well equiped hobbiest (of course, that doesn't explain the Timesaver). Then again, maybe it just broke...

Removing such a tool does seem a little out of character of the show, unless there was just a logistics/space issue... Anyone else seen this tool on the shows?

[Rick Moyer]

I saw that blade and also thought it must be at least 4". I think it was the garden gate episode out of 4X6 PT pine.

[John Bush]

Hitachi resaw BS with 3" blade. Don't you have one??

[Jason White]

Make sure one of them is this channel....

www.createtv.com

If not, you'll need an antenna or rabbit ears to get it.

Jason


Well, from some points of view that counts as fancy doo-dad.. :):):) I'm on basic cable, so I'd have to add a DTV antenna to the snakefarm that is already behind my TV. (But the two PBS stations in my area are already on my cable anyhow...)