The next Norm?

[Dan Karachio]

PBS hasn't forgotten about us!

Rough Cut with Tommy Mac will be coming to PBS.

thesawdustchronicles.com/2010/05/19/rough-cut-woodworking-with-tommy-mac/

charlesandhudson.com/archives/2010/06/rough_cut_woodworking_with_tommy_mac.htm

Has anyone looked over his podcasts and other materials? I have not, but plan to very soon. I know, I know, there will never be another Norm, David Marks..., but we have to move on people. It's just like a new girlfriend, job, house, car, dog or table saw! It hurts to let go and move on, it may feel like betrayal, but it's life. It's just life people.

[Neil Brooks]

In July, I spent an afternoon, with Tommy and Eli (his sidekick), in their Boston-area shop.

GREAT guys. GREAT talents. GREAT angle for a show.

If your local PBS station does NOT plan to carry their show ... lobby them. More exposure can only be a good thing, for our craft !

Knock 'em dead, Tommy and Eli !!!!

[Neil Brooks]

ByTheWay: their shop wasn't all TOO far from this place:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WVVYjLCNo2w/TAwXjPPgqTI/AAAAAAAABDM/h2etjgjT1GE/s640/P1040775.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WVVYjLCNo2w/TAwXmFPrLHI/AAAAAAAABDY/Ub2N5HnnFZg/s640/P1040778.JPG

:cool:

[Don Jarvie]

Did you get blindfolded and driven the "long way" to see the "Other" place?

[Dave MacArthur]

This looks like an interesting "inside joke" sort of post. I'm guessing that's NYW from the backside, and don't know anything about "the other place". I guess having every season of NYW on disc and watching them several times isn't enough to catch this, hopefully someone in the know will explain.

I watch a lot of online woodworking pod-casts, and browse around theWoodWhisperer network a lot also watching the linked videos there, but have never heard of Tommy MacDonald. For that matter, I'd never heard of The SawDust Chronicles either. I browsed around a bit there and only found 1 video link, but it wasn't actually a woodworking show, just guys chatting about this new venture.

For those of us who don't know of this guy, but would like to see his past shows, can anyone post a link to a working video archive for him?
Thanks!

[Peter Aeschliman]

I second that.

[Neil Brooks]

a) It IS the NYW;

b) Past podcasts, from Tommy's site:

http://www.thomasjmacdonald.com/woodworking-podcasts.html

[george wilson]

I can't see the attraction.

[Paul Murphy]

I can't see the attraction.
He went to the North Bennet Street School, and so I'm hopeful the program contains that level of woodworking. I would be equally pleased to have a woodworking series featuring the fine craftsmen from Colonial Williamsburg, but I guess the Boston PBS producers were happy to find a local craftsman.

By the way I really enjoyed the veneering clip featuring the two gentlemen you work with. Wish I could see them do a complete project.

[Dave MacArthur]

Thanks for the link Neil, spent an enjoyable evening watching him work the sides of a bombe chest, planes, scrapers etc.

[Glenn Clabo]

He's a member here at SMC...
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=98265
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=98266
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=134090
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=98934
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=99275

[Brian D Anderson]

If you're into the Facebook thing, you can find his new show here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/RoughCutTv?ref=ts

He just posted a picture of all the projects he filmed for the first year.

He's quite a character. In my opinion, he looks more skilled than Norm, and more charismatic than David Marks.

I think it will be fun.

I'm actually in the middle of making the shaker step stool he built as a forum project. I think it's going to be in the first season too, though I don't see it in the picture.

Bottom line is you can't complain about more national woodworking TV shows. :)

-Brian

[Dave MacArthur]

I just read all Tommy's threads here at SMC. Sign me up, I'm a convert--wow did he put in some work to transcribe his works here to the forum, and there is an obvious and extremely strong theme of helping other woodworkers be better. At significant time cost to him.

I watched a lot of videos on his site and quite enjoyed them, the work is top notch, the techniques are from basic to advanced and he shows them real time without erasing the imperfections--I can totally relate and learn from watching him exactly because it's not ultra-speedy perfect 10th take video. But even more impressive is the clear desire to help others learn and encourage them that comes through strongly in his posts here.

Good luck to him, I'll for sure be watching and learning!

[george wilson]

Paul,there are several craft films available from Colonial Williamsburg,if you want to see complete projects. My musical instrument film covers the making of both a spinet harpsichord and a violin. There is a silversmith film,a blacksmith film,and some others. They were all made to be classroom time in length.

[Stephen Cherry]

If I ever get my television hooked up to something, maybe I will watch it. That's a big maybe though.

I used to like the router workshop though, the father and son team. That was a good show that wasn't trying to sell you something with each episode. (maybe they were, but I don't remember it.)

[Will Blick]

Wow, Thom is in a different class than Norm. This guy has it all!

His work is awesome, thanks for the links....

I know for sure I would watch a show hosted by a guy who can produce work like that. Best of luck Thomas.... we need a new TV ww hero...

[Andrew Gibson]

Wasn't Tommy featured in a small article a few years ago in FWW. I think they told the story of why he started woodworking. maybe I will dig out that issue

[John A. Callaway]

a) It IS the NYW;




I had read somewhere that the building was hidden out in the back of some fella's farm on the outskirts of suburban Boston.... and if you saw the back of it you would think it was anything but the NYW.... and the front side of the building faces the depths of the farm and is surrounded by a bush of thick brush and trees... its like they really tried to hide where it was and what it was....strange...

[Neil Brooks]

I had read somewhere that the building was hidden out in the back of some fella's farm on the outskirts of suburban Boston.... and if you saw the back of it you would think it was anything but the NYW.... and the front side of the building faces the depths of the farm and is surrounded by a bush of thick brush and trees... its like they really tried to hide where it was and what it was....strange...

The location of the NYW is a well-kept secret ... that everybody can uncover ... with a Google search.

It's in the back yard of the home of the producer.

The lot, next door, is overflow parking for a fresh market/farm, so ... in theory ... I wasn't trespassing, to take the pics.

That's it, though -- Casa de Uncle Normie ;)

[John A. Callaway]

yeah...thats right....I remember reading it was on the Producer's land... didnt know it backed up to a farmer's market though....

also I just spent a hour and a half of this lazy sunday roaming around the 207 website and forums....

I like this guy.... He and that other guy Eli make this very complicated work that they do look easy and more importantly...fun.

[Dan Karachio]

I guess I download too much. I already have a bunch of his pod casts and, when I used to ride the train to work, really enjoyed them. He is a funny guy and seems to really know his stuff, but without ANY pretension (not that Norm or David Marks have any either). I think this could be fun. I thought he was a New Yorker, but now can tell he is a New Englander. What can I say - to a midwesterner, these accents all sound the same.

Here is the official preview: http://www.wgbh.org/programs/programDetail.cfm?programid=1123&featureid=17664

[Paul Murphy]

Paul,there are several craft films available from Colonial Williamsburg,if you want to see complete projects. My musical instrument film covers the making of both a spinet harpsichord and a violin. There is a silversmith film,a blacksmith film,and some others. They were all made to be classroom time in length.
Thanks George, I found them. I previewed one on making a card table, which I have long been tempted to build. Most are in the $20 neighborhood, and here is a link for anyone else interested:
http://www.history.org/Publications/videos/index.cfm
In the short video sample of the card table project a saw George made is used. Looks like it cuts very nicely.

I wonder if CW might think about doing more of these woodworking video projects? I would think the right projects would be very popular.

[keith micinski]

Has anyone else had any trouble downloading the podcasts? Most of them appear to not be working for me.

[Shawn Christ]

Woohooo! Iowa Public Television will begin airing the new show in my area October 9. :D DVR - here it comes! I haven't seen Tommy's podcasts either but this really shows some promise...

http://www.iptv.org/series.cfm/21244/rough_cut_woodworking_with_tommy/ep:101

[Jerome Hanby]

Looks like Alabama will have it too. I've looked at a couple of his POD casts through Tivo. I'll watch anything, but I'm going to have to get used to that accent. Feels like I'm watching Good Will Hunting:D

[Neil Brooks]

Looks like Alabama will have it too. I've looked at a couple of his POD casts through Tivo. I'll watch anything, but I'm going to have to get used to that accent. Feels like I'm watching Good Will Hunting:D

They may have to offer it up, with subtitles ;)

[Jerome Hanby]

They may have to offer it up, with subtitles ;)

I heard that. I got directions to a place or breakfast from a hotel clerk in Boston once about 12 years ago. I still haven't found the place :eek:

[Jacob Mac]

In college, I roomed for four years with a guy from NY city. It took me a solid three semesters before I was fluent in his dialect:)

I have watched most of Tommy's podcasts and I really dig his projects. He has a lot of talent and seemingly a great love for his craft. I hope his show does great.

[Brad Wood]

hmmm, nothing to be found on the OBP web site (Portland OR. PBS Station). I sent them a message.

[Mark Maleski]

Here is the official preview: http://www.wgbh.org/programs/programDetail.cfm?programid=1123&featureid=17664

I've watched a bunch of Tommy's podcasts and have posted a few times at his forum...but hadn't seen this preview. It looks even better than I had hoped! Cameos with Alan Breed, Phil Lowe, visits to John Adams' home & St Michaels, blended woodworking that shows a realistic picture of what it takes to build a project (and make mistakes)....I'm ready to buy the season DVD already.

[Peter Aeschliman]

That's my thing... I loved NYW, but my only major complaint is how they gloss over things. When watching the show, you only get a general sense of how things go together. Every joint fit perfectly on (what you're led to believe is) the first try.

To me, good woodworking is about details... little tricks here and there, hand tool techniques, and perhaps most importantly, error correction. I never once saw norm make a mistake on his show. Perhaps if NYW didn't stick to the "one completed project per show" approach, they would've had the time to explain things in a more technical way.

Anyway, that's my rant for the day. I hope they stick to their word and show his mistakes, and most importantly, how to fix them.