2 hours ago, kmealy said:

I know a lot of people liked him and he got many interested in woodworking, but I got irritated with New Yankee Workshop.  What really turned me off was: (1) the same irrelevant safety speech each episode.  Tell me something about the tool or process you are using now. (2) "Let's check this.  Yes, perfect"   We make mistakes tell us what to do if it's not perfect!  (3) Having so many routers.  Then using one with a dovetail jig to cut half-blind dovetails on a dresser base molding.  That is just not the right thing.  (4) Having (donated, no doubt) tools like the huge drum sander that no reasonable hobbyist could afford cost or space.    

Most of the same things I noticed. Also never a mention of alternative tools that could do the same job rather than the expensive ones. By the way it was my understanding that those tools belonged to the producer who owned the shop. But overall got lots of people interested in WW and gave us some project ideas.

I have been watching some YouTuber, Bron Zeage (that might be a nom de plume, Bronze Age, get it?), in the "Secret Underground Laboratory & Recovery"    He does some furniture repair work, but does a lot of work on lamps and such.   While he's working he does do a lot of information relevant to the job and I've learned some electrical things from him.

And yes, the NYW shop did belong to the producer.  I am guessing a lot of the bigger tools were donated by "sponsors."   I seem to recall in the early episodes that some of the labels were taped over to remain anonymous (and Nahm used a Shopsmith on occasion).   It was always my impression Norm was a very good carpenter that was learning furniture work himself.

Yes I forgot that I thought it sacrilege that he made a fine piece and then use brads on it.

9 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Yes I forgot that I thought it sacrilege that he made a fine piece and then use brads on it.

"We'll just add some pneumatic brads here to hold while the glue dries."     And edge gluing with about 3x as much glue as needed and had streams of squeeze out running down the panels.

 

I found myself getting so irritated, I started yelling at the TV like some sports fans.   That's when I quit watching.

 

 

Along the same lines, I saw "This Old House" episode where they were edge gluing some wood to make a window seat.  Of course, since Festool was apparently a sponsor, they used a Domino to edge glue them together.   I'm thinking, "Well, there's a $1000 tool doing a job that does not need to be done."

At one time, I foolishly purchased a used Biscuit joiner.  Re sold it when I realized the same job could be done with a router and some 1/4" hard board. I'm a slow learner! I always seemed to fall for the hype without thinking it through first.

Somewhere I came across something that said as tools left his (Norm's) show they wound up in Russell's (Maresh?) house on Nantucket (maybe it was Martha's Vineyard). Keith, you'd go nuts watching Scott Phillips.....I know I do.

Edited February 9, 20224 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

22 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Somewhere I came across something that said as tools left his (Norm's) show they wound up in Russell's (Maresh?) house on Nantucket (maybe it was Martha's Vineyard). Keith, you'd go nuts watching Scott Phillips.....I know I do.

Only took a couple shows to realize the likely need to maintain sanity. He and his wife are probably really sweet folks, though.

2 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Somewhere I came across something that said as tools left his (Norm's) show they wound up in Russell's (Maresh?) house on Nantucket

  They were already there.  That is where ithe show was filmed.

 

4 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Somewhere I came across something that said as tools left his (Norm's) show they wound up in Russell's (Maresh?) house on Nantucket (maybe it was Martha's Vineyard). Keith, you'd go nuts watching Scott Phillips.....I know I do.

I have watched a couple of episodes in the last few months.  Someone once described it as "Mr. Rogers visits the woodshop."   I have met Scott Phillips a few times and he is a very nice guy, but a bit annoying to watch.  IIRC, he also had some Shopsmith connections way back.  And my impression of Suzy is, "Honey, I know you have that TV show, do you think I could join you and do some stuff with you?  Please, honey???"  Sort of the same impression I have of Mrs. WoodWhisper.

5 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

At one time, I foolishly purchased a used Biscuit joiner.  Re sold it when I realized the same job could be done with a router and some 1/4" hard board. I'm a slow learner! I always seemed to fall for the hype without thinking it through first.

I use a biscuit joiner regularly for butt and miter joints.  I have never used one for edge joints.  My BIL had a doo-dad that cut slots with a router.   But it was only really any good for edge joints.