and it was a little disappointing. Brief background, we had been on Dish Satellite for the last 6 years and the PBS they had for us didn't carry any woodworking shows except Scott Phillips. This month we were fortunate enough to get fiber optic hooked up and now have a different cable system that carries a different PBS channel, one that has the "Classic Woodworking" series. It's hosted by Tom McLaughlin. My memory recalls that he picked up this show when Tommy McDonald got fired, it was called "Rough Cut" back then. A lawsuit over the title made them change the name, and I actually had not seen it since McDonald was fired. This was the second episode I've seen, and the shows moves at a fairly slow pace. McLaughlin explains the steps he will take to achieve a task, and then it's magically done. While they'll have a quick view of him sawing, or routing, or whatever is going on...it's very short in length. Interesting to me was that no where on the show was the commonly heard safety warnings that show up on other shows. In any case, McLaughlin is a very skilled woodworker, he was featured on some of the original Rough Cut shows and he really does nice stuff. The pieces I've seen on his new show are nice, but extremely simple. The finishing on the cherry blanket chest today was nothing more than a statement : "I finished it with shellac". Actually, as much as I dislike Scott Phillips, his show is actually more entertaining.  Fine Woodworking is the main sponsor of this creation and it seems like they could have done better. But that's my opinion, if any of you have seen it or plan to catch it I'd be interested in other opinions.

I have pretty given up on those shows.  Haven't been impressed with any of them.

Our cable PBS channel carried Rough Cut and later Classic Woodworking. I couldn’t really get into either after all those years of Norm. 
Now we get Woodsmith Shop but they keep repeating the same shows. It doesn’t seem as good as it did before it changed hands. 
The American Woodshop is sometimes shown but some of the stuff makes me cringe. 

If you can get it. "The Craftsman" is well worth watching. 

had to do a deep search in my memory, finally recalled watching David Marks some years ago.  beautiful stuff he made.  only ran for 7 seasons according to a note on a video i just found.

5 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

If you can get it. "The Craftsman" is well worth watching. 

Absolutely  @Gene Howe  and a great story teller.

Our Dish carries 3 PBS channels. All Indiana based. Two of those carried the old Rough Cut show which eventually was replaced by the Classic Woodworking show. The latter only ran a few episodes over a couple seasons. One of our channels still re-airs those episodes occasionally. I watched for a while, but pretty much agree with Fred's assessment. To me the episodes were mostly underwhelming.

 

IIRC, Tommy "Mac" wasn't really fired after he built his new shop. I read a couple places, there was a dispute over all the Felder equipment he began using as an endorsement?? But mainly he left the show primarily to devote all of his energy helping law enforcement plus on his own to find and prosecute the individual(s) responsible for the murder of his sister. From my understanding that event changed him significantly; understandably so. Appears Tommy Mac HERE is still very active. Uses various social media platforms.

 

Still get all the current episodes of both Scott Phillips and the Woodsmith Shop. I watch both on occasion during the gloom of winter if the episode description sparks an interest but I'm not a loyal fan of either.

6 hours ago, DAB said:

had to do a deep search in my memory, finally recalled watching David Marks some years ago.  beautiful stuff he made.  only ran for 7 seasons according to a note on a video i just found.

One of our PBS channels carried him for a while then stopped. I fully agree, he created some beautiful projects. I found the few episodes I saw, entertaining, informative besides inspiring.

I just watched Eric "the Crastsman" telling his story about overcoming PTSD after serving in the jungles in Viet Nam. For some time it was a rough road for him but he found a way . Really worth listening to his story.  

13 hours ago, lew said:

Our cable PBS channel carried Rough Cut and later Classic Woodworking. I couldn’t really get into either after all those years of Norm. 
Now we get Woodsmith Shop but they keep repeating the same shows. It doesn’t seem as good as it did before it changed hands. 
The American Woodshop is sometimes shown but some of the stuff makes me cringe. 

 I agree with both points. after Woodsmith sold out, the show did take a hit and Phillips show has (IMHO) always been substandard. He (Phillips) is a hero around here since he's based in the area.

 

7 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

 

IIRC, Tommy "Mac" wasn't really fired after he built his new shop. I read a couple places, there was a dispute over all the Felder equipment he began using as an endorsement?? But mainly he left the show primarily to devote all of his energy helping law enforcement plus on his own to find and prosecute the individual(s) responsible for the murder of his sister. From my understanding that event changed him significantly; understandably so. Appears Tommy Mac HERE is still very active. Uses various social media platforms.

 I don't think it was Felder, it was (as I recall) SCM, maker of Mini-Max. Whatever brand it was, the lower floor of that new shop was full of their stuff. I did notice that Felder is a sponsor of McLaughlin's show...but his shop isn't full of Felder tools. Anway, you might be right about him not being fired....that's jut the way I (maybe incorrectly) remember it.

7 hours ago, Al B said:

I just watched Eric "the Crastsman" telling his story about overcoming PTSD after serving in the jungles in Viet Nam. For some time it was a rough road for him but he found a way . Really worth listening to his story.  

Al, where do I find this "Craftsman" series of shows? Thanks sir

34 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Al, where do I find this "Craftsman" series of shows? Thanks sir

It's on the Magnolia Network, John. 

4 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

don't think it was Felder, it was (as I recall) SCM, maker of Mini-Max.

Now that you say that Fred, you are correct, it was SCM, not Felder. Either way I knew it was equipment I couldn't afford. It's been a good while since his show aired here so my memory bank files got corrupted. Being heavily sedated for a few weeks 2 years ago didn't help much either.

4 hours ago, John Morris said:

Al, where do I find this "Craftsman" series of shows? Thanks sir

I watch him on Discovery+ John but he is also on Magnolia network as Gene said.

I don't think I've seen that show (Craftsman)...I do see it's on tonight on my Magnolia channel at 8P.

More about Tommy Mac HERE

On 2/1/2023 at 4:42 PM, Gene Howe said:

If you can get it. "The Craftsman" is well worth watching. 

What network is that on? Any certain day or time? I can always record and watch later.

on the Magnolia channel Clint (can’t remember the last name) goes around the country where people are repurposing old barns and for it is interesting to see all the different techniques used on the barns in days past. 

That would be Clint Harper, he got a spinoff from the Chip and Joanna show (name escapes me). He was their woodworker for some projects on the homes they remodeled.

Yeah him! Lol. It is a cool show (to me) but I also like Barnwood builds and Maine Cabins builders lol

31 minutes ago, KevTN said:

I also like Barnwood builds

My basic package doesn't include the old DIY, now Magnolia channel. We used to get DIY "free" about every other month. Barnwood Builds was my favorite on that channel. DISH hasn't offered Magnolia as a "freebie" since the acquisition.