April 22, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop where Tom McLaughlin was the guest and he presented and demonstrated building a bow front end table.  One word: AWESOME.  If you ever get the opportunity to see him in person or in his videos, you can’t go wrong.   He gave a week’s amount of information in 6 hrs.  He had his wife alongside him, who is affectionately called “the camera lady”.  Tom is a Master woodworker from Canterbury, NH.   He is a member and past president of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters.

Danl

 

 

 

I really enjoyed his PBS program after he took over from "Tommy Mac". He is a great instructor.

they make it look easy when it's the 56th time they've done the same design.  when you are starting with a blank sheet of paper, and have to figure everything out as you go, it's not as easy.

1 hour ago, DAB said:

they make it look easy when it's the 56th time they've done the same design.  when you are starting with a blank sheet of paper, and have to figure everything out as you go, it's not as easy.

Dab, I would imagine rehearsing has to be done, if they went live with a project he never did, with any of these woodworking shows, it'd be an 8 hour episode Plus, lets not take away from the fact, that the man is just plain talented and has a ton of experience, that many of us here will never approach, in other words, the dude gots skills!

Sorry, never heard of him. 

2 hours ago, DAB said:

Sorry, never heard of him. 

Neither have I till today.

What was the event @Danl? Was it sponsored by one of the woodworking stores or a club? IIRC, he used to be a contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine too? Like Lew, enjoyed his projects on PBS. I was surprised they didn't last. Maybe it had something to do with the negative press he got into with Tommy Mac, IDK. Extremely talented woodworker.

I admire his skills, and I enjoyed seeing him on V in the earlier episodes. But the current show sponsored by Fine Woodworking (IMHO) has been dumbed down a little with simpler projects. But Tom really is a master woodworker and does some fine stuff. I'd love to see him in person; I have to admit sitting for 6 hours may be a bit of a struggle for me.

The St. Louis Woodworkers Guild hosted Tom McLaughlin in what they call the Superstar Weekend.  I started to watch him regularly on YouTube at the beginning of the Covid pandemic.  He started his career being an apprentice with Pug Moore in NC.  He worked for Pug, and on his own, in SC making early American reproduction furniture.  Later, he moved to Canterbury NH and for 30+ yrs. designed/built commissioned pieces.  Recently, Tom shifted his focus from building commissioned furniture to teaching and becoming a mentor to many.  He created a YouTube channel “Shop Night Live” and is offering classes, both on-line and in his shop.  He has created a Woodworking forum, “The Neighborwood”.  His business is called EPIC Woodworking.

I first saw him when he was a guest on the TV show “Rough Cut”.  I think he later was the host of Rough Cut, and then was asked to host Classic Woodworking.  He has contributed many times to FWW. Shop Night Live is every Thursday evening where he usually is demonstrating a technic of woodworking.  If you have a Google password, you can ask questions during his demonstrations.

If you want to know the rest of the story…  https://www.epicwoodworking.com/timeline/

 

Danl

2023 SLWG SuperStar-Jan 2023.pdf

That would have been fun to attend....Can always learn something.

4 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I have to admit sitting for 6 hours may be a bit of a struggle for me.

Fred, I'd have absolutely no problem sitting for 6 hours. Staying awake is another story. 

@Danl, thanks for the link, I added Tom to our links directory for future use and resources.

 

 

I know Canterbury NH is about 60 miles from me. Wonder how he’d feel if I just show up, and offer to work for free?

13 minutes ago, Artie said:

I know Canterbury NH is about 60 miles from me. Wonder how he’d feel if I just show up, and offer to work for free?

I bet he'd love it! Go get a broom!

1 hour ago, Artie said:

I know Canterbury NH is about 60 miles from me. Wonder how he’d feel if I just show up, and offer to work for free?

Can't speak for him, but since you're offering, I'll open up a parking place for you here? You can start with the mowing and weedeating for now. Should we set out an extra paper plate?

Edited May 14, 20232 yr by Grandpadave52

Now is this still within 60 miles  of Arties home ?

7 minutes ago, Al B said:

Now is this still within 60 miles  of Arties home ?

  I'd say yes. He'll just make about 15 stops along the way.

woodworking does not translate to TV or youtube or short classes well.

 

much of woodworking is problem solving, figuring out the size and shape of the next part.  math, stock selection and preparation, cutting away that which is not needed for that part, fitting up with previous parts so the next part can be worked on.  it's time consuming, sometimes tedious, can be physically challenging, and may involve the use of multiple tools with their own set ups.  or perhaps it's time to design/build a jig, which is a little, mini project thrown into the middle of your bigger project.

 

no one wants to watch me sit at my bench, pencil in hand, fussing out the details of the next part.  they just want the glory of seeing it all come together from a pile of parts that have all been properly cut and fit before the cameras start rolling.

 

and that, among other reasons, is why i don't have a time clock in my shop to log in and log out and track my time.  it's done when it's done.  whining and yelling don't help it get done faster.

3 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Can't speak for him, but since you're offering, I'll open up a parking place for you here? You can start with the mowing and weedeating for now. Should we set out an extra paper plate?

If I was with an 8 hour drive Dave, I’d show up! 

9 minutes ago, Artie said:

If I was with an 8 hour drive Dave, I’d show up! 

Get Morris to send the company jet!