01-01-2024, 12:46 PM
A little back ground. My wife found some old This Old House shows on tv and asked if I would like to watch a couple with her. She couldn't get even one to load, electronics is not our generation. Anyway I had seen the New Yankee workshop show up on YouTube. I typed it into the search area and I found I had excess to all the episodes. I selected the second episode which was a work bench, which was from 1979. Setting the stage. I had purchased the same RAS in 1973. I used it along with a Craftsman router until 1978 or 1978 when I sold it and purchased a Shopsmith. So here I was with the 5 tools needed to build stuff along with a Craftsman router and I had also purchased a router table. It is now 1977. Just so you understand how things were. I was making $6.25 an hour at John Deere tractor works as a Tool and De Maker. It was labor grade 1 and most production personnel were 4 or below. The router cost $39 and the table also cost about $39. I could be wrong but I think the Craftsman RAS was $279 which I sold and the Shopsmith was $825 plus shipping.
Any way Norm was at the Hancock shaker village and showed the famous 12 foot long bench. Back at the shop he showed an European bench which he stated cost over $700 And then proceeded to build a bench for a little over $100. He proceeded to build it step by step, and I realized I could build stuff too and I took off in my hobby. Up until that point the only information one could get is from Workbench and Popular Machinic. About that time Woodsmith came out. The first issue I saw was issue 22. I used to read each issue at least 4 times ,word for word.
So here I am on Woodsmith's forum around 45 years later reminiscing about the past. I realize now that they were just learning how to produce a show like that just as I was in learning also. I did not agree with everything he did, but I watched the show faithfully anyway. On the show, anyway the second episode there was no concern for dust collection. Today one has to have a Hepa dust collector hooked by a hose to a random orbital sander to capture everything, like the dust bag that came with it is bad and only can get 95%. It just seems that every thing is being taken to extremes today and the younger generations is not buying in.
Norm connected with you on a personal level. Like he was talking just to you. He did things at the grass roots level. To day it seem that everything that is done is just trying to sell you something.
Anyway Norm showed the workbench at Hancock shaker village. Scott Landius has a picture of it in his book. I went to great lengths to match color using chalk paint, glaze and Antique Oil. Here is my bench that was somewhat inspired by the shaker bench. And like a lot of benches it is a mess most of the time.
Ps I enjoyed Norms Show and I am planning to go back and watch them again. I will be reminded as to why I love working with wood. I can't afford a domino. But I can still cut a mortice. Actually I can afford a domino, I just do not see the need, there for I have no plans to buy one. Please do not read into something I didn't say. There is nothing wrong with a Domino and if you want one, buy it. It is just not for me.
Tom
Any way Norm was at the Hancock shaker village and showed the famous 12 foot long bench. Back at the shop he showed an European bench which he stated cost over $700 And then proceeded to build a bench for a little over $100. He proceeded to build it step by step, and I realized I could build stuff too and I took off in my hobby. Up until that point the only information one could get is from Workbench and Popular Machinic. About that time Woodsmith came out. The first issue I saw was issue 22. I used to read each issue at least 4 times ,word for word.
So here I am on Woodsmith's forum around 45 years later reminiscing about the past. I realize now that they were just learning how to produce a show like that just as I was in learning also. I did not agree with everything he did, but I watched the show faithfully anyway. On the show, anyway the second episode there was no concern for dust collection. Today one has to have a Hepa dust collector hooked by a hose to a random orbital sander to capture everything, like the dust bag that came with it is bad and only can get 95%. It just seems that every thing is being taken to extremes today and the younger generations is not buying in.
Norm connected with you on a personal level. Like he was talking just to you. He did things at the grass roots level. To day it seem that everything that is done is just trying to sell you something.
Anyway Norm showed the workbench at Hancock shaker village. Scott Landius has a picture of it in his book. I went to great lengths to match color using chalk paint, glaze and Antique Oil. Here is my bench that was somewhat inspired by the shaker bench. And like a lot of benches it is a mess most of the time.
Ps I enjoyed Norms Show and I am planning to go back and watch them again. I will be reminded as to why I love working with wood. I can't afford a domino. But I can still cut a mortice. Actually I can afford a domino, I just do not see the need, there for I have no plans to buy one. Please do not read into something I didn't say. There is nothing wrong with a Domino and if you want one, buy it. It is just not for me.
Tom