I'm pleased to see a show that isn't geared solely toward the use of power tools or one that eschews power tools entirely. Tom's selecting material based on grain and not maximum usage of material is a welcome change, as is an absence of brad nailers. A return to the use of shellack is refreshing. Another aspect which deserves mention is the avoidance of plywood in the projects, I hope that it continues. Given that Woodcraft no longer carries Lie-Nielsen the selection of handtools available for the show must be frustrating at times.

As for guests for the show an obvious choice would be Rob Cosman, but it would also be nice to see the likes of Larry Williams, Don McConell or Chris Schwarz along with the usual cast from FWW.

The part on making dental molding glazed over the layout of the dentals so you don't have a partial dental at the miter. Perhaps those type of details could be included in a link to somewhere on this site.

What is a bit disconcerting is the very frequent use of a few stock phrases and the over-the-top adulation of his assistants, perhaps that will dissipate with time.

Tommy will use plywood where it makes sense to do so, just as he uses any other material. As for guests, I'd like to see him bring Roy Underhill and Norm Abram on the show, maybe even together. Now that would be a show worth a full hour!

The adulation of the assistants is an affectation and is meant with tongue in cheek. It's part of an attempt to keep the tone of the show light and friendly, sort of like you had dropped in on a buddy's shop while he was working, looking for a couple of pointers.

I enjoy the road trips, but can't help wondering if they can keep the level of interest up in them over time. They'll have to go further and further afield to do so. I can just see season five now: road trip this week, the moon!

Paul
the little guy

I found this inexplicable. Perhaps Tommy will take the time to explain how this rather crucial detail wasn't even mentioned.

I’m a weekend woodworker, when I can find the time and when the ‘Honey-do’ list is not too long! I look at a couple of the simple projects that I’ve made and can’t even imagine trying to explain building them in 30 minutes. So Tommy didn’t exactly explain the math in figuring how to get the dentil molding to end precisely at the miter. ZZZzzzzzzzz I like that he quickly gets through an entire project touching on the high points. I like that the shows are not scripted down to the last adjective. Mostly, I love that he occasionally makes a mistake that stays in the show! Tommy’s video on making spring joints completely sold me on watching this guy work. What you see on the screen appears to be just what you would see if you dropped by his shop with a few cups of coffee to shoot the breeze. No changes please Tommy!

ERobert

I see you are new to 207 so if you haven’t been welcomed yet, let me be the first to do so. I am sure Tommy will be pleased to hear how much you enjoy the show.

Since you have watched some of Tommy’s old videos then surely you have noticed that one of his mantras is his constant encouragement to ‘elevate your game’. One of the ways to do this is to pay attention to even the smallest of details. For example, if you watch the tool box videos starting with episode 18 Case cutting the tails you can see just how much care he puts into even the small details. So with that attitude in mind, it is perplexing that no mention was made of how the spacing of the dentil moulding will turn the corner. It would be understandable if the dimensions of the moulding weren’t discussed at all but when building the jig they are. To discuss the dimensions and not mention their inherent relationship with the width of the case seems odd (to me). But of course being an architect, I am biased towards having things worked out to a point that drives other folks nuts.

Hi guys ,to be honest all I did was make a run of moulding bigger than the case , then I held it up to the case and just made the ends even on each side then marked and cut where it looked the best...I didn't lay out anything...as a matter of fact ,I did the same on the bombe....so sorry to dissapoint but it was that simple and not well thought out

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Tommy sometimes the simple smacks us in the back of the head and rules out layout without us knowing it. Such is simplicity at its best. Doesn't always work that way, but sometimes common sense creeps in inbeknowst to us.

Ciao and keep all the digits attached

Richard

Thanks for the welcome. A little background, I'm not a hobbyist and I'm not new to woodworking. With any show there are bound to be things you like and things you don't. Getting a national show must be thrilling, but I'm sure there is input by management on many levels. I'm a strong advocate of the use of handtools and I hope it continues. One of the things I'd like to say about the program is that they show how things can go wrong. Many times that is more informative than showing a perfect result.

If the approach Tom describes works for your project, then the simplest approach is the best. If however you find that it doesn't work the size of your project, laying out dentil molding is the same as baluster layout.

Hey Tommy thanks for the response, at least now I know why it wasn't discussed. Btw, no disappointment over here, nor a need for an apology. While I would definitely do a layout on custom dentils so that the corners were a full 'tooth', I don't think less of anyone who doesn't.

Hi Keith.

Add me to the welcoming committee. If you love wood as much as eating, this is your place. Please turn off the lights if you're the last one out.

Paul
the little guy

To jlsmith:

I forget, is it Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, or do the first two go in the other order? I remember Corinthian is the most ornate, but always confuse the other two...

The mind is always the first to go they say. They just forget to say where it goes... (sigh) I miss mine.

Paul
the absent minded little guy

Thanks for the welcome. This line of posts as well as Tommy's reminds me of a shop teacher I had way way way back in high school. The only plans he would have on a piece of furniture was a 'very' rough sketch with outside dimensions. You figure out where the piece will go and how big the outside dimensions would be and then you cut the parts for the case nice and square. Everything else (drawers, dividers, shelves, doors) he would make to size as he went along. I'm sure that this would really go against the grain for you Paul but you can over-plan a thing sometimes. This can put a strain on how much stock to order but I'm a believer in getting a board more than I intended anyway.
I can't believe some of the fabulous pieces of furniture some people have made and shown off on this site. There is still a ton of talent in this country. I'm almost a little embarrassed when I look at some of the work that's done compared to what I've done but I'll keep trying.
By the way, where does "207" come from?

Tiny
You have the order correct (so your mind isn't completely gone, yet ). Depending on which source you want to use there is also a Tuscan and a Composite Order (but only the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian are agreed upon by everyone). The original text that established the Classical Orders is Vitruvius' The Ten Books on Architecture but others, doing their own measuring in the field, have over the centuries published their own version of the Classical Orders as well.

I am partial to the Tuscan order: view out into my yard

Hi Gene.

I asked the same question when I was new here. It seems it refers to the mythical local 207 of the pallet makers union, a tongue in cheek name for our little brotherhood here.

Paul
the little non-mythical guy

Nice columns, jl. No matter what order they are.

Paul
the little guy

Bye

I think the show is great. Finally a new good woodworking show. Norm's gone, Marks is gone. Tommy seems a little rushed at times, but the polish will come. I've seen a lot of his video's on the Bombe and other projects to know that there is a lot more of Tommy to come out. Congratulations Tommy Mac, a lot of hard work is paying off. Good on ya!

A comment above having Norm as a guest on the show I think is a great idea. Almost like a hand-off to the next generation taking on greater challenges - raising the game so to speak. Some prigs call Norm a carpenter with a brad nailer, I call him inspiration as do a generation of woodworkers. Thanks Norm.

Looking forward for more Tommy, keep it up!

--Bob