New woodwork program on the telly

[brianhabby]

Hi there,

I noticed that Discovery H&L have a new program called 'Wood Works' on at 10:00pm each weekday evening featuring Anton Fitzpatrick. (He made a boat in another program).

I thought he might be worth watching. He first made a bench, then I saw him make a bathroom cupboard. I was very disappointed - very shoddy workmanship - and that filming......usual H&L camera gymnastics.

Why don't the British film makers make programs that show true craftsmanship? Why does everything have to be done as quickly as possible, as if that is the main aim. I'm sure almost all keen woodworkers would rather spend more time on a project that rush out some of the rubbish they show you on TV.

People knock Norm Abram but whatever you think of his techniques, he always does a great job and the filming is second to none.

regards

Brian

 

[mambo]

these shows are re-runs
like you say his work is pretty shoddy
did you see the one where he made the butcher block :shock:
and in one show i saw him using a RAS by pulling the saw right out and cutting on the return stroke :?

 

[Steve Maskery]

in one show i saw him using a RAS by pulling the saw right out and cutting on the return stroke :?

Right, I'm going to stick my neck out and demonstrate my ignorance here.

Why is the above such a bad thing to do? Yes, I've always pulled a RAS towards me, too, and if the board is as wide as the saw's capacity, one has no choice. But surely, assuming one can start the blade clear of the workpiece, pushing is a safer way to work? A SCMS can start clear anyway, so even at max width this is an option. The movement of the workpiece relative to the blade is the same, then as on a tablesaw. It can't climb cut, and I bet we've all experienced that on a RAS. And climbing on a router table is, in my experience, the biggest cause of kickback.

I'd have thought that pushing is a much better way to do it, within the limitations of the workpiece and RAS.

OK, now tell me I'm wrong!

 

[mambo]

i wouldnt want to try it!

surely when you pull the teeth of the blade are cutting on the down stroke forcing the workpiece down onto the table
cutting by pushing the teeth are cutting on the upstroke trying to pull the workpiece up off the table
this leads me to assume that if you let the blade run away like can often happen with a RAS you putting yourself in a dangerous situation.... :?:

 

[Jorden]

Hi Steve

If you consider the direction the blade is turning on a RAS, two problems become evident. When cutting on the pull stroke the cutting part of the blade is coming down into the timber and forcing it up against the guides and down onto the RAS bed. It then passes through the timber leaving on the rear face away from your marking.

Cutting on the push stroke the blade is again pushing the timber against the guides, but the cutting edge is now rising so it trying to lift the timber off the RAS bed. This isn't so much of a problem with shallow cuts, but a deeper cut can cause the timber to roll against the guide and jam. The second part of the problem is now the blade is leaving the timber on the marked face side. Again this may not be a problem with shallow cuts but deeper cuts will cause breakout with all but the sharpest of blades.

Dennis :wink:

 

[Steve Maskery]

Yes, OK, I can see that, thanks for the explanation. I guess it's one of those cases of least imperfect method. I have to say that when I had a RAS, I often had trouble with climbing when cutting thick stock. It was always a scary experience.

For me, breakout on the face edge would be the biggest deterrent.

Thanks for putting me straight.

 

[davy_owen_88]

I caught an episode the other day, I can't actually remember what he made because I really thought the program was rubbish and only watched a bit.

I must say I found the 'lesson' on drills very interesting... not. If they had someone in who didn't just read what the bit was for from a catalogue it might have been worth it but someone saying 'this is a forstner bit, its more expensive than a spade bit' is not really beneficial to me.

I'd pick New Yankee Workshop any day of the week...

 

[jonny boy]

Let's all bombarde the discovery channel with Emails asking to re-run better programs like great british woodworker then! Or even better, get the new series of New Yankee on.

 

[Scrit]

.....in one show i saw him using a RAS by pulling the saw right out and cutting on the return stroke :?

There's a technical term for guys like him - plonker! Not only is he reducing the crosscut capacity of his saw, but a push cut will generate "uplift" all the way back to the fence and he's also got to start the saw blade in an exposed position rather than where it should be - behind the fence at the back of the saw. Add to that if the saw is fitted (as many are nowadays) with an automatic return mechanism he is effectively ensuring that in the event of a problem in the cut the head will not return harmlessly to the rear of the machine and will instead potentially eject the work. Correct "plonker" and substitute "dangerous, incompetent plonker". Unlike the RAS saw, an SCMS saw has a spring mechanism which lifts the blade clear of the workpiece and "homes" it (not to mention covering the blade with the guard and powering down the motor) in the event that the operator lets go mid cut

Surely when you pull the teeth of the blade are cutting on the down stroke forcing the workpiece down onto the table cutting by pushing the teeth are cutting on the upstroke trying to pull the workpiece up off the table?

The main difference is that the SCMS is often used to mitre cornice moulding held in the actual final fixing orientation (i.e. finish face outwards/downwards) and the moulding is supposed to be held down by a clamp during the cut and where the quality of the cut is imperative. A pull-out cut in this instance would result in a downwards cut direction which would producing spelching at the edge of the cut. Conversely on those occasions when it is necessary to cut a moulding face side up then an RAS-like pull-out cut needs to be adopted. Cornice mouldings are frequently paper foil or veneer wrapped MDF, hence the need for caution. Ask any experienced kitchen fitter.

The RAS, on the other hand, simply cannot accommodate this manouver, which means it can only achieve a downwards cut direction. For this reason manufacturers of RASs frequently advise users to make sacrificial MDF or plywood baseboard to go beneath the work. This baseboard acts as a sort of "zero-clearance" insert.

This leads me to assume that if you let the blade run away like can often happen with a RAS you putting yourself in a dangerous situation.... :?:

Errr..... when would a blade run away? Are you referring to a climb cut?

Scrit

 

[brianhabby]

Let's all bombarde the discovery channel with Emails asking to re-run better programs like great british woodworker then! Or even better, get the new series of New Yankee on.

Okay, I've just sent my email to them. Lets all do the same. You will have to go through their website and use the form but they will only let you use up to 250 characters in your comments - I wanted to say a lot more to them!

regards

Brian

 

[RinkyDinky]

I saw the program recently and now find it compulsive viewing.

It's SO BAD !

He makes me cringe when making his projects, whacking in nails where a decent woodworker wouldn't dream of using them. etc. etc. etc

When making things, I do appreciate there are many ways to skin a cat, but this guys approach and technique is so poor, i have to watch it, in amazement at the junk he produces and the quality (or lack of..) of his workmanship.

Norm.... Please come back!

I have emailed Discovery Channel at this link to put over my views:

http://www.realtimetv.co.uk/_contact/

 

[brianhabby]

Well I've had a response to my email and although it was not very positive, at least they read it. If more people started emailing them we just might have an impact so I implore everyone who reads this to SEND AN EMAIL TO DISCOVERY and let people power do its business.

Here is a copy of their reply

Dear Brian,

Thank you for contacting Discover,

Unfortunately there is no plans at present to show the new seasons of 'The New Yankee Workshop' and the 'Great British Woodshop'.

Please do not hesitate to contact us in the future on www.discovery.co.uk.

Kind Regards

Discovery Networks Europe Viewer Relations Team

 

[brianhabby]

Just noticed at the time of writing this there have been 518 views of this topic. Just think of the effect on the Discovery channel if they got 518 emails! Surely they would have to take notice, wouldn't they.

regards

Brian

 

[CarlC]

The only good thing about Wood Works is the thing where that geeza with the curly afro shows u tools :lol:
They had one on yesturday and it was about the router.
I now what a router does and is. :lol:
I wandered how they did the weird thing around me floor. :lol:

 

[jonny boy]

In the program wood works I too can say that the standard of his work can be a little hap hazard but if we are talking about that guy called Anton Fitzpatrick, he also used to present a show called dreamboats where he guided mere mortals through the step by step process of building small boats. In this program he seemed to know what he was doing and one of the boats he made was exellent and I take my hat off to him for that. Boat building is a specialist area and something that I for one, know nothing about.
cheers,
jon.

 

[brianhabby]

I agree, his boat program was good. It was because of this that I thought the Wood Works program would be worth watching but I was wrong.

regards

Brian

 

[Shadowfax]

I sent them a most uncomplimentary email last night.
This was the reply.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for contacting Discovery Real Time.

We appreciate the time you took to write to us with your comments. We are always working to improve our service, and will take your comments and ideas under consideration.

Kind Regards,

Discovery Networks Europe Viewer Relations Team
E002847


Hmmm!

SF

 

[Lord Nibbo]

I sent an email several days ago.

So may I say here

"Anton if you got the sack I'm sorry" no I'm not. :twisted:

 

[misterfish]

I've been keeping an eye out for the new series of Norm for a while. :norm: Looking at comments others have made on the web (including an ex-Discovery employee) it seems that (allegedly) Discovery only really want the subscription payment and aren't interested in anything else. Others that have contacted RT using either their website, forums or even writing have had no success - usually the 'Thanks for contacting us - we'll consider your comments" type replies.

I also find it a bit disappointing that if you look at the RealTime web site that they don't mention NYW at all, yet make a big thing about the 'quality' Boyz in the Wood.

Mind you, despite what they say about scheduling the new series, they may do what they did with This Old House - started showing the new series without it being mentioned at all - SWMBO only picked up on it as the on screen info mentioned the new host Kevin. It was also first shown between 2 and 3 pm on weekdays.

The other thing about NYW is that they keep showing most of the series, but it is a fair time (years) since they showed series 5, 6 and 8 (as well as the sailing boat and gazebo from series 7); it would be nice to see them again.

Currently we can't get Sky at all as our builders have blocked the satellite dish with scaffolding. This wouldn't be so bad, but I've also managed to fracture my leg so can't do anything in the workshop - even getting out of the house through the building site is difficult. In frustration for something else to look at I scoured the web and found poor quality copies of some of series 18 and 19. It was nice to see some of the new projects and I'm now waiting to see them transmitted properly on RT. Mind you, Norm is still too keen on the old donkey brown stain as well as 'olde time' paint colours - we both wish he would let the natural grain and figuring of the wood show through - of course, this might just be a difference in our and American taste.

MisterFish

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Well I did post this on their web site after several rewrites trying to knock it down to 250 characters and losing what I really thought. :evil:

Re: Woodworks. I really think the producers of this programme should read this thread https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... sc&start=0

Do not reply with your standard acknowledgement, please reply on the above url.

I had to edit it down some what as I did write what I thought of the progamme ](*,) so come on every one let them know how this programme is lacking and what should be done to improve it. Not that it will do any good I suppose well perhaps they just might do something!