Why Norm Abram is cavalier

[billwmeyer]

Norm really got me into woodworking so I really enjoy him. I just wish he wasn't quitting. I look at each show watching for something that fits me - an idea for a project, a technique, how a new tool performs, etc. I did think that David Marks projects were farther away from something I would do, and I knew I would never have a multi-router, but I still enjoyed watching his shows. I like the Shopsmith show also, but it is on Friday afternoons here, and I forget to record them. It seems like the only Friday's I have off are ones that PBS is in there collection mode, so they are not on. I don't get any of the other woodworking shows in my area- so no Router Workshop, Woodwright shop, etc.

Bill

[dbhost]

Old thread...

[Mowgli]

But I don't think I'm ever going to make many pieces of furniture from wenge or bubinga.

You don't want to hand work bubinga or wenge.
Trust me on this. It's like handworking granite.
I made some handcut-dovetailed CD boxes from plans I modified from the ones I got at NBSS.

Strike the chisel with the mallet.
sharpen.
repeat...

I quit sharpening in a few minutes and just got it done.

I thin currently the one a appreciate most is the new show from the guys at the Wordsmith Shop Mag. They seem to focus more on the latest in techniques & procedures & not so much on the actual tools.

Name of the show & channel please?

David Marks is a really cool guy that did that show in his own shop.
His tools, his wood, his show (not the producers').
The only concession he made was the long sleeve shirt to cover the tat on his forearm to satisfy DIY channel execs.
His wife said he got that tat the day their daughter was born.
His work is in some of the FWW Design books.
Check out his website - http://www.djmarks.com/channels/djmnews.asp
and his photo gallery - http://www.djmarks.com/djm-gallery/


Cool guy

[Black wallnut]

Him being a fan of "The Blues Brothers" tells me that his good taste is rather broad based! I do miss his show.

[Alex Franke]

Wow - what a surprise to see this thread again!

[WLee]

I was chatting with a friend about Norm and where he fits into the world. He doesn't particularly like him because "he has a shop that, I think, costs more than my house."

Yeah, Norm does kind of get to ya with his uber-shop (though all I normally have to do is think of Tim Allen's take on him to realize that videotape and "editing" can make an idiot look like a pro).

And I remember that years back I especially liked to piss & moan about Nahmie and his fancy-pants Biscuit-Cutters and Brad-Drivers... but then I had the chance to actually USE that combo... and immediately went out and bought my own, and well, woodworking has been much more enjoyable ever since.

So, yeah Norm has a bigger shop, and a lot of tools that I don't -- like the monster wide belt sander -- but on the other hand, while he has "shown" CNC Routers, he doesn't have one in his shop... and I do.

:-)


P.S. But the thing that ALWAYS ticks me off is that even after several decades, the jerk STILL doesn't know that the word is "drawING" and NOT "drawRing"!

[JimD]

Nahm is from upper new england and they all say drawring.

If you think Norm is an elitist, you need to use the link provided on his website and watch some of his early shows. He used tools less suitable to the task than a BT3100. He was obviously a carpenter who could do trim work who gradually learned to make some furniture. If Delta or PC wanted to give him tools so he could use them and thereby advertise them, Norm was willing. I can't blame him for that. His mortise machine is a different brand than mine but no more expensive - about $200. I'm sure he could be using a more expensive model and probably would if one of his sponsors made one. I think Norm just makes use of the tools he has been provided. I do not have as many tools but I have enough to do nearly anything Norm does. It might take me a bit longer or require a little more skill but I can make what he makes.

I think Norm is a good guy although I've never met him so I really don't know that. I've watched his shows from the beginning. I used to laugh at what he didn't know about joints, and wood movement, and safe practices (I pointed it out to LOML but she didn't understand so I stopped). But anymore he is pretty good - at least by my standards. I am a little sad that they've announced they won't be making more episodes. I'd love to know if Norm had enough or whether the sponsors were finished with it or what happened.

Jim

[WLee]

Nahm is from upper new england and they all say drawring.

But do they say runRing or jumpRing, or driveRing? Nope. So why drawRing.

I know it's part of the New England regional dialect, but it annoys the crap out of me every time I hear it.

If you think Norm is an elitist...

Whoa there Nellie. Since when does shop-envy suddenly equate to that?

I understand perfectly how the system works, and that shows are "showcases" for tool sales.

I am a little sad that they've announced they won't be making more episodes. I'd love to know if Norm had enough or whether the sponsors were finished with it or what happened.

From the statement near the bottom of the http://www.newyankee.com home page, it seems that the "underwriters" backed out/off from sponsoring their PBS distribution/broadcast.

[germdoc]

I haven't read entire post, but I met Norm at Farm and Fleet in La Crosse a couple of years ago. (I have a nice pic of me shaking hands with him.)

He couldn't have been nicer and came across as a really salt-of-the-earth guy. I had to wait an hour to meet him, and part of the reason was he would chat with each and every guy (or gal) who came up to the table. I heard him offering advice about how to charge for contracting work, very meat-and-potatoes stuff. I mentioned that I collected handplanes and enjoyed his articles on old tools, and we discussed this for a couple of minutes.

As a side note, I put up this pic of me with Norm when I used a computer dating service (match.com) a while ago, and a woman told me it was one of the things that attracted her to me. She is now my fiance!

[LarryG]

From the statement near the bottom of the http://www.newyankee.com home page, it seems that the "underwriters" backed out/off from sponsoring their PBS distribution/broadcast.

If you read that closely, it says only that they're trying to find a sponsor to underwrite reruns of the show on PBS, not necessarily produce new episodes.

This article by Chris Schwarz contains quotes from a telephone interview with Russ Morash that seems to indicate pretty solidly that the show ended by choice, not by necessity.

[JR]

As a side note, I put up this pic of me with Norm when I used a computer dating service (match.com) a while ago, and a woman told me it was one of the things that attracted her to me. She is now my fiance!

At one time my nephew worked with Norm in his capacity as marketing manager at Delta. He reports that Norm is a notorious chaser of skirts.

If that doesn't shake the foundations of whatever idea you had regarding what chicks dig, I don't know what would.

JR

[natausch]

That's strange JR, I always thought he played for the "other" team.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[germdoc]

He reports that Norm is a notorious chaser of skirts.

Hey, some girls have a thing for flannel and bearded guys covered with sawdust!

Personally I think my gal just likes me so I'll help her refinish her kitchen, but that's part of the deal I guess.