Another thought about Norm & NYW

e.friedl · Post by **e.friedl** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:47 pm

Watching the web site's repeat of early episodes I was struck by what was the original appeal to the series. Norm used equipment that I might have. He didn't have a mortising machine. He had a Shopsmith bandsaw and so on. I think it was in the last season Norm was re-sawing some material. The bandsaw used had a three inch wide blade. How many professional shops have a bandsaw that can handle a blade that wide? His miter saw didn't have a laser, he didn't have a dovetail fixture. He used an old radial arm saw, not fancy at all. It was a lot like the equipment many of us have. It was nice to see all the bells and whistles...don't we all like to dream of great equipment. But the early Norm was a lot closer to what my garage shop can do. And in reality that is what many of us liked in the program, If Norm can do it, so can I. But in the last few years he had machinery that I will probably never have. To look back at the old shows made me realize that appeal the show had and since has lost. What do the rest of you feel?
Ed Friedl

moose · Post by **moose** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:40 pm

I never thought about it that way because evolution has occured so slowly that thoes of us who started watching Norm since the beginning have evolved along with him and his sponsored workshop and tools. Yes, I agree with you 100% To have the space, materials, and tools he had to work with would be to die for. I'm sure many of us here adopted Norm's methods and grew along with him as he found new and better methods of woodworking.

Thanks for your comments and observation.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:16 am

Actually, I did not grow along with him. I still have "the same shop" that I had in the beginning. Yeah, I have a better work bench and some more tools but I have the same compliment of major equipments items that I started with.

Norm started simple and "real". He is not simple anymore and he is no longer real. One example, and there are several, is his big wide belt sander. The last episode I watched, he laid to cabinet shelves on the belt (side by side) and run them through. Whiling doing this he was explaining how this makes certain that the two pieces are exactly the same (and finished).

That is really nice but that is "not real"...and...it is not the Norm I grew up with.

I still watch but not with the same level of enthusiasm as I once had.

Have you seen his collection of routers? I have three and one of them is as old as Norm.

cv3 · Post by **cv3** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:30 am

In the early years it was a work shop you felt was believable. Now it is only believable if you had the same sponsors to fill a shop like it or you hit the lottery.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:25 am

I agree that a huge part of Norm's early success was his simple approach to projects, and modest tools collection. However I do remember people joking in the early days if Norm couldn't do it with power tools he probably wouldn't do it.

I fact I think this aspect of New Yankee was idea bed of Tim the tool man Taylor of Home Improvement. Like Norm, Tim always when with the mechanical solution for most projects, Tim usually going the few sizes large

I think Norm also showed that he wasn't the perfectionist craftsman that didn't use wood putty, nails, and a bigger hammer at times. He was real.

I also think the show gave us the natural progression in a hobbiest life. I think we all grow our shops perhaps not to the same extent as Norm but nontheless it does grow. How often do you find yourself dragging a new tool home and slipping it quietly into your shop without the spouse noticing?

I for one will miss Norm, much like I miss Dave Marks since I can't find his series on TV anymore. But what I really really miss is our own Nick and his computer video sawdust sessions! Yes even with all the technical difficulties I really miss Nick his trusty sidekick Drew and the dogs. Those were the days but time keeps moving on.

2manband · Post by **2manband** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:25 pm

I remember checking an older book of Norm's projects out from the local library to see if it contained anything I might like building.

My favorite page of the book was a big 2-page full color photo of norm in the center of his shop, looking up (camera must have been up in the rafters somewhere.) It was cool to see how much of that stuff was also in my shop. Not really the case any more.