Shopsmith Forums

was flipping through netflix looking for a show to watch and ran on a show called the repair shop , so far I have been impressed at some of the techniques they use on furniture ,the repairs they make on ceramics and paintings are to say the least very impressive , the coo coo clock bellows repair was also impressive , not sure how well some of the repairs will last over time but they do look good on camera any one else watched this show ?

I hadn't seen it, but it definitely sounds like a show worth checking out. Thanks for the recommendation!

My wife watches, so I catch the odd bit.

Like you, stumbled across it and enjoy what I've seen.

Watched the first episode. Liked it so far.

I saw the first episode the other day, and for me it's a lot like the other 'reality-lite' shows that have plagued television since This Old House became a surprise hit. The TV producers' urge to 'make it a story' in short format focuses on the personalities and emotions while obscuring the reason you likely have any interest in the show's pitch: "how did they do that?"

This is because while people in the media trade usually know about media, they know little else. (I've dealt with a lot of journos and the like in my professional life, and while the broad brush inevitably glosses over details, in my experience it's just true.) So they usually don't know what to do with a technical story, and don't know what questions to ask and answer.

If I were producing a show like this, I expect the pitch to bring me viewers who want to know: what the furniture people did to brush up the clock case, including specific finishes and techniques; how the clock guy sorts and organizes the small parts when taking down the clock, how he approaches a stuck screw or tweaked spring, and how to adjust which key parts for timekeeping accuracy; how to clean and tune the reeds and what specific materials are best substitutes for the valves and springs in the '30s accordion, and why; and how you can justify carving bits of cover material off the case, paint it black and call it good. For examples.

Instead we get a lot of ain't-he-clever smirking and maudlin tears of appreciation, without the slightest interest in the actual quality of the work in any detail. This sort of thing just bores me, it's so '80s. You can get so much more meat from an amateur, six-minute phone vid on YouTube, why bother?

Maybe true,, but if they told you everything they wold be out of business , not to mention if you have been around this stuff very long you should understand how most things works any way ,,even the most informative information and videos can not teach experience, , for many if we were to try to purchase all the tools needed to do all those different jobs it would bankrupt us, not to mention we would need a barn and a couple out buildings just to keep all of the tools and materials ,,I just don't see them using the just in time mentality for the materials like the claim to be exerts taught by videos do to day , what I do find interesting is the show uses a lot of old hand tools and techniques with out a computer and the work space is clean and neat.

Well guys, thanks to today's technology, we can have both...or none. It's great to have choices. There's always another channel, another You Tube presenter or the off button.

It is my understanding this is filmed at a museum , but your right Gene any one can use a machine , thing is when we replace geometry and skill with programming we may be acting like Michel Jackson and back stepping, might look good and be fun but what those guys did making those brass clock parts by hand with no more then a few basic hand tools and personal talent cant compare to a machine that any one can use . would be nice to know we were also teaching and allowing a person to develop
a talent .

I agree, doing all of it by hand is just on completely another level if you are to compare it with someone that did it with a machine and other equipment at hand. It's crazy, watched the show a few months back as well, a must-see for everyone interested.