Watch Woodwright's Shop

The Woodwright's Shop is a popular woodworking show that aired on PBS since 1979. Hosted by Roy Underhill, the show is all about traditional woodworking techniques using hand tools only. Roy is a master woodworker and a compelling host, who brings his knowledge, humor, and passion to the show. He wears traditional clothing, including a waistcoat and breeches, and uses tools that might have been used by woodworkers centuries ago.

Each episode of The Woodwright's Shop focuses on a specific woodworking project. Roy demonstrates the entire process of building that project from start to finish. He starts by selecting a piece of wood and then proceeds to show how to shape it using hand tools like saws, planes, and chisels. He explains each step of the process in detail, often interspersed with some historical anecdotes or interesting facts about the tools he's using.

One of the most unique features of The Woodwright's Shop is that Roy does not use any power tools. He believes that using hand tools is a better way to connect to the material and to the history of woodworking. It's more satisfying and more challenging to build something using hand tools only. Roy's philosophy is that the most important tool in woodworking is the woodworker's mind, and using hand tools helps connect the mind to the material more closely.

Apart from the woodworking projects, The Woodwright's Shop also includes segments on sharpening and maintaining tools, how to build specific tool setups, and how to create jigs and fixtures to help with specific woodworking tasks. Roy's knowledge and experience are evident in every episode, and his passion for woodworking is infectious.

Another aspect of the show is the historical context that Roy brings to each project. He explains the history of the woodworking techniques he uses and how they evolved over time. For example, in one episode, he built a wooden joint stool, a common piece of furniture in the 17th century. He explained how the tool marks on original joint stools can tell us about the tools and techniques that were used to build them. In another episode, he built a traditional dovetail chest and explained how the dovetail joint was developed as a way to strengthen furniture joints.

Overall, The Woodwright's Shop is an engaging and informative show that combines history, craftsmanship, and storytelling. It's a testament to the enduring appeal of traditional woodworking techniques and to the passion and skill of one of its greatest practitioners. Whether you're a seasoned woodworker or just starting out, The Woodwright's Shop is sure to inspire you to pick up your tools and start working on your next project.

Woodwright's Shop is a series that is currently running and has 34 seasons (1 episodes). The series first aired on December 13, 2014.