In this video, I give a full tour of my shop space and show you what I feel are the essential tools for small and large workshops. I also discuss topics like tool prices, shop setup, and tool selection. You will also get an inside look at how my days typically start. Enjoy!!!
Update (8/27/10): Seeing the old shop is really surreal. Its amazing how many changes took place in that space over the course of the next few years. Organization, tooling, lighting….these were all eventually overhauled. And now, of course, we are in a totally new space. The coolest thing about this video is that it really marks the start of what I consider to be the “Wood Whisperer-style”. That is, a woodworking show that sheds the stuffiness and isn’t afraid to make fun of itself. I imagine many folks who watched this video were either immediately attracted to, or completely appalled by what we were doing. Education and entertainment for the modern woodworker. That’s what its all about. And while TheWoodWhisperer.com has grown significantly since then, we are still the same goofy fun-loving people we always were. Grass roots to the core! Although this video was probably only seen by a couple hundred people when it was released, it has been viewed over 100,000 times since then. That’s just mind boggling. It was also pretty cool to see my poker chip trays in this video. That article did get published in Woodcraft Magazine and in fact, we made the cover.
Great episode. Thanks!
You asked for suggestions then here goes…
I’m a truely beginner who’s not sure yet how far I will go with the hobby. I would like to hear more about the basic, inexpensive, small shop. Maybe show how you actually operate the shop using the workbench and the manual tools to create real projects and not just for fixing details of the ones you have done with the power stationary tools.
Thanks again, and keep those episodes coming!
Great job and great idea. You are filling a void. It is really nice to see something like this. I am excited about project or task oriented episodes. I want to watch you go through the process of making different pieces.
Can’t wait to see more.
love the videos!!!! thanks to both of you guys for putting this together!!! it’s really down to earth and a lot of fun to watch!
Mark,
Enjoyed the new episode. keep up the good work.
Rick
amazing shop!
this was a great kick-off video.
keep em’ coming.
Very good video. You are a good presenter.
Michael Hinkel, AJ,AZ
All of us here at August Home Publishing (publishers of Woodsmith, ShopNotes, and Workbench) loved your Episode 2! I especially appreciated your intro as I could identify with you and my wife could probably identify with your wife!
Your cameraperson is very good (Is that your wife?). What kind of a camera are you using? The image on the screen is large and the audio level is perfect.
Most of all, I enjoy the fact that you are having fun and that is obvious. We’re working on some video projects here at August Home and need to bring in more of an “entertainment” value to them. Any secrets you want to share??
Keep the chips flying and try rubbing some padauk sawdust into that salad oil stain. It will give it a nice reddish appearance on your Bob Ross shirt,
Doug Hicks
Executive Editor and Vice President
August Home Publishing
Thanks for the great comments and suggestions everybody!
To answer Doug’s questions….
The camera is a panasonic pv-gs300 and the cameraperson is indeed my wife. And I have plentry of ideas on how to make videos “more entertaining”, but I cant tell them to you. :)
You want those secrets, you have to hire me. lol
Seriously though, I imagine its alot easier for me to make something funny simply because I dont have anyone to answer too if my humor is a bit off-color. I really do wish that more woodworking shows would have a sense of humor.
Are your upcoming videos about woodworking? Would love to get the details when you have them.
By the way, padauk is pretty much a 4-letter word on our laundry room. I only made that mistake once. lol
Marc
G’day Marc,
I really enjoyed your second episode.
Some great setups in your shop, like the cyclone system, but I think your just being greedy with two bandsaws! I also thought the ‘kick off’ switch on your table saw was a great inovation.
I found it interesting during the episode, you would refer to your shop as in the garage. In Australia, we call it a shed! The great Aussie Shed is a thing to be proud of, and can even be officially declared such, by a guy who has written books on “The Great Aussie Shed”!
Anyway, I look forward to seeing future episodes and more inovative information.
Well done and best of luck,
GazAly
PS: I’ve found that if you leave your ear muffs on all the time and ignore SWMBO, she’ll eventually give up calling.
PPS: I think youve turned your neighbours place into a desert!
Awesome job.
Can’t wait until number 3.
One day I can say, yeah, I was one of the lucky ones who saw thewoodwhisperer before tv show, the dvd’s, the feature length film… smile
You both do a wonderful job.
Stan
Marc -
You’re doing everyone a great service here.
Your material is just jammed with useful material for the budding Greene & Greene practioner!
Thank you.
You’ve got a sensational sense of humour and a great communication style.
All the best.
Howard Rosenberg
Great stuff,I’ve watched the videos a couple of times now and cant wait for the next one ..The only sugestion I can make is to hurry up and film it,so I wont get dissapointed the next time I open your web site,only to find that it hasn’t changed since the last time I was here.(which happened to be yesterday).
Keep up the good work..
nice work bud.
Nice job, and your shop is to die for. Looking forward to seeing how this developes.
Wow! what a great shop. I enjoyed your
tour of your shop. I also can really use your advice given in this video. Keep up the good work.
Hi,
Nice job. I can realy relate to your shop, and your sense of humor. Keep up the good no GREAT work.
James
Another bust. Could not open and view with Quicktime. This is the 3rd of 4th quicktime product created in the Mac that I just can not view on the PC.
Frustrated in NC oh well
Hi Marc great video. Did I see a tv in the shop?
Keep the videos comming and very nice shop.
I so lok forward to seeing your new episodes. You bring great humor, to woodworking. I appreciate all your tips etc. I’m just getting into my own woodworking projects. Thanks so much for all you do for us wanna bes out here. Thanks. Joe.
great podcast, laughed my b-lls off. very entertaining
I’m an absolute beginner in woodwork and you can’t image how lucky I feel to have found your great website!! This is like getting a private teacher, Super!
Keep up the incredible work,
Robert from Belgium, Europe
Denatured alcohol might be able to get your stain out.
And here on the east wall….THE EAST WALL???!!!! You have walls??!! You bastard!! :-)!
Great! I heard about your site from a guy at work.
This is the reason God gave us iPods! I’m a Mac/iPod freak and a novice woodworker. Your podcast is absolutely awesome!
I just finished moving in my Amish-made workshop and am in the process of getting my building wired. Finding your podcast has made my wait all the more excruciating as I wait to use my new shop.
Keep up the great work!
Hey love the videos but don’t forget that not everyone whos into woodworking is a male. Lots of women (like me) are into it as well.
how did you get your planer out of the shipping crate? Do I need to rent a forklift?
I actually used this: http://www.harborfreight.com/c.....mber=35915
You are an inspiration – I can only hope I will only be that good with wood some day. Your Videos are great – found you on you tube and now I have watched so many of your videos I feel like I know you. Keep up the good work and I hope a major network finds you and hires you.
is there a reason that we use cast iron framed bandsaws for cutting shapes and sheetmetal bandsaws for resawing? is it for stability or is it just cost. does the smaller diameter wheel on a castframe saw give the blade more mobility. is it capacity. or am i just overthinking this?
I use both for both. lol. Honestly though, I would guess its a combination of stability/price/weight issues. The bigger the unit gets, the heavier it would be. Imagine a big 24″ bandsaw all in cast iron! WOW! So the frame of the bigger saws has a very strong (and I assume lighter) beam design.
Did you ever get the stain out of that shirt? My wife has a pretty good method involving Clorox 2 powder and Shout spray. Sprinkl powder over stain, spray shout over powder make a paste, and let sit for at least 24 hours. 90% of stains are removed.
It’s a small suggestion for the inspiration and education I’ve gained from viewing your podcasts.
I do believe Nicole eventually did get the stain out. But I will definitely keep your wife’s method in mind for the many future stains I am sure to get on my clothes! haha. Thanks Jonathan!
Hello again, second ready.
Thanks for filling this niche! I’m just getting into serious woodworking and happened upon your site while in search of a few tips, so now I’m just getting started on your videos too. Well, I watched “Assembly Table Torsion Box” early since I’m looking into making my first workbench. Love the shop, love the style of your shows and I’m looking forward to catching up to the current ones!
I watched this while I was on vacation and laughed my head off. Love the saw dust chips on the head! And it gives me hope from my humble beginnings!
I found this on Fine Woodworking’s website when I first was thinking about getting into woodworking almost a year ago. This is the exact episode that made me ask, the wood whisperer? I have to google this!
I have been stuck on this site since. It is safe to say, you were a real big influence to what started me into woodworking. You took a lot of the intimidation factor away and made woodworking a very tangible thing to accomplish.
I owe ya!
Paul
Mark, I have shown this video to many of my friends. The most often heard comment is “If only the wood shop teacher was that way.”
Great style you have and please, keep it up.
You have come a long way.
Hey Marc, I have the same type of dryer vent cover. The top one on mine is stuck out all the time. Probably won’t be buying that again.
Marc,
I’m sure you’re still trying to wash that bucket of sawdust out of your hair. Way to take one for the team… Love the Rockler apron in the vid, those are the best, and good luck on your continued shop evolution. You’ll be in your new stand alone castle before you know it.
Haha thanks dude. Been a while since I wore an apron. We actually have some aprons being made up with the TWW logo on them. Should be available soon. Guess its time to start wearing an apron again. :)
TWW aprons sold out quick. When are they back in stock?
ASAP! Problem is with our supplier unfortunately. I would expect them within a month.
Great video Marc!! I think this is one of the first videos of yours that I watched. I was looking for woodworking instruction on the internet and after watching this video I was hooked on your site. For those of us who are new to the craft your instructional methods and the fact that your not afraid to show your mistakes is great. I love the bit in the beginning with you and Nicole. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to fall out of my chair. I plan on joining the guild for the next build this winter. If you ever make any local public appearances please let us know. It would be great to be able to shake your hand and thank you for all you give to us craftsman in training!
I’m a beginner with limited tools. I remembered watching this video awhile back (to say 3 months) and did not really understand all things you said. Today, I’m a little more aware of the name/use/need of dust collector, planer, jointer, bandsaw (my missing tools lists).I also realized towards the end of the video that you are giving a list of tools for the very small shop (my case at the exception that I got a decent saw already) involving a lot of hand tool use(from my understanding): the hand plane. I can understand how to flatten a face of a board with a hand plane but I’m having issue picturing how to true the thickness. router trick?
Between, it is obvious from this old video to see your fidetily to powermatic tool grew to big proportion. It’s nice though to see that you too started with medium tool brand. I find this encouraging since I don’t feel like spending 2 grand for my missing tool as yet. Gives me hope :)
It’s fun going back and watching how it all started. You would think your presenting style would have been much poorer. But you nailed it from the start. Who could have guessed the path that laid before you.
And you’re still a dork ;-)
Thank god for that! :)
Amen, brother! Still watchin’ after all these years. Keep it up!!!
OMG you’re so young and SKINNY! :D
With a hint of fall in the air and the inspiration of seeing your shop evolve, I am drawn into my shop promising to clear off the bench and build that rack to hold my chisels. Time to build that TV console I have been thinking about for too long. Thanks for the inspiration Marc!
When ever I ask someone if they have heard of your site and they say “no”, I show them this video.
Everything about this video encompasses the vision,personality and dedication of the WoodWhisperer.
And it still makes me laugh watching it years later.
My son and I are inspired to improve our work area and we look forward to purchasing a new table saw.