Hall Tree & Bench

Video - February 16, 2015

Last Summer, I was invited to appear as a guest on the PBS woodworking show Rough Cut with Tommy Mac. I jumped on the opportunity and flew out to Boston to spend a day in Tommy’s shop. The experience wasn’t all that unlike what I do every day in my own shop: video cameras and woodworking. It’s kind of what I do. But there was one key difference: I wasn’t calling the shots. That means I had to break my habit of looking at the camera and I had absolutely no control over what made it into the final version of the show. That was all very new to me.

The show has already aired on PBS in many markets but some cities don’t even carry the show. Furthermore, folks outside the US might have trouble getting access. So I contacted the powers that be and asked if it would be possible to run the episode here on The Wood Whisperer. I was surprised and delighted that they said yes.

So I’d thank to thank the folks at WGBH for letting me do this, as well as David M. and Tommy for helping make it all happen. Of course I have to thank Eli as well for designing the Hall Tree & Bench.

Discussion

Herb Smith February 16, 2015 7:47 pm

Thanks for making this available to us. Perhaps because I’m in my 70’s, but to me this show is an example of why MacDonald’s show has been cancelled (or never even begun) in many markets. There is the obvious problem, not Tommy’s fault, with his Boston accent but compounded with how fast he talks and with all of those ridiculous hand gestures. Add to that the frenetic pace and the show is, at least to me (and I’m not a rookie woodworker), barely understandable. On the other hand Marc, your videos are well-paced, visually clear and well written so that the viewer can easily understand what you are doing as well as the thoughts/reasons behind your thinking. I hope you stay with what you’re doing because, although the money must be good, this 30 minute tv format really doesn’t contribute to the learning experience.

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- Phil michaud February 17, 2015 5:13 am
  
  Congratulation Marc for you’re presence on this show. I agree with Herb’s comments. The pace of this show is crazy, for me woodworking is a way to relax when kids are sleeping :) … I was stress just after looking this episode !! I’ve been watching your videos (and some others … Cremona, Howarth, etc…) and guys you’re inspiring. Thanks for sharing with us high quality content about woodworking techniques … And thanks for sharing your passion !!!
  
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- Nick February 17, 2015 7:03 am
  
  LOL this must be the most controversial video ever posted on TWW. I have to admit that I didn’t liked too much the show, it’s like many said “uncomfortable to watch”. Anyway, reading the Youtube comments section it’s even more uncomfortable, it seems to be a lot of “teenager minded woodworkers” these days; first time I’ve seen this massive level of aggression and resentment in the woodworking community. Also, I don’t know why most of them are saying “stick to what you’re doing”, I presumed that for such intelligent and sensitive people it will be a lot easier to understand that this is a single contribution to a show. Right? Cool.
  
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  - Marc Spagnuolo February 17, 2015 8:04 am
    
    I have to agree Nick. I am not really sure what I expected from the posting, but the Tommy bashing on YouTube upsets me. It also makes me feel very awkward since people are complimenting me in the same breath. I’m half tempted to take the video down since I can’t stand when people lift up one person at the expense of someone else. It was never my intention to create a comparison between my show and his, but that’s exactly what it has turned into.
    
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    - Garver Brown February 20, 2015 8:17 pm
      
      Marc Im with you on this same thing, I also quit watching him. I miss New Yankee Workshop. Is the plan here somewhere you used?
- Kyle Evans March 1, 2015 6:55 am
  
  Lol well his accent and body language didn’t bother me a bit. First time I have ever watched or heard of tommy but it was entertaining. However, I felt frustrated at time when he would tell you how to do something but set up was already done and was never shown. Cost of being on cable I suppose. I feel maybe I have been spoiled with the depth of instruction given on TWW and expect it elsewhere. still worth watching every minute though. Favorite quote “let’s bang it out!” “Let’s do it,”
  
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- marc lobenstein November 4, 2015 8:14 am
  
  I completely agree on every point with Herb Smith. The whole american action tv style hurts my eyes. This is horrible for european viewers.
  
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- Jim S January 31, 2018 9:41 am
  
  Marc
  
  Of all the woodworking shows out there, I have found your site and Roughcut to be the most informative.
  
  I have to say that I have been long been a fan of Tommy Mac and yourself. You both have your own style and I have learned a great deal from both of you. I was fortunate enough to meet Tommy at the Midwest Woodworking Show in Cincinnati a couple of years ago. He has a great personality, he is very kind, easy to talk to, and truly a talented woodworker.
  
  I personally liked the episode a great deal.
  
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Brian Shannon February 16, 2015 9:25 pm

Totally agree with Herb. I much prefer Mark’s pace!

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Bob Waxler February 17, 2015 11:41 am

+1 to Herb. While Tommy seems to be extremely knowledgeable, he can be difficult to follow. Please don’t take the video down, we all learn from it.
Mark – you are in-arguably the best woodworking teacher on the web. Keep up the good work!

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- Marc Spagnuolo February 17, 2015 12:07 pm
  
  You are too kind Bob!
  
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Ken Koch February 17, 2015 12:54 pm

I understand the frustration with the Rough Cut show’s format. It is too fast paced and too much info in a 23 minute segment. If you look at at the videos Tommy posted before Rough Cut, they have a more interesting, informative, entertaining structure. I’m sure if Marc had to do an entire guild build in 23 minutes it would not come across as well as it does in the current layout. I believe PBS tried to use the NewYankeeWorkshop format with Tommy’s personality. This worked for Norm’s paced and the editing made it flow well. Rough Cut is either packing too much dialog or is trying to explain more detail that things are packed too tightly for 23 minutes. They are applying the basic cable format for a 30 minute segment (Tell them what you’re going to show them, Show them, tell them what you showed them) trying to appeal to a general audience and not specifically to woodworkers who want to apply the information learned to their projects. I still watch every episode of Rough Cut, but I miss the multi-episode, single projects that Tommy use to publish.

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- GregF February 18, 2015 4:34 pm
  
  If I were a better writer, I would have written almost exactly what Ken Koch wrote. Thanks Ken and thanks Marc for posting the video.
  
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Keith in Tucson February 17, 2015 1:22 pm

Marc,

Your behind the scenes explanation of how the show is produced and what you are being directed to do makes watching the video even more interesting. About midway though when you are just working, you drop the fake smile and are just you and it is much more believable. I had never noticed any of his other guests with put on smiles but not that you mention it, Don from woodsmith seems to be forcing his smiles too. No one expects woodworking hosts to be game show hosts but execs and directors will call the shots.

BTW the explanation on multipe “prop pieces” instead of filming through the entire build explained how the screw holes for the router guide boards disappeared on the final product. I cringed when you screwed the boards on, even though it was the back of the piece. It’s probably just me, but I don’t like leaving extra holes on projects.

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- Marc Spagnuolo February 17, 2015 2:44 pm
  
  Neither do I and that’s not how I would have done that in my shop. But it’s a viable method that some people don’t mind doing. So I pretty much just went with the flow.
  
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TonyH February 17, 2015 9:12 pm

Marc,
For future TV appearances…
1) The RED light means the camera is “ON” and recording
2) The camera sees *everything*
3) Pulling your pants from the crack ‘on’ camera looks bad! :)
[img]http://i59.tinypic.com/2mwtmox.jpg[/img]

Love your show and TommyMac’s too! :)

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- Marc Spagnuolo February 17, 2015 9:23 pm
  
  Well I’m new to this whole ‘woodworking in front of a camera’ thing so you’ll have to forgive me :).
  
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Jason February 18, 2015 7:50 am

Nice video, thanks for posting! Based on the comments, I didn’t know what to expect, but the final product turned out very well.

While Tommy may be high energy, I think he brings a true sense of enthusiasm to woodworking. Marc was the perfect co-host and balanced the show well.

I guess Festool is the only tool company that is not a sponsor for Rough Cut :)

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Robert February 18, 2015 10:03 am

Thanks for sharing Marc. Enjoyed very much.

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Keith February 18, 2015 2:31 pm

Marc

I love your site been a fan for a long time. You do take time to show all aspects of what you are doing and that’s great!

I do have to say I like Tommy’s show quite a bit. It is fast paced but he has a passion for detail that I love. You just have to pay attention to the show. A lot of us would not hit something with a hand plane to make it fit better after a machining. He does it with almost everything. Dovetails and tenons are his thing, by hand in a lot of cases because it can’t be done that way by machine.

That guy has boat loads of talent and I’m just a little put off buy the people criticising him just based on his accent and passion. For those people who question, ask yourself if you could build the Bombay secretary on his web site.

Again Marc not you just don’t get the critics of a super talented woodworker that could run rings around most of us. YOU EXCLUDED!

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Bobby February 18, 2015 2:38 pm

Marc,
I have to admit I was a little tense watching the video. I’m assuming that it had to be a fast paste video because of the time constrain. With that said I like the project however I don’t think it was as informative as we have come to expect from your videos. Keep up the work you do. I know we all appreciate your skill and teaching qualities.

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Joe Oliver February 18, 2015 3:18 pm

I watched this show a few weeks ago, and quite enjoyed it. Maybe it was seeing Marc in a different setting or something. Tommy’s pacing doesn’t bother me too much, and it was cool to see Marc on there. I was laughing along with the Woodtalk podcast where Marc went into detail about there being a lot of goofy smiles on this show. I liked the project, and I liked what was being shown. It seems obvious that this show wasn’t designed to be a how-to show, but rather to show off some of the skills and techniques used in designing and building a project by hand–whatever that project may be. So in that vain, this format makes a lot of sense.

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Ed L in Baton Rouge February 18, 2015 7:19 pm

I saw the original PBS prodcast, watching it only because Marc was appearing as a guest host. It just plan irks me to watch Tommy Mac… the guy is a disgrace when it comes to woodworking… nobody acts like that in there workshop. He may know his stuff, but he ain’t got the right stuff. I noticed several previous comments about the ability to convey woodworking techniques in a 30min format. Well, WGBH needs to go back and get Norm to show ’em how it is suppose to be done. Now, I rely on folks like Marc and a couple of others to fill the gap for good woodworking craftsmanship.

Continued success Marc.

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- Chris Heartsill February 20, 2015 11:51 am
  
  I normally don’t post too much to social media or websites but I feel like this one deserves some attention. While the pace of Tommy Mac’s show may be fast, or his accent difficult at times, I will watch his show or just about any other that comes on to get some exposure to woodworking. Lets face it, while Marc does a great job and has a great camera presence , it is a tough job to perform, act, teach, and do all in the same show and not too many woodworkers can pull it off. If you don’t like a show, don’t watch it but then don’t complain when there is nothing but reality TV to watch. If it is about woodworking I will try to get something out of it. If the accent is difficult to understand, I will rewind it. and watch it again. I really enjoy and have enjoyed for years The Woodwhisperer, Woodtalk, and just about anything that Marc does. That does not keep me from getting everything I can out of every resource available.
  
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Keith February 20, 2015 9:50 am

I really enjoyed this. I am a fan of both shows and I see no reason to compare Marc and Tommy’s shows, just enjoy them for what they are. Marc, you mentioned on your podcast that you felt awkward while shooting, it didn’t come across that way. I would like to see you as a guest again.

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Bob Groh February 20, 2015 11:24 am

Well, I enjoyed both of you guys! TMac packs a lot into his shows and his pace is fast but I still like it and (most importantly for me) I learn something every time.

Look, all of us probably have some problems with any wood worker who puts him self (or her self) ‘out there’. What I do is remind myself that they are far, far better than I am – take the good and stay humble (lest ye be judged!!).

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JohnT February 20, 2015 11:46 am

I happen to like the show. I don’t have tons of time to sit around watching lots of shows, seeing as how I watch every video Marc posts at least seven times, so a thirty minute block is just about perfect. It allows me to catch glimpses into different projects and techniques. If something really catches my eye I can then go online and research it more to see if it really is a technique I can use, or if some other method is better. As the expression goes, there is no knowledge that is not power. Also, the haters need to keep in mind that the show is called Rough Cut, not Extended Director’s Cut.

Marc, as always, keep up the excellent work, and I look forward to more crossovers featuring you and other shows/web series.

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jamie Lennox February 20, 2015 7:35 pm

Marc,

Great job on Rough Cut! I can follow the show just fine since I make furniture, but I can see how others may not grasp the ideas put forth. I agree with everyone else that you produce the best woodworking vlogs. PBS should air The Wood Whisperer and Rough Cut!

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Tom Buhl February 20, 2015 8:13 pm

I liked it. Fun. Tools, wood, two cool dudes. The duct tape over the Festool logos didn’t even distract me. Glad you were able to post and share.

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- Marc Spagnuolo February 20, 2015 8:15 pm
  
  Who makes these mysterious black and green tools?! :)
  
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Weekend Woodworking February 21, 2015 6:59 am

This was awesome! My two favorite woodworkers working together on a project, cool! Kind of east meets southwest! Ha! Hope you two can team up again one day. Perhaps Tommie makes a trip to Arizona.

Two awesome woodworkers and two awesome formats! One for TV one for internet.

Steve

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Mark Barabas February 21, 2015 12:37 pm

Enjoyed the episode, but was disappointed that there was no demo on how to cut and assemble the wood pieces to make the leg blanks. Any way you can post that process?

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Don Wight February 21, 2015 7:41 pm

Thank you for showing the segment. I like Tommy as a woodworker and an entertainer. The show is not as detailed as it could be. Tommy has a chance to inspire and entertain. He has a dead line to produce a project for a mass market. I appreciate that you made the effort to come to New England for the show. I mentioned it in the last few years that I would not be a woodworker today, if I had not seen Marc’s videos. Thus, it is not about who’s show is better. It is about inspiration. Tommy’s intensity is how he has inspired people including my wife. For the people who want to learn and get better, we search out for people like Marc who has inspired and taught the rest of us.

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Jamie Lennox February 22, 2015 10:28 am

Watched it again! I must say the two of you together would make a great show on PBS. Matteo must be thrilled to have a shout out from Tommy Mac and his Pops on national television. Pretty cool.

Did you guys do all the processes on the Hall Tree & Bench or was there a crew in the background off camera working on the project? Just curious about the television woodworking process? Also, could you have hooked up the dust collection on the 1010 router for those half lap cuts? I think I would have used the 1400 for plowing out material with that big of a straight top bearing bit. It seems that Festool should be a major sponsor of Rough Cut!?!?

Thanks for posting this episode.

Jamie

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Joe Faraone February 22, 2015 7:03 pm

Marc,
I really enjoyed watching this episode a second time. It was great seeing the two of you working together. For all of the comments about Tommy’s accent – folks need to lighten up. All of my in-laws speak that way! As some of my friends would say, “we can’t all be Texan!”

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Speedys Woodshop February 23, 2015 6:06 pm

Great video! I thought you guys worked well together.

Speedy

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Mike Dunn February 23, 2015 7:42 pm

Marc, I enjoy the detail you bring to your videos, you can take the time to show and explain things they can’t on TV. I also like Tommy because he does projects that are intermediate and advanced, he doesn’t waste my time with some of the detail that I think most experienced woodworkers already know. In the short time he has he has to cover a lot and I think some of the woodworkers that might still be learning the basics can’t follow the pace.

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Dean Hummel February 25, 2015 7:25 pm

As a teaching tool I will go with the Guild builds any time. But as an introduction to Woodworking, Tommy Mac gives reasonable explanations and has the potential to get new people interested the craft. I just love the level of raw enthusiasm Tommy brings to his work. I have met him a couple of times and that energy and enthusiasm is genuine. The PBS crowd does not allow for a 6 hour build, but I find Tommy is a good representative of the craft. Even my wife watches his show :)

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mack davis February 26, 2015 6:10 am

Tommy Mac needs to buy him some tee shirts that fit

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Eric MacConnell February 28, 2015 7:49 pm

Well I just read most of these comments about this episode of rough cut with Marc and Tommy. I found it great to see a couple passionate woodworkers getting together and sharing their skills and knowledge. I live in Iowa and I am originally from Massachusetts and did not find Tommy’s accent or pace hard to follow. If all of you with these negative comments think it is easy to teach and build while being filmed why don’t you people have your own shows. I also agree with Chris’s comments if you don’t like the show do not watch it.
Thanks for the collaboration Marc and Tommy keep up the great work.

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Bill March 6, 2015 12:21 pm

I thought Marc did a great job of keeping up with the Tommy. Frankly poor Tom’s ADD gets in the way of presenting anything except his grinning mug. I think Marc should have been then one to whom the Torch of Norm was passed…Bet I’m not the first to say so either…

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Michhes March 14, 2015 12:31 am

Blonde and brunette, my two favourite woodworkers! I love you both! What a great collaboration–will Tommy be making an appearance on TWW Marc? Everything I know about woodworking I owe largely to you Marc but watching Tommy build the Bome secretary I learned that it’s okay for the perfectionist in me to come out at all costs and that makes me a better craftsman. You’re both legends and I watch everything you both put out for complimentary reasons.

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Jeff Miller March 29, 2015 5:11 pm

Marc,

I really enjoy your videos. I’m a beginner woodworker and have picked up some great tips building my first few pieces (sideboard, garden bench and sleigh crib). I love the Hall Tree and bench piece you and Tommy put together and would love to build one. Is there any way I can purchase the plans with cut list?

Much appreciated for all you do.

Jeff

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 29, 2015 7:35 pm
  
  Thanks so much Jeff! Unfortunately, I don’t think the plans are yet available. I would hope that at some point, they’d make them available on Tommy’s site or at least the WGBH site. But I don’t know what their release schedule is for that stuff.
  
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mdhills April 19, 2015 9:49 pm

Thanks for posting. I liked the project and wished it could’ve been a 60-minute show, instead.

Mark — will you be having Tommy as a guest in your longer-format show?

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- Marc Spagnuolo April 20, 2015 11:10 am
  
  If he’s ever in the area, he’s certainly welcome to come by the shop!
  
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John Horgan May 14, 2015 5:54 pm

I don’t anybody is bashing Tommy. I don’t think these people have seen his show before. I will have to admit there are key point on a build I wish he would explain more into detail, but that his not his format. I wanted to see how the top rail was done with the curve and the rabbits in the back of that area. Marc I see you as a teacher with the way you bring us your knowledge. I see Tommy as showing the average Joe out there how fine woodworking is done. Showing the step by step is not his this and it never was. I enjoy all type of woodworking content, even if I pick up one little tip it was worth my time. And on an end note when Tommy was using the shaper, I have seen another woodworker other the Norm use a shaper, that to me puts Tommy in a class of his own.

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Fred October 1, 2015 11:07 am

How do we get plans for this Marc?

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- Marc Spagnuolo October 1, 2015 2:09 pm
  
  I wish I knew. The plans, if they exist, would be available from the folks at Rough Cut. But I’m sure if they published anything for this project. Sorry Fred.
  
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  - Fred October 1, 2015 3:54 pm
    
    No problem Marc thanks for the quick response love your videos..
    
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Brandon October 30, 2015 2:31 pm

Hey Marc,

Just curious, had you made this hall bench yourself, would you have slide the back panels into a dado rather than screw it? Kinda like when you did the woven basket. Seems “cleaner” and more visually appealing, even when its just the backside

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- Marc Spagnuolo October 30, 2015 4:13 pm
  
  Hmm….probably. Screws are generally a last resort solution for me.
  
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Thom November 19, 2015 3:00 pm

Hi Marc,

Maybe it’s a newbie question, but was there any room allowed for wood movement on the front/side enclosed panels? I see the 1/8″ rabbet on all sides of the panels to fit the 1/4″ groove, but it looks like it goes in there snug and Tommy is shown marking the full depth of the groove.
Those panels aren’t really huge, but over that length, I’d figure there would have to be some movement to account for?

Thanks! I love all of these videos!

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Bob F. September 25, 2016 7:02 pm

I love watching the WW. Gives me tons of inspiration. Sadly, I am a super novice to wood working and have had experiences in my youth where I mistakenly made wood missiles by pushing on the wrong side of the project piece. That said, I currently struggle for room in my garage and my barn is in need of a real face lift (carpenter ant and termite damage has chewed half way up all the uprights and a good wind may just take it one of these days). As I read some of the comments I am sort of intimidated by trying to mimic you. I am ok with some good critiquing and I have big shoulders, but no one is perfect and no one should really say anything negative about your videos. They are packed with knowledge, perfectly paced, comical at times and just darn entertaining to me. These negative people must not have been raised in a time where respect is your most important quality and when you are disrespectful, its a representation on how terribly their parents raised them.
I wanted to do a youtube vlog of me basically learning as I go. From crooked projects and kindling to perfecting techniques and showing my progress in skill along the way. Maybe it will happen some day soon for me. As for you, keep up the very talented work you do and thank you for your contribution to the trade

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Ken S. March 16, 2017 3:01 pm

Thanks for sharing Marc. I’ve never seen Rough Cut on TV, but I enjoy his web stuff; Tommy is a true craftsman – as well as yourself of course. Just wanted to drop a note in appreciation.

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Ryan Yeaglin February 23, 2020 10:56 am

While I do enjoy watching the wood-whisper, the rough-cut show is Not enjoyable. The host is hard to understand with his accent (this old house and the new yankee workshop both from boston are understandable). It’s much too fast paced and the host seems rammy. he may be a good woodworker, just not suited for being in front of a camera. I know from my years in my trades of welding and metal fabrication, there are those who are very good at what they do, but can’t explain how or what they do. teaching is much more than knowing how to do something, it is how to convey it to others.

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