Rough Cut with Fine Woodworking
Season 2
TV-G
ROUGH CUT - WOODWORKING WITH TOMMY MAC invites viewers into the world of respected furniture maker Tommy MacDonald, as he travels to historic landmarks to gain design inspiration and then returns to his workshop to demonstrate the steps and techniques needed to create future family heirlooms. In each episode, MacDonald shares his skills and best practices, providing detailed project instructions for anyone interested in learning the basics of the craft. For the more experienced enthusiast, Tommy also showcases his more complex projects with advanced tips and techniques. Each half-hour includes three segments: "Basic Woodworking Techniques," "Weekend Projects" and "The Field Trip."
Where to Watch Rough Cut with Fine Woodworking • Season 2
13 Episodes
- Greene and Greene-Inspired Dressing Mirror
E1Greene and Greene-Inspired Dressing MirrorIn this episode of Rough Cut, Tommy tackles a Greene and Greene-Inspired Dressing Mirror, perfect for practically any room. To get inspiration for the mirror, Tommy heads out on a Rough Cut Road Trip to the magnificent Gamble House in Pasadena, California. There he finds brilliant Arts and Crafts examples by architects Charles and Henry Greene. Back in the shop, Tommy works with North Bennet Street instructor Steve Brown to explain the details and joinery in the project including finger joints, cloud lifts, and drawer construction. - Arts and Crafts-Style Chair
E2Arts and Crafts-Style ChairThis time, on Rough Cut, Tommy takes on an Arts and Crafts-Style Chair. This episode will demonstrate how to make the legs, arms and back, mostly through standard mortise and tenon joinery. The Road Trip brings Tommy out to Alta Loma, California, where he visits the home of one of the biggest names in chair making: the late, great Samuel Maloof. There, Tommy visits with Samuel’s wife Beverly as well as a curator. Back in the studio, Tommy is joined by master furniture maker Chuck Bender of The Acanthus Workshop in Pennsylvania. - Pie Crust Tray
E3Pie Crust TrayOn this installment of Rough Cut, Tommy builds a traditional Pie Crust Tray. For inspiration, he heads on a Rough Cut Road Trip to the new Art of the Americas wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. There, Tommy meets with curator and chair of the Art of the Americas department, Elliot Davis, to talk about the Chippendale and Federalist-style pie crust tables they have in their collection. Tommy takes his MFA knowledge back to the shop where he and Eli Cleveland walk through the turning and carving techniques needed to make the project. - Serving Cart
E4Serving CartOn this Rough Cut episode, Tommy makes a practical Serving Cart, essential for any kitchen, out of scrap tiger maple. The project is a basic cart form, however, for the top serving area, Tommy goes on a Road Trip to look for the right solid surface. In Canton, Massachusetts, Tommy explores different kinds of man-made and solid surfaces with the help of fabricator Paul D’Attanasio. Ultimately, he decides on a man-made solid for his project. Back in the shop, Tommy’s friend Al D’Attanasio stops by. - Drop-Leaf Table
E5Drop-Leaf TableThe Drop-Leaf Table featured on this episode of Rough Cut has a lot of bang for the buck. Not only is the shaker-type style beautiful to look at, but the finger joints are fun to learn how to make. To get inspiration for this project, Tommy takes a Road Trip to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to see drop-leaf and gate-leg tables from centuries past. Back in the shop, Tommy is joined by Chuck Bender of The Acanthus Workshop in Pennsylvania. - Turned Floor Lamp
E6Turned Floor LampThis time, on Rough Cut, Tommy demonstrates the turning technique by using a lathe and shows how to turn cove and bead shapes into a Tall Floor Lamp. He heads to New London, New Hampshire, on a Rough Cut Road Trip, to visit the studio of artist Peter Bloch, who turns lamp shades out of Aspen logs. Back in the studio, Tommy is joined by his friend and fellow woodworker, Al D’Attanasio. - Standing Mirror
E7Standing MirrorThe Standing Mirror in this episode of Rough Cut is one of Tommy’s favorite projects, due to its simple design augmented by Paul Schurch’s magnificent marquetry. On this episode’s Road Trip, Tommy visits Schurch’s studios in Santa Barbara, California, where Paul demonstrates basic marquetry. - Veneered Coffee Table with Metal Frame
E8Veneered Coffee Table with Metal FrameThe Rough Cut Veneered Coffee Table project brings Tommy on a Road Trip to the metal works shop of Payne Engineering in Canton, MA. There, Tommy learns the basics of making a metal frame. Back in the shop, Tommy builds out the coffee table and teaches some basic veneering techniques. Then, Tommy is joined in the shop by fellow woodworker Laura Fuoco. - Laminated Coat Rack
E9Laminated Coat RackIn this episode of Rough Cut, featuring the Laminated Coat Rack project, Tommy teaches basic geometric patterns using different species of wood by stack laminating. Then, Tommy and crew head out on a Rough Cut Road Trip to Brookhaven, New York, where studio artist David Ebner is busy making his famous Scallion Coat Rack – a project that teaches both lamination and turning techniques. - Console Table/HDTV Stand
E10Console Table/HDTV StandTommy looks at the technique of bending wood for his Rough Cut Console Table/HDTV stand project. To get some inspiration, Tommy goes on a Road Trip to meet with the curator of the Brooklyn Museum. There, he learns about the Thonets, who are famous for perfecting the technique of steam-bent lamination. Back in the shop, Tommy is joined by Rough Cut regular Eli Cleveland. - Sand Shaded Clock
E11Sand Shaded ClockOn this installment of Rough Cut, Tommy takes a look at the art of sand shading, a technique dating back to the ancient Egyptians. He demonstrates how this art form can be uniquely applied to his Sand Shaded Clock project. For the Rough Cut Road Trip, Tommy heads to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, which houses some beautiful examples of sand shading made by John and Thomas Seymour. Back in the shop, Tommy is joined by St. Louis radio personality McGraw Milhaven. - Book Case
E12Book CaseThis time, on Rough Cut, Tommy discusses project design and explains how to do basic mortise and tenon joinery for a Simple Case Construction Bookcase project. He takes a Road Trip to the Furniture Divas exhibit at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts. Back in the shop, Tommy is joined by New Hampshire furniture maker Tom McLaughlin. - Potting Station
E13Potting StationThe final project in season two of Rough Cut is a Potting Station, perfect for any outdoor gardening space. To gather inspiration for the project, Tommy heads on a Rough Cut Road Trip to the Massachusetts Horticultural Association in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where gardens curator David Fiske shows Tommy what is needed for the perfect potting station. Back in the shop, Tommy is joined by friend and fellow woodworker Al D’Attanasio.