The New Yankee Workshop — Season 3
Norm builds a number of Shaker-inspired projects: step stools out of pine and cherry, a painted two-drawer blanket chest, a pine washstand, a walnut wall clock, a pine woodbox, and a cherry library ta
About this season
Norm builds a number of Shaker-inspired projects: step stools out of pine and cherry, a painted two-drawer blanket chest, a pine washstand, a walnut wall clock, a pine woodbox, and a cherry library table. He also builds a picnic table and sawhorses out of 2x6 stock, a sandbox, a cherry harvest table, a redwood garden swing, a cricket table, a pie safe, and a mahogany standing mirror.
Episodes (13)
1. Shaker Step Stools
Aired 5 January 1991 • 30 min
Norm builds a three-step version of the classic Shaker step stool and a more elaborate two-step version of it. He uses hand held power tools and hand tools to build the three-step stool form Pine. He uses a sophisticated dovetail jig to craft the joinery for the two-step stool, which is made of Cherry. The two-step stool is 25 1/4" high x 16" wide x 11 5/8" deep. The three-step stool is 25 1/4" high x 17 3/4" wide x 13 1/2" deep.
2. Picnic Table and Saw Horses
Aired 12 January 1991 • 30 min
Norm builds a basic sawhorse crafted Spruce and Plywood and a one-piece picnic table. The sawhorse dimensions are 26" high x 20 1/2" wide x 36" long and the picnic table dimensions are 29 3/4" high x 68" wide x 71" long.
3. Shaker Two Drawer Blanket Chest
Aired 19 January 1991 • 30 min
Norm builds a Shaker style blanket chest using pine. He uses an acrylic latex paint to finish the outside and clear urethane on the inside. He adds two storage drawers to the chest base. The chest measures 36 1/4" high x 41 1/2" wide x 19" deep.
4. Shaker Washstand
Aired 26 January 1991 • 30 min
Norm uses Pine to build a classic Shaker washstand with dovetail joinery in the flared top section, a drawer, and raised panel doors in the lower section. The washstand measures 37 1/2" high x 27" wide x 19 1/2" deep.
5. Shaker Wall Clock
Aired 2 February 1991 • 30 min
Based on a clock built by Shaker craftsman, Isaac Young, Norm crafts a wall clock from Walnut and adds a modern-day quartz timepiece to it. The clock dimensions are 33 3/16" high x 11 1/8" wide x 4 5/16" deep.
6. Sandbox
Aired 9 February 1991 • 30 min
Norm builds a sandbox modeled after one built for his sister and him by their father. He uses Cedar and pressure-treated lumber to construct it and adds an awning made from weather-resistant cloth. The sandbox measures 55" high x 49 1/2" wide x 49 1/2" deep.
7. Harvest Table
Aired 16 February 1991 • 30 min
Norm builds a harvest table from Cherry. It has turned legs and a hand-rubbed Danish oil finish. The drop leaves allow chairs to be pushed under the table when they are in the down position. The table dimensions are 30" high x 39" wide x 71 3/4" long.
8. Shaker Woodbox
Aired 23 February 1991 • 30 min
Norm builds a wood box with storage space for kindling in an upper section and firewood in the lower section. The fireplace tools are stored on pegs mounted to the sides. He uses milk paint to seal the Pine box. The box dimensions are 33 1/4" high x 22 3/4" wide x 17 1/2" deep.
9. Library Table
Aired 2 March 1991 • 30 min
Norm crafts a Cherry library table. He demonstrates how to match the grain on the front of the two overlaid drawers. The table measures 30" high x 16" wide x 48" long.
10. Garden Swing
Aired 9 March 1991 • 30 min
Norm builds a two-seat swing using Redwood and a swinging mechanism that uses common off-the-shelf hardware. The swing dimensions are 92 1/2" high x 83 1/2" wide x 85" deep.
11. Cricket Table
Aired 16 March 1991 • 30 min
Norm's hardwood cricket table is crafted with complex angled mortise and tenon joinery. He uses a set of jigs to ensure that the pieces fit together properly. The table is 27" high with a 29" diameter top.
12. Pie Safe with Punched Tin Front
Aired 23 March 1991 • 30 min
Norm's two-door pie safe has multiple shelves and is put together using mortise and tenon joints. He uses a punched-tin front that he fabricates in the workshop. The pie safe measures 60" high x 38 3/4" wide x 17 3/8" deep.
13. Standing Mirror
Aired 30 March 1991 • 30 min
Norm uses a band saw to aid his in constructing a Mahogany frame for a full-length standing mirror. He uses a router to give the piece a softer edge. The frame measures 68 1/4" high x 27 1/4" wide x 20" deep.