About this season
The Woodwright's Shop is a traditional woodworking show hosted by Roy Underhill on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States. It is one of the longest running "how to" shows on PBS. Since its debut in 1979, the show has aired over 400 episodes. The first two seasons were broadcast only on public TV in North Carolina; the season numbering was restarted when the show went national in 1981. It is still filmed at the UNC-TV studios in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Episodes (13)
1. Rustic Rockers
Aired 5 October 1985 • 29 min
Roy starts off the “Making Things From Nature” season by giving us some history of rustic furniture and walks through the steps necessary to make a Rustic Rocker.
2. Bark Bottoms
Aired 12 October 1985 • 29 min
To finish up the Rustic Rocker, Roy takes us into the woods to gather hickory bark, and then heads into the shop to create the woven bark seat for the rocker.
3. Baby Cradle
Aired 19 October 1985 • 29 min
Roy takes us into the shop to finish up a pilgrim-style oak cradle that he started, but never finished, reviewing the “tricky” parts necessary to create the whole project.
4. Chris' Workshop
Aired 26 October 1985 • 29 min
We visit with a 14-year-old traditional woodworker who sells his wares (walking sticks, toys and more), to make more money to buy tools he can’t make for himself.
5. Iron Machine, Foot Power
Aired 2 November 1985 • 29 min
A collector of cast-iron, foot-powered woodworking lathes and fret saws visits with Roy and they try out a number of the machines.
6. Hutch Table I
Aired 9 November 1985 • 29 min
In part one, Roy starts the base of a classic early-American project that serves as a tilt-top table, chair and storage unit.
7. Hutch Table II
Aired 16 November 1985 • 29 min
In part two, Roy finishes the base and completes the top of the early-American tilt-top table. He also shows how to make a traditional milk paint finish for the piece.
8. Iron Bloomery
Aired 23 November 1985 • 29 min
Roy visits with David Harvey, a Blacksmith at Colonial Williamsburg, and learns how to turn bog ore into a woodworking chisel.
9. Berry Buckets, Sussex Trugs and Bark Sheaths
Aired 30 November 1985 • 29 min
Roy shows how to create three projects that are created directly from trees and bark, with very little refinement.
10. Wheelwright
Aired 7 December 1985 • 29 min
We head back to Colonial Williamsburg where Roy visits with master wheelwright Dan Stebbins to discover the mysteries and realities of making wheels for early American wagons and carts.
11. Music Mill
Aired 14 December 1985 • 29 min
Roy makes a six-note music mill from wine bottles that is powered by hand crank (but can also be powered by a water wheel).
12. Secrets From the Cabinet Shop
Aired 21 December 1985 • 29 min
Roy travels back to visit with master cabinetmaker Mack Headley at the Anthony Hay shop at Colonial Williamsburg. He shares some of the secrets that were standard fare for 18th century American woodworking.
13. A Glass Act
Aired 28 December 1985 • 29 min
Sash joinery, or making windows, is the ultimate test of organizational skills, and Roy takes us through the many steps and details that must align to make a good window.