2 – The King and His Castle – Shop Tour

Video - October 15, 2006

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.

Discussion

Anonymous October 16, 2006 10:58 am

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!

Reply
Anonymous October 16, 2006 1:19 pm

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.

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Anonymous October 16, 2006 5:38 pm

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!

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Anonymous October 16, 2006 8:42 pm

Mark,
Enjoyed the new episode. keep up the good work.

Rick

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sull October 17, 2006 9:08 am

amazing shop!
this was a great kick-off video.

keep em’ coming.

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Anonymous October 17, 2006 2:58 pm

Very good video. You are a good presenter.
Michael Hinkel, AJ,AZ

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Doug October 18, 2006 10:08 am

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

Reply
TheWoodWhisperer October 18, 2006 5:41 pm

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

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GazAly October 19, 2006 4:40 am

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!

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Anonymous October 20, 2006 6:38 pm

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

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Anonymous October 20, 2006 9:32 pm

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

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Anonymous October 22, 2006 2:12 am

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..

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Anonymous October 23, 2006 6:05 am

nice work bud.

Reply
Frank November 14, 2006 9:26 am

Nice job, and your shop is to die for. Looking forward to seeing how this developes.

Reply
Dale November 15, 2006 4:55 pm

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.

Reply
James McElroy November 23, 2006 4:57 am

Hi,

Nice job. I can realy relate to your shop, and your sense of humor. Keep up the good no GREAT work.

James

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dan o’sullivatn January 23, 2007 4:40 pm

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

Reply
Mark Miller January 24, 2007 12:31 pm

Hi Marc great video. Did I see a tv in the shop?
Keep the videos comming and very nice shop.

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Joe January 24, 2007 4:54 pm

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.

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pat smith February 25, 2007 6:07 am

great podcast, laughed my b-lls off. very entertaining

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Robert September 27, 2007 2:56 am

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

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Neil November 16, 2007 9:15 am

Denatured alcohol might be able to get your stain out.

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herb fellows November 18, 2007 5:10 am

And here on the east wall….THE EAST WALL???!!!! You have walls??!! You bastard!! :-)!

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Dave December 14, 2007 11:50 pm

Great! I heard about your site from a guy at work.

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Teri Sutton January 25, 2008 9:40 am

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!

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Z. Bunny January 25, 2009 4:14 pm

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.

Reply
jack September 7, 2009 6:02 pm

how did you get your planer out of the shipping crate? Do I need to rent a forklift?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer September 7, 2009 8:03 pm
  
  I actually used this: http://www.harborfreight.com/c.....mber=35915
  
  Reply
Rob Cottle September 16, 2009 7:44 am

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.

Reply
jack September 22, 2009 8:07 pm

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?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer September 22, 2009 9:34 pm
  
  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.
  
  Reply
Jonathan Link February 12, 2010 7:31 pm

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.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer February 12, 2010 8:09 pm
  
  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!
  
  Reply
William Chaverri April 21, 2010 5:39 pm

Hello again, second ready.

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Cliff Bramlett August 8, 2010 10:24 am

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!

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Marilyn August 27, 2010 9:22 pm

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!

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Paul Sebastian August 28, 2010 12:35 am

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

Reply
Steve August 28, 2010 4:18 am

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.

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Jack Gemmer August 28, 2010 12:32 pm

You have come a long way.

Reply
Claude Stewart August 28, 2010 12:38 pm

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.

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Mike D. August 28, 2010 2:03 pm

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.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer August 28, 2010 2:06 pm
  
  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. :)
  
  Reply
  - Mike D. April 13, 2011 4:25 pm
    
    TWW aprons sold out quick. When are they back in stock?
    
    Reply
    - thewoodwhisperer April 13, 2011 5:58 pm
      
      ASAP! Problem is with our supplier unfortunately. I would expect them within a month.
MarkinPhx August 28, 2010 7:46 pm

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!

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strolgen August 29, 2010 3:41 am

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 :)

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Tom (wizer) August 29, 2010 3:18 pm

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.

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John August 29, 2010 5:06 pm

And you’re still a dork ;-)

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer August 29, 2010 5:17 pm
  
  Thank god for that! :)
  
  Reply
  - John August 29, 2010 5:33 pm
    
    Amen, brother! Still watchin’ after all these years. Keep it up!!!
    
    Reply
Renzo August 29, 2010 7:29 pm

OMG you’re so young and SKINNY! :D

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Tom Collins August 31, 2010 7:54 am

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!

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Yucatandan September 2, 2010 11:48 am

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.

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Cowboy59 October 12, 2010 9:30 pm

My son and I are inspired to improve our work area and we look forward to purchasing a new table saw.

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Bryon September 16, 2012 9:25 am

wow thank you so much! This week I’ve just started having an interest in this hobby. I was looking for places to get started and came across this site. Just with episode 2 you’ve given me so much of what I needed and cant wait to work my way through the rest of the videos.

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Paul W Gillespie December 7, 2012 10:25 pm

Love the “comedy” at the beginning. Anything to get out of housework. I was sitting next to my wife when watching and was laughing my butt off because I would probably pull the same moves if she wanted me to come in a do housework.

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Terry December 16, 2012 11:41 am

I just found your videos on YouTube, and through those, this web site. I’ve barely begun to watch/read them all. I’m a widow left with a garage full of all kinds of woodworking tools from three generations of hobbyists. It’s a total mess; my husband had just started organizing it when he died. Until now I’ve had no interest in anything but not thinking about how much work it will be to get rid of all that stuff, but recently I’ve been thinking I’d like to be able to do simple repairs around the house, and make simple projects to make my life easier. I will never attain anything like pro levels of ability, but I love that I’ve found your videos and web site, because I can learn from the ground up!

And when I came to the web site to find video #2, I discovered that you first started this series about a week before my hubby passed away. Wow. I guess I need to be here. Thanks for all your work!

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer December 16, 2012 11:52 am
  
  Hi Terry. Very sorry to hear of your loss. But I am glad you are going to try to make some use out of your husband’s tools. We have a very welcoming and understanding community here. And although most of us are pretty strongly focused on making fine furniture, I think we all dabble with DIY work and repairs. So we completely understand where you’re coming from. By the way, if you ever need help with anything specific, you might try joining our forum. It’s a family-friendly environment where people are actually helpful and nice! Check it out at http://woodtalkonline.com.
  
  Best of luck in your new adventure.
  
  Reply
  - Terry December 17, 2012 12:33 pm
    
    Thanks for your kind welcome, Marc. I’m working my way slowly through the videos. I love the humor!
    
    Reply
Jake Maughan December 31, 2012 3:09 pm

Trying to set up my one shop. Just bought a table saw and built a bench. This helps. Thanks!

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Ken April 28, 2013 10:13 am

testing posting functionality

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Larry May 21, 2013 8:49 pm

Really enjoy watching your videos. I’m just getting back in to woodwork. I built a bench 25 years ago that was over-engineered and more of a general workbench than a woodworker’s workbench. I lost it in a house sale back in 2008. Now, I have just been handed a “simple” job of restoring a park bench. That gave me the bug to get my table saw out of the shed and set it up in the garage for a woodshop. Well, I only get half of the garage. My girlfriend, who owns the house, wants to part her car in the garage for some reason. Personally, I just don’t understand that.

Thank you for your informative and entertaining videos. I’ve only seen a few, but I will return often.

Sincerely,

Larry Edens

Reply

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2 – The King and His Castle – Shop Tour

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