Russell Morash
Director
The New Yankee Workshop (1989)
Season 6
Norm builds a number of child-related projects, including an easel, a doll house, a maple and mahogany toy chest, a cradle out of cherry, a trundle bed, a marble roll, a rocking chair, an alphabet wagon, a high chair, and a playhouse. He also builds storage units and a student's desk out of oak.
Released Jan. 7, 1989
Episode 30 min
None+
Genres: Documentary, Reality
Keywords: imdb.woodworking, imdb.instructional, imdb.do-it-yourself, imdb.safety-glasses, imdb.public-television, imdb.power-drill, imdb.furniture + 8 more, imdb.craftsman, imdb.wood, imdb.safety, imdb.educational, imdb.circular-saw, imdb.miter-saw, imdb.reciprocating-saw, imdb.chop-saw
Network: PBS
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S6E1 - Easel
Norm has thought of everything for this classic easel, combining his favorite elements from several commercial versions with a sturdy, timeless design that's all his own. The piece features a chalkboard on one side and paper-holding frame on the other, plus a drawer to keep the supplies together with the easel. Norm uses biscuit joinery - no screws, no nails - to join the parts of the leg assembly. The unique paper roll design allows children a continuous supply of new drawing surface.
Jan. 1, 1994, midnight
S6E2 - Doll House
Adult viewers may be as excited about this doll house as the children it is intended for when Norm creates a true-to-scale replica of his now-famous workshop. Norm gets some ideas from a late-Victorian example located in the Barrett House in New Hampshire, but his final design is less gender-specific, with the familiar great room that is the home of The New Yankee Workshop as well as two stories of smaller rooms and a garage - all features never before seen on camera. With some custom accessorizing, this doll house can easily be rendered appropriate for boys or girls or both. The project involves extensive work with the table saw and router.
Jan. 8, 1994, midnight
S6E3 - Toy Chest
Combining functionality with simple fun, Norm's toy chest features a top with an inlaid checkerboard made of maple and mahogany, and even a compartment in which to store the checkers. Incorporating through dovetails cut on the dovetailing jig, the chest is as handsome as it is sturdy. Norm also demonstrates valuable marquetry techniques for the checkerboard. As always, safety is a primary concern, and Norm's toy chest includes an ingenious closing device that insures that the lid will never slam on a child's fingers.
Jan. 15, 1994, midnight
S6E4 - Cradle
Norm visits Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts for the inspiration behind this Early American hooded cradle, one of the most commonly requested projects on The New Yankee Workshop. The construction includes finger joints and a sliding dovetail for the rocker. Norm's choice of durable cherry is rendered particularly rich with a Danish oil finish. With its distinctive hood and graceful lines, this piece is destined to become an heirloom.
Jan. 22, 1994, midnight
S6E5 - Trundle Bed
A useful space-saving piece of furniture, the trundle bed is perfect for sleep-overs. The top bed is low enough for kids to climb onto easily, while the trundle rolls out smoothly on casters. Constructing the bed presents an opportunity for Norm to demonstrate a variety of mortise and tenon joinery techniques. Once built, he paints the curved-headboard frame, made of poplar and plywood, with a non-toxic latex enamel, sealing the maple features with a satin polyurethane for a natural wood accent.
Jan. 29, 1994, midnight
S6E6 - Marble Roll
Norm considers a historic example of the classic marble roll, as well as a huge mechanical version located at Boston's Museum of Science. His own design emphasizes safety, proportioned for marbles too large for a child to swallow, while the entire unit is small enough to be portable. It is a relatively simple project, made primary on the table saw, that can often be constructed from workshop scraps.
Feb. 5, 1994, midnight
S6E7 - Storage Units: Bureau/Cupboard and Bookcase
The storage units are essentially three projects in one: a chest of drawers, base cabinet and matching bookcase. All three pieces are constructed from 3/4" oak plywood, making them particularly sturdy yet portable. The plywood is edged with solid oak, which lends the handsome finish that all of Norm's projects share. These pieces that will last for years, potentially traveling with their owners to dorm room or apartment.
Feb. 12, 1994, midnight
S6E8 - Student's Desk
Norm builds this project for the "A" student in the house - a desk inspired by the memory of his own version from high school. The durable laminate panels provide a smooth desktop surface for writing that will still look great after years of use. Norm demonstrates how to apply high-pressure laminates and uses mortise and tenon joinery for the stylish oak frames. The oak is sealed with polyurethane for durability.
Feb. 19, 1994, midnight
S6E9 - Rocking Chair
Children always want a chair that is their own size. Norm's is one they might someday pass on to their own children. The beauty is in the details with this challenging project, as the master woodworker turns the legs on a lathe and forms the curved backrest by laminating three pieces of cherry together. The holes for the arms, legs and stretchers are bored on the drill press using a series of homemade jigs with tapered angles and wedges. This rocking chair is perfectly proportioned and likely to become the favorite in any child's room.
Feb. 26, 1994, midnight
S6E10 - Alphabet Wagon
Norm builds an "Alphabet" wagon.
March 5, 1994, midnight
S6E11 - High Chair
Norm builds a high chair.
March 12, 1994, midnight
S6E12 - Playhouse (1)
Norm's blockbuster project for the sixth season is a playhouse that boys and girls alike will love. He begins work by building the floor platform and prefabricating the walls, then assembling the frame in the backyard. Perfect for tea parties and secret meetings, this playhouse is also a handsome addition to any yard. Norm continues work on his playhouse, concentrating on the wood shingle roof and the many details that he refers to as "goodies," from the window box to the Dutch door. This is the project that Norm's younger viewers are likely to be clamoring for loudest of all. This is part 1 of 2.
March 19, 1994, midnight
S6E13 - Playhouse (2)
Norm's blockbuster project for the sixth season is a playhouse that boys and girls alike will love. He begins work by building the floor platform and prefabricating the walls, then assembling the frame in the backyard. Perfect for tea parties and secret meetings, this playhouse is also a handsome addition to any yard. Norm continues work on his playhouse, concentrating on the wood shingle roof and the many details that he refers to as "goodies," from the window box to the Dutch door. This is the project that Norm's younger viewers are likely to be clamoring for loudest of all. This is part 2 of 2.
March 26, 1994, midnight
Network: PBS
Episode Runtime: 30 min.
Season Runtime: 30 min.
Released: Jan. 7, 1989
Last Air Date: June 27, 2009, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: NR
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