"Tom Watson" wrote in message

Yesterday morning I punched up the DIY channel and watched a couple of
Mr. Marks' programs, that ran back to back.

I have to confess, I really don't know what all the fuss is about.

He had a brad nailer sitting on his workbench, just like Norm does.

Although I don't know anything about the man, he seemed like he came
from a pure shop background or an art school background, because the
work that he was doing had a more elevated design ethic than Norm's
usual stuff.

DJM definitley has a more "artistic" approach than Norm ... after all, this
is New Jersey moved to CaliforniO.

I'd also suspect that much of what he does on TV is dumbed down for 'doofus
americanus', considering the source is the DIY channel.

However, his TV projects do seem to have at least a twist, or detail, often
subtle, that takes him out of the realm of the ordinary mechanic, IMO.

Norm comes from being a carpenter, which is how I came to making
furniture, and he tends to copy existing pieces, rather than starting
from his own on paper.

Marks looks like he favors studio furniture trends over traditional
styles, but hell, I've only seen two shows.

His techniques didn't seem wildly divergent from those of any decent
mechanic - I was expecting something on the order of Toshio Odate.

No way. but I would say, relatively speaking, he's the best on TV thus far.

His shop didn't look much different from mine, saving the aircraft
carrier that was taking up way too much shop space - I'd trade that
for Norm's Timesaver in a heartbeat.

He's got the shop space for it ... there is much more shop than you see. An
episode deals with his shop, DC and wood shed. And his wood stash is
definitely the mark of a serious woodworker.

Very few of us get an opportunity to be exposed to an elevated level of
woodworking except through TV. Even if DJM's is not of the highest, I still
enjoy his program for that aspect.

Although I definitely don't consider him the holy grail., he does offer an
opportunity to see a bit more artistic approach doing things than what has
gone before.

Besides, how much of the family jewels/secrets would you want to give away
between now and the bloom fading on the rose, as it always does?

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04