I've often thought about the number well-known of people I'd ever truly enjoy meeting. As I have gotten older that that number has dwindled, probably due to my own cynicism and partly because celebrity doesn't fascinate me the way it once did. Norm Abram is the one person I would most like to meet with for a beer and conversation.
I've been watching The New Yankee Workshop since the show began and will miss it tremendously. I am in awe whenever I see any man performing a job skillfully, and Norm always managed to amaze me with his straightforward manner and approach to his craft. Although I've always known that I will never attain his level of woodworking, he never dumbed anything down or made me feel unworthy. He simply presented his projects and allowed the viewer to take whatever tip or bit of information he wanted into his own shop.
Over its 21-year run, New Yankee never varied its format. It never added HGTVish wacky camera angles, quick cuts, or snappy incidental music. What you got was one man alone in his shop, pounding out beautiful pieces of furniture in two days and edited to 30 minutes. It was a quiet experience and a solitary one. An experience most woodworking hobbyists can instantly relate to. Just a guy in his shop.
Throughout this series, I learned the golden rule, to measure twice and cut once. But I learned an even more important lesson: don't measure anything with a tape measure if you can avoid it.
I learned all about biscuits a number of years ago when Norm seemed to be joining everything with them. And I always loved that cool biscuit glue applicator that attached to his glue bottle. I still slop my glue on.
I loved watching Norm's ever-expanding collection of high-end tools and modern techniques. And as his tools got bigger and better, I realized that tools do not make anyone a skilled craftsman. When he got his laser-sighted chop saw I chuckled in envy, but understood that I can still draw a line with a pencil. His gigantic belt sander sure would be nice, but I can accomplish the same task with my hand sanders. Tools can make the task easier and quicker, but Norm's mastery is in his eye.
Norm's biscuit joinery seemed to take a back seat when he got his mortise and tenon jig. I love that thing! It would be nice to have one, but I've learned another important lesson from Norm: there is more than one way to perform any task.
So thanks Norm, and now I'll take a few pictures and get some measurements.
