I design and build outdoor furniture. Tommy MacDonald builds bombe secretaries with complex federal pediments, shell carvings and pigeon hole assemblies. There’s a big difference between his skills and mine. The cool thing about Tommy is he doesn’t think there’s such a big difference because he’s convinced that anyone can acquire the skills to build one of those monsters if you just stick with it.
I love what I do, but if I had some spare time (and a lot of spare change) I’d love to buy some really nice mo-hog and build a Chippendale chair or a bombe chest. I’ve got the handtools, including a bunch of beautiful beech molding planes that my grandfather used when he built furniture years ago. Maybe someday. (I still have my daughter’s bird’s eye maple chest of drawers to finish which got me into woodworking–but that’s another story.)
Anyways, I ran across Tommy’s website a few month’s ago and was immediately captivated. He’s a big kid with an easy charm and goes by names like T-Mac, T-Chisel and, of course, Tommy Mac. Go to The 207 website and check out the videos he’s done over the past few years, especially the ones on building the Bombe Secretary, and you’ll get a good feel for what makes him tick. He also recently did an interview with more on his story.
He’s not for everyone, but I think he’s got something special. Others seem to agree which is probably why Tommy will be the new face of American woodworking come October when WGBH and Woodcraft launch his new show–Rough Cut– Woodworking with Tommy Mac. It’s going to be interesting. I hope he succeeds. He’s got an engaging personality, great enthusiasm for the craft of woodworking and a desire to make others better woodworkers.
Your Correspondent: Hoping that the things that make Tommy interesting don’t get sanitized come October.
