Classic Woodworking

Tom McLaughlin crafts a refined, clean, and light Shaker-inspired hall table out of gorgeous cherry using mostly hand tools. Techniques include using a hand plane, skimming, creating basic mortise and tenons, and chiseling pocket holes.

Tom McLaughlin uses American ash to create a hanging bow front cabinet featuring hand-crafted proud dovetails and a hidden magnet close, and uses lamination to create the simple bow front door by applying a fantastic figured ash veneer.

Terry Moore designs a sunburst walnut veneer pattern on a side table while Tom McLaughlin heads to the lathe to turn an Art Deco-inspired column. Their collaboration on the cross-lapped joinery feet results in an elegant, smooth piece.

Tom McLaughlin shares his contemporary take on the classic Adirondack lawn chair. Using cypress, Tom shows how to cut a comfortable curve into the seat and back, and a mitered joint on the arm rest which makes for a smooth, slanting arm.

Mike Pekovich makes a tea box out of dark and exotic wenge wood, contrasted with a figured birdeye maple for the interior. Mike uses proud dovetails, a textured surface and a special clasp enclosure to makes this tea box really special.

Showcasing the elegance of live edge black walnut, Tom McLaughlin makes a spectacular coffee table with a waterfall end and wood base that creates a cantilevered effect. Tom also uses hand tools to make a beautiful bowtie inlay.

Host Tom McLaughlin makes a Shaker-inspired blanket chest with drawer and bracket feet using an exterior of cherry and interior of white pine panels, with a traditional drawer and using a special jig to create dovetail corners.

Tom McLaughlin and John Ryan craft authentic reproduction Shaker oval boxes out of cherry. Iconic for their utility and custom sizes and shapes, John bends strips of wood around a form, creating a smooth and beautiful Shaker box.

Tom McLaughlin makes a Craftsman-style dining chair out of white oak, with mortise and tenon chair construction employing peg joinery and traditional chair making. Tom adds an upholstered seat to the piece, for function and comfort.

Tom McLaughlin and David Lamb make an end table out of contrasting walnut and butternut. David shows how to carve unique design elements while Tom heads to the lathe for some turning in this contemporary design.

Tom McLaughlin shares his design for a Shaker-inspired tilt-top table made out of curly maple and explains the mechanism that makes this piece so unique, with a pedestal base attached to the top with a turned column shaped at the lathe.

Chris Becksvoort joins Tom McLaughlin to make a stunning table lamp with a contemporary Shaker-inspired design that gives off a soft light effect. They bend multiple strips of wood and stack them to create a warm, pure shade form.

Tom McLaughlin shares the design for his shop’s hanging tool cabinet, using a jig for the corners and a veneer panel for the front. He hinges and mounts the doors and provides guidance on how to create an customized interior for any tools.