The New Yankee Workshop : Norm Abram : Sharpening Station

by Norm Abram

Presents a graduated program that takes readers through the art of cabinet making, beginning with the tools, materials, and techniques and featuring projects ranging from the simple to advanced

Genres: Woodwork, Reference, Nonfiction

Audio Cassette

First published February 28, 1989

About the author

Master carpenter of This Old House since the series’ 1979 premiere, and host of The New Yankee Workshop since its premiere a decade later, Norm Abram has inspired millions of homeowners to renovate and restore their homes. Seen across the country as the ultimate home improvement guru, everyone wishes Norm lived next door.

This carpenter-turned-celebrity was “discovered” by creator Russell Morash, who had commissioned him to build a barn on Russ’s suburban Boston property. Russ was so impressed with Norm’s work (he had the smallest scrap pile Russ had ever seen) that he invited the carpenter to help with the renovation of a rundown Victorian house in Boston’s historic Dorchester section—with a WGBH camera crew recording the process for a series. It was an instant success, and Norm has been master carpenter for This Old House ever since.

Admired for his easy-going manner and common-sense approach to renovation, Norm is an uncompromising old-world craftsman and a pioneer who searches out new construction products and approaches. His appearances at trade shows across the country and on Today, The Late Show With David Letterman, Oprah!, Entertainment Tonight, and Good Morning America are extremely popular. His likeness, complete with a trademark plaid shirt, has been featured on Home Improvement, Saturday Night Live, Steven Spielberg’s Freakazoid, and in nationally syndicated cartoons.

Norm has authored eight companion books, including Ask Norm, The New Yankee Workshop, Classics From The New Yankee Workshop, Mostly Shaker From The New Yankee Workshop, Outdoor Projects From The New Yankee Workshop, Norm Abram’s New House, Measure Twice, Cut Once, and, The New Yankee Workshop Kids’ Stuff, all published by Little, Brown and Company. He has also contributed to Complete Remodeling and Complete Landscaping, both published by This Old House Books in conjunction with Sunset Books in 2004. Norm serves on the editorial board of This Old House magazine, published by This Old House, LLC., also authoring the popular column, Norm’s Tricks of the Trade.

Born in Rhode Island, Norm was exposed to the carpentry trade by his carpenter father as a young child. Norm continued to refine his skills working by his father’s side remodeling and building custom homes through high school and college vacations. He attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he studied mechanical engineering and business administration. In 1976, after three years as a site supervisor for a New England-based, multimillion-dollar construction firm, he founded Integrated Structures, Inc., a general contracting company he operated until 1989. The main focus of the company was house renovations and additions, with the occasional new home or commercial project.

Norm is also on the board of trustees of Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and had the privilege of giving the 2001 commencement speech at The North Bennet Street School in Boston, which is renowned for its commitment to teaching craftsmanship.

Norm lives with his wife in a classic Colonial home that he built in Massachusetts. They enjoy cooking and entertaining, visiting art galleries and museums, as well as boating, fishing, and kayaking.

Reviews

[Don Gillette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and quick read.
I don't have the patience, expertise, or equipment to do any of these things, but I do like watching the PBS show and this book was an extension of that.

[Ethan Chitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb... a quick read but the diagrams are incredibly helpful for understanding his blend of traditional joinery and contemporary practicality.

[Jeffrey Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great selection of plans and suggestions on how to improve as a woodworker. Norm has been at the top of his trade for a long time and this is a great example of why he deserves to be at the top.

This book has something for woodworkers of all skill levels,DIY beginners to Master Carpenters.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traditional Shaker looking furniture made in mostly non-traditional fashion with a well equipped power tool shop. The Shakers used (and invented some!) power tools, but the actual joinery was different. These pieces in some cases have been shrunk, the originals where made for communal living. You need a table saw, bandsaw, mortiser and some portable tools as well. It's not a bad approach if you have access to a garage or dedicated workshop.

One note that's missing from the foreword on safety is dust collection, we now know that fine wood dust is a carcinogen. You must plan for it.

This isn't as tool crazy as some of his later books, when I had a shop, I had all the tools used minus the bandsaw.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of information, good graphic with plans in the book to build items pictured on cover. If I dare say it. If it wasn't for Norm and Roy Underhill, people like Christopher Schwarz, Marc the wood whisperer, David Marks, and the practically infinite wood workers on You Tube wouldn't be of any interest to anyone.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Projects with drawings and material list that the home woodworker can construct. Some are for novices.