Recommended viewing

Fed up with the diet of drivel which makes up much of broadcast TV these days ?

I thought I would create a place to mark some of the videos that are likely to interest people like us, as I stumble upon them.  Please join in with your own favourites - I need something good to watch too !

So, to kick off ...

The Woodwrights Shop - Roy Underhill and guests show a range of hand woodworking techinques - entertaining but with real content ! Shave horses, pole lathes, carving, moulding with hand tools, toolmaking - all here.  New episodes were added recently.

Folkstreams.net - Another American site, but plenty to interest us here. The last wooden shovel carver. coopering etc.  Search by subject and look for Crafts.

This video by Ben Orford is the first in a four part series showing how a bowl can be turned on a bowl lathe.  Quite a useful introduction if you want to give it a go.  Perhaps a bit slow moving if you just want to watch !

More bowl turning, again at a rather leisurely pace !

It has been mentioned before but WoodlandsTV YouTube channel has some quite nice rural crafts.

I couldn't resist adding this youtube video .  The carpenter's axe.  Master smith Lars Enander forges an axe.  Even if you aren't interested in the blacksmith's craft, hang on in there to see where this is leading (3-4 minutes in).

Some more Log cabin building, this time from Finland. Some skilled axe work, not to be copied without good hand/eye coordination !

The original Mastercrafts series with Monty Don can be found on YouTube here.  The whole channel Art Documentaries has some good stuff.

Just watched the last one. so that is how Pa Ingalls built their log cabins

I've updated the list above.  If you are interested, there is some more highly skilled log cabin building - from Finland this time.

I am watching some pretty boring stuff right now....how to lay besser blocks for my cob oven base https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spxvnpNx8cg

but his is the video I will use to help me build the actual oven, this channel is a good one too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFuGzhPxofE

This is my favourite house building show https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9DWFJ7gYpq_H-oSFM84YCQ

Some marvellous things can be made with scrap copper plumbing. I came across the work of Michael Kusz at Rievaulx Terrace during a break from walking on the North York moors. Some wonderful creations - see how he does it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iZSQFaLbT8

The rook perched on a garden fork handle appeals to me.

I've not come across Michael Kusz - what fabulous stuff though I particularly like the sedge.

Busy at the mo, but I'd better look at that before our scrap copper goes to the scrap metal merchant!

Equally beautiful though more practical I thought you might like to see the work of my neighbour. I love being in his workshop to see what he is currently producing.
http://www.gothicgates.co.uk/index.htm