The Governor's PoBoy

(male announcer) MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP IS PROVIDED BY: (male announcer) MORE THAN 40 MILLION PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEIR CARS AND HOMES CHOOSE STATE FARM FOR THEIR INSURANCE.

STATE FARM: A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP.

[horns honking] [upbeat fiddle music] [pounding] HEY, HELLO AGAIN.

WELCOME BACK TO THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP.

I'M ROY UNDERHILL.

NOW, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FURNITURE STYLES, YOU PROBABLY KNOW A HIGHBOY, PIECE OF FURNITURE.

MAYBE YOU KNOW A LOWBOY.

BUT HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A PO' BOY?

WELL, YOU HAVE NOW.

THIS IS A PO' BOY.

AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET THE GENTLEMAN WHO CONSTRUCTED IT YEARS AGO.

HE IS THE FIRST WOODWORKER OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

IN FACT, HE IS THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, MIKE EASLEY.

MIKE, GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE.

GOOD TO BE IN THE PLAYHOUSE.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

NOW, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PLAY WITH HERE, YOUR WONDERFUL PO' BOY.

AND WHY IS IT CALLED A PO' BOY?

IT'S CALLED A PO' BOY 'CAUSE WHEN I MADE IT, I WAS A PO' BOY, SURE ENOUGH.

I WAS SO BROKE, I COULDN'T PAY ATTENTION.

AND I GOT OLD SCRAP LUMBER THAT THE CABINETMAKER HAD CUT OFF AND WAS THROWING AWAY 'CAUSE IT WAS TOO SHORT TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

AND SO I MADE THIS TABLETOP.

AND YOU NOTICE, I RAN IT CROSS GRAIN.

OH, OKAY, TO MAKE USE OF THE-- THAT'S THE ONLY LENGTH YOU HAD, 'CAUSE IT WAS FIREWOOD LENGTHS.

YEAH, AND THEN IT STILL WASN'T BIG ENOUGH, SO I PUT A FRAME OF BATTEN AROUND IT, AND IT MADE IT A LITTLE BIT LARGER.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

SOME LEG STOCK; ONLY COULD FIND 19 INCHES.

SO HE WAS THROWING THAT OUT.

SO I MADE A 19-INCH TABLE AND TURNED IT INTO A LITTLE QUEEN ANNE BUTTON FOOT.

OH, IT'S WONDERFUL, THOUGH.

OGEE APRON.

YEAH.

SO IT'S GREAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS PERFECT FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, AS THEY CALL US THE VALE OF HUMILITY.

AND I WON'T GO ON WITH THE REST OF IT.

YEAH, I HUMILIATE THE STATE ALL THE TIME.

BUT WE MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE GOT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

NOW, THIS HAS GOT THE LEGS AND THE OGEE WORK HERE.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO START WORKING ON THIS.

WHEN I LAY OUT AN OGEE-- YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL KIND OF MATH.

AND I REMEMBER WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I SAID, "YOU KNOW, WELL, WHAT IS THE COMPASS LAYOUT AND CONFIGURATION FOR LAYING OUT THIS OGEE?"

BUT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING IT THAT I THINK'S MORE DIRECT.

WELL, THAT'S THE STUFF YOU LEARN IN KINDERGARTEN.

[laughing] YEAH, THE MAN'S WAY OF DOING IT, ALL RIGHT.

NO, I USED A LITTLE WOOD DOUGH CAN FOR THE CENTER, FOUND THE CENTER WITH THAT AND TRACED IT AND CHISELED IT OUT.

THEN OF COURSE, GOT TO BRING THE LITTLE SHOULDER OUT.

AFTER I GET THE SHOULDER OUT, I THEN WOULD GET A LARGER, LIKE THIS QUART CONTAINER, AND THEN TRACE THAT.

AND TRACE, ALL RIGHT.

ALL THE WAY AROUND.

AND THEN I HAVE TO GO BACK NOW ONE MORE TIME.

YOU GOT THIS PIECE.

YOU GOT THE LITTLE WOOD DOUGH.

TRACE THAT.

AND TRACE THAT.

AND YOU HAVE YOUR SHOULDER OVER HERE.

AND YOU CAN CUT IT OUT WITH A COPING SAW, OR YOU CAN CHISEL IT.

CHISELING'S MORE FUN, BUT THE COPING SAW, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE PREFER.

OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

I LOVE THAT, DOING IT WITH THE PAINT CANS, 'CAUSE THAT'S THE WAY, I THINK, MOST ALL OF US BEGIN WORKING.

AND, AGAIN, THIS WAS, LIKE, 1971 YOU MADE THIS.

'73 ON THAT ONE, I THINK.

'73, ALL RIGHT.

NOW, BUT THIS ONE IS RIGHT HERE AND NOW.

WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

WE GOT THE FRAME UPSIDE DOWN HERE.

AND THERE'S ONE OF THE LEGS THERE.

AND WE GOT THE TENONS THERE.

YOU'LL SEE THEY'RE ALL BEVELED TO GO INSIDE THE MORTISE RIGHT THERE.

SO I TELL YOU WHAT, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE CURVE.

I'M WORKING ON IT NOW.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE DOING THE CURVE.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT: I'LL DO A TENON.

AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THE MORTISE AND SOME OF THE TURNING AND THEN MAYBE LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER PIECES YOU'VE MADE.

SO ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU-- NOW, YOU'VE GOT IT ALL LAID OUT THERE, ALREADY IN THE VICE.

I GOT A HEAD START SO I CAN RACE YOU.

OH, ALL RIGHT, WELL...

BUT I'M TRYING TO GET THIS LAST LITTLE PART OF THIS OGEE, WHAT YOU'D CALL A SMALL PAINT CAN.

THE TIGHT CURVE THERE.

YEAH, I THINK YOU'VE USED A BABY FOOD LID OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, 'CAUSE THAT ONE'S EVEN TIGHTER THAN THAT LITTLE HALF PINT.

I LIKE IT THAT YOU MEASURE YOUR OGEES IN QUARTS AND HALF PINTS RATHER THAN INCHES AND RADII AND SO FORTH.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT A MAN THAT MEASURES HIS WOODWORKING IN PINTS?

[laughing] HERE I'M HOLDING THE CHISEL AGAIN.

I KNOW I'M GOING TO GET CRITICIZED FOR THAT.

NO, NO, NO.

I WOULD SAY THIS IS ALCOHOL-POWERED WOODWORKING, BUT I'M JUST JOKING.

ALL RIGHT, WHILE YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START ON A TENON HERE REAL QUICK.

NOW, YOU GREW UP, THOUGH, ON A FARM, I MEAN, DOING THIS KIND OF... YEAH, OUTSIDE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ON A TOBACCO FARM.

AND MY DAD DID A LOT OF WOODWORKING.

I HAD TWO UNCLES WHO DID.

AND THEY MADE SURE THAT WE LEARNED HOW TO DO IT AND KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND SINCE THEN, I'VE TRIED TO MAKE A PIECE EVERY CHRISTMAS SINCE I GOT MY EQUIPMENT.

WOW, THAT'S GREAT.

YEAH, THE FIRST LADY LIKES IT.

AND MY SON AND I ENJOY MAKING IT.

WELL, THAT-- YOU KNOW, YOU START OFF.

YOU SAY YOU HAD TO DO IT 'CAUSE YOU WERE A STUDENT AND DIDN'T HAVE THE DOUGH TO BE, YOU KNOW, GIVING NICE PRESENTS OR SOMETHING WHEN FOLKS GOT MARRIED, SO YOU HAD TO MAKE STUFF.

IT'S SERVED YOU WELL FOR A LIFETIME, HAS IT NOT?

IT HAS.

I'VE MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE WEDDING PRESENTS, GIFTS, THAT SORT OF THING WITH FURNITURE.

AND I GENERALLY USED SOME LESSER QUALITY WOOD TO DO IT.

BUT THE WORKMANSHIP AND THE HEART WAS THERE.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THAT'S IT: THE HEART IS THE BIG PART OF IT.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

I LIKE THAT, USING STUFF THAT WAS DESTINED FOR THE FIREWOOD PILE.

YEAH, YOU CAN'T CALL IT JUNK WOOD, BECAUSE THERE IS NO JUNK WOOD.

ALL OF IT HAS CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY.

AND THAT'S IT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WITH WALNUT, YOU HAD THAT KNOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PO' BOY TABLE, AND THAT'S A GREAT FEATURE OF IT.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE KNOTS AND DON'T WANT FURNITURE WITH IT IN THERE, BUT I LIKE THEM.

YOU CAN WORK WITH THEM.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN TAKE THEM OUT, PUT A LITTLE BAND-AID ON THEM.

WELL, YOU SEE, NOW, IF YOU HAVE ALWAYS-- YOU THINK--IT'S LIKE A BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, ISN'T IT, THERE?

'CAUSE A KNOT IS JUST A BRANCH OVERGROWN.

YEAH, IT IS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE THE WIND SHAKES, AND YOU CAN TAKE THEM OUT AND PUT IN LITTLE BUTTERFLY PATCHES, ICH IS PRETTY FUN TO DO.

WELL, ALL OF THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S WORKING WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE WOOD RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, TREATING IT LIKE SOME KIND OF AMORPHOUS MATERIAL.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOUR WORK IS THE SAME THING.

YOU GOT TO... YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THE CHARACTER.

YEAH, GOT TO KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH, WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH EACH TIME.

HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACTS.

ARE YOU GONNA... ARE YOU GONNA CHISEL THOSE OR CUT THEM WITH A SAW?

WELL, YOU KNOW, I'D SAW IT DOWN IF IT WERE, LIKE, 3 INCHES OR LESS, BUT SINCE IT'S SO BROAD AND SHORT, THAT'S A BETTER JOB FOR CHISELING.

TRYING TO WATCH YOU AND DO MINE AT THE SAME TIME.

WELL, I'M VICE VERSA HERE.

I'M NOT DOING EITHER ONE VERY WELL.

WELL, I THINK YOU'RE DOING FINE THERE.

I'VE GOT-- YOU'VE GOT THE ARTWORK.

I'VE GOT THE MECHANICAL CONNECTIONS.

BIG THING FOR BOTH OF US IS NOT TO SPLIT OFF TOO MUCH.

YEAH.

THEY SAY, "DON'T SPLIT OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN HEW."

RIGHT, OR SPLIT OFF ANYTHING YOU GREW.

TRYING TO TAKE ALL MY DIGITS FROM ME.

CUT YOUR LEG OFF, ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE, THERE'S ONE SIDE OF THE TENON.

HOW YOU DOING?

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS COMING NICE.

I'M ALMOST READY TO PUT A RASP ON IT.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THE SAME THING.

YOU KNOW, YOU'D SAW IT ON THAT PIECE YOU'RE WORKING ON IF THE WASTE PIECE WAS GONNA BE ANY GOOD TO YOU.

YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS ANY SIZE, I'D TRY AND SAVE THE WASTE PIECE.

BUT THERE, YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO THE LINE, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD AND CHISEL IT OFF.

YEAH, I GOT ONE MORE CHUNK I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE, AND THEN WE'LL PUT A RASP ON IT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'M ALMOST DONE WITH MY CHISELING, AND I'M GOING TO GO, INSTEAD OF TO A RASP, I WILL GO TO A SHOULDER PLANE AND BRING THIS TENON DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH, CAN YOU SLOW DOWN?

YOU'RE GETTING AHEAD OF ME.

[laughing] WE GO... ALL RIGHT, THERE WE ARE.

THERE WE GO.

YEAH, YOU'RE ALMOST READY...

BOY, THIS IS PRETTY WOOD.

YOU GET THAT ALMOST DOWN TO THE RASP.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND USE THE SHOULDER PLANE TO DO THE TENON.

I LIKE THIS.

WE CAN DIVIDE UP THE WORK HERE AND DO IT TOGETHER.

YEAH, I NEED YOU AT MY OFFICE MONDAY TO GET EVEN.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, YOU, YOU KNOW... YOU ARE THE GOVERNOR OF A STATE THAT HAS A LONG AND ANCIENT, AS I GUESS ALL OF THEM DO, TRADITION IN WOODWORKING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, NORTH CAROLINA; FURNITURE BUILDING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE INDUSTRY HERE.

YEAH, IT HAS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOST AN AWFUL LOT OF THOSE JOBS OVER THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A TALENT AND A SKILL THAT'S UNIQUE, LIKE MOST ARTISANS DO, YOU STILL HAVE WORK.

AND IT'S KIND OF EMBLEMATIC OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WHOLE ECONOMY, THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

IF YOU GOT A LOT OF SKILL, A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE, YOU CAN STILL WORK HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

OTHERWISE, THAT WORK'S GOING OVERSEAS.

WHERE IT CAN BE JUST DONE MORE SIMPLY AND CHEAPLY BY FOLKS JUST WORKING ASSEMBLY LINE KIND OF WORK.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW MUCH, I MEAN, YOU CAN DO IT VERY CHEAPLY.

YEAH.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

HOW ARE YOU DOING THERE?

YOU ABOUT READY FOR THE RASP?

YEAH, I AM.

I'VE GOT-- LET ME SEE IF I CAN-- THERE IT IS.

WHERE?

I LOST IT.

WHY DON'T YOU GET SOME TOOLS WITHOUT WHEELS?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR, THE RASP?

THERE IT IS,YEAH.

SEE, IF IT WAS A SNAKE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR IT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WOULD'VE FOUND ME.

THIS IS...

I'M USING THE ROUNDER SIDE RIGHT HERE, WHERE-- TRYING TO GET THAT PIECE OUT.

WELL, YOU GOT THERE-- AND SEE, AGAIN, I PUT A KNOT RIGHT IN THAT AREA DOWN THERE FOR THIS ONE WE'RE WORKING ON TOGETHER.

THIS SEEMS TO BE DARKER WALNUT, A LOT DARKER THAN THE WOOD YOU HAD.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL WOOD, THOUGH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS PIECE WON'T BE SHOWING.

THIS'LL BE THE DOWN SIDE.

WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

PEOPLE LYING ON THE FLOOR COULD LOOK AT IT AND SEE IT.

BUT THIS IS GOING INTO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION NOW WHILE YOU'RE STILL THERE IN RESIDENCE.

IT'S GOING TO GO IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

AND ANYBODY WHO COMES IN ON THE TOURS-- AND WE HAVA LOT OF THEM-- IF THEY SAY, "ROY UNDERHILL," THEY GET TO TOUCH IT.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

I'LL KEEP THAT IN MIND.

SO THAT'S GOING TO GET DOWN TO-- I GUESS TO-- THIS WILL BE THE FINAL STAGE OF IT.

AND HERE'S ONE YOU'VE RASPED DOWN, ALL READY TO GO.

AND WE'VE GOT THE TENON.

I'VE GOT ONE TENON CUT HERE.

BUT NOW I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE MORTISE.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THAT GOING HERE.

HAVE YOU GOT A-- I'VE GOT ONE HERE.

I STILL GOT TO GET THIS ONE DONE.

I'VE GOT TO CHISEL IT OUT.

I'VE GOT IT MARKED HOW DEEP ON THE CHISEL.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DO THAT.

OH, MARKED ON THE SIDE THERE.

NO, I JUST...

IT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN KEEP UP WITH IT.

I WILL MAKE ERROR AND THEN WISH I HAD MARKED ON THE SIDE.

THAT'S WHAT I DO.

YEAH, SO JUST DRIVE IT ON DOWN THERE.

I TRY TO DO ONE ON ONE SIDE, THEN ONE ON THE OTHER.

YEAH.

I SEE IT.

IT FORCES ALL THE WASTE WOOD TO THE MIDDLE THERE.

YEAH, I'M JUST WAITING TO GET ONE OF THESE STUCK SO I CAN'T GET IT OUT.

I'VE SEEN THE OLD GUYS.

THEY'LL STICK THEIR CHISEL IN GREASE A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, IT GETS GREASE ON THE WOOD, BUT THE CHISEL DOESN'T GET STUCK IN THE MORTISE.

KEEP ON GOING ON DOWN UNTIL YOU GET TO THE DEPTH OF THE TENON.

AND I GUESS THAT'S... WELL, AN INCH AND A HALF SQUARE.

1 1/2, I THINK, IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING OVER THERE.

INCH AND A HALF.

AND THEN THIS IS SITTING BACK ABOUT 3/8 OF AN INCH HERE IN THIS WALNUT.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST SIDE YOU DO.

ACTUALLY, NO, SORRY.

THAT'S THE SECOND SIDE, BUT THE COOL THING IS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA MEET IN THE MIDDLE THERE.

AND YOU'VE GOT-- LIKE THIS ONE HERE IS GOING ALL THE WAY ON THROUGH.

YEAH, LET ME PUT THIS CHISEL IN THERE.

YEAH.

YOU CAN SEE IT DOWN IN THERE.

LOOK AT THAT.

IN HERE SIDEWAYS LIKE I'M CHISELING.

YOU CAN SEE IT COME ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

THAT LOOKS NICE.

YEAH.

SO THESE TWO GO THROUGH AN ALMOST-- AND THEN BY BEVELING OFF THOSE ENDS OF THE TENONS-- AND SOME PEOPLE-- I DON'T KNOW.

DO YOU OVERLAP THEM?

SOME PEOPLE WILL OVERLAP THEM A DIFFERENT WAY: ONE LONG AND ONE SHORT.

I'VE USUALLY LEFT JUST A LITTLE PIECE HERE SO I DIDN'T OPEN IT UP COMPLETELY INSIDE.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

BUT THIS REQUIRES A LOT MORE WORK.

WELL, YOU GET DOWN IN THERE.

YOU KNOW, JUST GET A LITTLE MORE GLUE IN THERE, 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA PEG THAT AT THE END NOW.

BUT ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S READY TO GO THERE.

AND THERE'S THE LEG.

AND WE'VE GOT TO DO SOME TURNING NOW.

AND LET'S TAKE-- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT OTHER LEG THAT YOU'VE GOT OVER HERE.

THERE'S ONE THAT HAS THE OFFSET FOOT.

WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT?

THE OFFSET, QUEEN ANNE OFFSET.

YEAH.

YEAH, NOW, THIS IS N-- NOW, YOU DIDN'T DO THAT ON THE PO' BOY.

THE PO' BOY HAS THESE KIND OF BUTTON FEET DOWN THERE, JUST RIGHT IN THE DEAD CENTER.

BUT THIS ONE HAS BEEN TURNED IN TWO PLACES.

SO YOU HAVE ONE-- USE YOUR PENCIL AS THE CENTER.

WELL, YEAH, YOU GET IT IN A ROUND FIRST, THE WHOLE THING IN A ROUND, AND THEN YOU MOVE IT TO AN OFFSET POSITION.

AND IT WOBBLES, SO YOU'RE ONLY CUTTING ONE SIDE.

SO YOU'RE DOING THE FOOT.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, YOU'RE DOING THE LEG.

RIGHT.

AND YOU KEEP MESSING WITH IT AND GET WHAT YOU LIKE.

GET WHAT YOU--ALL RIGHT.

NOW, THIS ONE HERE, THIS ONE'S JUST DEAD CENTER, KIND OF LIKE A BASEBALL BAT.

ONE TIME, ONE CENTER.

ALL RIGHT, AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

NOW, THIS-- YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGE, I THINK, WITH A LOT OF FOLKS IS UP HERE AT THIS END, DOING THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE SQUARE AND THE ROUND.

SO MAYBE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

YOU HAVEN'T USED MY TREADLE AID, SO I WANT YOU TO SEE HOW THAT LOOKS RIGHT HERE.

A LOT OF PEDALING.

IT IS A LOT OF PEDALING THERE.

NOW, THIS--I'VE GOT THAT PLACE MARKED THERE.

SO I TELL YOU WHAT.

I'LL DO THIS END AND THEN TURN IT DOWN TO YOU ON THAT END.

BUT I'VE GOT THE LINE WHERE I WANT THAT SHOULDER TO BE, SO I'M GOING TO DO THIS WITH THE POINT.

[machine whirring] USING A SKEW CHISEL FOR THAT, HUH?

YEAH, AND JUST KIND OF HANGING IT DOWN UNTIL WE'VE TOUCHED ALL THE CYLINDER THAT LIES WITHIN.

LOOK, JUST ABOUT THERE.

THAT'S THE POINT TO STOP.

SEE THERE, 'CAUSE IT'S ALMOST TOUCHING.

AND GO DOWN WITH THE PARTING TOOL.

ALL RIGHT, YOU SEE WHAT THAT DID.

AND THEN TAKE OFF THE REST OF IT WITH THE GOUGE.

YEAH.

THAT WORKS BETTER.

I USED TO JUST TRY TO DO IT ALL WITH A GOUGE, AND I'D CHIP OUT A LOT OF THOSE SHOULDERS.

WELL, YOU KNOW...

I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY MAKE DIFFERENT CHISELS.

[laughing] IT'S FUNNY.

I HAD SO MANY BAD HABITS IN WOODWORKING.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP READING, OR PEOPLE CORRECT YOU AND SAY, "NO, NO, NO.

DO IT THIS WAY."

AND YOU LEARN, "OH, YEAH, THERE'S ALWAYS A BETTER WAY."

AND I THINK THAT'S THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS.

YOU CAN ALWAYS KEEP LEARNING.

SO ANYWAY, THERE WE GO, SKEW CHISEL ON DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S SEE HOW THAT LOOKS.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ACCEPTABLE.

MAYBE A LITTLE MORE.

NOW, LET ME ADJUST THIS DOWN...

PRETTY SMOOTH.

AND LET YOU DO THE BUTTON FOOT.

THERE, SO YOU-- AT THE OTHER END.

YEAH, NOW YOU GOT THIS-- YOU'RE WORKING IN THE CABINET SHOP AND-- YEAH, SEE, I ALWAYS DID THE BUTTON FOOT FIRST, 'CAUSE IF I SCREWED THAT UP, THEN I'D THROW THE WHOLE LEG AWAY.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

NOW YOU'RE PUTTING PRESSURE ON ME BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE A BEAUTIFUL JOB UP HERE.

YEAH, WELL-- OH, I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN.

WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER REASON NOT TO MORTISE AT FIRST, I GUESS.

THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

[machine whirring] THERE YOU GO.

YEAH, I'M ALWAYS AFRAID, IF I MORTISE IT, I'LL THROW THE BALANCE OFF, AND THE LEG WILL KIND OF COME OUT CATAWAMPUS, OR WHATEVER WORD IS THE APPROPRIATE TERM FOR "UNBALANCED."

LOOKS GREAT.

THAT WALNUT TURNS VERY, VERY NICELY, I THINK.

DOESN'T IT, THOUGH?

I LOVE IT.

WHOO!

THIS IS AMAZING HOW YOU'RE DOING THIS.

YOU'RE HARDLY BREAKING A SWEAT AT ALL.

I'M REALLY IMPRESSED.

YEAH, I'M NOT DOING THE PEDALING.

[laughing] ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET ME SEE.

AREN'T YOU GLAD WE RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE?

LET ME CUT THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE.

OH, YOU WANT TO GO IN THERE?

JUST A TOUCH.

I'M HOLDING THIS UP FOR A MODEL HERE.

SEE IF I CAN GET IT-- YEAH, VERY NICE.

OH, THIS IS SWEET.

YEAH, I LIKE THIS LATHE.

DO YOU COME WITH IT?

I WOULDN'T WANT TO PEDAL IT.

WHOO, OOH, AH, AH.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT.

I ALWAYS JOKE ABOUT THIS BEING AN ALCOHOL-POWERED LATHE.

BUT ANYWAY, THERE'S THE BUTTON FOOT DOWN THERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO TURN OUT, SO ALL RIGHT, I GUESS WE CAN PUT OUR FRAME TOGETHER AND PUT OUR LEGS INTO THE APRON.

START MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF IT.

YEAH, SEE HOW THAT GOES.

I'LL LEAVE THAT WITH YOU HERE AND COME AROUND AND HOLD IT ON THIS SIDE, 'CAUSE I'M PROBABLY GONNA NEED TO PUSH.

ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET BOTH OF THEM IN, AND THEN WE CAN... ALL RIGHT, YOU PUSH, ALL RIGHT, AND I'LL... YEAH.

GOOD; OH, THAT'S-- PINCH YOUR FINGERS THERE.

ALL RIGHT, VERY NICE.

NOW, OF COURSE, THAT'S GOING TO BE PEGGED IN A LITTLE BIT.

WE'LL SEE HOW TO DO THE PEGS.

BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE TOP WHILE WE GOT A CHANCE HERE.

YEAH, I'VE GOT ONE PIECE I'VE GOT TO FINISH TOO, I THINK.

WHAT'S THAT?

OH, WITH THE GROOVES IN IT?

RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

HERE, WE'VE GOT...

THIS IS THE TOP I'M DOING RIGHT HERE.

AND AGAIN, GOT THE PIECES JOINED.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S A PO' BOY.

IT'S GOT THE BOARDS GOING THIS WAY INSTEAD OF ALONG.

AND I'VE GOT TONGUE AND GROOVE THERE TO HOLD THE SKIRT TOGETHER AND TO JOIN THESE BOARDS INDIVIDUALLY.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE TO DO IS CUT THAT GROOVE.

AND YOU GOT A TIMBER TO DO THAT ON?

I DO.

I ACTUALLY JUST DID THE SIDES ON MINE, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT STURDIER.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GET IT-- NOW I'LL WARN YOU AGAIN ABOUT THAT VICE.

NOW, YOU GOT TO-- ALMOST LIKE TO WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BREAK THAT HICKORY HANDLE RIGHT OFF.

PUT THE SCREWS TO IT.

OKAY.

IT'S AMAZING.

IT HARDLY GRIPS AT ALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS WITH THAT.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT.

DID YOU SHARPEN THIS ONE?

UH, IT'S OKAY.

IT'S OKAY.

YEAH, ALL RIGHT, SO YOU'VE GOT A COMBINATION PLANE.

WORKING THAT DOWN.

YEAH.

SO THAT'S THE GROOVING.

AND THEN, I TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THIS STUFF WAS SO GNARLY, I COULDN'T USE A TIMING PLANE.

I HAD TO USE A COUPLE OF RABBET PLANES COMING IN FROM THE SIDES TO DO THE TONGUES.

BUT AGAIN, ON YOURS, YOU REALLY JUST BUTTED THEM UP TOGETHER RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH-- I DID.

I JUST JOINTED THEM.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE WAY WOOD'S ALWAYS MOVING, THEY SEPARATED.

YOU NEVER KNEW, A MONTH LATER, THEY WERE JOINED.

THAT'S RIGHT.

YEAH.

WELL, SEE WHAT I HAVE GOT ON THE TOP HERE TO SHOW WHILE YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT, 'CAUSE... WE'RE WORKING WITH WOOD, JUST LIKE YOU'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE.

THEY'RE A CHALLENGE IF THEY HAVE ANY KIND OF CHARACTER SOMETIMES.

YEAH, WELL, WE GOT A LOT OF THOSE.

YEAH, YEAH.

WHAT DO YOU GOT, 3/8?

YEP, YEP, A GOOD 3/8 THERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT JOINS-- NOW, THIS IS THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS PIECE HERE.

EVEN SO, NICE-LOOKING WOOD.

BUT I PUT THE SAPWOOD DOWN ON THIS SIDE ON OUR REPLICA.

YEAH, THAT WAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO USE ANY STAIN.

NO, SO WE GOT SAPWOOD DOWN.

BUT TO LEVEL THIS-- THESE BOARDS WERE REAL UNEVEN.

THEY WERE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, TRAPEZOIDAL ALMOST.

SO THESE BIG, HIGH CORNERS-- AND THE WAY TO BRING THEM DOWN, I FOUND, WAS TO USE THIS LITTLE PLANE.

IT'S LIKE A NUMBER-TWO-SIZED PLANE SET LIKE A JACK PLANE, AND USE IT ACROSS THE GRAIN.

AND THAT BROUGHT IT DOWN REAL FAST.

SO THAT WAS THE-- THAT'S GOOD FOR THE BOTTOM, TO LEVEL IT.

YOU'VE GOT THE-- THEN WE DO THE TONGUES LIKE YOU GOT THERE.

YEAH, GOT THAT.

AND THEN THERE'S THIS PIECE HERE.

THIS IS A CHALLENGE.

OH, YEAH.

YOU SEE WHAT THE GRAIN IS DOING THERE?

YEAH, GOING BOTH WAYS.

YEAH.

WE GOT SOME GRAIN COMING UP THIS WAY.

AND JUST AS YOUR HAND IS THERE, IT'S COMING UP IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

SO THAT'S THE LITTLE SMOOTH PLANE'S JOB.

IT'S A NICE LITTLE ENGLISH SMOOTH PLANE.

'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO AVOID THAT-- AND I HAD TO DO A LOT OF SANDING IN THIS GRAIN.

SO YOU'RE ONLY DOING HALF AND THEN GO HALF THE OTHER WAY?

YOU GOT TO GO UP TO THE CROWN AND JUST STOP.

NOW, IF YOU DID THIS WITH A LONG PLANE A LITTLE HARDER-- AND I TELL YOU... YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REALLY MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE, BUT A LITTLE BLOCK PLANE I'VE OFTEN USED.

THAT'S VERY NICE.

AND THEN-- SEE, I'VE GOT THE SCRAPER REASONABLY SHARP.

BUT YOU THINK ABOUT HOW DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND DEALING WITH ANYTHING WITH CHARACTER, YOU GOT TO-- OH, YEAH.

YOU GOT TO KNOW SOME TRICKS AND TECHNIQUES TO GET THEM TO COOPERATE.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S-- AND WHEN THEY DO, THEY SHOW SOME REAL BEAUTY.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO MESS WITH ALL THAT SANDING.

YEAH, NICE STUFF.

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S SEE.

WE'VE GOT IT IN SHAPE.

GOT THE TENONS IN THE MORTISES AND GOT OUR TOP.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO THE PEGGING NOW.

SO LET'S SEE.

I'VE DROPPED A PIECE DOWN HERE.

AND THAT'S GOING TO GO RIGHT ON THERE.

THE LAST LITTLE PIECE OF IT.

YEAH, ALL RIGHT.

I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT 'CAUSE THAT'S LOOSE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL THAT, BUT ANYWAY... WELL, WE CAN PEG THE SKIRT AROUND IT, THE FRAME PART IF WE NEEDED TO.

YEAH, WE COULD... MORE HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT... OH, WHAT YOU GOT?

FOR THE PEGS.

I WENT DOWN TO THE LOCAL FABRICATOR WHEN I WAS YOUNG THAT HAD THE METAL DRILLS AND DRILL PRESSES, AND I JUST MADE ALL DIFFERENT SIZE HOLES.

YEAH.

AND SO I CAN, YOU KNOW, TAKE THESE LITTLE SQUARE PIECES THAT WE HAD LEFT OVER AND HAMMER THEM THROUGH THE HOLES, AND IT MAKES THEM ROUND.

GET YOU A MALLET HERE.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND ONE THAT'LL-- LINCOLN SAID, "WITH MALLETS TOWARDS NONE."

SO THERE WAS ANOTHER GREAT POLITICIAN.

GREAT WOODWORKER, LINCOLN WAS.

REALLY?

OH, YEAH.

AH, WELL, OF COURSE.

HE WAS SPLITTING RAILS.

IT STARTS WITH THAT.

GROWING UP ON A FARM LIKE YOU DID.

IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE RAIL AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE SLURRY, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE STUFF TO WORK IT.

NOW, THIS SIDE IS DRILLED DOWN JUST A TOUCH, YOU SEE?

SO IT PUTS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CUT ON IT.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

TAKE IT AND DO IT AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU JUST KEEP DRIVING IT THROUGH TILL IT'S THE SIZE THAT YOU WANT.

YEAH, USUALLY TWO TIMES.

YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR FINGER.

I'M NOT AS GOOD AS YOU ARE.

[laughing] THAT ONE'S PRETTY TIGHT.

LET ME SEE.

THIS IS ONE THAT, ACTUALLY, I'VE DONE.

THIS IS OUT OF CHERRY.

TAKE THIS ONE THROUGH.

SO YOU GOT-- NOW YOU HAVE ONE.

OH, YEAH.

1/4 INCH CHERRY, AND THAT'S A 3/8 WALNUT.

OH, THAT'S GREAT.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S JUST SIMPLE STUFF THERE.

THAT'S ALL YOU NEED.

ALL RIGHT, AND THEN WE CAN PEG IT TOGETHER.

WELL, SPEAKING OF CHERRY, YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF CHERRY PIECES OF FURNITURE THAT YOU HAVE MADE.

CAN WE TAKE A SECOND, TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE?

SURE.

AND THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS THE FIRST TABLE I EVER MADE BACK IN, YEAH, '73.

WOW, YOU DID REAL WELL WITH THAT.

AND WHAT WAS THE STORY?

WHAT WAS THE OCCASION THAT YOU MADE THIS?

WELL, I NEVER HAD ANY GOOD WOOD.

AND MY MOM AND DAD GAVE ME 20 BUCKS TO BUY SOME CHERRY WOOD ON MY 23RD BIRTHDAY.

SO I MADE THESE, AGAIN, BUTTON FOOT, BUT A LITTLE LONGER.

YOU NOTICE THEY'RE ROUNDER THAN THE OTHER ONES WERE.

I LIKE THAT, YES, VERY MUCH.

AND A LITTLE BIT OF WORK UP HERE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ON THE OTHER ONE 'CAUSE THEY'RE LONG ONES.

AND THE SAME OGEE THAT I USED ON THE-- SAME PAINT CANS.

YEAH, I THINK IT WAS.

THIS ONE MAY HAVE BEEN A BABY BOTTLE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, EITHER WAY, IT WORKS.

NO STAIN.

THAT'S NATURAL COLOR.

YEAH, NATURAL CHERRY.

WELL, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

AND YOUR PARENTS ENCOURAGED YOU TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK, EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE GOING TO LAW SCHOOL AND GOING TO BE THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

WELL, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT AT THE TIME.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHY.

THEY WOULD'VE MOVED IF THEY HAD.

THIS IS A TEA TABLE.

OVAL TOP.

AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT OVAL WAS THE HARDEST PART OF IT.

AND OFFSET LEGS--THE ONE YOU WERE SHOWING UP THERE, WHERE YOU TURN THEM KIND OF TWICE.

OH, RIGHT, OKAY.

IT HAS THAT... YEAH.

YEAH.

I LOVE IT.

AND I SEE, AGAIN, THIS-- DIFFERENT APRON.

AND THIS IS ALL JUST OIL FINISH.

NO STAIN TO IT.

LET'S SEE.

I GOT IT IN HERE.

'86, MADE IT IN '86.

OH, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL NOW.

NOW YOU ALSO HAVE-- YOUR WIFE IS ALSO AN ARTISAN AND CRAFTSMAN, I KNOW.

SHE ACTUALLY WORKS IN FABRIC ART, THOUGH?

WELL, SHE DOES SOME WOODWORK WITH ME AND SOME CHAIRS, REFINISHING AND THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT SHE MAKES HER OWN YARN AND MAKES ME SOCKS.

YOU LIKE THAT?

I LIKE THAT.

MAN, IT TAKES A SECURE MAN TO WEAR THESE SOCKS.

YOU KNOW THAT.

WELL, IF THE FIRST LADY OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA MADE THOSE FOR YOU, YOU KNOW WELL TO WEAR THEM.

WELL, LET'S TAKE A LITTLE LAST LOOK-- WE'VE GOT A FEW SECONDS HERE-- AT OUR WONDERFUL POOR BOY, OR PO' BOY, RATHER.

PO' BOY.

PO' BOY.

THAT IS WONDERFUL.

AND THIS HAS GOT THAT BEAUTIFUL RED COLOR FROM YOUR FINISHING ON IT.

AND THE KNOT.

DON'T FORGET THE KNOT.

AND THE BEAUTIFUL KNOT IN THE TOP.

WELL, I CAN'T NOT FORGET TO THANK YOU FOR COMING TO JOIN US.

GOVERNOR MIKE EASLEY, THANKS SO MUCH.

HAVE ME BACK.

ALL RIGHT, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS ROY UNDERHILL HERE IN THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

SO LONG.

(announcer) LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP AND TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE AT: Captioning byCaptionMax www.captionmax.com (male announcer) MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP IS PROVIDED BY: WE ARE PBS.

ROY UNDERHILL IS THE AUTHOR OF THE WOODWRIGHT'S GUIDE: WORKING WOOD WITH WEDGE AND EDGE, AS WELL AS OTHER BOOKS ON TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING, ALL PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS AND AVAILABLE IN BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES.