Norm Vs. Marks

[Eric Lund]

mama.........

Yeah. He's also cut like a body builder, but not as bulky. And there's really only one tatoo unless he has more under his shirt (or, dare I say, pants).

[Eric Lund]

Actually, he spent some time in carpentry. You guys think he's a spring chicken because he looks young. He's 54 years old. He's been doing one form or another of woodworking for over 30 years.

Cheers, Eric

[Bruce]

Dangit Eric, I was embellishing your story a little to scare Norm :)

[Jim Polaski]

Why even try to compare Norm and Mark? They both approach woodworking from a different point of view.

Norm is carpenter in terms of building construction as well as a finish carpenter. Additionally, he's a cabinet maker. His joinery is as traditionl as Marks.

They both get to the same place by a different route. And I'm not at all convinced that Marks gets a better finish than Norm on everything, especially since he uses basically one finish, Tung Oil. I'm not against Tung Oil since I use it as well. But I can get a far better repairable finish on antiques and furntinure with Flecto Varithane Natural Oil with the way I apply it. Norm seems to use Poly, Oil and other finishes to show the viewer what options there are.

Last I have a great appreciation for both. I think Norm has a knowledge of things that Marks can't touch when it comes to homes, built-in's and some of the more difficult repairs that one can encounter in a home.

David Marks is more what I'd call a "fine-art" woodworker. He makes his projects as much "Fine Art" as they are a cabinet or woodworking project.

So I'd have to say it's not exactly a level comparison. A difficult one at best. But, you can take the best of what each does and learn from it and bring that to your efforts and projects. That's what these shows are about. If I were to guess, I'd bet they have quite a respect for each other.

I figure I can learn something from them both and just have more knowledge and things in my bag of tricks.

I had to replace what turned out to be a "Housed" newel post on my staircase. If I hadn't watched Norm, I don't think I'd of had as ease a time doing this as I might have otherwise. Unlike the builder, I used quartered oak and make a lovely newel.

just my .02

[Eric Lund]

Norm is usually a stain and poly guy. That's OK. I've gone that route for some pieces, when it was appropriate. I just think it's appropriate a lot less often than Norm does. The thing that bothers me is that Norm seems to have regressed. I TIVO all the NYW shows, and on a lot of the old reruns, Norm was a lot more respectful of the wood and the appropriate finish for the type of project he's doing. Now he seems more likely to stain, poly and call it done.

The finish Marks uses is not pure tung oil. On the show, he uses a product by General Finishes called Seal-A-Cell, and when he wants a protective finish, he uses a topcoat of Arm-R-Seal. I've used these on one project and they are a fantastic finish. They are both oil based, but a blend of oils, not just tung. Of course, this finish is one he regularly would use anyway, but he does use a lot of different finishing techniques.

He demonstrated ammonia fuming on one show, though I disagree with his contention that household ammonia doesn't work. It's just slower. I know, because I've done it. I'm not sure how well household ammonia would work on a big piece, but it is just fine on small ones.

He's also used Potassium DiChromate on numerous shows. He talked a little about that in his lecture, as well as using the stuff safely.

He also discussed using shellac and french polishing.

Cheers, Eric

[LRod]

So?

Oh, good.

When would that be? And when is it inappropriate? I'm really interested in learning all the *rules* about finishing so I don't appear an ignorant dolt.

Respectful of the wood? That sounds like Charles Grodin's line from The Heartbreak Kid: "there's no deceit in the mashed potatoes." How does the wood care whether you put tung oil, polyurethane, shellac, or lacquer on it?

Sounds good to me. Is there a problem with that approach?

And this matters how?

Are you sure these are *appropriate* finishes?

Ahh, well, then...

Uh, how can he "use a *lot* of different finishing techniques" yet have one that he "regularly would use?"

Yet, even though you TIVO, you neglect to mention that Norm also demonstrated fuming on one show.

Is that one of the *appropriate* ones? Is that one he "regularly would use?"

Since you TIVO, you are aware that Norm has also done that.

When I took up woodworking (longer ago than many of you have been alive) I did it because the process was what made me happy. Because of that I like to see wood cut, fitted, assembled, and secured. Norm does all that. Marks does, too, but to a lesser degree because it's necessary to accommodate all the ads for DIY, their website, and the reminders of what's been done so far. So from standpoint of process, they both make me happy. And they expose a lot of people to woodworking, which also makes me happy.

What makes me unhappy is the few finishing snobs and fastening snobs who try to impose their narrow (and often misguided) belief system on people who probably need more help with getting parts properly prepared and fitted than selecting a finish that "respects the wood."

And for those of us who can get our parts together, how about you use your finish and I'll use mine. And if you don't agree with my (or anyone else's) selection, just move on; don't regard us as hacks or "disrespectful of the wood" for the choices WE made for OUR work.

LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999