Animated Wooden Toys
Season 28 Episode 9 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Imagination (and a few strings) makes these carved critters come to life.
Imagination (and a few strings) makes these carved critters come to life.
The Woodwright's Shop is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
PBS North Carolina produces The Woodwright's Shop with Roy Underhill in partnership with State Farm Insurance.
Animated Wooden Toys
Season 28 Episode 9 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Imagination (and a few strings) makes these carved critters come to life.
How to Watch The Woodwright's Shop
The Woodwright's Shop is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipMore from This Collection
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Chair-maker Elia Bizzarri shows Roy how to make a split oak firewood carrier. (26m 45s)
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Figures from history including Benjamin Franklin & Muhammad Ali inspires Roy's whirlygigs (26m 45s)
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Woodcarver Mary May joins Roy to carve springerle cookie molds for every occasion. (26m 46s)
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A musical misadventure in the ways of the Woodwright. (26m 46s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(male announcer) MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP IS PROVIDED BY: (male announcer) WHETHER YOU'RE HELPING THEM LEARN HOW TO WALK...
I'M SO THERE.
(announcer) OR TEACHING THEM TO DRIVE... [tires screeching] (girl) SORRY.
OH, YEAH, I'M THERE.
(announcer) WHEREVER YOU ARE IN LIFE, STATE FARM IS THERE, PROUD SPONSOR OF THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP.
[horns beeping] [banjo strumming] [upbeat fiddle music] HEY, WELCOME BACK TO THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP.
I AM ROY UNDERHILL, AND I-- I TIP MY HAT-- I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO ALL WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE BY MAKING WOODEN TOYS FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS, TOYS THAT INSPIRE THE IMAGINATION, TOYS THAT, IN THIS CASE, THAT ARE MECHANICAL, TOYS THAT ARE ANIMATED, TOYS THAT SEEM TO COME TO LIFE.
[laughs] LIKE THIS GUY, THIS IS THE LITTLE GUY MADE BY MICHAEL COZA, AND YOU CAN SEE AN ACROBAT BALANCING TOY, AGAIN, ARTICULATED LITTLE SCREWS INTO THE BODY, AND AS HE ROLLS DOWN, HE SEEMS TO-- WELL, OF COURSE HE DOES.
HE IS AN ACROBAT.
THERE YOU GO.
I'M GONNA PUT HIM UP ON TOP.
AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT TOYS-- THESE ARE ONES THAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE.
I'M GONNA LOOK AT TOYS-- SOME NEW ONES.
BUT LET'S--LET'S GO THROUGH THE OLD GUYS HERE THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH IN THE DAYS PAST HERE IN OUR LITTLE WORKSHOP.
THERE WE GO.
THIS IS A HOE BOY, A VERY OLD TOY.
THIS IS A BALANCING TOY, JUST LIKE THE LITTLE GUY THERE.
YOU SET HIM GOING, AND HE SEEMS TO JUST HOE AND HOE AND HOE.
ALL RIGHT, NOW, IN ADDITION TO THE CIRCUS THEMES THAT WE SEE SO MUCH, WE ALSO HAVE AGRICULTURAL THEMES.
THIS IS A GREAT TOY.
THIS IS A RUSSIAN FOLK TOY.
SO MANY OF THESE COME FROM EUROPE.
THIS IS CALLED THE PECKING CHICKENS.
AND YOU SEE THE WAY IT WORKS.
WHEN THE STRING LOOSENS UP, THE HEADS GO DOWN.
THIS IS CALLED THE PECKING CHICKENS, A RUSSIAN FOLK TOY.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN IN THE EARLY DAYS, HOWEVER, UNDER COMMUNISM, THEY MADE 'EM ALL WORK LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, AND IT JUST KIND OF LOST SOME OF ITS APPEAL.
ANYWAY, THAT'S THE PECKING CHICKENS.
SO WE HAVE A FEW MORE ANIMATED TOYS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST JUST TO REMIND OURSELVES, 'CAUSE THE PRINCIPLES ARE ALL THE SAME, THOSE HINGING AND A LITTLE ANTHRO OR ANIMAL MORPHIC THERE.
HERE IS, OF COURSE, THE ACROBAT.
WE SQUEEZE THE FRAME, AND THE ACROBAT DOES TRICKS THERE.
YOU CAN SEE HIM GOING UP AND DOWN OR HER GOING UP AND DOWN, HOWEVER YOU WANT IT.
LOOK AT THAT GYMNASTIC WONDERMENT RIGHT THERE.
AND, AGAIN, YOU SEE IT'S JUST A-- THE STABLE POSITION FOR THE STRINGS IS COUNTER TO THE STABLE POSITION OF GRAVITY.
WHEN WE PULL OUT, THE STRINGS WANT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT, AND WE HAVE THE LITTLE ACROBAT ARTICULATED BY HINGES JUST BENT OVER COPPER WIRES AT EACH POINT.
SO WE HAVE THIS ARTICULATED LITTLE ACROBAT.
OH, CAN YOU MAKE IT?
CAN YOU MAKE IT?
AH, MADE IT OVER.
OH, OKAY.
AND THEN HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
THESE ARE CIRCUS-THEMED TOYS FOR ACROBATS.
WE GOT ONE HERE THAT'S FROM THE WORLD OF WORK.
THIS IS A SAND MILL.
YOU CAN SEE I'VE GOT MYSELF THERE, WORKING AWAY VERY HARD, TURNING THE CRANK TO MAKE THE SAND COME DOWN OUT OF THE LITTLE HOPPER UP TOP.
YOU CAN SEE, OF COURSE, THERE'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE SAND FLOWING DOWN FROM THE TOP.
AND WHEN I SHOVEL IT IN THE TOP, THE SAND HITS THE PADDLEWHEEL, AND IT LOOKS LIKE I AM CRANKING AWAY AT IT.
NOW, THESE ARE TOYS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
I WANT TO LOOK AT SOME NEW ONES NOW THAT USE THE SAME KIND OF PRINCIPLES.
THEY'RE GREAT, AND WHERE ARE THEY?
AH, HERE THEY ARE.
HERE'S MY FIRST GUY.
WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW TO MAKE THE CHICKEN-- THE ROOSTER, I'M SORRY, NOT A CHICKEN.
THIS IS A ROOSTER.
THIS IS CHANTICLEER THE ROOSTER.
YOU SEE IT'S A PUSH TOY, AND AS YOU PUSH FORWARD, THE WINGS GO UP AND DOWN, RUNNING JUST LIKE CHANTICLEER THE ROOSTER HAS ALWAYS DONE SINCE THE DAYS OF THE CANTERBURY TALES.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE GOT THAT GUY WE'RE GONNA MAKE.
WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW TO MAKE THIS BOAT, ACTUALLY A BOAT CAR.
IT'S A KIND OF INTERESTING DEVICE.
IT'S A SPRING-DRIVEN CAR THAT-- YEAH, IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO GET HIM GOING.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA MAKE THE BLACKSMITH AND THE BEAR, BASED ON THE STORY OF THE BLACKSMITH WHO WENT TO GATHER WOOD, AND THE BEAR CONFRONTED HIM, AND THEY HAD A HAMMERING CONTEST TO SEE WHO'D WIN, AND THEY DECIDED, "WHOA, IT'S A TIE," 'CAUSE EACH BLOW MATCHED BY THE OTHER, AND THEN THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD HAVE TO SHARE THE FOREST.
SO THERE WE GO.
WE'RE GONNA DO THAT ONE.
AND THEN, FINALLY, ONE I THOUGHT, "WELL, GEE, THIS IS NOT GONNA AMOUNT TO MUCH," BUT, BOY, DID IT TURN OUT TO BE GREAT.
THIS IS THE DOG, A LITTLE ANIMATED DOG.
THIS IS A DOG FROM AUSTRIAN CONSTRUCTION.
THERE YOU CAN SEE HOW NEAT HE IS, JUST TWO LITTLE STICKS RIGHT THERE.
ONE SLIDES ON THE OTHER, AND THE DOG WILL DO ALL KINDS OF ACROBATICS.
AND SO YOU CAN TAKE LEAPS.
WHOA!
AHH!
HE'S GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, SO I LOVE THIS ONE.
WE'RE GONNA DOLL OF THESE, NOW, THOUGH.
SO LET'S GET STARTED ON THE CHICKEN, AND I'LL LOOK AT THIS-- SORRY, THE ROOSTER, THE ROOSTER.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA LAY OUT IN SOFT PINE THE SHAPE THAT WE WANT.
AND I HAVE MADE A LITTLE SAWING-- AND I WISH THIS GUY WOULD SAW.
THEY ACTUALLY MAKE THOSE SO THAT THEY WILL SAW.
BUT HERE IT IS.
I'VE LAID OUT THE DESIGN IN PINE.
I'M GONNA WORK IN THIS SAWING "V" UP HERE THAT I'VE GOT MOUNTED IN MY VISE.
THIS IS JUST ELEVATED SO IT'S RIGHT UP CLOSE TO WHERE I CAN SEE IT AND I CAN SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE SAW AND KEEP IT VERTICAL, BECAUSE THIS WORKS GREAT.
NOW, YOU WANT TO USE A JIGSAW, OF COURSE, WHEN YOU CAN.
AND DOING LOTS OF THESE THINGS, YOU MAY WANT TO USE A JIGSAW, A TREADLE-OPERATED JIGSAW TO DO THIS.
BUT IF YOU'RE JUST MAKING A FEW OF THEM, YOU JUST DO IT WITH A COPING SAW.
AND I--THERE WE-- GOSH, IT USED TO BE THE COPING SAW WAS THE-- LET'S SEE, NOW, I'M AROUND THE WATTLE THERE.
LET'S SEE, I'M GONNA JUST CUT IN FROM RIGHT HERE ON THIS GUY.
COPING SAW WAS THE ELEMENTARY TOOL FOR TOY MAKING.
IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY DARN HARD TO USE.
YOU'RE GONNA SAY, "WELL, I GOT THIS FOR THE KIDS."
WELL, THE BLADES ARE FRAGILE, HARD TO KEEP SQUARE.
ALL RIGHT, I'M CUTTING INTO AIR.
AND, BOY, IF YOU HIT YOUR FINGER, IT LEAVES A HECK OF A JAGGED WOUND.
SO HERE,E'LL GO AHEAD AND CUT THE TOP.
ONE THING THAT WILL HELP YOU-- WORKING ON THE CREST OF THE ROOSTER RIGHT NOW.
ONE THING THAT WILL HELP YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS IS TO, FROM TIME TO TIME, USE A LITTLE BIT OF BEESWAX OR SOMETHING ON THE BLADE OF THE COPING SAW, AND THAT WILL KEEP IT CUTTING SMOOTH.
I'M GONNA DO THESE LAST TWO CUTS HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
AND AGAIN, THIS LITTLE CRADLE THAT I'VEOT HERE HOLDING IT UP, THIS HELPS ME GET THAT SAW JUST DEAD VERTICAL, THE COPING SAW.
DANGEROUS, OF COURSE.
THIS THING CAN BREAK, GET YOU IN THE EYE.
AND I SHOULD SAY, ALL OF THESE TOYS I'M WORKING ON HAVE CHOKING HAZARDS, SO THEY'RE PRETTY DEADLY.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, THERE WE ARE.
THERE'S OUR ROOSTER READY TO GO NOW.
OH, OH, LITTLE BIT RIGHT THERE, I FORGOT, A LITTLE UNDER THE CHIN WHERE I CAME BACK IN, AND I MADE A GENTLE TURN TO GET IN THERE.
LET'S GET THAT RIGHT AND GET THE ROOSTER'S LITTLE WATTLE PROPERLY.
AND IF YOU HAVE THAT SAW VERTICAL, THESE CUTS SHOULD MATCH UP.
IF YOU DON'T, THE PIECE WON'T FALL OUT.
THERE WE ARE.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'VE GOT OUR ROOSTER ALL CUT OUT.
WE'LL TAKE THIS OUT NOW.
I'M GONNA JUST TAKE THIS OUT OF THE VISE AND SET THE ROOSTER UPRIGHT, 'CAUSE NOW OUR NEXT STEP IS, WE'RE GOING TO USE THE RASP.
SO WE GO FROM COPING SAW TO RASP.
YOU NEED A COPING SAW, A RASP, AND A DRIL REALLY, FOR THESE TOYS.
LOOK AT THE GRAIN.
DID YOU SEE IT FLEX RIGHT THERE?
I DON'T HAVE THE GRAIN RUNNING.
I HAVE THE GRAIN RUNNING RIGHT THROUGH THERE.
SO THAT'S OUR BREAK POSSIBILITY IS RIGHT THERE.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT I'M DOING NOW, JUST SMOOTHING ACROSS WITH THIS CABINETMAKER'S FILE.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S HALF ROUND.
GET THAT SMOOTH RIGHT THERE.
SO THIS IS--ALL OVER, WE'LL BE DOING THIS RASPING TO BRING IT SMOOTH ACROSS THE GRAIN.
AND THIS HALF ROUND, YOU CAN GET RIGHT IN THERE, YEAH, BETWEEN THE WATTLES.
ALL RIGHT, NOW, ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, IT'S A MATTER OF COMING ALONG THE SIDES HERE AND DOING A LITTLE BIT OF BEVELING UNTIL WE GET OUR ROOSTER JUST RIGHT.
SO YOU'LL SEE HERE, AGAIN, WORKING IN THE MOST DELICATE PART OF THIS.
THERE WE ARE, ALL RIGHT.
SO THAT'S OUR GENERAL SHAPING, JUST SAWING OUT AND CLEANING UP WITH THE RASP.
BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEE THE MECHANICAL PARTS NOW.
AND I'M GONNA DO THIS OVER HERE, BECAUSE I'VE GOT TO PUT THE FLAPPING WINGS ON.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE GUY-- WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE MECHANISM OF HOW IT WORKS HERE.
THIS IS GREAT.
YOU SEE HOW THE LITTLE NAIL STUCK IN THE WHEEL THERE MAKES THIS--CONVERTS THE ROTARY MOTION OF THE WHEEL INTO RECIPROCAL MOTION.
WE HAVE A LITTLE PAPER CLIP THERE.
IT NEEDS A LITTLE TRIMMING UNDER THE WING.
AND THE WING STAPLE THAT IT'S HELD TO IS ACTUALLY A PAPER CLIP SNIPPED OFF AND BENT OVER.
SO I MADE A LITTLE STAPLE RIGHT THERE.
NOW, IT WORKS IN THE WING BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO GET ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WING AND-- HOW SHOULD I SAY-- CLINCH IT OVER ON THE TOPSIDE, THAT LITTLE STAPLE RIGHT THERE.
SO THAT WORKS FINE.
THERE'S THE NAIL GOING AROUND.
THE WINGS WILL FLAP.
UP ON TOP, HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS THING, BOY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S JUST PERFORATED RIGHT THROUGH THERE.
YOU SEE HOW HE'S JUST-- A LOT OF HOLES.
THAT'S BECAUSE I WAS TRYING THOSE STAPLES.
YOU SEE ONE RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS ONE DONE, JUST CLIPPED OUT OF A PAPER CLIP.
SO I MADE A LITTLE PAPER CLIP STAPLE.
THESE THINGS DON'T HAVE BARBS ON THEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE BARBS.
THEY'RE VERY SMOOTH ON THE ENDS RIGHT THERE.
LET ME LOOK AT ANOTHER ONE HERE.
THIS IS ONE THAT YOU WOULD BUY, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU REALLY NEED.
IT HAS BARBS ON THE TEETH.
SEE RIGHT THERE?
SO THAT STAPLE WOULD WORK.
YOU CAN DO TWO OF THOSE STAPLES LIKE THAT, AND THEY WILL DO THE TRICK, ALL RIGHT, WITH THE BARBS.
BUT WHAT I'VE USED HERE IS INSTEAD SCREW EYES.
SO LET ME LOOK AT THAT.
GOT SOME SCREW EYES RIGHT HERE IN THE BOX.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET DOWN INSIDE HERE, AND HERE WE GO.
THERE WE GO.
THERE'S ONE LITTLE SCREW EYE, AND THERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE SCREW EYE.
LET ME GET THAT-- OH, WHAT A MESS.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN THIS UP.
SEE RIGHT THERE.
SO THERE'S ONE SCREW EYE, AND THERE'S THE OTHER SCREW EYE.
AND I'M GONNA OPEN UP ONE JUST WITH THE NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS, JUST OPEN IT UP SO WE GET THAT SCREWED IN, GET THE SCREW EYES INTO THE WING.
AND OF COURSE, WE DO THOSE WINGS AS ONE THICK PIECE AND THEN COME BACK AND SAW IT IN HALF.
SO LOOP ONE THROUGH THE OTHER AND THEN REACH DOWN.
NOW, THIS IS AFTER THEY'RE ALL SCREWED TOGETHER INTO THE WOOD, AND THEN JUST CLOSE THAT UP WITH THE-- YEAH, ISN'T THAT GREAT?
OKAY, SO BIG DEAL.
NOW, IT'S NOT THE MOST ELEGANT WAY TO DO THE WINGS ON OUR ROOSTER, BUT IT WORKS OKAY.
SO THERE WE GO.
AND, OF COURSE, WHEN YOU DO THIS, THE ROOSTER, YOU CAN ADJUST THE WAY THE WINGS WORK.
SEE I HAVE 'EM ALTERNATING.
YOU CAN TURN THEM SO THAT THEY'RE IN SEQUENCE HERE IF YOU WANT TO.
AND THIS LOOKS LIKE HE'S TRYING TO FLY NOW.
SEE?
HE'S TRYING TO FLY.
ALL RIGHT, FLYING, FLYING.
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY ROOSTERS RUN, ACTUALLY.
WHEN THEY RUN, THEY ALTERNATE LEFT AND RIGHT.
SO IT'S LIKE THAT WHEN THEY RUN ACROSS THE YARD.
CHANTICLEER IS RUNNING TO TELL 'EM THAT THE FOX IS COMING RIGHT THERE.
NOW, WE HAVE ANOTHER THING.
OF COURSE, THIS IS A PUSH TOY, SO WE NEED A PUSH STICK.
AND IT'S A TOY, AND WE'RE NOT THE-- KIDS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO GET TOYS.
WE GET A TOY TOO.
I'M GONNA WORK TO MAKE THE DOWEL WITH A TOY I HAVE JUST PICKED UP.
THIS IS A DOWEL CUTTING MACHINE RIGHT HERE, AND IT HAS A LITTLE MACHINE HEAD.
YOU CAN SEE THE MACHINE HEAD, A LITTLE CURVED CUTTER RIGHT THERE.
THIS GO--AND IT'S HOLLOW ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
SO WE GOT THE FEED, AND WE FEED IN THE DIFFERENT STICKS THERE.
AND THIS CUTTER WITH THIS VERY SHARP CURVED BLADE WILL CARVE DOWN OUR DOWEL ALL THE WAY.
IN FACT, I'M GONNA SLIP IN-- SLIP THIS PIECE IN HERE FROM THE END.
YOU'LL SEE IT GOES THROUGH THAT SQUARE.
THE SQUARE IS TO KEEP IT FROM TURNING, AND IN FACT, TO KEEP THIS THING FROM TURNING, IT HAS TO HAVE-- RIGHT THERE, THIS CENTER PART, THAT HAS TO BE A LEFT-HAND THREAD.
SO THAT'LL FOOL YOU IF YOU GET ONE OF THESE THINGS.
SO HERE WE GO.
WE'LL START TURNING, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS WORKS.
IT'S LIKE AN ENDLESS PENCIL SHARPENER IS HOW IT WORKS.
SO WE CAN JUST TURN THIS THROUGH, AND YOU'LL SEE IT ACTUALLY COMING OUT THE OTHER END AS WE GO ALONG.
IT JUST SHAVES IT ALONG-- THERE WE GO-- AND PUSHES IT ON THROUGH THE HOLLOW UNTIL WE HAVE SHAVED OUT OUR PUSH ROD.
SO JUST 'CAUSE YOU'RE MAKING TOYS FOR THE LITTLE KIDS DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T GET A TOY FOR YOURSELF.
NOW, ONCE YOU GET TO THE END OF THE SQUARE, YOU HAVE TO STOP, BUT THAT MAKES A NICE LITTLE HANDLE RIGHT THERE.
SO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS OUT, AND THERE WE ARE.
THERE IS OUR WONDERFUL PERFECT DOWEL.
AND IF YOU ARE CAREFUL AND SPLIT OUT YOUR PIECES AND THEN SQUARE THEM DOWN WITH THE PLANE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A MUCH STRONGER DOWEL THAN YOU CAN EVER BUY.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S OUR TOY.
SO LET'S SEE, WE'VE DONE OUR ROOSTER.
WE'RE NOW ONTO OUR BOAT, OUR BOAT CAR.
THIS IS ONE THAT I SAW A PICTURE OF, AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, THIS WOULD BE A NICE THING TO MAKE."
BUT, BOY, IT JUST GAVE ME SO MUCH TROUBLE.
YOU SEE, THE PRINCIPLE OF HOW IT WORKS, THE CORD COMES DOWN OFF OF THE BOW, THE MAST-- THE BACKSTAY HERE, I GUESS IT IS-- AND IT WINDS AROUND THE AXLE.
SEE, THERE'S A LITTLE AXLE BACK HERE WITH THE STRING TIED THROUGH A HOLE ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT.
SO WE ROLL THIS BACK-- WE'RE ROLLING BACK, ROLLING BACK, ROLLING BACK, ROLLING BACK-- AND LET IT GO, AND NOTHING HAPPENS.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
SEE, I'LL ROLL IT BACK, ROLL IT BACK, AND IT DOESN'T WORK BEUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH WEIGHT RIGHT HERE.
THAT KIND OF LIFTS IT UP.
SO WE HAVE TO PUT A PASSENGER ON IN ORDER TO GET THIS THING TO WORK.
SO LET'S TRY THAT.
WE'LL PUT A HEAVY LITTLE COFFIN-SHAPED SMOOTH PLANE ON THERE, ROLL IT BACK, AND SEE IF IT WORKS NOW.
AND YEAH, IT DOES PRETTY WELL.
IT WORKS OKAY.
SO WE CAN HAVE THAT SPRING ROLL BACK, TIGHTEN THE SPRING, AND THEN WE LET IT GO, AND IT GOES ALONG.
NOW, THE PATH TO GETTING THIS THING TO WORKING WAS LONG AND HARD.
IN FACT, LET ME SHOW YOU HERE.
HERE IS THE FIRST BOW I TRIED.
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK FOR A BOW?
WELL, I THOUGHT HICKORY WOULD WORK.
THAT WAS THE HICKORY BOW-- SPRING, RATHER.
HERE'S ONE I SAID, "WELL, I'VE GOT SOME PERFECTLY STRAIGHT-GRAINED OAK.
I'LL SPLIT IT OUT AND BE CAREFUL."
THIS ONE SPL TOO, AND I SAID, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU MAKE BOWS OUT OF?
"THIS THING'S GOT TO WORK.
I'LL USE OSAGE ORANGE."
AND I MADE OSAGE ORANGE, AND IT SPLIT.
NOW, OSAGE IS CALLED BOIS D'ARC, OR BOW TREE, BOW--BOW WOOD.
IT WAS USED BY THE NATIVE AMERICANS TO MAKE BOWS, SO THE DARN STUFF OUGHT TO WORK.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO WORK IT-- IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ONE OF THESE, YOU'VE GOT TO WORK IT JUST LIKE YOU'RE WORKING TO MAKE AN ARCHER'S BOW, A HUNTING BOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I'LL SHOW YOU THE-- SAPWOOD IS, OF COURSE, VERY ORANGE IN OSAGE ORANGE.
THAT'S--IT HAS THOSE ORANGE SHAPED-- IT'S ACTUALLY A RELATIVE OF THE MULBERRIES.
INTERESTING, THOSE GIANT BIG FRUITS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY MULBERRY RELATED.
HERE'S THE HEARTWOOD, AND HERE'S THE SAPWOOD, AND IT HAS TO BEND IN THAT DIRECTION, THE DIRECTION AWAY INTO THE HEARTWOOD, AND YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE GRAIN PERFECTLY.
SO I DO THAT, OF COURSE, SHAVING IT DOWN MORE AND MORE WITH A SPOKE SHAVE.
NOW, THIS SHAVES LIKE A BLADE.
THIS HAS A CUTTING BLADE, AND IT SHAVES JUST FINE.
BUT SOMETIMES IT WILL SNAG WHEN I PULL IT ALONG SHAVING.
YOU HAVE TO SPLIT THIS PIECE OUT, NOW, AND FOLLOW THE CONTOURS.
IF IT GOES WIGGLY WIGGLY, YOU'VE GOT TO FOLLOW THAT WIGGLY WIGGLY ALL THE WAY AROUND.
SO WE SHAVE IT DOWN WITH E AND THEN FOLLOW THAT WITH THE DEVIL.
YES, THIS IS A CHAIRMAKER'S DEVIL.
LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS IS HERE.
THIS IS A SCRAPER MOUNTED INSIDE A FRAME JUST LIKE A SPOKE SHAVER.
YOU SEE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SCRAPER BLADE HERE.
AND THEN WORK THIS ALONG, AND THAT IS REALLY SHAVING IT.
SEE, I'LL HOLD THE DEVIL STILL AND PULL THE OSAGE ORANGE THROUGH THERE AND SHAVE IT DOWN.
SO GET IT VERY GOOD AND SMOOTH, VERY LIMBER SO THIS THING BENDS ALONG ITS ENTIRE LENGTH.
AND YOU CAN MAKE THESE THINGS WORK, BUT THEY ARE A TRIAL, AND YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE-- BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN YOU MAKE THE BOW THAT YOU'RE MAKING IT JUST LIKE YOU WOULD DO AN ARCHER'S BOW WITH THE SAME CARE AND CONCERN.
SO LET'S SEE, I PUT THE STRING UP TOP, AND WE'LL GIVE IT A TRY HERE.
WE'RE GONNA, AGAIN-- IT'S THROUGH THE AXLE, PUT OUR PASSENGER ON, ROLL HER BACK, AND LET IT GO.
THERE WE ARE, JUST A SPRING-POWERED CAR.
THAT'S GREAT.
LET'S MOVE ON NOW.
WE HAVE A CLASSIC ONE NEXT.
NOW, THIS IS THE--THE BLACKSMITH AND THE BEAR, THE BLACKSMITH AND THE BEAR.
THE BLACKSMITH WENT OUT TO GATHER STICKS FOR HIS FORGE, AND THE BEAR SAID, "NO, YOU'RE IN MY FOREST."
THEY HAD THE CONTEST, AND THEY REACHED A TIE, AND THEY SAID, "WELL, LET'S SHARE THE FOREST."
THAT'S THE OLD RUSSIAN FOLKTALE THAT THIS IS BASED ON.
WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD.
WE'RE GONNA FINALLY GET SOME CARVING IN NOW.
I HAVE GOT THE BLANKS SAWN OUT, AND SO WE'RE PAST THE COPING SAW STAGE RIGHT NOW.
SO HERE'S THE BLANK FOR THE BEAR.
HERE'S THE BLANK FOR THE BLACKSMITH.
SO WE'VE GOT THEM READY.
AND WE NOW HAVE TO OPEN UP THE LEGS, 'CAUSE YOU SEE, INSTEAD OF-- WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THESE.
HERE'S A CLASSIC RUSSIAN ONE.
THIS IS A REAL RUSSIAN FOLK TOY HERE.
THESE PECKING BIRDS HAVE A SPRING LOADED ARRANGEMENT TO MAKE THEM WORK.
SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE?
BEAUTIFULLY CARVED.
SO YOU CAN DO THIS BEAUTIFUL CARVING.
THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A STORY, I DON'T KNOW, THE TWO BIRDS PECKING AT THEIR GRAIN STORY.
THESE, YOU JUST KIND OF ADMIRE FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE CARVING.
HERE'S ONE, HOWEVER, MY SISTER BARBARA ANNE MADE, AND THIS HAS A STORY.
THIS IS MY SISTER BARBARA AND ACTUALLY MY BROTHER THOMAS AND HIS WIFE, ANNE.
THIS IS MY BELLE-SOEUR THERE, AND THEY'RE SAWING WITH THE CROSSCUT SAW, SAWING AWAY.
SO HERE'S A VARIATION ON THE BEAR AND THE BLACKSMITH, THE SAWYERS THERE CUTTING THE WOOD.
BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE, LOOK AT THOMAS' BACK.
MY GOODNESS, HE'S MADE OF THREE PIECES OF WOOD RIGHT THERE.
AND YOU SEE HOW THEY'RE GLUED TOGETHER.
THERE'S THREE PIECES LAMINATED, SO YOU HAVE THAT CUPPING AROUND BUSINESS RIGHT THERE.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
WE HAVE A SOLID PIECE OF WOOD FOR OUR BLACKSMITH.
SO WE'VE GOT TO OPEN UP THE LEGS.
IT'S RATHER DISTURBING AND RUDE, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO IT ANYWAY.
GO AHEAD AND SET THE BLACK-- THE BEAR IN THE VISE.
AND I HAVE GOT A AUGER, 1/4 INCH AUGER, AND I WANT TO LAY THIS OUT A LITTLE BIT... LAY THIS OUT WITH THE GAUGE HERE.
THIS IS SET FOR 1/4 INCH.
I'VE GOT 3/4 INCH WOOD.
SO I'LL SET THAT OVER, ALL RIGHT, SET THAT OVER.
ALL RIGHT, JUST KIND OF ROUGH IT.
OH, I'M GOING TOO FAST WITH THIS GUY.
THAT'S WHY I CUT MYSELF THERE.
AI-AI-AI.
THERE WE ARE.
SO THAT'S DOWN AND AROUND.
AND NOW I SET IT RIGHT THERE, ALL RIGHT.
AND WE'RE GONNA BORE RIGHT BETWEEN THE LEGS.
OUCH.
OOH!
SO RIGHT ONTO-- AND AGAIN, THIS IS SOFT PINE OR TULIP POPLAR.
WE'RE JUST SEPARATING THE LEGS OF THE BEAR AND THE BLACKSMITH.
SO BORE ON THROUGH, AND THEN WE'LL JUST TAKE THE COPING SAW AND SET IT UPRIGHT.
AND I CAN USE ANY KIND OF SAW, BUT WE'VE GOT THE COPING SAW OUT, AND IF WE GET A LITTLE ERROR, WE CAN CORRECT IT REALLY EASILY.
AND RASP THIS SMOOTH ON THE INSIDE SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY HANGERS-ON.
THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S OUT.
SO NOW WE GOT THE LEGS READY TO WORK.
YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT GOES AROUND THE TWO STICKS.
AND NOW IT'S WHITTLING.
NOW IT'S WHITTLING.
AH, YES.
SO HERE'S THE TECHNIQUE ON WHITTLING THAT IS SUCH A PART OF THIS.
THIS IS PINE, AND I'VE GOT A LEVERAGE ACTION GOING ON AGAINST MY THUMB.
SO THERE YOU GO.
THERE'S THE THUMB BEING THE LEVER.
WE'LL WORK THE BEAR DOWN, GET HIS EAR DOWN.
LET'S CUT IN A LITTLE BIT AROUND THE HEAD, SEPARATE THE HEAD FROM THE SHOULDER, SO TWO CUTS.
THE FIRST ONE ISN'T GONNA OPEN UP, BUT THE SECOND ONE WILL OPEN IT.
AGAIN, SEE HOW THE LEFT THUMB IS A BIG PART OF THIS CUTTING.
ALL RIGHT, AND CHOOSING THE RIGHT WOOD.
THIS IS SOFT, SOFT PINE.
WE'LL GET THE BACK OF THE BEAR'S HEAD, SO HE'S A LITTLE BIT SEPARATED FROM THE BODY THERE.
SEE, HE'S ALREADY STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE THERE FROM THAT BLOCKY FORM WE HAD BEFORE.
LET'S GO UNDER THE ARM, CUT IN A LITTLE BIT, CUT IN A LITTLE BIT, AND THE CHIP COMES OUT.
WE HAVE TO CUT FORM BOTH SIDES.
SO IT'S REALLY JUST LIKE CUTTING DOWN A TREE, CUTTING IN FROM BOTH SIDES, USING THE LEFT THUMB TO PUSH ON.
NOW, THERE'S ANOTHER WAY OF WORKING, OF COURSE, IS YOU CAN KIND OF USE YOUR-- THIS THUMB HERE AND SQUEEZE BETWEEN THE TWO, AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE GRAIN.
SO HERE YOU'RE JUST KIND OF CLOSING YOUR HAND TO WORK DOWN, BUT ALWAYS WORKING WITH THE GRAIN.
ALL RIGHT, SO THERE WE GO.
WE CARVE OUT OUR PIECE.
SO I SAID WE NEED TO MAKE THE STICKS.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE THE STICKS REAL EASILY.
GOT A LITTLE THING OVER HERE.
WE CAN MAKE THE STICKS THAT THE BEAR AND THE BLACKSMITH RUN ON.
AND YOU CAN CUT THESE OUT WITH SUCH SIMPLE TOOLS.
I'VE GOT HERE THE CUTTING GAUGE.
I WANT TO MAKE A 1/4 INCH STICK FOR THAT BOTTOM.
SET THE CUTTING GAUGE TO THE THICKNESS OF YOUR 1/4 INCH WOOD.
THIS IS SOME TULIP POPLAR.
AND WE'LL JUST SLIDE IT ON DOWN.
ALL RIGHT, DOWN ONE SIDE AND SLIDE IT DOWN THE OTHER SIDE.
ALL RIGHT, AND THAT'S A CUTTING GAUGE, SO IT IS SHARP.
THEN I HAVE MY KNIFE.
I'M GONNA TAKE THAT AND RUN THAT DOWN, AND THAT IS A SHARP, SHARP KNIFE.
ALL RIGHT, NOW, I'M GETTING A LITTLE CLOSE TO ME, SO I'M GONNA CHANGE MY HAND POSITION.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO IT DOWN THIS WAY.
SO YOU CAN CUT THESE THINGS OUT WITH THE KNIFE VERY QUICKLY.
SO THE CUTTING GAUGE HAS THAT DOUBLE JOB OF LAYING OUT-- THERE WE GO.
WE SMOOTH THAT RIGHT ON DOWN.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'VE GOT OUR TWO STICKS TO DO OUR BLACKSMITH.
AND THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER.
WE HAVE, FINALLY, OUR LITTLE DOG, AND OUR LITTLE DOG IS, AGAIN, JUST THE SIMPLEST THING, SAME PROCESS THAT WE WOULD DO BEFORE.
BUT NOW WE HAVE A LONG STICK THAT'S MORE FREELY ARTICULATED.
SO WE WHITTLE OUT THE SHAPES, JUST THE SAME THING, AND DRILL THE HOLES.
HERE WE HAVE WOODEN PINS THAT IT'S TURNING ON INSTEAD OF TINY LITTLE NAILS.
SO THE ACTION, THE WAY THIS IS DONE-- NOW, THIS IS FROM THE GRODEN VALLEY-- I'M NOT SURE HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT-- OF AUSTRIA.
THESE--THIS IS JUST THE GREATEST LITTLE THING.
AND YOU SEE THE WAY THIS IS HELD ON THERE.
SO THESE TWO STICKS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY THIS OPENING DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.
SO THAT IS--THE ONLY TRICK TO MAKING THIS GUY IS BORING THAT LITTLE HANDLE.
SO HERE WE GO.
THERE'S THE-- AH, OH, WE GOT THAT SET IN THERE.
WE'LL SET OUR HOLE-- OOP, WRONG ONE.
WE'RE GONNA BORE THE SLIDE FOR THAT RIGHT DOWN... ON T END GRAIN.
SO WE'LL BORE THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN.
AND THIS IS JUST MAKING THAT SLIDE PART.
ALL RIGHT, AND THEN IT'S A MATTER OF JUST WHITTLING AWAY THE WOOD TO MEET THAT AUGER HOLE RIGHT THERE.
SO WE HAVE GOT A PIECE THAT IS GOING TO BE WORKED INTO THIS SHAPE RIGHT HERE.
IT'S ALL DONE, OF COURSE, WITH WOOD THAT YOU HAVE SPLIT OUT.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY OF THESE BITS HERE STRONG, MAKE SURE THAT YOU SPLIT OUT THE ROUGH PIECE AND THEN SHAVE IT DOWN THE REST OF THE WAY.
IT'S THE SAME THING WITH MAKING OUR DOG.
YOU WANT THE DOG TO BE STRONG, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE GRAIN RUNNING DOWN THE FULL LENGTH OF HIS BODY, DOWN THE EARS AND DOWN THE TAIL, AND YOU WILL HAVE TOYS THAT WILL LAST AND INSPIRE THE CREATIVITY OF THE YOUNG FOLKS IN YOUR LIFE.
SO THERE YOU GO.
THERE'S OUR DOG AND OUR BLACKSMITH, AND THEY CAN ALL RIDE THE BOAT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WHEN THEY GO VISIT THE CHICKEN.
THAT'S TOY MAKING.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME HERE IN THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP.
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 [upbeat fiddle music] (male announcer) MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP IS PROVIDED BY: (male announcer) WHETHER YOU'RE HELPING THEM LEARN HOW TO WALK...
I'M SO THERE.
(announcer) OR TEACHING THEM TO DRIVE... [tires screeching] (girl) SORRY.
OH, YEAH, I'M THERE.
(announcer) WHEREVER YOU ARE IN LIFE, STATE FARM IS THERE, PROUD SPONSOR OF THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP.
(male announcer) WE ARE PBS.
(male announcer) 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.
The Woodwright's Shop is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
PBS North Carolina produces The Woodwright's Shop with Roy Underhill in partnership with State Farm Insurance.