Adirondack Chair | S2 E2 

30 years later, I am still fascinated by the same thing I saw back then. You know, when I so much as sharpen a pencil in my shop I have to chase the wood chips around with a vacuum. But somehow, when Norm plows off 1/4 inch of wood with a planer, the chips just seem to vanish into thin air! The skill I wish I could master most is the one where I can run a bandsaw, a planer, a drum sander and God forbid, a router with a 1/4" round over bit and never create so much as a dust bunny on the floor of my shop! No cyclone system, no shop vac running, no 4" hoses dangling from the ceiling and somehow, you could eat dinner off the floor. All kidding aside, to this day, this man was and still is one of the greatest influences in my life. Thank You for showing these episodes again. It means a lot to a great many people.

Thank Goodness this back. The world need this.

God bless you norm. How I miss watching you make all the furniture in the shop. This old house isn't the same either without you.

These videos bring back fond memories of working in my shop using my old milwaukee corded drill (it still works perfectly) and no dust collection what-so-ever. Saturday morning, coffee cup in hand, TV tuned in to kcptv public television, and the New Yankee Work Shop music starting. And only 28 years old, those were the days.

I bought the VHS tape and plans and made 2 or 3 hundred of these chairs before the Navy sent me overseas for 8 years. I bought the book later, too. I still have my templates made from an old piece of paneling. Wow!

This was the episode that got me hooked on the show. Norm made me feel like I could make the chair. Which I did! I even made some out of cypress just like Norm! Unfortunately, "forever" in the heat and humidity of Florida was only a couple of years.. I salvaged parts from two of them and it's still in one piece 10 years later

I don't know a lot about woodworking, but I learned 80% of what I do know from Norm. I built my wife the blanket chest at the end of the video, and it's still in my bedroom almost 20 years later. Thanks for everything Norm.

I loved this show. I used to watch every Saturday.

Norm is a master and a legend.i use to watch all his shows I'm glad they are on RU-vid. Peace and love from Tampa Florida

Thanks Norm, I’m proud to be one of many woodworkers inspired by your craftsmanship 😊. You are an American Icon 😊

I loved watching this show on Saturday mornings back in the 1990’s, and I’m loving watching them again today. I specifically remember this episode on the Adirondack chairs. Thank you for posting them.

Great programs to learn. Thank you Norm and all program team.

This episode inspired me like nothing else. I have built 100s of these as well as love seats and swings.

Made 6 of these over the last 30 years… 2 with cypress, 2 with cedar and 2 with redwood in MA, PA and CA respectively over the years. Region decided the wood. The BEST design and plans for an Adirondack chair - period. I noted this was the first episode that Norm stated… “…There is no more important safety rule than to wear these - safety glasses.” Sage advice and Norm’s trademark line!

So happy to see Norm's New Yankee Workshop again. Started watching way back when his shop was called Ye Olde Yankee Workshop in the 70s. Norm's handmade sign was installed at the end of his long driveway. Norm was in the process of completing the workshop interior, the best location for each of his stand-alone machines; planer, band saw, table saw, etc. One wall had scaffolding to hold the various woods nearly to the ceiling, opposite wall was covered in graduated pipe clamps - what a site! Another early project was the sliding door entrance he designed and installed for large, finished projects in order to get them outside for delivery. Loved the stained glass window on the upper edge of the door! Needless-to-say I never missed the show, I learned alot. I'll say "welcome back" again!

It seems so old-timey to see all Norm's power tools with cords.

Norm is a staple to any workshop...he's like your favorite plane!

I started watching this show when I was 14. I loved to watch him build so many cool things and was fascinated on how he explained how to do it.

I live in the area and go to the Adirondack Museum every year. Such a great place. Even though I’ve seen everything probably 30 times it never gets old.

I made about 6 pairs of these out of local sawmill cedar. They held up for at least 10 to 15 years. Thanks Norm!

I first discovered Norm and The New Yankee Workshop when my wife was pregnant with my first son. She was nesting, and I was too learning from Norm how to do woodworking projects. These videos bring me back to that time. Norm is a hero of mine, and I hope to one day soon build one of his projects with my newly born grandson!

God I just love watching these again. Even saw a cold puff of ole Norm's breath at 0:17 which only adds to the reality of this show. Reminds me of the happiest times of my life when our family was all together in our new home, the kids were in grade and high school, work was going well, and I'd religiously watch both TOH and NYW on Saturday, and be out in the shop on Sunday working on a new project or doing a honey-do for my lovely wife. We've moved twice since then and the kids are both pushing 40 with thier own families now but we're close enough to still get together and my son now does his own woodworking after watching these wonderful episodes again! Thanks y'all!

I built 4 of these, my first ever woodworking projects. He makes it look easier than it felt at the time because I had zero experience, but I got a decent result thanks to his drawing. 20 years later, I would do it completely different than I did back then, but it got me going on a hobby I love. This project was really all about the patterns...being able to make a set of templates. Once you have the templates, you can easily mass produce this project.

I made one of these 34 years ago, and it’s finally time to make a new one. One thing: all cypress is NOT the same, nor does it all last “ forever.” Only OLD GROWTH cypress with very close growth rings lasts for years. The modern cypress is cut from young cypress, with fewer growth rings. Left in the weather, it won’t last long!

Loved watching Norm on This Old House before NYW. Bob Vila was all talk Norm did the magic. Many a repair or maintenance issue made me mutter “ What would Norm do?” And I eventually figured it out.

I built 4 of these in '92 out of Ipe. Most comfortable Adirondacks I've ever sat in. They've received zero maintenance and they're still perfect. Thanks Norm.

Oh how i used to love watching you on the TV here in the UK

Love these projects! Norm is really talented

I met Norm at a meet-and-greet at the Rockler in Orange, California. He was exactly the same in real life as he is on TV. No pretenses, just Norm. Now I want to make a set of these chairs.

I used to watch this show all the time as a kid with my dad. He always liked to comment on how jealous he was of Norms tools/workshop lol. Dad passed away in 2019, but seeing some of these old NYW episodes makes me feel like he's sitting next to me again.

To stop the legs rotting in the grass. I cut up a old rubber tire. Made oversized feet screw it on with stainless steel screws. Keeps the wood legs high and dry.

It's great to see a true master at work .and when I first saw this I too started to learn woodworking.i may not be a master ,but there only can be but one master Norm your the man god bless.Billy from Scotland UK.

I made an adirondack chair as my end-of-the-year project for my first year of woodshop in high school. I made it out of white cedar and my dad made one just like it in our basement. Both chairs were brought out to hunting camp and were there for many years. I'll always associate these chairs with my dad. He's made many more, including 2 made of oak at his home, and one that belongs to me made of cherry.

The same with me. I remember driving 80 miles to a saw mill just to get cypress. Those two chairs made it for 25 and 26 years, the last getting scrapped just last year. I just made two more out of reclaimed cedar from a deck I replaced last summer

I think I've been watching Norm for 30 years.

Yup! Saturday mornings back in the day. Now I’m almost 50. Oof. Wow.

I loved this show in the day.

Good old Norm has jokes at 26:21. I love watching this guy.

Simply said norm is the best!

Holy cow i used to watch this with my dad as a kid

I would love to take over the inspiration of Norm and what I have learned from watching him over the years, All I need is the shop. I am also a spray paint artist so I was able to build a few of these chairs in different themes... such as a surfing theme or a space theme or a beach scene with palm trees, then they are polyurathaned (sorry for the Spelling) and sealed for weather so they last.

Greetings from the BIG SKY. Norm sure justified my purchase of a copy of this chair. It's outside.

I built 3 of these things. Fantastic chair.

I live in the Adirondacks!

i would like to see it open again

I have his book and currently have several of these chairs on Craigslist. They are SUPER comfortable and mine are made of clear Western Red Cedar. Recycling a couple of old cedar beams and turned out to be clear stock and they are gorgeous.

Great to seeyour progress.

Man, those tools he's using are so old lol, I guess it was 33 years ago. I miss this show.

This is hilarious! Great shows, so few quality shows these days. Sure, Norm was often a bit over-tooled but you could always make due with another method. As someone who's made a living being a carpenter and woodworker at various points in my career it never bothered me that I didn't have his tools- got some great ideas from watching and doing it "my" way, and seemed to get by just fine. Speaking of having his tools: I own and still use that exact same Makita D-handle router. I bought the accessory free-hand fence from Makita and that thing has worked hard over the years. Enabled me to make a living a number of times. I did learn it was a poor router table tool- I got a 2-1/2HP swappable base for that duty- but as a free-hand router it's great. I don't know if I bought that because Norm had the Makita or just because Makita had gained a good reputation as a durable tool. Probably the latter. 18:07 Another funny thing is that although I have a couple of band saws that would do that just fine, I would use a drawknife; or maybe a cordless jigsaw to rough it and finish with a spokeshave. After the Mike Dunbar class 30 years ago I've saved a ton of time doing stuff "the old fashioned way" with hand tools. He was right: handtools are pretty quick and when you use them in this manner there's no cleanup and sanding- the part is finished right off the blade.

I have made at least 18 of these wonderfully comfortable chairs over the past five years from your plans. The most durable wood I’ve used so far has been red cedar and believe it or not, pressure treated pine! I tried cypress for a couple, but it wasn’t reclaimed cypress, but new. Those two chairs rotted within a year! So lesson learned, always use reclaimed cypress for outdoor furniture (that advice from a fellow in Louisiana, the source of much great swamp cypress here in the south.) I have located a poly wood dealer and am going to try some soon. It is expensive, but should endure in the brutal Houston weather…heat not cold.

In Canada they are called Muskoka chairs.The same chairs.Different country .

Hi Norm, I'm from the future, it didn't last forever, 30 years later it came back to exact spot it was born, the weather and bees got it.

33 years ago and Norm's breathing hard!

Hi thank you God bless you for the Riley family

And Made In USA with pride!

I first watched this episode back in the early 90's which got me excited about building these chairs so I ordered the plans (which I still have and use) but I didn't have a workshop or any tools at the time and lived in a condo in San Diego. It was a few years until I produced my first chair which turned out pretty amazing, so much so that I quickly received orders for many more. I stopped building them for 20 years but a few months ago I pulled out the old plans and started making them again and guess what, people started ordering them again. My wife loves her chair and sits in it everyday. Thanks Norm, wish I had your skills....and your tools!

In a few years I intend to tear out my deck and get a patio poured. I'm hoping I can salvage enough wood from that to build a couple of these chairs to put on the patio.

Great Work Norm !! So what's next ??

"There is no more important safety rule than to wear these safety glasses" The sounds from my childhood on the weekends.

Lucky for me I live in northern Delaware 10 minutes from Kennet Square, PA - the “mushroom capital of the world” or so they say. Because of this, cypress is common - apparently used in mushroom growing houses. There’s a lumber yard (A&A) that caters to the industry and only carries 3 species one of which is cypress. I use it for any outside projects. It is nice wood but REALLY splintery. Wear gloves when handling it before dimensioning. One thing that cracks me up about these videos is the almost complete lack of dust collection.

Are you famous? I saw you when scrolling and I feel like i have seen you my whole life. I live in St.Lawrence county. Maybe I have watched you before idk 😅

❤️👍

Another channel showed his chair coming back for refurbishment.

MEASURED DRAWING

Shame the wood smelled like a brewery! Just getting into woodworking but used to watch this with my folks. Ma loved Norm

the foam pad I wonder how many people went looking for one at the tool store instead of the carpeting store?

Hey Norm Do you ever get any snipe running it through the plainer? If so what is your secret for stopping it another board before the actual board goes through and after it goes through?

I watched this series on Net 25 in the Philippines in the 2000s and has been one of my favorite programs of all time. My only complaint abut this show, however, is that the cutscenes sometimes trigger my OCD (Example in this video is that you did not show how Norm screwed the base of the fifth slat).

I don't know how you can see your line while cutting with your bandsaw, I can't see it.

What is the trick to keep the bandsaw blade from derailing?

WHICH CABLE NETWORK YOU CAN WATCH THE NEW YANKEE WORKSHOP ON?

Not sure how anyone would get burned by countersunk screws. Also, you could make wood plugs to glue in over the screw heads and never worry about them plus it gives it a more finished look. Lastly, it seems to my the entire assembly would benefit from using wood glue for longer lasting construction. Otherwise it’s a nice piece.

Your beard salt & pepper 👍

cuts at 27.5deg, then power sands freehand.

Can we still order the measured drarings?

A great craftsman with $50,000 worth of tools.

I don't believe that clock should be placed against an exterior wall.

You tell us to use all the safety gadgets, but you do not.

🤣🤣didn't last forever at all. 2023, it was falling apart from being in the weather for thirty years. Pretty good, I guess, but not quite forever.

BORED

Not the nicest Adirondak chair

Me puedes regalar unas pantillas Plantillas

Norm looks different now, he has lost so much weight there are rumors he has cancer

my father always told my sister and I the boobtube would rot our brains, years later while remodeling his basement, he asked where I learned all that I had done.....the boobtube watching shows like this and others on PBS