Roy Underhill announced he will close his Woodwright’s School in Pittsboro, N.C., at the end of the 2023 season. But this is not the end of the school or his career as a woodworking educator.
There is a new television show under discussion. Plus his school may appear in another location or in another guise. The most we can say right now is to stay tuned.
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. Ed Lebetkin’s tool store (upstairs from the school) will also close its doors, so it’s time to make that pilgrimage to complete your tool kit.
Thanks for the bit of optimism. It was very sad to hear the school was closing.
One of the best things that happened while you were at Popular Woodworking was the release of all the seasons of The Woodwrights Shop on DVD.
Amen!
Yikes! I very much look forward to where the new school and shop might be, and any plans for a new series.
I have never been to Pittsboro and likely never will. But I am sad to hear this.
All good things come to an end. Thanks Roy.
New television series would be lit.
Sounds like I might have to play hooky one day on my next business trip to Burlington and/or Greensboro to make a visit to Ed’s store and see the Woodwright’s School front door. All these years I’ve been traveling there, and I’ve never bothered to notice Pittsboro is less than a 40-minute drive from Burlington on SR 87. Going to rectify that problem in January or February now.
I like the idea the school may continue in some fashion. And a new TV series too? That would be awesome!
Oh shoot. Taking a class (or two) was on my “when I’m retired” bucket list. I was lucky had had the chance to have breakfast with him (and Peter Ross) at one of the Handworks shows and he was a complete gentleman (although not particularly a morning person 🙂 ). I wish him the very best.
I had the good fortune of taking one last year, it’s awesome.
I love his show on PBS. Its where i learned a smarter way to get clean inside corners on my dt/box joints thanks to your rabbeting technique. New show would be cool, but I wonder if hes gonna stick with non machinery tools in his older age…? Im barely 40 and my back already hurts…and the hernia…grrrr.
I timed him ripping a 27″ board for a student by hand in less than 30 seconds. Then he did it again for six more of them. It’s part of what keeps him young – so yes, I think he’ll stick with the hand tools!
In a class withe Mike Dunbar in 2003 I timed him cutting out a seat with a 2′ bowsaw, about 5 minutes. Seat clamped on the corner of the bench so about 3/4 of the perimeter was available, saw saw saw, reposition the blank, a bit more sawing, done. It took me more than 20 minutes with some stops for breath as well as repositioning. From a manufacturing point of view he was very good at flow, everything you need at hand when you need it, no excess tools confusing you, and the most efficient setup to minimise fiddling and mistakes.
Besides the news that the school is closing, I’m very happy to hear he’s doing well….when someone is “out of the news” for a while, I start to worry.
I remember fondly the visit to Colonial Williamsburg, when Roy Underhill kept our kids busy with a two-kid saw, cutting a slab off a log’s end. While the kids worked, we “adults” were regaled with a story about pit saws – when powered saws came along, the enterprising sawyers cut up the saw pits and sold them for post holes.
We’ll damn…
Met Roy through Elia Bizzarri, the Windsor chair maker//aficionado;
purchased a few tools from the cornucopia that is Ed’s second floor store.
Institutions. Might have to fly to NC just to shop the heck out of it, one more time.
Wood working without Roy, even to prepare for a new venture, is a dad moment. Best wish’s to Roy.
Any news on when the 2023 schedule will be posted?
Get yourself to Ed’s store. He has everything. I just picked up two sweet outcannel gouges, remotely, at a great price. He will check inventory and mail items to you if you can’t make it in person.
My mom had severe arthritis and lost all strength in her arms and hands. It gave her great joy to watch Roy make wood shavings with his hands on TV. Though she never did woodworking, it was her favorite program. Thanks Roy!
Roy back on the air? Fantastic! We await his return with rebated breath!
First I get cancer and than Roy is closing the school, #%$$#!!!. Haven’t been since 2019 with current events , 2022 has been as bad as 2020. I so hope there is a new show. Started watching him when I was 5 been re-watching while I sit here in radioactive Isolation . I hope there is another show but seeing all the DIY garbage available on the streaming services and networks, I am not hopeful. Lets face it He invented the whole industry and genius will always be punished.
DIY garbage!!? BIG difference between carpentry and GC work to build a house and fine furniture. Doesn’t mean its garbage, its just a different less precise medium–but homes are exactly that now–sticks, stucco, and rusty nails haha. Sorry bout the cancer; sharp chisel/plane blade should help cut it out! 😜