Tom McLaughlin

For the past 28 years, Tom McLaughlin has been designing and making custom furniture. As host of Classic Woodworking on PBS, he and expert guests will explore a range of woodworking topics and projects. He’s no stranger to teaching. For years, he’s taught classes in person and online at Epic Woodworking. To find him on Classic Woodworking, check your local listings and finewoodworking.tv.

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Dovetails by machine and by hand

January 15, 2021

In this master class episode, Tom McLaughlin demonstrates how he uses a custom ground dovetail blade to cut the tails before heading to the bench and using hand tools to finish the case dovetails.
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Selecting lumber for an invisible glued-up panel

December 18, 2020

In this master class episode, Tom McLaughlin demonstrates how he selects lumber and mills it to prepare for an almost invisible slip-matched panel joint.
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Dialing in the details of a design

November 30, 2020

In our first master class episode, Tom McLaughlin demonstrates how he fine-tunes a design with sketches and mockups.
Benchmarks: Tom McLaughlin—The more we give, the more we receive

June 5, 2020

During my early apprentice days in eastern North Carolina, I heard the story of a highly skilled local craftsman. He made many pieces of beautiful furniture that decorated stately homes…
A comfortable Craftsman-style side chair

March 25, 2020

Tom McLaughlin builds a Craftsman-style side chair with a reclined backrest, curved crest rail, and angled mortise-and-tenon joinery.
A Woodworker’s Layout Tools: Marking

November 29, 2019

Tom McLaughlin discusses the marking knives, gauges, pens, and pencils he uses every day in the shop.
A Woodworker’s Layout Tools: Measuring

November 28, 2019

Tom McLaughlin discusses the tape measure, rules, and squares he uses every day in the shop.
Finish Recipe: A Warm Finish for White Oak

October 17, 2019

A proper Arts and Crafts finish doesn’t come from a single bottle. Instead, it builds up, becoming richer and more complex with each layer. For more on Tom McLaughlin's Arts…
Tom McLaughlin’s Arts and Crafts Finish

September 25, 2019

Thin layers of dye, glazes, and sealers create an aged Arts and Crafts look.
Wall Cabinet For Hand Tools Plan

March 28, 2019

Tom McLaughlin shares the design and construction for this hanging tool cabinet with this plan. It's a great shop project that can be personalized to accommodate your tool collection. Watch…

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