Best Woodworking YouTube Channels...

[Crazyraceguy]

@onocoffee I really have no interest in doing that, though it has been brought up before. I'm way more than camera-shy. The only thing I could possibly do has already been done, perfectly, by an expert. This Old Tony is one of my all-time favorites, sadly though, his is one of the channels that has slowed to a crawl. He has gotten so big that Patreon supporters get his work now. He might do a freebie for YT every other month......if we're lucky.
Many years ago, I was approached by a company that wanted me to do custom motorcycle videos. This was in the days of DVD sales. They had a camera guy, editing people, the whole bit, all I would have to do was the actual building/painting/etc I wasn't down for it then either.
I really appreciate those who can do it though. I watch more YT than anything else, even with the annoying ads.
It has been suggested that I do a shop-tour video for the Shaper sessions. That, I might be able to handle, but it needs a lot more work first. It's way to "sterile" now. It needs "lived in."
Everything is still very much like it was, just surrounded by walls. My brain is having trouble with opening up and moving things around. I re-arranged my Systainers, but no one else would ever know. I still put everything away, when I go back in the house. I'm struggling with "permanence", wanting to get it right, the first time. (analysis paralysis) I had 6 years to get the old space assembled. I started with one big purchase and built it over time. Plus, the dust collector came down one column, no thinking on my part.
Now, I have plenty of cleat wall space, but my head is not really there yet. I'm not anywhere near its potential.
With the new shop space, cleaning out the garage, adjusting to having the auxiliary room, and yard work, I'm pulled in so many directions......with no focus. I'll get there.
My new dust collector is wired and working, on the garage side of the wall. I have yet to run the ductwork through the wall. A flex hose through the doorway is working for now.

 

[P_K]

I am on a Mac computer and use the DuckDuckGo browser for YouTube. It has a built in Video Player that blocks YT ads. Some YT-ers use a YT-feature that circumvents this and forces you to watch in YouTube with all the ads, but they are (thankfully) still a minority.

Mac OS, Firefox with UBlock Origin. Haven't seen a YT ad in ages, might give the Duck Duck browser a go though.

 

[smorgasbord]

Some of the perhaps more honest woodworkers on YouTube admit that, at least revenue-wise, they're primarily content creators.

I've heard talk that tool reviews get the most clicks, and that building furniture doesn't get nearly as many, except when mistakes were made and highlighted. So, Scott Walsh screwing up a desk that was initially inspired by Ishitani will get more views than Ishitani's video. And the "Pocket Hole King" will get even more because he throws manuals away when unboxing, makes fun of metric, and generally talks authoritatively with red-neck charm. "Pine is Fine" and pocket hole joinery is great are apparently what YouTube's audience really wants.

 

[Leemstradamus]

I completely dislike and ignore all videos which have attempt to sell themselves with flashy titles, such as "No one knew this" or "you cannot do without ...". Well, I don't want to know and I can do without.

My own channel must have the fewest viewers! Definitely for those with a masochistic desire to learn handtool technique.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I might be one of them in the future lol!

 

[onocoffee]

I really have no interest in doing that, though it has been brought up before.

I hear you. Respect to that.

The only thing I could possibly do has already been done, perfectly, by an expert. This Old Tony is one of my all-time favorites, sadly though, his is one of the channels that has slowed to a crawl. He has gotten so big that Patreon supporters get his work now. He might do a freebie for YT every other month......if we're lucky.

But you know, here's the thing: I understand that you might look at is that everything has been done by an expert before - however, I think many here will agree that when we see the work you've produced and topics you discuss, you're also one of those experts - someone who others look to for leadership and inspiration. I know that might sound odd and weird to you, but I do think you have a lot to offer an audience that will be different than what the other experts have shared before now.

It has been suggested that I do a shop-tour video for the Shaper sessions. That, I might be able to handle, but it needs a lot more work first. It's way to "sterile" now. It needs "lived in."

I totally get what you're saying and how you're feeling. The new workshop is too barren. It doesn't feel "right". To my mind, THIS is part of that magic. That journey of a master craftsman looking at a new space, maybe even hating it, and trying to find his sense of place - to make it feel "lived in". I do think that people will be willing to follow this journey and part of the benefit for the audience is that they get to learn - just see your thought process.

Everything is still very much like it was, just surrounded by walls. My brain is having trouble with opening up and moving things around. I re-arranged my Systainers, but no one else would ever know. I still put everything away, when I go back in the house. I'm struggling with "permanence", wanting to get it right, the first time. (analysis paralysis) I had 6 years to get the old space assembled. I started with one big purchase and built it over time. Plus, the dust collector came down one column, no thinking on my part.
Now, I have plenty of cleat wall space, but my head is not really there yet. I'm not anywhere near its potential.
With the new shop space, cleaning out the garage, adjusting to having the auxiliary room, and yard work, I'm pulled in so many directions......with no focus. I'll get there.
My new dust collector is wired and working, on the garage side of the wall. I have yet to run the ductwork through the wall. A flex hose through the doorway is working for now.

I know I started out stating that I respect that you have no interest in doing that - and I do. However, even just this encapsulates what I think would be a fascinating journey. It's essentially an outline for a great video. We see all these guys who've been doing woodworking for what is, comparatively, a short time. Some of them show their mistakes. Others seem to have all the answers. In your case, there's truth, reality and even vulnerability. As an outsider looking in, who only gets to see the photos you've shared with us, it all looks so well planned and thought out. But there's a journey behind the photos. The questions. The doubts. The "I really hate how these Systainers are stacked".

Even just a simple approach of using your phone to record your thoughts on your head not really being in the game has value - if just to show newer woodworkers that it's okay not to have all the answers. One of my YouTube friends runs a channel called Bedo's Leatherworks. He's an expert cobbler in Falls Church, Virginia and he's been documenting how he repairs shoes with just his iPhone propped on his workbench. Most of his videos were very rudimentary and it took years of prodding from his son to take the production of his videos (and channel) more seriously. It doesn't have to be slick production like Erik Curtis.

Well, I don't want to push (or maybe I do), but I do think that you have something unique and interesting to offer an audience. Just something to consider. I know I would subscribe.

 

[Leemstradamus]

Same with Amazon Prime. Now it has ads too. I'm not paying more for a streaming site that I already pay for, in the first place.

Youtube has grown exponentially, since the days of kids busting themselves on skateboard ramps and handrails.
In the early days, it really was just a place to either show-off or show fails. The ads were minimal, probably not much more than it took to support itself, which was small too. Once they started paying people....... some sought to exploit it. As more and more creators could see others make enough to quite their real job, it was "game on."
I'm totally sick of the click-bait titles or pics, especially when it is not true.
Some of the "in video ad-reads" at least make sense. (the ones that are related to the subject itself)
Others are completely money grubbing and obnoxious. (ball shavers, meal services, Morgan&Morgan, and several battery packs that they all call generators)

@Mini Me I discovered Clickspring, completely by accident, a few years ago. I have always watched machining and fabricating type content, along with automotive and woodworking content. It just popped up as a suggestion, and I was in immediately. I'm just afraid it will disappear, the way so many other of my favorites have.

@derekcohen I didn't even know you had a channel, you either @onocoffee

I guess, technically I do too. I have 2 or 3 videos, not even5 minutes total, showing some machines running. It takes way more than that to be a real channel.

@PaulMarcel I loved your videos, back in the day. I really wish you still did them.

I thought I recognized him in that thumbnail. I loved @PaulMarcel videos! He really got me to get into the system. I hope all has been well!

 

[4nthony]

I thought I recognized him in that thumbnail. I loved @PaulMarcel videos! He really got me to get into the system. I hope all has been well!

I still go back and watch Paul's videos just to reinforce concepts. Great stuff.

There's another member from the forum who did great stuff on YouTube, though he may not be as active these days. I think his channel is "The Poplar Shop"? I'll have to look in my subscriptions to confirm the name.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Some of the perhaps more honest woodworkers on YouTube admit that, at least revenue-wise, they're primarily content creators.

I've heard talk that tool reviews get the most clicks, and that building furniture doesn't get nearly as many, except when mistakes were made and highlighted. So, Scott Walsh screwing up a desk that was initially inspired by Ishitani will get more views than Ishitani's video. And the "Pocket Hole King" will get even more because he throws manuals away when unboxing, makes fun of metric, and generally talks authoritatively with red-neck charm. "Pine is Fine" and pocket hole joinery is great are apparently what YouTube's audience really wants.

I absolutely love Ishitani's videos, they are the most enjoyable and relaxing videos to watch, pure enjoyment. Similarly for metal working I love Clickspring, as well as This Old Tony for very enjoyable videos!

 

[4nthony]

I absolutely love Ishitani's videos, they are the most enjoyable and relaxing videos to watch, pure enjoyment.

100%. He doesn't have clickbait titles, no sponsors, no dialog, just pure, unadulterated woodworking.

Has anyone else noticed how his jointer pushes out wood chips? I don't think there's a dust port on that old Shimohira, just the articulating sweep (?) that ejects the chips from the cabinet.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I still go back and watch Paul's videos just to reinforce concepts. Great stuff.

There's another member from the forum who did great stuff on YouTube, though he may not be as active these days. I think his channel is "The Poplar Shop"? I'll have to look in my subscriptions to confirm the name.

Yes, I think his name is Eric too. The Poplar shop was a name change. I subscribed to it long before the change, and was a bit freaked out by it. He was a major Festool fan-boy, who suddenly got a burr under his saddle, over the anual price increases. It's not like I talked to him in person, but he did do a video explaining it, to some degree anyway.
IMO, he over-reacted and sold off a lot of stuff. He probably single-handedly caused the extinction of the Plug-It Cable adaptors. He couldn't let go of the system completely and converted a bunch of other branded tools with them.
The channel never had the same appeal after that. I'm not sure it's even on anymore? Maybe as an archive of the old stuff. He is the one who inspired my Sysport design.

I have referred back to @PaulMarcel videos countless times. I credit/blame him for doing the deep dives that really hit my OCD tendencies. I would say that the modification to the MFK700 zero-degree base was the real spark. I was already in, with DF500, and Paul expanded my horizon. He is where I first learned about the FOG too. He had some of the original run of custom Systainers, featuring the logo.

@onocoffee I really appreciate your confidence and kind words. I get what you are saying, to some degree anyway, I'm just not so sure that the appeal/interest would be there? What I did all those years was a rather unique thing. It's not like there are people who want to learn it, and that certainly wouldn't be the way to go about it, if they did.
You're right, I see the bareness, and it looks so sterile. There's a ton of stuff buried in there. Decades of working in a shared space, that I couldn't freely expand into, taught me that. I was still somewhat of a packrat though. I saved off-cuts and extra material piling or leaning it everywhere I could. After so many years of that, I was determined too break that habit. Having walls has helped a lot. I have 2 of the Bora racks up, and a 3rd in the box, waiting on the next space. Sorting/storing has been a big part of what I have been doing lately.

I did get a little further with the big board too. It still needs the juice groove and a collection well, but I'm waiting on the client for location details.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I absolutely love Ishitani's videos, they are the most enjoyable and relaxing videos to watch, pure enjoyment. Similarly for metal working I love Clickspring, as well as This Old Tony for very enjoyable videos!

I watch all three on those. Clickspring is absolutely amazing. Tony is one of the "experts" I referenced before. His style hits just right.
Ishitani does great work too. I imagine the "shop sounds only" are because of a language barrier? I watch a few channels that do this. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing something though. Sure, some people over-explain, and that gets tiring too, but some guidance would be appreciated. (even if it was just captions, I have seen that done well too)

 

[onocoffee]

100%. He doesn't have clickbait titles, no sponsors, no dialog, just pure, unadulterated woodworking.

Has anyone else noticed how his jointer pushes out wood chips? I don't think there's a dust port on that old Shimohira, just the articulating sweep (?) that ejects the chips from the cabinet.

One of the saw mills I buy from - Frank Thomas in Fallston, MD, has a 16 inch jointer that spews out shavings in that manner. With all our focus on dust collection, it's kinda wild to see it spewing dust everywhere!

 

[Crazyraceguy]

100%. He doesn't have clickbait titles, no sponsors, no dialog, just pure, unadulterated woodworking.

Has anyone else noticed how his jointer pushes out wood chips? I don't think there's a dust port on that old Shimohira, just the articulating sweep (?) that ejects the chips from the cabinet.

It has always amazed me how different planers and jointers put out chips.
My jointer has a spiral head. When the dust collector is disconnected, the chips just slide out of the fitting, even a 5 gallon bucket can catch them. The planer is more violent. I'm sure the internal fan is a big part of it, but that thing throws chips a long way.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Has anyone else noticed how his jointer pushes out wood chips? I don't think there's a dust port on that old Shimohira, just the articulating sweep (?) that ejects the chips from the cabinet.

I'm more in love with that skimming planer he has that takes a full width and length shaving off in one piece!

What an absolutely sensational machine! I can only imagine the joy of using a machine like that!

 

[Steve1]

If you are looking for something different, Oliver Gomis does some pretty unique work.

His wormhole table is about as unique as one could get.

Another time he was making a chest of drawers. Pretty boring stuff for his channel, so I just skipped through it and went to the end to see the finished piece -- and I think "wait a minute, where are the drawer slides? - I don't see them but know they are there" So had to go back and watch the whole thing just to see how it was designed.

 

[peter halle]

I'm more in love with that skimming planer he has that takes a full width and length shaving off in one piece!

What an absolutely sensational machine! I can only imagine the joy of using a machine like that!

You should be able to get one of those fairly easily used out of Japan thru Ebay, I know I've seen the listings here in the US.

Peter

 

[Leemstradamus]

If you are looking for something different, Oliver Gomis does some pretty unique work.

His wormhole table is about as unique as one could get.

Another time he was making a chest of drawers. Pretty boring stuff for his channel, so I just skipped through it and went to the end to see the finished piece -- and I think "wait a minute, where are the drawer slides? - I don't see them but know they are there" So had to go back and watch the whole thing just to see how it was designed.

I saw this one! His lathe is nuts.