MAJOR FUNDING FOR "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" IS PROVIDED BY... [BIRD SQUAWKS] [THUNDER] [HORN HONKING] WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS, STATE FARM HAS THE TOOLS TO GET YOU TO A BETTER STATE, PROUD SPONSOR OF "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

HEY, I'M ROY UNDERHILL.

WELCOME BACK TO "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

NOW, WHEN MOST PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A WINDFALL, THEY'RE SPEAKING METAPHORICALLY.

BUT WHEN YOU WORK WITH TREES AND WOOD, WINDFALL IS LITERALLY SOMETHING GOOD.

SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOU, NOT SO GOOD FOR THE TREE.

NOT SO GOOD FOR THIS AMERICAN BEECH TREE.

BLEW DOWN IN A STORM, UPROOTED ACROSS THE CREEK, WHICH IS GONNA MAKE IT A CHALLENGE TO GET OUT, BUT WE'RE OBLIGATED TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

NOW, IT'S NOT THIS BOTTOM PART, THIS STRAIGHT BOLE THAT WE'RE AFTER.

THIS IS GREAT FOR MAKING PLANES AND OTHER TOOLS.

NO, WE WANT TO HEAD UP TO THE TOP OF THE TREE RIGHT NOW, UP TO WHERE THE CROTCHES ARE.

NOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN THESE CROTCHES EVER-- EVER SINCE THERE WERE PEOPLE AND TREES.

THEY WANT THE BIG ONES IN LIVE OAK TO MAKE THE DECK AND RIBBING CONNECTIONS IN WOODEN SHIPBUILDING.

KIDS WANT THEM FOR THE "V" TO MAKE A SLINGSHOT.

AND I WANT THESE MEDIUM-SIZED ONES HERE IN THIS BEECH FOR-- WELL, WE'LL SEE.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, I HAVE STARTED ON THIS ONE HERE, AND I'M WORKING WITH THIS WONDERFUL ONE-PERSON CROSS-CUT SAW.

I'M GONNA TAKE SOME OF THE WEIGHT OFF OF THIS ONE, CUT IT LONGER THAN I NEED SO THAT WHEN IT SNAPS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE TOP END, THE FRACTURE DOESN'T GO WAY ON BACK UP THIS WAY AND RUIN THE PIECE THAT I NEED.

SO--YEAH, THERE.

SEE?

THERE YOU GO.

AH, ALL RIGHT.

YOU SEE HOW STRONG THIS HAS TO BE.

LOOK AT THIS TOP OF THE TREE UP THERE AND THE BRANCHES BEING BLOWN BACK AND FORTH, SO A HUGE AMOUNT OF STRENGTH IN THIS PART RIGHT HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND AGAIN, I'M LOOKING AT IT AND I WANT TO SAVE BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER CROTCH COMING UP DOWN THIS A-WAY.

WHERE DO I WANT TO CUT--I'M JUST GONNA CUT THIS RIGHT HERE, BECAUSE WHATEVER I ADD TO THIS ONE, I'M GONNA TAKE AWAY FROM THAT ONE.

SO I'LL CUT THIS HERE.

IT'S FORTUNATE FOR ME THE BEAVERS HAD KILLED THE OVERHANGING SWEET GUMS AND LEFT THIS SUNNY SPOT, SO THE TREE, THE BEECH TREE HERE, IS STILL ALIVE.

BUT YOU SEE THE BUGS ARE STARTING TO GET INTO IT, SO IT'S TIME TO START CUTTING.

BUT IT'S HERE AMONG THE POKEWEED AND THE SPICEBUSH AND THE BOX ELDER AND THE BLADDER, BLADDERNUT TREES.

LET'S SEE.

ALMOST THROUGH, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO SUPPORT IT SO IT DOESN'T CRACK.

AH!

THERE YOU GO.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER: THESE THINGS.

I'M GONNA CUT A BUNCH OF THESE, AND I'LL TAKE THEM BACK TO THE SHOP AND SEE WHAT I CAN MAKE WITH THEM.

BECAUSE AS THE WISE MAN ONCE SAID, "WHEN YOU COME TO A FORK IN THE TREE, TAKE IT."

OH, GOSH, THEY'RE HEAVY!

OH, HA HA HA!

GOSH!

OH, NO WONDER I'M GETTING CROTCHETY HERE.

AH.

THESE THINGS ARE HEAVY.

THEY WEIGH TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY WILL ONCE THEY DRY OUT, BECAUSE HALF THEIR WEIGHT AS BEECH WOOD IS WATER.

THAT'S TRUE OF MOST WOODS YOU CUT FRESH HERE.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING, "WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THESE CROTCHES?"

ALL RIGHT, SO HERE'S ONE.

WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THIS THING, PERHAPS, BESIDES BUYING IT A NICE PAIR OF PANTS, SOME BEECHES' BREACHES?

WELL, WE'RE GONNA START MAKING A RIVING BRAKE.

A RIVING BRAKE IS ABOUT THE SIMPLEST THING YOU CAN DO BECAUSE YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING.

I USE THE "V" AS KIND OF A-- A LEVERING PLACE, OR I SHOULD SAY SOMETHING TO BEND AGAINST.

SO YOU MAKE AN ARTIFICIAL NOTCH FROM THE CROTCH.

SO TAKE TWO PIECES--OOP.

EVERYTHING FALLING DOWN HERE.

TAKE TWO PIECES AND JUST SET THEM CROSSWAYS, CONTRARY TO ONE ANOTHER.

A LITTLE BIT OF FINAGLING TO GET THEM SITTING JUST RIGHT, BUT ONCE THEY DO, YOU SIT RIGHT.

THERE WE GO.

SEE HOW IT'S SELF-SUPPORTING?

NOW, YOU SHOULD WANT ONE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN THAT.

WE'VE GOT THOSE CROSSWAYS PIECES HERE IN THE FORK.

NOW WE'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK TO MAKE LONG SHINGLES, RIVEN BOARDS IN.

THIS ONE IS TOO THICK, BUT I'LL JUST GIVE YOU THE IDEA, IN ANY CASE.

SO HERE'S THE FROW.

HERE'S A PIECE OF RED OAK, NOW, A VERY DIFFERENT TYPE OF WOOD, BUT IT'S VERY STRAIGHT GRAIN.

SO YOU CAN WORK THIS DOWN WITH A FROW.

DRIVE THE FROW IN LIKE A WEDGE TO START, AND THEN PULL BACK.

AND YOU SEE HOW THE RIVING BRAKE IS RESISTING MY PULL?

HA HA HA!

IT'S GONNA POP OUT AND BITE ME, SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO MOVE THIS FROW DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

[ROY GRUNTS] ALL RIGHT, IT'S OPEN THERE.

I'M GONNA HOLD THIS IN HERE A LITTLE BIT MORE, GET THE FROW DEEPER.

[ROY GRUNTS] THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, THE TRICK WITH THE RIVING BRAKE IS IT ALLOWS YOU TO RIVE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THERE WE GO.

BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO HAVING TO CONTROL THE WOOD, YOU'RE ABLE TO PUSH DOWN AGAINST THE CROTCH LIKE THAT, AND IT HELPS YOU TO STEER THE SPLIT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE WOOD LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, BUT ANYWAY, I WANT TO GET ON WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE--SAY LIKE THESE WOULD BE SHINGLES OR LONG BOARDS FOR YOUR ROOF, AND WE'LL SEE THESE ON THE SHINGLE HORSE, THE SHAVING HORSE, IN A SECOND.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THE OTHER THING WE CAN DO WITH THIS-- IT'S VERY SIMPLE-- IS JUST BORE A HOLE IN IT.

WE'LL SEE HOW TO DO THAT.

THERE'S THE OTHER PIECE, AND THAT PIECE.

ALL RIGHT, SO HERE, I HAVE BORED THROUGH HERE-- EXCUSE ME, OH, GOSH-- A HOLE THROUGH THE MIDRIFF RIGHT THERE.

SO THERE'S A BELLYBUTTON HOLE RIGHT THERE, AND I'M GOING TO PUT A STICK THROUGH THAT HERE.

ALL RIGHT, AND THAT COMES-- THERE'S A LITTLE ARCH TO IT, SO YOU CAN CONFIGURE IT THE WAY YOU WANT.

SO NOW I'VE GOT THIS SORT-OF-LOOKING THING-- OW--THAT, NEVERTHELESS, IS A SAWING BUCK.

SO IF I HAVE MY BUCKSAW RIGHT HERE, AND I'VE GOT A SAWING BUCK, I AM IN BUSINESS.

NOW, I NEED A PAIR OF THESE, BUT I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THIS DOES HERE STEP.

A BIT OF WALNUT, SO I COULD HOLD IT HERE.

SEE WHAT I MEAN?

IT HOLDS THE WOOD UP OFF THE GROUND.

THERE WE GO.

THERE YOU GO.

HANDY AS IT CAN BE.

SO--AND VERY, VERY STRONG.

SO I'M GONNA MAKE ANOTHER ONE OF THESE-- IN FACT, LET ME SHOW YOU RIGHT HERE.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU RIGHT NOW THAT BORING PART, GET IT OUT OF THE WAY, AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN MAKE ANOTHER PART OF IT.

BECAUSE REALLY IT IS STILL-- EVEN THOUGH WE'RE WORKING VERY SIMPLE THINGS, WE'RE STILL DOING MORTISE-AND-TENON WORK.

NOW, SO HERE I'VE GOT A BEECH CROTCH WE CUT OUT OF THE TREE, VERY, VERY STRONG IN HERE, AND I'M JUST GONNA SET THE AUGER.

I'LL START RIGHT HERE, SEE, AND KIND OF EYEBALL THE CENTER OFF OF THE BOTTOM, AND WITH THIS BIG AUGER-- SO IT'S GOT A LEAD SCREW AND TWO CUTTING LIPS DOWN THERE, AND JUST START BORING IN.

AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE WHY THEY CALL IT "BORING" IN A MINUTE.

IT IS INDEED BORING BUT ALSO STRENUOUS IN THAT I'M-- EACH OF THOSE LIPS IS TAKING A HUGE, THICK CUT DEEP INTO THE WOOD, REALLY DEEP.

THINK ABOUT IT IF THIS WAS A PLANE MAKING SHAVINGS THAT BIG AND THERE'S ALMOST AN INCH ON EACH SIDE AND-- THERE WE GO-- ALMOST AN INCH ON EACH SIDE.

SO, HUGE, HUGE, HARD WORK THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

[ROY GRUNTS] YOU THINK ABOUT HOW STRONG THIS HANDLE HAS TO BE IN ORDER TO DO ITS JOB-- IT IS A PIECE OF HICKORY.

SO THERE'S DIFFERENT WOODS FOR EACH OF THESE JOBS, HICKORY BEING ABOUT THE STRONGEST.

LET'S SEE IF I COME THROUGH HERE.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, THAT SHOULD BE THROUGH IN JUST A SECOND.

NOW, I STARTED ON THE SURFACE, AND YOU SAY, "HOW CAN HE POSSIBLY BE--" WHEW!

ALL RIGHT, ENOUGH OF THAT.

"HOW CAN HE POSSIBLY BE THROUGH?"

WELL, BECAUSE I BORED ALREADY.

I SAVED THAT PART BY BORING FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE I'M THROUGH DOWN THERE TO THE OTHER SIDE.

OH, THERE'S A WORM IN THERE.

GET ME MY HATCHET.

SO I'M GONNA CUT THIS OUT NOW ACTUALLY WITH A HATCHET, WITH AN AXE.

THIS IS A POST AXE HERE, A LITTLE POST MORTISING AXE.

IT'S SOLD AND HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT NAMES BECAUSE-- FOR A NARROW AXE LIKE THIS, YOU CAN SEE HOW IT WORKS, CUTTING THE WEBS OUT OF THE SIDES HERE.

AND, INDEED, BEFORE THE AUGER BECAME A REALLY USEFUL TOOL, YOU WOULD DO THIS OF COURSE ALL WITH A CHISEL AND A MALLET OR WITH AN AXE LIKE THIS, THE CHOPPING DOWN THE INSIDE.

LET'S SEE DOWN IN THERE HERE.

THERE YOU GO.

SO, JUST TRYING TO CHOPPING THE WALLS OF THE AUGERED HOLES.

NOW, BEFORE THERE WAS AN AUGER, THERE WERE AXES, AND THE WAY YOU WOULD DO THIS IS, OF COURSE, CHOP IN ON EITHER END HERE WITH THIS NARROW BIT OF THIS AXE, CHOP IN AT THE OTHER END WITH THE NARROW BIT OF THE AXE, THEN SWING DOWN AND SPLIT OUT.

SO THAT'S HOW YOU'D MAKE FENCE POSTS, SO SOMETIMES CALLED A POST MORTISE AXE TO DO THAT WITH.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE IF I'VE GOT A PIECE THAT'LL FIT IN THERE, EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T GOT IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

YOU'LL SEE HOW I HAVE A MATE FOR MY--HERE IT IS.

TRY THIS ONE.

ALL RIGHT.

SEE HOW I HAVE A MATE?

SO THIS WOULD COME ALL THE WAY THROUGH, AND THEN IT GETS CAUGHT LIKE THAT.

I HAVE ANOTHER--HA HA HA-- SAWING JACK-- YEAH, A SAWING JACK-- OR A SAWING BUCK.

THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S HOW WE DO THE MORTISES.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THESE ARE IMPORTANT.

WE'LL SEE THE TENON IN JUST A SECOND AND WHAT WE DO WITH THESE SHAVING HORSES.

LET ME GET THAT SHINGLE.

I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT I MEAN.

AND THERE'S A DEEP, DEEP THING HAPPENING WITH ALL OF THIS, SO LET'S SAY I'VE SPLIT THE SHINGLE.

AS FAR AS HUMANS ARE CONCERNED, IT'S DEEP.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE TREES MUCH CARE, BUT TO US, THIS IS PRETTY NEAT.

SO HERE, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT SHINGLE THE NEXT TIME.

SO WE'VE RIVEN IT OUT AND GOT IT ALL READY TO GO HERE TO THE SHAVING HORSE.

THIS IS A FOOT-OPERATED VISE, SO I SWING MY FOOT DOWN AND IT GRABS THAT.

MY FOOT IS MAKING THIS DUMBHEAD, WE CALL IT, THIS GRIPPING JAW GRAB THE WOOD REAL RIGHT, AND THE HARDER I PULL BACK WITH THE DRAWKNIFE, THE HARDER IT GRIPS.

SO IT'S JUST THIS GREAT BIT OF CIRCULAR ENGINEERING.

I PULL BACK THIS WAY-- I HAVE TO PUSH WITH MY FEET, THEY PUSH AGAINST THIS, THAT GRABS IT AND AGAIN RESISTS.

SO IT'S THIS WONDERFUL CIRCLE OF ENERGY AS YOU WORK.

SO, THIS GREAT THING, A SHAVING HORSE.

NOW, WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?

THIS IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST-- IT'S THE EARLIEST ONE I KNOW, BUT THERE ARE PROBABLY EARLIER ONES.

THIS IS FROM "DE RE METALLICA," A GERMAN MINING BOOK FROM ABOUT 1500, AND YOU CAN SEE THE SHAVING HORSE FULLY FORMED RIGHT HERE.

THE GUY IS SHAVING STICKS TO BE USED IN THE MINE TO BUILD FIRES.

NEVERTHELESS, THERE HE IS WITH THE DRAWKNIFE RIGHT THERE, AND HE'S GOT THE DRAWKNIFE.

HE'S SITTING ON THE HORSE.

IT'S GOT THAT SOLID DUMBHEAD HEWN DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, AND THAT'S THE GERMAN STYLE.

WELL, I'VE GOT THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT CAME TO AMERICA IN THIS PICTURE FROM "HARPER'S," 1850, OF SOMEONE GIVING UP A FARM IN VIRGINIA.

THERE AGAIN, THERE'S THAT SAME SHAVING HORSE WITH THE SOLID HEWN DUMBHEAD OR DUMMKOPF, THE GRIPPING JAW RIGHT THERE, A FELLA SITTING ON IT VERY SADLY.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS FORM OF THE SHAVING HORSE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE, A GERMAN STYLE, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THAT MADE AMERICA.

LET'S LOOK AT THIS.

HERE'S AN ENGLISH BODGER'S HORSE, WE'D CALL IT.

THIS WAS USED BY THE CHAIR MAKERS IN ENGLAND OUT IN THE WOODS, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THE GRIPPING ARRANGEMENT IS A FRAME, AND THEY WORKED A LOT WITH BEECH.

THIS IS ACTUALLY MADE OUT OF OAK, THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW IT WORKS.

YOU GRIP THE FRAME, PUSH WITH YOUR FOOT.

THE FRAME GRABS IT, AND THEN YOU CAN DO YOUR SHAVING.

SO THIS WAS USED BY CHAIR MAKERS.

SO THIS IS THE ENGLISH BODGER CHAIR MAKER'S HORSE.

IT DIDN'T REALLY TAKE OFF IN AMERICA AS MUCH AS DID THAT OTHER FORM, THE MORE CONTINENTAL FORM, OR THE COOPER'S HORSE--WHATEVER.

IT'S--NEVERTHELESS, I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT I THINK MAY BE THE REAL ESSENTIAL AMERICAN HORSE, THE REAL THING.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS HORSE CAME FROM DICKENSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

IT WAS OWNED BY THE GRIZZLE FAMILY, AND MR. GRIZZLE REMEMBERED MAKING AXE HANDLES WITH THIS THING WHEN HE WAS A KID IN THE 1930s.

LOOK AT THE FORM OF THIS THING-- WELL, LET'S START AT THE BACK HERE.

THIS IS A SHAVING HORSE.

IT'S JUST WONDERFUL.

YOU SEE HOW THESE OTHER HORSES HAVE LEGS THAT ARE SET INTO THEM.

WELL, LOOK AT THE BACK LEGS ON THIS HORSE.

THIS IS A--GUESS WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH-- THIS WAS THE CROTCH OF A TREE HERE.

AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT UNITARY CROTCH--THEY HEWED IT DOWN TO A TENON, AND THEN PUT IT THROUGH A MORTISE IN THIS PIECE AND IT MADE AS WONDERFUL LEGS.

SEE?

THERE WASN'T ROOM DOWN AT THIS END FOR TWO LEGS, SO THEY JUST MADE TWO INTO ONE RIGHT HERE.

ALL RIGHT, THEN THIS BODY-- THIS IS ALL CHESTNUT.

CHESTNUT BODY-- VERY LIGHT, RIVEN, SPLIT FROM THE LOG VERY STRAIGHT.

YOU MAKE FENCE RAILS OUT OF IT.

HERE IS A SPRING THAT DOES THE RETRACTION ON THE HEAD RIGHT HERE.

SO THAT DOES THE RETRACTION.

THIS IS HICKORY, AND IT'S SHAPED PERFECTLY LIKE A BOW.

SOMEBODY REALLY KNEW HOW TO MAKE A BOW, BUT THIS IS WHAT I THINK IS TRULY WONDERFUL.

LOOK AT THIS HEAD.

IT'S THE GRIPPING MECHANISM RIGHT HERE.

YOU SEE THAT?

JUST LOOK AT THAT SHAPE FOR A MINUTE.

DO YOU SEE WHAT IT IS?

IT'S THE CROTCH OF A TREE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN TO MAKE THIS DUMBHEAD.

NOW, IT'S LOOKING-- LET ME SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS.

YOU DON'T--THIS IS A VERY WISE ONE HERE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT ON THE BENCH ITSELF, THIS ONE.

YOU GET YOURSELF COMFY IN A NICE ROCKING CHAIR HERE OR WHATEVER, AND YOU CAN HOLD THE WOOD RIGHT THERE LIKE THAT AND SHAVE IT ON DOWN.

OH, THERE YOU GO.

YOU'RE SITTING ON THE HILL WORKING.

AND IT'S GOT ENOUGH LENGTH THAT IT SUPPORTS ITSELF, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE THE SPRING RETURNS THE TOP.

IT'S JUST GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO IT'S GREAT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IT'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE WOOD, BUT ALSO IN THAT I THINK IT HAS A STORY.

THIS CAME FROM--I'VE NEVER SEEN THESE OUTSIDE THE SOUTH.

IN MY LIMITED EXPERIENCE, I'M WALKING ON THIN ICE WHEN YOU START TRYING TO FIGURE THIS STUFF.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING--YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CULTURES USE NATURAL FORMS LIKE THIS, BUT LOOK AT THIS.

HERE'S ANOTHER SHAVING HORSE.

THIS IS FROM COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA.

A PLANTATION, IT WAS-- I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME.

NEVERTHELESS, LOOK AT THE DUMBHEAD ON THAT HORSE.

DO YOU SEE AGAIN HOW IT'S A CROTCH OF A TREE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN?

AND YOU SEE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUPLE SITTING ON IT FROM A VERY EARLY TIME.

WELL, YOU CAN GUESS WHAT THE HISTORY WAS.

NEVERTHELESS, TAKE THAT HISTORY BACK A LITTLE FARTHER, LOOK AT THE SHAPE OF THAT DUMBHEAD, AND LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS A CHIWAR--CHIWARA-- I KNOW I'M MISPRONOUNCING IT-- FIGURE.

THIS IS AN ANTELOPE HEADDRESS USED IN THE BAMBARA PEOPLE OF MALI, AND THERE IT IS.

YOU SEE THAT SAME SHAPE RIGHT THERE.

SO WHAT GOT ME THINKING IS, IS THIS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTION?

I SAID, "WELL, I'VE GOT TO GET SOME MORE EVIDENCE OF FOLKS USING TREE CROTCHES AND HOW THIS COULD'VE COME TO AMERICA."

AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT-- WHERE HAVE I GOT THAT-- HERE IT IS, OK. YOU KNOW, THE MOST HORRIFYING-- AND I'M ALMOST GLAD I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME-- PICTURE OF THE PEOPLE, THE CAPTIVES BEING TAKEN TO THE COAST IN THE SLAVE TRADE, IF YOU REMEMBER--IF THIS IS NOT BLASPHEMOUS FOR ME TO DO-- BEING COLLARED WITH FORKS OF LIMBS LIKE THIS.

SO MY WONDER IS, DID NOT SOMEONE WHO WAS UNDER THE OPPRESSION OF THE FORKED LIMB MAKE IT INTO A FIGURE THAT NOT ONLY EXPRESSED THEIR CREATIVITY BUT SOMETHING VERY DEEP INSIDE ALL OF US?

I DON'T KNOW.

WALKING ON THIN ICE, AS I SAY, PERHAPS, BUT WORTH THINKING ABOUT BECAUSE ALL OF THESE REPRESENT VERY DEEP CULTURE.

NOW, NEVER MIND.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GETTING ON.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND START CHOPPING.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO DO A TENON WITH THE AXE.

SO WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE HERE TO DO.

IF WE WANT TO LAY OUT A SHAPE LIKE THAT, HERE'S A GOOD WAY TO DO IT.

ALL RIGHT--WELL, I GENERALLY DO IT BY EYE, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO LAY IT OUT, HERE WE ARE.

SO I'VE GOT A FORK.

YOU CAN SEE MY GRIPPING POINT RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S THE GRIP, AND THE TOP, AND SO THIS IS JUST NATURE.

WE'RE GONNA TURN IT-- "JUST NATURE," HE SAID-- WE'RE GONNA TURN IT INTO CULTURE AND IMPOSE STRAIGHT LINES ON IT.

SO I'LL TAKE A LEAD LINE AND SOME CHALK AND HANG IT ON THE END SO IT'S SIGHT DOWN.

MAKE SURE I'M VERTICAL WITH THE DIRECTION OF ACTION THAT I WANT, HANG THAT LINE ON THE END, AND THEN SNAP IT.

I'VE GOT ONE RED LINE, AND THEN I HANG THE OTHER LINE.

AND SO THIS IS THE WAY I CAN SIGHT THAT LINE TO SEE THAT IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT I WANT AT THE OTHER END, AND SNAP THAT LINE.

ALL RIGHT, AND THEN I MAKE A LITTLE NICK, IF I CAN.

THAT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH, BUT THEN I CAN TAKE A CHALK LINE AGAIN-- AN INK LINE JUST LIKE I HAD THERE--HOOK IT IN THERE, RUN IT ON BACK, AND JUST SO YOU RUN SNAP LINES DOWN IT.

NOW, BY FAR, THE EASIEST WAY IS JUST DO IT BY EYE, YOUR EYE, IN FACT.

WHAT THE HECK--IT'S EASIER THAN RUNNING THE LINE-- BUT I'VE GOT A LINE DOWN HERE.

I'D RUN A LINE DOWN HERE, AND THAT'D GIVE ME SOMETHING TO HEW TO.

WE COULD BE IN THE TRADITION OF HEWING TO THE LINE.

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S DO THAT.

I'LL CLEAR MY STUMP.

I USE ANOTHER ETHNIC PIECE HERE.

THIS IS A--GOSH, IT COMES FROM ALL OVER--WOODWORKING UNIVERSAL.

HERE IS--LOOK AT THIS WONDERFUL HATCHET.

THIS IS, UM, A BALKAN SHEPHERD'S AXE.

NOW, WHETHER IT'S SERBIAN, CROATIAN, MONTENEGRIN, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK IT'S A FORM USED BY MANY OF THEM.

BUT IT'S A LIGHT-- THIS WAS BROUGHT BACK FROM THE CONFLICT ZONE THERE BY MIKE COZY, WHO WAS THERE AS A PEACEKEEPER AND BROUGHT THIS BACK.

SO HERE IT IS, A WONDERFUL, LIGHT HATCHET THAT I CAN USE TO HEW.

SO I'M GONNA JUST EYEBALL IT, STAND IT UP STRAIGHT, CUT IN NOTCHES ACROSS THE WOOD.

SO THESE ARE STOPPING CUTS, AND THEN GO DOWN.

SO YOU DO IN SHARPLY TO MAKE DEPTH CUTS TO DELINEATE THE DEPTH THAT YOU WANT.

SO WE CAN GO A LITTLE DEEPER NOW--1, 2, 3, 4, 5... AND THEN RIGHT ON DOWN.

ALL RIGHT.

YEAH.

HA HA HA!

ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN UP TOP--WORK IT ON DOWN, THEN DO THE TOP.

SO WE DO THE SIDES-- YOU SAW HOW THE TOP WAS SHAPED?

WELL, THAT'S THE SAME THING, JUST STANDING IT UP HERE AND WORKING OUR WAY AROUND WITH THE AXE, CHOPPING AWAY.

AH.

GREAT.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, ONCE YOU GET IT CHOPPED OUT, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE SHAVING HORSE, AND YOU SAY, "WELL, USE THE DRAWKNIFE."

AND HERE--HERE'S ONE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT FARTHER ALONG.

SO YOU TAKE ONE LIKE THIS TO THIS STAGE AND PUT IT IN THE SHAVING HORSE, THEN YOU SAY, "HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A SHAVING HORSE WITHOUT A SHAVING HORSE?"

WELL, I'LL SHOW YOU.

YOU JUST PROP THIS UP AGAINST YOUR STOMACH JUST LIKE THAT.

SO YOU SHAVE IT DOWN USING THE DRAWKNIFE WITH A SKEW CUT.

SEE, I'M GONNA--IN FACT, HERE.

I'M GONNA STOP HOLDING IT IN THE JAW.

I'LL JUST HOLD IT AGAINST MY STOMACH AND THE WALL OR A TREE, AND WHEN YOU WORK THIS, YOU PULL THE DRAWKNIFE ON A SKEW AND ALSO WITH A DIAGONAL SLICING CUT DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, AND THEN AFTER THAT, YOU CAN GO TO A TOOL LIKE THIS.

THIS IS A--I NEED TO GET A CHIP OUT OF THERE.

A CHIP'S JAMMED UNDER IT-- MAYBE WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS WITHOUT IT.

THIS TOOL, A SPOKESHAVE-- THIS IS IN BEECH, SO THIS IS THE SAME WOOD THAT WE'RE SHAVING NOW, AND THAT LITTLE SHAVING THERE IS KEEPING ME FROM PUTTING IT ALL THE WAY DOWN.

BUT THIS WORKS PERFECT IN THIS SOFT GREEN WOOD-- THINK WHAT I COULD DO IN THE DRY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT'LL WORK THIS DOWN UP HERE AND SHAVE IT DOWN.

WHEN YOU DO THIS, YOU ALWAYS... ♪ WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SING TO THE WOOD... ♪ AS YOU DO IT, BECAUSE MUSIC HATH CHARMS TO SMOOTH THE SALVAGE BEECH.

HA HA HA!

OH, LORD.

SO, NEVERTHELESS, YOU CAN FINISH UP MAKING THIS SHAVING HORSE.

YOU THINK ABOUT IT, DEEP IN THE GRAIN OF THIS AMERICAN WOOD IS AMERICAN CULTURE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT TYPES BRINGING THEIR DIFFERENT STRENGTHS TO IT--BEECH, OAK, HICKORY, THE CHESTNUT THAT SPLIT SO WELL-- AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GET OUT AND DISCOVER IT FOR OURSELVES AS WE HAVE FOR SO LONG.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GETTING GOOD THERE.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

MAY THE GRAIN BE WITH YOU.

THIS IS ROY UNDERHILL HERE IN "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

SO LONG.

LEARN MORE ABOUT "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" AND TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE AT pbs.org.

MAJOR FUNDING FOR "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" IS PROVIDED BY... [BIRD SQUAWKS] [THUNDER] [HORN HONKING] WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS, STATE FARM HAS THE TOOLS TO GET YOU TO A BETTER STATE, PROUD SPONSOR OF "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

BE MORE: PBS.

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.