The Woodwright is back and more relevant than ever before! Roy Underhill, the man who single-handedly brought the joys traditional, sweat-powered woodworking to the American public returns for his 24th PBS season. And now, judging from the immensely popular edu-reality shows seen recently on PBS, it appears the rest of the world is catching on to Roy's independent spirit and indefatigable passion for the ultimate DIY. From Colonial House to Frontier House with a little 1900 House and Manor House thrown in, contemporary people from all walks of life are discovering the thrill of self-sufficiency. Digital gadgets may be fun, but nothing satisfies like a job well done with your own hands.

Let Roy Underhill share his winsome wit (as heard on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! this summer) and encyclopedic traditional tool knowledge (utilized by actor Colin Farrell in the 2005 film The New World) with you. Roy delights in re-discovering handmade ingenuities...and his enthusiasm is contagious. This season's guests include experts in tin smithing, masters of marquetry and of kings of coopering. In his workshop, Roy shows how to shave time working wood by making your own foot-powered shaving horse. And Roy puts the pedal to the mettle with entertaining excursions to Williamsburg and far-flung parts of Minnesota.

Discover the original ingenuity that put modern before man and woman with public television's long-suffering worker of wood, Roy Underhill, on the 24th season premiere of The Woodwright's Shop, Saturday, October 16, at 4 PM, on UNC-TV.

To find out more about the series and traditional woodworking, visit The Woodwright's Shop web site at www.pbs.org/wws. The Woodwright's Shop is closed captioned and distributed in stereo.

Major funding for The Woodwright's Shop is provided by State Farm Insurance Companies, now celebrating it 21st year of affiliation with The Woodwright's Shop.  The Woodwright's Shop is a production of UNC-TV, North Carolina's 11-station, statewide public television network made possible by a unique partnership of public investment and private support. UNC-TV is committed to using telecommunications wisely and imaginatively to inform, educate and enrich public television viewers. 

ABOUT SEASON 24 OF THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP WITH ROY UNDERHILL

Roy Underhill has shared his unabashed enthusiasm for traditional American woodworking with PBS viewers for nearly a quarter century. Saturday, October 16, at  PM, the Woodwright is back with more crafty guests-from Norwegian boat builders to lady tinsmiths. Whether bowls or buckets, chess sets or chairs, Roy shows how to make them all using classic hand tools. Be sure to pay close attention, because you never know when you might end up on Colonial House!

2401. Shaving Horse
Make this foot-operated vise and you'll work wood so fast you'll sit down and make a chair by mistake. CC

2402. Tinsmithing With Anne Pederson
Staten Island's Anne Pederson shows how to cut and solder your own coffee pots and cups. CC

2403. Acadian Chair
Split and shave this French-Canadian chair from the green wood of the forest primeval. CC

2404. White Cooperage With Norm Pederson
Learn how to make better butter buckets and churns for cheese from crafty cooper Norm Pederson. CC

2405. The Foot Power Lathe
Everybody loves woodturning with these spring-pole and foot powered treadle lathes you build at home.~CC

2406. Wooden Thread Cutter
Make your own giant wooden vise screws and nuts with this ingenious hand cranked device. CC

2407. Woodworking at the North House Folk School
From boat building to bows and arrows, learn from the craftsmen at the North House Folk School, a new school on Lake Superior's north shore. CC

2408. Turned & Hewn Bowls & Spoons
Two ways of making treenware-by spinning the wood or moving the tools-bring you beautiful bowls. CC

2409. Norwegian Pram & Snow Skis With Mark Hansen
Mark Hansen, a master of Scandinavian woodworking, makes tools for transiting both liquid and fluffy water. CC

2410. One Piece Woodworking
From African chairs to the ball in the cage, learn how to~unfold a solid block into a multi-part product. CC

2411. Turning Chess Pieces
No need to go to the pawnshop, turn your own darn chess set from walnut and persimmon! CC

2412. Chess Board & Box
Saw and join alternating squares of light and dark wood into this ancient battleground for knights and rooks. CC

2413. Inlaid Legs With Steve Latta
Master craftsman Steve Latta shows how simple tools make beautiful inlaid patterns on the legs of Federal furniture. CC

-UNC-TV-

On the web: www.pbs.org/wws