Shop Tour - Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration
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- Опубліковано 21 вер 2024
- Tom Johnson of Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration in Gorham, Maine gives us at last a tour of his shop! Tom has been restoring furniture professionally since 1979. Visit our website at www.thomasjohns..., or write us at thomasjohnsonrestoration@gmail.com. And for those on the west coast looking for custom framing, be sure to check out Tom's daughter's shop, www.emcollier.com (@emcollierframes on Instagram).
This is the episode I’ve been looking for for ages. At long last I understand your history. 👍🏻🇦🇺😁
Thanks!
Hi Tom, I came to woodworking late in life, maybe 8 years ago or so, I'm 67 now. I'm not particularly good at woodwork but I do enjoy it as much as my health dictates. Thanks for the shop tour and for introducing us to Waldo. I have now subscribed to your channel and my wife and I watch one or two of your videos every evening instead of mainstream TV. In the short time that we have been watching you, I have picked up several tips, thank you. Bob. We are in England UK.
Thanks Bob! And welcome to my channel! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos
Thanks for the tour! We know what the shop looks like while you're working, so it would have been strange if it was suddenly all neat and tidy, so I'm glad we saw it in its natural state.
You're welcome!
I never thought that watching a Tom Johnson video would make me cry, but by 3 minutes I couldn't stop the tears. It brought back so many memories of my late dad and his workshop - smaller, and probably less organised (though he knew exactly where everything was) than this.
Thank you, again, for bringing back happy memories. ❤
You're welcome!
Yup, I agree, it looks “Pretty Good.” Thanks for the videos and passing along knowledge about your craft.
You're welcome!
8
Great looking shop. Not one object out of place. A shop is a reflection of a man's character. It takes character to restore old wood. Just imagine what shops were like when most of the furniture you work on was made.
Thanks! I think about that a lot!
Hello from Canada! Long time fan, first time comment. Thank you for showing us around your shop, and giving us some wonderful history on your family and your home. Really enjoyed everything and had a good chuckle at Waldo. You really do a great job on the videos, my husband and I have learned so much and enjoy watching your projects together. You can really tell you put heart and soul into everything you do, its wonderful to see.
Thank you! And greetings to Canada! We love Canada
Building you some nice wooden boxes with sturdy handles would be a good job for an apprentice, don't you think?
I love seeing all the old and still very useful tools and machines! There is such beauty in a well-used tool. My father, who taught woodworking, passed away 40 years ago (when I was only 8 years old). I still have and use quite a few of his tools. I have never used his beautiful wooden planer, but I will have to watch your video on that now! I'd love to be able to use it.
Finally, I found it lovely to see that your daughter is a woodworker, too! My dad only had two daughters, and in the early seventies it was not a given that girls learnt to use tools. But he taught us how to use all the basic hand tools at an early age, and I have benefitted from that knowledge my entire life. And even though it has not become my profession, I love fixing things and restoring the beauty of old objects and furniture. It is so satisfying - not to mention better for the environment than briefly using and then dumping cheap chipboard furniture.
Thank you for your videos. They really bring me a lot of joy.
You're welcome! And I am sorry you lost your father at such an early age. I'm sure he would be happy to know that you still use his tools. That's quite a connection
@@johnsonrestoration Thank you! You are so kind. I have been enjoying your channel and doing a few furniture repairs. The smell of freshly shaved wood always reminds me of learning the basics from my dad. :)
The best thing about your shop, like my garage, is it’s your own hands that put all that stuff were it is. So when you look around you may forget how exactly it got there, but you know that it was you that originally put it there. Great video! Little late to the party but I’ve made it finally. Great shop that makes magic. Quite splendid actually! Thank you.
You're welcome! I too love shops! Real shops. Now, if I could only remember where I put that....
I would have been disappointed if you had 'cleaned up' your shop. Your tools, brushes, machinery - all these are the accumulations of your craft over the years. I was so happy to hear other members of your family are continuing the craft. My husband and I have vacationed in Maine many times over the years, and homes and barns like yours were some of our favorite 'sights' there. Thank you sharing your workplace with us!
You're welcome!
Thanks Thomas !loved your shop tour
You're welcome!
People don't pay you for your ability to keep a neat shop, they pay you for your restoration artistry. Good work!
Good point! Thanks!
This shop tour reminds me of my kitchen. Maybe looks disorganized to some but I know exactly where every thing is... that is until my hubby so kindly assists and unloads the dishwasher or dish drainer. It was great meeting "Waldo." Looks like the perfect employee. Thanks for the tour!
You're welcome! Yes, everything's great until someone decides to "help"!
Enjoyed seeing your shop. So many tools of the trade. 🤗❣️🌸👍
Thanks!
Hi Tom, although I had already read your story from your website, it was nice to watch your workshop and to hear the story from you. I watched many videos of you this winter, and tried to apply things that I learned from them. I recently renewed an old small table which used to belong my mother. I am gonna keep watching you and thank you. Turgut Küney
Hi Turgut and you're welcome! Good luck on all your projects!
I enjoyed this, not only for the shop, but the brief family history you shared. It seems as though furniture and wood working was implemented into your dna by your father. Thanks for all the wonderful content through the years.
You're welcome! I wish he could be here!
Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration I’m sure he’s VERY proud of his children and what they have accomplished. You never know, he could be by your side everyday. I still get visited by my mother, I’ll smell cigarettes or coffee (neither are used in my house) letting me know she’s there.
My goodness. What a wonderful shop!
Thanks! I am lucky!
Stoked to actually watch this video after watching so many of your videos. Thanks for sharing!
And thanks for reminding me that its ok to have a shop that has stuff everywhere!
You're welcome!
That's my life!
This is the best shop ever! Thank you for sharing.
We agree! Thanks!
I grew up hanging out at my grandfather’s upholstery shop. The rattle of the air compressor brings me back. Us grandkids would spend the summer working the shop, learning the trade, but mostly sweeping, pulling tacks and goofing off. The shop is now my uncle and cousins’s, I forged a different path perusing a higher education and eventually a PhD. But still to this day, when I think of good work, it’s intelligent work with your hands.
Thanks! And that's a good way to put it! Working with your hands does not mean you're not working with your brain!
Thank you. Nice to see a tour of a working shop.
Thanks!
Many thanks for showing us around, Thomas!
You're welcome!
Thanks.
I like your approach to refinishing, because you aren't trying to make the object look like it did when it left the maker's shop, but more like it belonged to a family that took really good care of their things over the years.
You're welcome! And yes, that is always my goal. Thanks for realizing that
What an amazing family history, I’m sure your father would have been very proud of the legacy he created. It was fascinating looking at your shop, especially as all your tools and machines have their own history. I would have loved to have been the assistant on the other table. Thank you for making this video.
You are very welcome! I wish my father could have known what he started
Thanks for sharing. Fascinating seeing how you are organized.
You are so welcome!
Now it all makes perfect sense! You live in an antique!!!! Would love to see what treasures your amazing home holds! Your shop looks great and I also love that barn!!!! Sigh....will have to watch all your videos now. You did make me feel old for second when you said that was from 1963...which incidentally was the year of my birth. I don't feel like an antique yet or even old...
Thanks! Our house will be 250 years old next year! A lot of things are making me feel old!
@@johnsonrestoration Nothing old about you Thomas! Young at heart will always be young!!! Your hands bestow love on every antique you fix...imagine the hands that have touched and cared for each one in the past as well as the masters who built them including your home. Incidentally..a 250 year old house should make you feel like a young man!!!
I glad this came up on the side it was a nice tour. I liked your little helpers at the end.
Thank for watching!
Well I finally got my wish!. in every video I've watched, I always start and stop it over and over again to take in the background of what ever you are doing to "get a tour of your shop" and I've often wondered,"What? was in the corners that I missed? " now I know!. thank you for the tour. it filled my cup that's been partially filled with my "sneak" peeks over the last year or so watching your videos. Thanks again Tom for all that you do. produce, and pass along. We all learn and enjoy it. ! Trust me it is GREATLY appreciated.
You're welcome! And thanks for your interest
Thanks for the tour. Very Nice place and shop 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Glad you enjoyed it!
And he fitted in his iconic line...well played, Tom. I also like the teaser pics of the project you're working on...barley twist front?
Thanks! Yes, it's a spiral but I'm not sure what a barley twist is exactly, is it different than just any twist or spiral?
Thanks for the tour of your shop! The vocational shop classes I attended in high school had much of the same equipment that you have. All of it from the 1950s and early 1960s, with a few pieces actually being from the late 1940s. I really enjoyed learning to do fun things like wood working, welding, coal forging, soldering with sheet metal and rope making in that shop. Watching your videos always transports me back in time to the 1980s, working in Mr Strouth's shop, and using all those great tools of the trade. It's always great to get a new video from you, Thomas! Thanks for inviting us into your world!
You are welcome! We should start an Adult Ed shop class, just like the shop classes we had so long ago
You are my only subscribed video. I am in awe of your skill. How lucky your daughter must have been to have a father pass your skillls on. Your style and skills are astounding. I would pay a fortune to have the opportunity to quietly be in your area. The best part of this video is your organized mess. Signed from a doctoral educated woman who has switched to the art of furniture restoration
Thank you Evonn! That's quite a switch! Best of luck to you!
I moved to a purpose built shop some years ago, giving me the opportunity to rearrange things in any way I wanted. Guess what, the new shop is organised (or disorganised) just like the old one. Thanks for posting.
I know exactly what you mean. My shop is too small, but I know from past experience that if I had a bigger shop it would just fill up with junk!
Love this video!!!! Thank you, you have loads of materials and tools!
You are so welcome! I have too many!
tom i ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR SHOP !!! ITS ORGANIZED AND NEAT ;];];];] just like a house....its not a home until its lived in....same goes with your shop;];];];] its seen ALOT OF YRS OF HISTORY...and its well used and it works well FOR YOUR JOBS;];];];] thats what counts ;];];] your family should be very PROUD of your wood working history.. my only regret i wish i found you much sooner...i just hope wood working never dies.i honestly HATE the way the world is now. plastic pressed card board /sawdust particles...fiberglass plexiglass.... everything is "throw away" nothing lasts or can be stable for yrs of generations to be passed down anymore;[;[;[ you and your siblings are a legacy that cant be replaced tom...i just pray it never dies out. thank you soo much for the tour;];];] i have learned soo much from you;];];] i love saving old furniture i just dont have a "workshop" to do it in;[;[;[ maybe some day;];];] thank you again;];];]
Wow Patty! Thank you! I feel the same way, I have to work at not getting depressed over it
@@johnsonrestoration yup mee too tom...all those yrs of the colonist hand carving and shaping and polishing ..and you go to flea mrkets/ pawn shops/ antique shops / junk shops...its just plain sad ..to see them broken uncared for and just tossed any which way in heaps..i guess we should be thankful we STILL GET to still see some pieces still around...regardless of the conditions. THANK YOU SOO MUCH for every piece you put so much love/ detail / care into...im SURE the owners DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOU and the pieces you bring back to life;];];];]
Love your Videos. They are full of Great Content.
Thanks! And I love that people actually watch them!
Thanks for the tour Tom, that was so nice of you to do this, made me feel like I was there with you! Cheers
You're welcome!
Hi Tom, thank you, for taking us on a tour of your shop and a glimpse into your life 💙
You are very welcome!
I like that all your machinery is from back when they used to know how to build quality machinery. I bet all those machines run just as good as they did back when they were new. Thanks for the bit of insight on how you learned.
You're welcome! Well, they could if I would spend a little more time tuning them up!
Thank you Tom, You are absolutely right in saying your shop look's pretty good. A Tidy shop to me say's not worked in. An organized shop mean's an efficient and functional shop. But ultimately a shop that has love in it and in the piece's you work on is the the best shop of all. Keep up your excellent work and video's Tom.
Well put! Thanks
good insight into your where some of your skill set was nurture/honed? second generation with a third in action, love your consideration for your companion, helping him/her outa of the truck...good stuff "Thomas"
Thanks!
Wonderful shop!
Wonderful video!
How wonderful to learn your background with your family. You are all artisans and you are an animal lover to boot! Me as well!
And that Woody!!! Do you still have it? That is one of my dream vehicles. Any woody will do but I àm partial to a circa 1940, Chrysler Town and Country or a 40s Ford Sportsman coupe, with beige on beige on beige. What a car!!!! What a great prop for outside of a woodworkers shop!
I appreciate your skill and patience in your craft!
I've done some woodworking. Something I would love to have time to do so much more. Someday!
Thanks again, Tom! 👍👍👍
You're welcome! That Model A was for a customer. And yes, you're dream vehicles are the best - and will remain a dream!
@@johnsonrestoration ,
😄😄😄 😢
Always nice to see someone else's shop. Thanks for posting And thanks for the video series.
You're welcome!
Nothing better than a “working”, wood working shop. Thank you sir.
You're welcome!
Nice tour. I've wondered what the rest of the shop was like. I have the same 6 inch Powermatic jointer and also wish I had a 8". I had, up until last year, the same model 66 Powermatic table saw. It still lives with a friend of mine. Good stuff!!!
Thanks! I like it too when I see other shops with the same tools. We bought my daughter a Saw Stop though!
This is what I was waiting for a long time. Thanks for the tour.
You're welcome!
What a treat! As with all your videos, I was very excited to see this in my feed. And your home and property is gorgeous.
Thanks!
Thank you for showing your workshop and your knowledge. Wonderful family history.
You're welcome!
Thank you Tom!
You're welcome!
A comfortable old timey shop where amazing craftsmanship happens without a whole lot of fuss. Understated New Englander as always. 🐓🦆🐦 love your animal and wildlife scenes too, as they are so peaceful.😊
Thanks!
Your shop looks looks fantastic for as much as you use it. The shop is huge to me and you have so many machines. You are someone that we all should admire for the greatness in your work. Oh, by the way, thank you for the beautiful sceneries you give us in your videos.
You're very welcome!
Tom, I'm always glad to see that you have posted a video. I think your tour was great and I like the older machines that you use. I wouldn't trade any one of them for two new ones. As long as you make videos, I'll watch them. I have learned some new tricks from watching you. The shop looks great...Thanks!!
You're welcome!
very clean and neat. You are an example for beginner furniture restorers.
I watch you for a long time. Thank you very much.
from Russia, Moscow.
Thank you! And hello to Moscow! This whole internet thing is amazing! I want to visit Moscow and Russia
Excellent presentation of an excellent restoration shop.
I'm once again impressed with your knowledge and expertise.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the tour, for not tidying up first and also for the nod to your shop dogs both past and present. I'm sure your own experience in that wonderful building would not be the same without them.
Thanks! I'm sure you are right - they add so much
Thanks for sharing my friend. You are talented and have an amazing shop.
You're welcome! Thanks!
watching your videos worth their weight in gold getting a real shop tour ...Priceless and pretty good
Thanks!
I was kind of hoping you'd do this one day. Part of what makes your videos so enjoyable is the setting of your shop. Not unlike my own work space, at a cursory glance you'd say things might seem a bit untidy. But not to those of us who know where everything is. Thanks for the tour.
You're welcome! I wish I knew where "everything" is!
Cant go wrong with a cocker spaniel. 👍 One of the sweetest breeds there ever was. RIP Ladybird Johnson 1961-1979
You are so right! Our cocker was just the best!
Looks pretty good sir. Love your channel. Thanks for sharing your gifts with us.
You're welcome!
I’ve been gone for awhile dealing with a move back to the country and a new shop setup myself. Glad to see a shop tour when I pulled back up your channel to start playing catch up on all the videos I missed.
Thanks! Glad you're back
"The shop looks pretty good." LOL. It does indeed.
Just a couple of days ago I finished watching all of your back catalog of videos, and this shop tour was a great way to cap that off. Every one of your videos is informative and even more so, a pleasure to watch. Maybe in a future episode you could introduce us to your shop dog, alpacas and chickens? Anyway, I'm looking forward to all your future content.
Thanks! I will!
Really nice tour of your shop! I would love to see your house too. I bet you have furnished it with antiques!
Thanks! We might do a house tour someday! Actually it's filled with cast offs!
Thanks for a tour Tom, you have an amazing shop. Great video!!!
Thanks for watching!
Beautiful home and beautiful story. ❤️
Thank you!
I like how you had a buffing wheel attached to the lathe; always handy to use machines for more than one purpose!
Japenese saws! So that's what they are; thanks for talking about that; I need to look for those.
Definitely! I buy from Japan Woodworker (now owned by Woodcraft) www.woodcraft.com/pages/japan-woodworker
Awesome video Tom! Its very interesting to see behind the scenes of your beautiful work! 😊 You have a stunning home and gorgeous land! Thank you so much for sharing it with us,it was pure pleasure watching this video and learning more about you. 😀
You are very welcome! And I appreciate you watching and commenting
Thank you for sharing your wonderful shop with us. I have learned a lot from you and have actually started refinishing some of my mid century modern pieces that I have gotten over the years that needed some work. Please keep teaching!!
You're welcome! I will
You have beautiful house and workshop Tom. I learn lot of things from your channel,thank you.
You're welcome!
you are a excellent teacher too !
Thanks!
Your orderliness is inspirational. I think one of my problems with my sewing/craft room is that I only have a couple of each tool, in a much smaller space. There isn't as much consciousness on my part to put things back with the rest of their category. It's all just kind of all over. Oh well.
Thanks! Things are never perfect! It's important just to keep trying and not worry about it!
I'm continually looking for tools!
Awesome to see your family members are also woodworkers. Thank you for the timeline as well. I laughed when mentioned you have tools no one is allowed to use, don’t we all, lol! Thanks for taking time to make this. Love your channel.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the tour. You're shop looks very good. I was telling someone about what you do. They were very interested
Thanks for spreading the word! I appreciate it
Just what I was hoping to see. I knew you’d have those clamps organized! Thanks for the tour.
You're welcome!
Just great
This shop have many history so many memories, the house is very interesting
You are a master of restorations
Thank you!
Well Tom, that smells as a real working workshop, not like those "Victorian spotless salons workshops" that we often see, and you immediately know that not much work it's been done into them. Love the premises and space, even though I think you would love to have a bit more free space in the workshop.
Great video as always can wait for your net big project. Once again a million thank you for the unique Master education you freely giving us.
You're welcome! Yes, I would like more space but from experience I know it just gets filled up!
@@johnsonrestoration Hahaha that's true :) :) :)
Looks Pretty Good Tom. Thanks
You're welcome!
Thank you so much for this tour and sharing your history! My next question was going to be about how you gained so much knowledge. Now I know that you "apprenticed" with your Dad! You are really a MASTER at your craft, and I really enjoy watching your videos! Thank you for sharing!!
You’re welcome! Yes, working with my Dad and brothers was a great start, but really it’s 45years of doing this, and really, I learn something new everyday!
Yes, experience trumps everything. My husband is an artist, and when a client asks how long it took him to create a piece....he always replies "40+ years!"@@johnsonrestoration
I always click like on your videos before I Watch them as I know that I am going to be fascinated by what you show but getting a tour of your shop is special ! I love see behind and how and not Simply what ,,,,, thank you
You're welcome!
Wonderful! I love the videos and appreciate that you can't keep project areas straightened up because you are using everything! I'm currently using 2 bedrooms in my home for quilting supplies and tools. So much easier when you can grab what you need right away!
Thanks! It's great to have rooms to dedicate to crafts
Thank you , Tom. I would feel right at home in your shop.
You're welcome!
Thank you Thomas - much appreciated.
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the tour. Looking forward to the scraper restoration video...
You're welcome! Me too!
Tom I think your shop looks pretty good, you can tell a lot of excellent work comes out of it, Loved it Thanks for all the videos.
You're welcome!
Fantastic house. If I were to ever live in the US, I'd want it to be in New England.
Thanks! Yes, I agree, New England is special. We are fortunate
Whole lota history in that shop.
Yes! The entire property actually
Looks pretty good!
Yes! Thanks!
Excellent video!
Thanks!
Makes me want to head to the shop to work/clean or just organize more things. Gorgeous home Thomas
Thanks! makes me want to do that too!
So glad you decided to do a shop tour! Gives me a better perspective on everything! A clean shop would say to me, not much work going on!! Hope and pray for only the best for you and your family, and of course moving forward, much continued success in your business!! Rocky
😊😊😊
Thank you! I appreciate you watching and being such a loyal fan
Inspiring! Greetings from Illinois!
Thanks!
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Thanks.
You're welcome!
Although, I have read your story from your website, thank you for sharing it. I wish you would live many healty years and share nice videos together with us. Turgut Küney
Thank you Turgut! I appreciate you watching and commenting. I wish the same for you!
So this is in your DNA. No wonder you're good at it. Nice shop, nice house and an overall nice setting for your work. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome!
Thanks, Tom. I enjoyed your brief discussion of the other craftspersons in your family which is certainly loaded with talent. My Niece's husband is a luthier in Portland (Downe's Guitars). Perhaps Emily knows him. Best regards and thanks again.
You're welcome! I'll pass that along to her
Thank you for this. A shop/work area is always going to be unique based on how someone works, but some great tips in this video!
You're very welcome!
Very nice, a man's dream I would say with all those tools & machines. Thank you!
You're welcome! And I have to remind myself of that often!
Yes sir the shop does look great...Really appreciate the tour....I'm going to start playing catch up with you be building a sandpaper storage cabinet...It's amazing to see a master at work and at home...Keep it up!
Thanks! I will!
This is so cool
Thanks!
A place for everything, and everything in its place. Just have to know where to look. 😃
Just have to remember where to look!