A Craftsman's Legacy

Host Eric Gorges visits John Wilson, a writer, a teacher and a woodworker, at his home shop and learns how to make a shoulder plane. Eric learns the history of shop-made tools, how to home temper tool-steel and the importance of salt in the woodshop.

Host Eric Gorges visits a friend, April Wagner, a glassblower working in abstract art. Eric and April discuss the connection between making a sacrifice when starting up a business and the give-and-take that successful craft people must make and the rewards that eventually come. Eric learns how hot a glass studio can get and how to make a glass cup.

Host Eric Gorges visits potter and musician Akira Satake, who discovered his love of pottery later in life. Eric makes a ceramic teapot. Eric and Akira discuss the serendipity that leads craftsmen to their craft. Akira started his career as an accomplished photographer in Japan, then found another successful career in New York as a recording studio owner and a session banjo player before finding his true passion in pottery.

John Yothers builds beautiful and very functional wooden boats. Host Eric Gorges learns the proper way to blueprint a boat and also what goes into building a boat from scratch.

Host Eric Gorges visits with Ron Paquin, a Native American who teaches others the fine craft of bark basket weaving. Eric and Ron both build baskets together.