The Repair Shop is getting to me...

double post - to be deleted if poss.

Edited By Mick B1 on 11/01/2021 14:51:19

Well said Sir!

I'm afraid I can't quite believe the cynicism from some quarters that this has provoked from people that by their very being on here profess an interest in 'craft' of whatever form.

The fact that this program is clearly introduced by the narrator and the individuals concerned as a means to help those with personal memories achieve something they find impossible (or too expensive) to do themselves seems to have slipped them by.

For many, many, people, its a 'feel good' program - something pleasant in the not too pleasant world that surrounds us on a daily basis.

We are all entitled to our opinions of course but a little 'live and let live' would be far more charitable than the spleen venting so far observed on something so intrinsically harmless - it's not exactly undermining us as a fraternity is it or am I really missing something ?  Hmm? - somehow though, I don't think so

Tug

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 11/01/2021 15:24:22

Well said Tug,

I do believe it 'de-nerdifies' all crafts people as it opens a window for the general public to see that the skills shown on the programme do have a place in society and that things do not have to be 'chuck and forget' when they come to the end of their life.

I think the respect for people like Steve Fletcher, 'the clocky' and the young carpenter, Will Kirk, amongst the general public has been for the better of all of us 'sheddies'.

My gripe is with Jay who makes out to be the Foreman - wanders around in a nice unblemished leather apron episode after episode and can't hit a nail square on the head, pretty important to do if you are a so called furniture restorer. Having seen his furniture restorations on Money for Nothing they appear to be no more than slapping a coat of paint onto a 1950's bit of Ikea! Also, I see there is a nice Myford in the background but have only seen it used once. The metal worker Dominic Chinea, and bike bloke looks to know his onions as well. Meanwhile the ladies are all excellent craftspeople in their own fields.

It has raised the profile of craftspeople and for that we should all be grateful.

I'm an occasional viewer of the program, I quite enjoy it remembering that the priorities for the production team are a good back story rather than the detail of the repair/restoration. I would love to see just how good the experts work really is, close-up.

The only thing I have seen and held is a saddle belonging to a friend made by the leather lady while she was working in the USA. There something about it that just exudes quality, difficult to say what, but compared with other saddles my friend owns, this one is in a different league. Its recently gone back to the maker for some maintenance, nothing much needed doing, a lot less than was expected for a saddle that has had 30+ years of regular use.

I'm also an occasional viewer of "Homes under the Hammer", anyone else? The one where someone buys 4 walls and a dodgy roof for too much, tells the interviewer they are going to re-plaster, re-wire, new roof, new kitchen and bathroom etc. Whats the budget the interviewer asks, £4000, is the reply..................

John

I don't dislike The Repair Shop, but it leaves too much unsaid. Like cost! The main problem though is level, and I guess most forum members are in the same position. We know too much!

Pretty obvious to anyone with a workshop that the programme has no depth; I've picked up a few tips, but mostly I'm annoyed at the way they skim over details. Strong suspicion a few minutes of easy watching TV was really just a photo opportunity after several hours skilled work.

I wonder what the general public would make of technical TV programming that satisfied us? Can't imagine it getting a mass audience. And even we don't care for the same things. How many reading this fancy watching an 8 part series on Finite Element Analysis? You'll like the bit where I burst into tears on being told there's a test at the end.

I'd love to see a good in-depth documentary on IKB. How did Brunel persuade investors to keep giving him money despite his serious failures? Why was he so bad at designing steam locomotives? How did he decide how fast the SS Great Britain's propeller should be driven? (Not much known about propeller efficiency at the time, but he got the RPM about right. Lucky guess?) Instead I have to watch rose-tinted romances: I'm even starting to believe IKB built the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Dave

The trouble with any TV documentary style programme is that it will never been enough for those with in-depth knowledge of the subject. But then why are experts watching something they already know about? It is interesting to see which skills are focused on and which are glossed over though. Suzie Fletcher's saddlery skills seem to get a lot of attention. Perhaps the producers joust don't think machining is photogenic enough. Likewise we see more of cleaning of clock components than reassembly. If it inspires any to take up a craft that is good for me.