Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker | Series 2
Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker returns to our screens for a second series on Wednesday 21st September 2022. At Axminster Tools, we see part of our role in the woodworking community as helping to ensure practical skills and knowledge are not only sustainable and protected but shared with others. When the show aired for the first time last autumn it introduced woodworking to a whole new audience; inspiring more people to get creative. So when we were asked by Plimsoll Productions, the company behind the programme, if we wanted to be involved again we were only too pleased to support the show.
About Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker
Hosted by Great British Bake Off’s Mel Giedroyc, the first series of Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker launched on Channel 4 in the autumn of 2021. According to Plimsoll, it drew the highest audience for a Channel 4 launch in a primetime slot in more than four years. The show follows a competition format, challenging woodworking enthusiasts to create ambitious builds. Filmed in a beautiful woodland setting, each episode centres around a ‘Big Build’. The panel of judges examine the pieces before deciding who should stay and who should leave the competition.
The Judges
This series features new expert judges, Entrepreneur and Woodworking Expert, Sophie Sellu, and Design Academic, Tom Dyckhoff. The pair scrutinise the designs, techniques and skills as the competitors are pushed to their limits, before finally crowning one winner.
The Tools
Once again Axminster Tools supplied a large number of tools and machines for the show. Included are some of our favourite Axminster own brands, some of which are made on-site at our Devon headquarters. Let us know if you spot any of your favourites in the comments below.
As seen on Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker
Low Price
What's next?
In a rare move for a factual-entertainment format, Channel 4 commissioned a second and third season at the same time. So it seems as though we can look forward to series 3 next year. To catch up on the first series and missed episodes from series 2 visit Channel4.com.
The first series was absolutely dire and the current program looks to be equally appalling. I struggled through a few of the first episodes but this time, I decided that The Repair Shop, which was on at the same time, was a more preferable option.
So the aprons used by contestants and the technicians. Who s the supplier. Searched but can’t find them to buy anywhere.
Hi Neil
I'll do my best to find out for you and I'll be in touch.
Many thanks
Kelly
Kelly Any idea yet where the aprons come from - Christmas is fast approaching!
Hi there, I'll email you a link.
Hi @Kelly, can I get the details too?
Hi, would I be able to get the link to please
Hello, I sent you the link.
Hi Eclaire. Did you manage to get the link to the aprons?
enjoy the program but do find judges have their favourites wnner I think will be jacob his roses were awful but the judges raved over them
So, the two judges are experts and there are technicians to "help" with advice. It's great that woodwork has such a popular following thanks in part to the show and it's bake-off format, BUT....who's in charge of safe working practices? Watching a novice turner use a spindle roughing gouge on an 8" diameter face-grain piece made me wince...seeing how the scraping action nearly bought the wings of the tool onto the rotating surface gave me palpitations. Surely there's a bowl gouge or two available, along with some sound advice? So, who is advising on which tools are safe to use and if that task falls to anyone connected with the "advice", that would worry me. I'm really trying to enjoy the show, but it's almost impossible because of the inexperience of the woodworkers and some really dodgy tool handling.
Most woodworkers I know would be chuffed to have access to a workshop equipped like that..I know I would; Most woodworkers I know are likely to be cringing at the "britain's best woodworker" title, when all of the contestants are enthusiastic and passionate woodies, rather than britain's best..that feels a bit disingenuous to all the ladies and gents making fine pieces in their weekend sheds/studios/workshops.
Overall, I'm pretty angry with the programme...as you can probably tell..!
As you probably read in my post above, I haven't even bothered to watch it, knowing that this sort of rubbish that's inflicted on us would probably require an increased dosage of my BP meds! Why Axminster find a need to sponsor this sort of TV tosh is frankly beyond me. Disappointed I am.
I agree with Martin Dudley about the extremely dangerous practice of using a spindle roughing gouge on a faceplate disc for the pixy stool in episode 3 of series 2 . You can easily break the tool and have a very nasty accident .
Gordon Cookson Chairman Middlesex Woodturners Association
Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker is overseen by technicians who work on the show and are responsible for safety. Thank you for raising your concerns which I will pass on to the production company behind the series.
Doesn't say a lot for the technicians does it?
Whilst I do enjoy seeing the different pieces that they make in two days , I do wish there weren't pictures of dangerous tool handling . In Series 2 Episode 4 about a minute in I think it is Chloe using a coping saw with the blade pointing upwards towards her hand and about 3 minutes in we see Dafydd using a chisel in line with his hand holding the wood . Where are the technicians during the filming and looking at the programme before it is aired ? I do hope the participants weren't injured during the making of the series .
Love this. Are the plans available for any of the items they make?
Hi, the show has been in touch to say that unfortunately, there aren't any plans available. Most of the contestants are on social media so if there is a particular design you liked, it might be worth reaching out to them. Sorry, I can't be of more help.
Significantly better than the first season - some decent skills being shown but several of the contestants. Yes, some use of tools that is pretty sketchy at times but I very much doubt anybody taking up turning for the first time will use a 15 second clip from one of the episodes as a teaching aid (but using the spindle gouge on the face was stupid and dangerous).
I think I had advanced beyond this level after the first 3 months of my apprenticeship! How can they justify the Title " Britain's BEST!!!!! Unbelievable.
What glue is commonly used in the workshop
Can you let me know where I can buy the apron worn by the contestants please
Who makes the electric wood carving tools used in the sea sculpture episode?
The power carving tools were supplied by Arbortech and can be found here https://www.axminstertools.com/arbortech/. I hope that helps.
please tell me the supplier of the aprons the contestant's ware