Thomas J. MacDonald
Encyclopedia
Thomas J. MacDonald is a U.S. carpenter
and woodworker and host of the PBS television series Rough Cut – Woodworking with Tommy Mac.
Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts
, MacDonald attended the Blue Hills Regional Vocational High School, but dropped out and did not complete his school; he later received a GED. He worked as a carpenter for 17 years, but was injured while doing construction work on the Big Dig
project in Boston
. He later attended the North Bennet Street School in Boston, where he learned woodworking. He started his own business in Canton, Massachusetts
, and his work was noticed by Bob Vila
, who later invited him to appear on his television series Home Again and on video podcasts for the BobVila.com website.
In 2010, MacDonald was signed by WGBH-TV
to host his own woodworking instructional program.
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
and woodworker and host of the PBS television series Rough Cut – Woodworking with Tommy Mac.
Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
, MacDonald attended the Blue Hills Regional Vocational High School, but dropped out and did not complete his school; he later received a GED. He worked as a carpenter for 17 years, but was injured while doing construction work on the Big Dig
Big Dig
The Central Artery/Tunnel Project , known unofficially as the Big Dig and as the Big Dug since completion, was a megaproject in Boston that rerouted the Central Artery , the chief highway through the heart of the city, into a 3.5-mile tunnel...
project in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. He later attended the North Bennet Street School in Boston, where he learned woodworking. He started his own business in Canton, Massachusetts
Canton, Massachusetts
Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.- History :...
, and his work was noticed by Bob Vila
Bob Vila
Robert Joseph "Bob" Vila is an American home improvement television show host known for This Old House , Bob Vila's Home Again , and Bob Vila .-Early life:...
, who later invited him to appear on his television series Home Again and on video podcasts for the BobVila.com website.
In 2010, MacDonald was signed by WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
to host his own woodworking instructional program.