Furniture Maker / TV Personality / Husband

Tommy Mac Off Camera

Carpenter, construction worker, craftsman, educator, writer/producer, TV personality – Tommy MacDonald has worn all these hats with skill and attitude and boisterous success.

Tommy grew up in the greater Boston area, the eighth of nine kids. Tommy’s earliest education using tools started with his father and attending a voc-tech high school, which led to a 4-year union carpentry apprenticeship program. Over the years working as a journeyman carpenter and private contractor Tommy’s reputation as a seasoned craftsman grew.

In 1999 his career path took a turn when he was accepted at the North Bennet Street School, an internationally renowned craft and trade school. There he honed and refined his native woodworking skills while learning the art of fine furniture making. It also led to a chance meeting with Bob Vila, who featured Tommy and his work on national TV in his Colonial Home project. After graduating in 2002 Tommy went to work creating world class furniture that gained instant recognition by the Boston Globe, Forbes Magazine and other industry publications.

In 2004, Tommy met his wife, Rachel while opening his first furniture shop in Canton, MA. With a shared love of the arts, history and black coffee, it wasn’t long before the two where inseparable.

In 2005 Bob Vila invited Tommy to create a woodworking series to feature on his site. The Rough Cut Show was the first of its kind of builder reality programming. The series showcased Tommy’s determination, dedication and mastery of his craft as he built a Boston Bombay Secretary while filming in real time. The series produced over 200 episodes, reaching countless viewers and teaching proper woodworking tips and techniques for all skill levels. Upon completion, the Bombe Secretary went on display at RISD Museum’s renowned Pendleton house, the Massachusetts State House Doric Hall and other local museums, as well as getting featured in numerous publications. It gained acclaim and became known as Tommy’s “masterpiece.”

In 2010 Tommy hit the airwaves internationally as the co-creator, co-executive producer, designer, builder and host of the series Rough Cut – Woodworking with Tommy Mac. The show was an instant success and introduced Tommy’s sensibilities and “you can do it” attitude to millions of viewers. The series ran for seven seasons, accruing five Emmy Nominations and close to a dozen Telly Awards along the way.

As his woodworking show came to a close Tommy and his wife, Rachel turned their focus to a more personal project, Murder Matters, which endeavored to help grieving families, raise awareness, and shine new light on unsolved murder cases in America.

In 2020, Tommy’s woodworking business relocated to Boston’s Historic North End. There, he builds custom fine furniture pieces to meet his clients’ needs and continues to educate followers through his social media platforms. Tommy and Rachel continue their work helping families living with unsolved murder.