(TV Tonight, Tuesday, February 9th, 2010) A new Dirty Jobs retrospective also brings us to what promises to be truly nasty visit to a bone black, or bone charcoal, factory. There’s also a new Howe & Howe.

All times are central

• Deconstruction: Lumber (Discovery, 5:00 pm)
• Holmes on Homes: Frozen Assets (HGTV, 5:00 pm)
• Tank Overhaul: The Sherman (Military, 5:00 pm)
• Machinery of the Past (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Turkey Inseminator (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• Tank Overhaul: The Hellcat (Military, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Mature Tree, Noisy Heating System (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Water Saving Toilet, In-Ground Sprinkler System (DIY, 7:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Concrete Finisher (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Bone Black (Discovery, 8:00 pm) NEW
• Howe & Howe Tech: Badger Resurrection (Discovery, 9:00 pm) NEW

(TV Tonight, Monday, February 8th, 2010) We get a new Top Gear tonight, with cheap cars and Rally driving legend Ken Block.

All times are central

• Deconstruction: Down the Drain (DIY, 5:00 pm)
• Trains & Locomotives (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• MythBusters: Underwater Car (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Collapsing Garage Roof; Installing a Dry Well (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Top Gear: Season 13 Ep. 3 (BBC America, 7:00 pm) NEW
• Ask This Old House: Special Projects for Kids: Building a Vegetable Garden; Constructing a Mini-Golf (DIY, 7:00 pm)
• MythBusters: Crash and Burn (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• American Chopper: Jr/Sr Military Tribute Bikes 1 (Military, 7:00 pm)
• Top Gear: Season 13 Ep. 2 (BBC America, 8:00 pm)
• MythBusters: Dumpster Diving (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
• American Chopper: Jr/Sr Military Tribute Bikes 2 (Military, 8:00 pm)
• MythBusters: Seesaw Saga (Discovery, 9:00 pm)
• American Chopper: Jet Bike (Military, 9:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Sunday, February 7th, 2010) Apparently there’s some sort of popular sporting event happening today. So what you get are reruns of thematic rearrangements of How It’s Made.

All times are central

• How It’s Made: Remix: Drinks (Science, 5:00 pm)
• American Chopper: Iowa Farm Bureau Bike 1 (Green, 5:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Remix: Breakfast (Science, 5:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Remix: Green (Science, 6:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Remix: Musical Instruments (Science, 6:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Remix: Automotive (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Remix: Boats (Science, 7:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Remix: Chores (Science, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Remix: Road Work (Science, 8:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Remix: Garage (Science, 9:00 pm)
• Successful Farming Machinery Show (RFD-TV, 9:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Remix: Weapons (Science, 9:30 pm)
• Holmes on Homes: Kitchen Coleslaw (HGTV, 10:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Saturday, February 6th, 2010) An incredibly minimal Saturday, but you guys have better things to do than watch TV anyway.

All times are central

• Top Gear: Season 13 Ep. 1 (BBC America, 7:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Snake Researcher (Discovery, 5:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Alpaca Shearer (Discovery, 6:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Friday, February 5th, 2010) A new Swamp Loggers continues to hammer home the point that  swamps are wet and muddy. If you like something larger scale, Big, Bigger, Biggest looks at the construction of the International Space Station.

All times are central

• Holmes on Homes: House Arrest (HGTV, 5:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Cargo Ships, Excavators, Newspaper (Science, 5:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Ice Breaker, Money, Bowling Alleys (Science, 5:30 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Wind Farm Technician (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Airplane Recycling, Fireworks, Computer Printer Cartridges (Science, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Banging Pipes, Installing Fiberglass Door (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Gold, Escalators, Golf Clubs (Science, 6:30 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Gourd Maker (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Brushes & Push Brooms, Blackboards, Smoked Salmon, Zippers (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Car Engines, Flour, Recliners, Envelopes (Science, 7:30 pm)
• Swamp Loggers: Waterlogged (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Swiss Army Knives, Player Piano Rolls, Oil Tankers, Racing Wheels (Science, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Surfboards, Stickers, Sandwich Cookies, Concrete Roofing Tiles (Science, 8:30 pm)
• Swamp Loggers: Swamp Fever (Discovery, 9:00 pm) NEW
• Big, Bigger, Biggest: Spacecraft (Science, 9:00 pm) NEW
• Deconstruction: Down the Drain (DIY, 10:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Thursday, February 4th, 2010) Paul Jr. pitches a new line of dog toys on a new American Chopper. Seriously. Oh, they also build a bike for the Stewart-Haas Nascar team. But it’s really all about the dog toys.

All times are central

• Prototype This!: Automated Pizza Delivery (Science, 5:00 pm)
• Some Assembly Required (Science, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Pruning a Tree, Installing a Shower Mixing Valve (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• American Chopper: Monster Diesel Bike (TLC, 7:00 pm)
• Factory Made: Pencils, Giant Bolts, Pickles, Inflatables (Science, 7:00 pm)
• Factory Made: Trombones, Drive-Through Windows, Bottled Water, Baseball Bats (Science, 7:30 pm)
• American Chopper: Stewart-Haas Racing Bike (TLC, 8:00 pm) NEW

(TV Tonight, Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010) Time to head out to the shop, if you’re not already there.

All times are central

• Ask This Old House: Staining a Deck, Preventing Sewage Backups (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Top Gear (BBC America, 7:00 pm)
• Holmes on Homes: A River Ran Through It (HGTV, 9:00 pm)
• Ax Men: Boiling Point (History, 9:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010) Mike Rowe shows us how they make concrete countertops on a new Dirty Jobs, which is relatively messy!

All times are central

• Holmes on Homes: Repairing a Slate Shower Renovation Gone Awry (HGTV, 5:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Aluminum Boats, Alpine Horns, Luxury Watches (Science, 5:00 pm)
• Tank Overhaul: The Comet (Military, 5:00 pm)
• Machinery of the Past (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: All-Terrain Vehicles, Alpine Skis, Laser Cutters, Marble Sculptures (Science, 5:30 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Alligator Egg Collector (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Socket Sets, Leather Shoes, Aluminium Water Bottles, Bike Chains (Science, 6:00 pm)
• Tank Overhaul: The Panther (Military, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Converting a Bathtub, Solar-Powered Fountain (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Carved Wood Sculptures, Flatware, Cow Bells, Fountain Pens (Science, 6:30 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Soo Locks Technician (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Olive Oil, Lift Trucks, Seamless Rolled Rings, Ski Boots (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Cookware, Inlaid Boxes, Water Heaters (Science, 7:30 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Concrete Finisher (Discovery, 8:00 pm) NEW
• How It’s Made: Mini GP Motorcycles, Fig Cookies, Tool Boxes, Pipe Bends (Science, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Revolver Replicas, Arc Trainers, Oil Furnaces, Vegetable Peelers (Science, 8:30 pm)
• Howe & Howe Tech: Personal Assault Lander (Discovery, 9:00 pm) NEW
• How It’s Made: Metal Golf Clubs, Waffles, Custom Wires, Cables, Train Wheels (Science, 9:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Sails, Walnuts, Wheel Immobilizers, Honeycomb Structural Panels (Science, 9:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Surfboards, Stickers, Sandwich Cookies, Concrete Roofing Tiles (Science, 10:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Ski Goggles, Tower Cranes, Porcelain Figurines, Diesel Engines (Science, 10:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Monday, February 1st, 2010) A new Top Gear finds the perfect car for a seventeen-year-old and a new Motor City Motors turns a trailer into a hovercraft. In other news, has the Science Channel run out of money? Three days of How It’s Made reruns plus one more tomorrow?

All times are central

• How It’s Made: Induction Cooktops, Truck Scales, Tetra Pak Containers, Harmonicas (Science, 5:00 pm)
• Trains & Locomotives (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Baseball Gloves, Medical Electrodes, Stetson Hats (Science, 5:30 pm)
• MythBusters: Walking on Water (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Impact Wrenches, Marble Sinks, Plantain Chips, NASCAR Cars (Science, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Painting Kitchen Cabinets, Installing Cabinet Accessories (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Jaws of Life, Artificial Christmas Trees, Soda Crackers, Ratchets (Science, 6:30 pm)
• Top Gear: Season 13 Ep. 2 (BBC America, 7:00 pm) NEW
• MythBusters: Knock Your Socks Off (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Thermometers, Produce Scales, Aircraft Painting, Luxury Chocolates (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Carburetors, Air Conditioners, Sugar (Science, 7:30 pm)
• Top Gear: Season 13 Ep. 1 (BBC America, 8:00 pm)
• Howe & Howe Tech: Subterranean Rover Blues (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Combination Wrenches, Deli Meats, Golf Cars, Airships (Science, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Carbon Fiber Car Parts, Hand Dryers, Recycled Polyester Yarn, Fleece (Science, 8:30 pm)
• Motor City Motors: Air Scream (Discovery, 9:00 pm) NEW
• How It’s Made: Police Badges, Rum, Car Washes, Pressure Gauges (Science, 9:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Metal Detectors, Muffins, Tiffany Reproductions, Aircraft Engines (Science, 9:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Riding Mowers, Popcorn, Adjustable Beds, Cultured Diamonds (Science, 10:00 pm)
• Disaster House: What Goes Up (DIY, 10:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Airstream Trailers, Horseradish, Industrial Steam Boilers (Science, 10:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Sunday, January 31st, 2010) Lots of TV to load up on this weekend: we get a new Ax Men tonight and more of the How It’s Made marathon.

All times are central

• Ice Road Truckers: The World Crumbles (History, 5:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Glass Bottles, Hacksaws, Goalie Masks (Science, 5:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Lacrosse Sticks, Frozen Fish Products, Flashlights, Paintbrushes (Science, 5:30 pm)
• Ax Men: Deeper into the Swamp (History, 6:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Battery Tins, Optical Lenses (Science, 6:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Horseshoes, Dishwashers, Graphite Fly Rods, Frozen Pizzas (Science, 6:30 pm)
• Ax Men: Diving for Dollars (History, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Pistons, Paint Rollers, Parachutes, Chimneys (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: CO2 Cartridges, Pretzels, Scissor Lifts, Skating Rinks (Science, 7:30 pm)
• Ax Men: Boiling Point (History, 8:00 pm) NEW
• How It’s Made: Pro Hockey Sticks, Bronzed Baby Shoes, Treadmills, Handheld Computers (Science, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Motorcycles, Clay Pipes, Drumsticks, Whistles (Science, 8:30 pm)
• Holmes on Homes: Window Un-Well (HGTV, 9:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Handcuffs, Caulking & Joint Compound, Propane Tanks, Forensic Facial Reconstruction (Science, 9:00 pm)
• Successful Farming Machinery Show (RFD-TV, 9:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Fur Coats, Hearses, Outdoor Lighting Fixtures, Golf Tees (Science, 9:30 pm)
• Disaster House: What Goes Up (DIY, 10:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Fishing Reels, Miniature Houses, Kitchen Mixers (Science, 10:00 pm)
• Deconstruction: Lumber (DIY, 10:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Manhole Covers, Range Hoods, Artificial Logs, Snowmobiles (Science, 10:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Saturday, January 30th, 2010) Mythbusters and How It’s Made marathons tonight.

All times are central

• Top Gear: Season 12 Ep. 1 (BBC America, 5:00 pm)
• MythBusters: Earthquake Machine (Discovery, 5:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Brushes & Push Brooms, Blackboards, Smoked Salmon, Zippers (Science, 5:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: 3D Signs, Hardwood Floors, Polyethylene Pipe, Mattresses (Science, 5:30 pm)
• MythBusters: Deadly Straw (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Ceramic Tiles, Nuts, Steel Forgings, Skateboards (Science, 6:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Car Engines, Flour, Recliners, Envelopes (Science, 6:30 pm)
• MythBusters: Prison Escape (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Plastic Cups & Cutlery, Special Effects Makeup, Gold, Harps (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Countertop Laminate, Frozen Treats, Children s Building Blocks, Detergents (Science, 7:30 pm)
• MythBusters: Hidden Nasties (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Moldings, Pulleys, Industrial Rubber Hose, Sheet Vinyl Flooring (Science, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Putty Knives, Garage Doors, Electric Motors, Wool (Science, 8:30 pm)
• MythBusters: Thermite vs. Ice (Discovery, 9:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Paving Asphalt, Marshmallow Cookies, Loudspeakers, Electronic Door Locks (Science, 9:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Wood Burning Stoves, Orthoses, Ballet Slippers, Buses (Science, 9:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Robotic Arms, Tattoos, Concrete Pipes (Science, 10:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Hockey Gloves, Snack Cakes, Remoulded Tires, Wastewater Treatment (Science, 10:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Friday, January 29th, 2010) In spite of there being tons to watch, only Swamp Loggers is new tonight.

All times are central

• Holmes on Homes: Falling Flat (HGTV, 5:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Wool Carpeting; Legos (Science, 5:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: World’s Strongest Knives, Diamonds, Bricks (Science, 5:30 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Cave Biologist (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Passenger Airplanes; Lightweight Chainsaws (Science, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Repairing Backyard Gate, Drafty Window (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• How Do They Do It?: Overnight Shipping; Mining Coal (Science, 6:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Banging Pipes, Installing Fiberglass Door (DIY, 7:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: High-Rise Window Washer (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Aluminum Foil, Snowboards, Soft Polymer Contact Lenses, Bread (Science, 7:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Compact Discs, Mozzarella Cheese, Pantyhose, Fluorescent Tubes (Science, 7:30 pm)
• Swamp Loggers: Money Pit (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Toothpicks, Acrylic Bathtubs, Helicopters, Beer (Science, 8:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Hearing Aids, 3-D Puzzles, Rubber Mats, Toilets (Science, 8:30 pm)
• Swamp Loggers: Waterlogged (Discovery, 9:00 pm) NEW
• How It’s Made: Copy Paper, Jeans, Computers, Plate Glass (Science, 9:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Nails & Staples, Safety Glasses, Fabrics, Bicycles (Science, 9:30 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: High-Rise Window Washer (Discovery, 10:00 pm)
• How It’s Made: Kayaks, Safety Boots, Electronic Signs, Cereals (Science, 10:00 pm)
• Deconstruction: Nail Guns & Air Compressors (DIY, 10:30 pm)
• How It’s Made: Trucks, Adhesive Bandages, Computer Circuit Boards, Liquors (Science, 10:30 pm)

(TV Tonight, Thursday, January 28th, 2010) Tonight brings us another new American Chopper where they build a diesel-fueled bike and open a new dog park — because that’s what cool biker dudes do.

All times are central

• Prototype This!: Flying Lifeguard (Science, 5:00 pm)
• Some Assembly Required (Science, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Energy-Efficient Water Heater, Leveling Concrete Walkway (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Pruning a Tree, Installing a Shower Mixing Valve (DIY, 7:00 pm)
• American Chopper: Gladiator GarageWorks Bike (TLC, 7:00 pm)
• Factory Made: Quarters, Aquariums, Limestone, Highlighters (Science, 7:00 pm)
• Factory Made: School Lockers, Frozen Pizza, Plastic Railroad Ties, Tissues (Science, 7:30 pm)
• American Chopper: Monster Diesel Bike (TLC, 8:00 pm) NEW
• Successful Farming Machinery Show (RFD-TV, 8:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Wednesday, January 27th, 2010) Wednesday is the new shop night as far as we’re concerned, although you can catch a rerun of the latest Ax Men if you missed it.

All times are central

• Ask This Old House: Removing a Boulder, Securing Loose Pipes (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Staining a Deck, Preventing Sewage Backups (DIY, 7:00 pm)
• Top Gear (BBC America, 7:00 pm)
• Ax Men: Diving for Dollars (History, 9:00 pm)
• Holmes on Homes: Bungled Bungalow (HGTV, 9:30 pm)
• Modern Marvels: Logging Tech (History, 10:00 pm)

(TV Tonight, Tuesday, January 26th, 2010) A new non-animal-husbandry-related Dirty Jobs at last, with Mike cleaning out the Soo Locks up in the Great Lakes. We also get a new Howe & Howe Tech where they build a smaller version of their small tank. Will it ever end?

All times are central

• Holmes on Homes: Ceiling the Deal (HGTV, 5:00 pm)
• Machinery of the Past (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Dirty Chip Maker (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Repairing a Deck, Hydrangea Bush (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Converting a Bathtub, Solar-Powered Fountain (DIY, 7:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Chicken Busters (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• Dirty Jobs: Soo Locks Technician (Discovery, 8:00 pm) NEW
• Howe & Howe Tech: Ripsaw’s Mini-Me (Discovery, 9:00 pm) NEW

Speaking of saddle cuts (e.g., TM drum smoker post on 1/18/2010), Instructables has a new posting on making perfect pipe saddle cuts with a bandsaw or chopsaw. For same diameter pipes, the author, samson3000, uses two cuts at approx. 35° close to, but not through, the center of the pipe so there’s a flat spot (as shown above), not a sharp point. An end view of the cut, pictured below, shows a pretty tight saddle. (more…)

(TV Tonight, Monday, January 25th, 2010) A new Top Gear starts the latest season, with the teaser that they promise to reveal who the mysterious Stig is. We also get a new Motor City Motors build of amphibious motorcycles.

All times are central

• Trains & Locomotives (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
• MythBusters: Superhero Hour (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Installing a Whole-House Water Filter, Repairing Rubber Roof (DIY, 6:30 pm)
• Ask This Old House: Painting Kitchen Cabinets, Installing Cabinet Accessories (DIY, 7:00 pm)
• Top Gear: Season 13 Ep. 1 (BBC America, 7:00 pm) NEW
• MythBusters: Greased Lightning (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
• Howe & Howe Tech: Badger Goes Boom! (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
• Motor City Motors: Amphibious Motorcycles (Discovery, 9:00 pm) NEW
• Disaster House: The End?? (DIY, 10:30 pm)