Though building furniture in our workshops might seem like a quaint skill, it actually is a radical act in the modern consumerist age – where furniture is tossed to the curb at a whim.
“The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” is the story of how I came to realize this during my 15 years as an editor at Popular Woodworking Magazine, and how this small revelation changed the way I approach the craft, my tools and my shop. Here’s what I did:
• After researching lists of the core tools one needs to build furniture that were published from 1678 to 1973, I made a list of the 48 hand tools that are essential. I sold off the unnecessary tools in my kit and focused my efforts on fewer – but higher quality – tools.
• I built a traditional tool chest to house these tools that is based on research into historical chests and my experience of working out of two traditional chests for the last 14 years. Modern chests, I found, are poorly designed, too small and painful to use. So I created a list of the 13 rules for building chests that will result in something that really works. Many of these rules will surprise you. An example: You should always nail the bottom of the chest to the shell.
• I wrote this book to help other woodworkers assemble an ideal first tool kit – or modify their existing tool set to have fewer, better-quality tools.
“The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” is divided into three sections:
1. A deep discussion of the 48 core tools that will help readers select a tool that is well-made – regardless of brand name or if it’s vintage or new. This book doesn’t deal with brands of tools. Instead it teaches you to evaluate a well-made tool, no matter when or where it was manufactured. There also is a list of the 24 “good-to-have” tools you can add to your kit once you have your core working set.
2. A thorough discussion of tool chests, plus plans and step-by-step instructions for building one. The book shows you how to design a chest around your tools and how to perform all the common operations for building it. Plus, there are complete construction drawings for the chest I built for myself.
3. There also is a brief dip into the philosophy of craft, and I gently make the case that all woodworkers are “aesthetic anarchists.”
As always, this book is being printed in the United States on high-quality paper with a permanent binding. It will not be sold through any mass-market channels such as Amazon, Borders or Barnes & Noble. The book will be available for shipment at the end of May 2011 though our web site, Lee Valley Tools, Lie-Nielsen Toolworks and Tools for Working Wood.
The retail price is $37. Within the next week we will start accepting preorders, which will receive free shipping in the United States. Once the book is received in our warehouse (my basement), we will charge shipping. All books ordered from us will be autographed.
We also will offer a short run of leather-bound editions of this book. We are ordering just enough to offer 26 lettered and signed editions that will be hand-bound by Ohio Book, which bound “The Joiner & Cabinet Maker.” Details and pricing on the leather edition will be available in June.
Technical specifications:
Pages: 480
Format: 6” x 9”
Cover: Linen over 98-point hard boards
Paper/Binding: 60# acid-free paper, Smythe sewn, casebound
Printed in the United States (Pennsylvania)
Do you count sets of tools as one tool?
Would a set of auger bits be counted as 1 or 13 if that is how many you have in your set. Same thing with screwdrivers or ,God forbid, gimlets.
A “set” counts as one tool. But I strive for very small sets. One mortise chisel. Five brad points.
It also includes tools you make yourself. Straightedge. Winding sticks. Square.
Nice. Looking forward to the tool discussion most. I have no need or desire to build a tool chest, but I am going to let you try to change my mind. thanks for your past books, I have enjoyed each one. I am now building a chest of drawers based on the jointer and cabinet maker on my French workbench. Maybe I am too easily influenced. 🙂
The revolution will not be televised!
…or brought to you by amazon. Right on!
after your recent philosophy writings, I doubt that it’s “gently” presented. I hope not anyway…I’m thinking of phrases like “before we were infected and weak” – one of the best lines you’ve ever written. keep it up.
PF
Hi Chris,
No shipping promo to the Frozen North? I’m 10 minutes from an LV but the autographs are always nice.
Best of luck with the new book. It’s a great premise and philosophy.
I’m looking forward to placing my order for another of your thoughtful examinations of craft. I hope that illustration above is the cover of the book, it’s quite handsome with its black on the maize, very tasteful without an extra title.
WBT
48 tools? Did my wife get to you?
I’ve got 15 saws and use them all.
(And that doesn’t count the 7′ logging saw and pit saw).
Looking forward to the discussion.
Chuck
Only $37? What a small price to pay to have proof to show my wife that I really do need to have more tools. ;0
Seriously, this sounds like a great book.
Yup. This one is for the lassies.
Actually, it is about fewer but better tools. Play that how you will in your household.
Again – the more you talk about the book the more I want it!!!
I will be watching the site for the preorder.
Wow your killing me with the build up! But I have to add some more confusion
Sharpening stones, usually 3 grits right – one tool or 3?
Hollows and rounds half set = 18 planes, 9 pairs. Inquiring minds want to know how these get categorized.
Saw bench = Pair
Work bench = the largest tool that doesnt even fit in the chest…
What about some teaser chapters in pdf form with the a confirmed preorder? PLEASE!
I’m ridiculously excited about this book, Chris. I love the idea that you’re conceptualizing the craft in such a way. It sounds like you’re writing about the IDEA of woodworking more than just about woodworking with this book. I’m all for the thoughtful examination of our motivations in the field. As a professor in the visual arts, I ask for this kind of examination of all of my students to their motivations, and I feel that the true application of this rubric not only makes for better and “smarter” work, but makes us eventually enjoy the craft even more. Woodworking, painting,…hell even mowing the grass…can become more than just woodworking, painting or mowing the grass. I cannot wait to add it to my shelf, dogeared and stained as it may be when it finds its way there.
I look forward to this book as always, Chris. I especially want to thank you for making it a quality object — a well made book. If we rail against poorly manufactured particleboard furniture, we should also complain about wonderful books that that crack and fall apart after only a few readings. A quality book should last as long as the fine book case it resides in. And thanks for not only making it well, but making it here.
Icing on the cake.
Chris,
I still have the option of getting the newest “aesthetic anarchist” Schwarz to sign my copy, right?
To be honest with you, I’m looking forward to paring down some of my tools. Hmmm… need to come up with some justification for the book purchase, though. How about:
“Honey, think of all the UNTOLD dollars I’ll save not buying woodworking tools I don’t need with the purchase of this one $37 book that tells me what I SHOULD have!”
Chris,
I ran across your article “Does not play well with others” and the above and will be purchasing a copy of the book when it is published. Since I am a beginner/hobbist, it sounds like what I have been looking for to help idenfity the set of hand tools that I should have in my shop. I aspire to build cabinets and furniture for myself and then possible for others.
Just placed my order!!!
Now the waiting really starts…
So have you picked your next project?
Yes. A nap.
Wise choice!!!!!!
I was just reading my June – Popular woodworking magazing and saw your response to Harlan Janes mentioning Sloyd. I can think of no one who could do a better job of reviving it than you!!! If you (working with Doug Stowe and heavily influenced by Your first toolkit by Frank Klausz (Mr. 3 minute dovetails) and The Essential Toolkit by Charles Hayward) did a 21st Century Sloyd book I really think Sloyd could live again. If the exercises were modernized to things used today and if the toolkit was truely Hayward minimal to where all families could afford to buy a few tools at a time I truely believe there could be a revival in todays youth.
Well so much for my “I have a Dream Speech” 🙂
Can’t wait to read ‘The Anarchist’s Tool Chest’ !
One of the things I love about your books and articles (besides the writing style), is that you explain not only the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ but most importantly, the ‘WHY’. I have spent countless hours of frustration trying to decipher the ‘why’ something was done the way it was while reading through old woodworking books. I guess the authors assumed the readers would already know, or didn’t think it important to include. It’s usually a great moment when the fog lifts, and the ‘whys’ become logically obvious. …”Nail the bottom to the shell”? I have a theory… but can’t wait to find out the ‘why’ of that one!
Keep up the great work Chris. And thank you.