I get this sort of flack below almost every day. I usually ignore it. But in this case I want to be perfectly clear about how I work and how I have always worked.
Comment from Gary Smythe on the PW blog: I’ve been following this project from your first announcement. With all respect, your comments about not letting the price of hardware/wood be of concern are not fair. You are doing an article for a national magazine and the advantage of getting it published is that it is an expense that costs you nothing either by expense account or a tax write off. Secondly, how many donations were involved? Honestly, I wish you the best, and I’m looking forward to the article, but I bet you didn’t pay $15 for the Londonderry Catalog. I know that the $300 book on Campaign Furniture was donated to you. You are a skilled craftsman/author. I just feel for the audience you are writing for, true costs ought to be revealed. $700 is the tip of the iceberg. I’m guessing this item for the article on the campaign piece is worth $6000 by the time we figure your material costs and at least part of your time in the design and build. I’ll have to read the article to finnd out if any new tools were involved. Writing/photography is in addition to that. Bring it on, I want to see what you made, but please don’t tell us about the vastly inferior underweight hardware as an alternative – It’s embarrassing. If considering using most of that stuff, it might as well not be used at all. Keep this up and the next thing will be an article about a reproduction Tansu chest, but don’t worry about the Paulownia and hardware cost.
OK, let’s break down the letter, point by point.
“You are doing an article for a national magazine and the advantage of getting it published is that it is an expense that costs you nothing either by expense account or a tax write off.”
I have no expense account. I personally paid for the wood, the hardware and the finish. The piece was not built for a customer. It’s mine. It’s not a tax write-off. So I built a piece of furniture for myself and paid for all the materials myself. The article earned me some money, of course, but not even close to what the materials and hardware cost.
“Secondly, how many donations were involved?”
None. I paid full retail for every scrap of wood, hardware and finish. I always have and I always will. Call Steve Wall Lumber, where I bought the wood. Call Horton Brasses, where I bought the hardware. Call Oakley Paint & Glass, where I bought the finish.
“I bet you didn’t pay $15 for the Londonderry Catalog.”
You are right. I don’t have a Londonderry Catalog in my house. I’ve never even seen one. I looked on the company’s web site, which is free. Call Nancy at Londonderry for confirmation.
“I know that the $300 book on Campaign Furniture was donated to you.”
Not true. I paid $100 for the book plus a couple T-shirts from a local woodworker who knew I was interested in the style. Want to see the cancelled check?
“I’ll have to read the article to finnd out if any new tools were involved.”
Huh? None.
“I’m guessing this item for the article on the campaign piece is worth $6000 by the time we figure your material costs and at least part of your time in the design and build.”
Are you saying I was paid $6,000? Wish that were true. Not even close Way, way lower.
“Writing/photography is in addition to that.”
I do my own writing and photography. So I didn’t pay anyone for that. Perhaps I am not following you.
“Bring it on, I want to see what you made.”
Come on over. My home address is on our web site. I’ll show you every receipt.
— Christopher Schwarz
You have always been very clear about paying your own way for materials and tools, so this guy hasn’t read very much of what you’ve written. I know how annoying this sort of tripe is, I hope you know that it’s tiny fraction of the folks in the community.
Guys, get an eRoom. 🙂
Chris,
Thanks for posting so many techniques and so much advice for free.
I wish you every success and know that writing rarely pays well and very rarely makes anyone rich.
People find all kinds of reasons why they can’t do things, instead of figuring out how to make it happen. What is worse is when they resent people who both can, and do.
I am looking forward to seeing how this piece was made, without any corners cut.
Bravo Chris…
I always find it interesting that there are woodworkers out there that have never contemplated building a labor of love like this and refuse to accept that in doing so, generally the costs be damned…I have done it and have never taken a second look at the fact that I spent “X” on it because it was for me, a family member or a friend. How can you add a price tag on that?
I don’t think there’s been any attempt from the start of your build to hide the true costs of the piece. In fact I’ve been drawn even more into it by your level of transparency…
Keep up the great work.
Wow! Anybody that reads a majority of your stuff should have figured out that you buy everything you use in your shop, be it lumber, tools, etc. I for one appreciate the effort you put into getting the word out to your readers when you find a particularly good resource for supplies.
I couldn’t agree more. Rock on, Chris – you’re the best!
new tools ? This guy sounds like a new Tool !!
This guy is a piece of shit. We all learn to work wood within our means, and we justify where we would like to spend our money. Why throw stone?
I still don’t get why people complain about the perceived or real costs/profit involved? Shouldn’t we all do the best work we can within our means? If you want to spend the time and money and talent to make a perfect piece of furniture shouldn’t you? If you want to blog about it and sell the article shouldn’t you? And don’t we want to see the best of the best in the glossy mags? I know It gives me something to aspire to. If I wanted to see mediocre furniture I’d look through the Ikea catalog (or spend some time in my shop).
well said Jerry!
I can’t understand an email like this directed at you. You own your own business, which happens to relate to what has obviously turned into a passion that was once a hobby, ten a writing job. You constantly speak about doing it once and doing it the best you can. There is no fault to you for being able to build a chest with expensive hardware. If the best you can do is seven hundred dollar hardware, then so be it.
Christopher,
Awesome response.
Trevor:
“People find all kinds of reasons why they can’t do things, instead of figuring out how to make it happen”
Indeed. I had a friend Geo who could accomplish anything with a stick, a broken hacksaw blade, and a soldering iron. At some point I stopped wishing for new tools and started asking “how would Geo do it?”
That turned out to be a good question to ask.
Chris,
Dont let the bastards get you down. For every one of them, there are ten who genuinely appreciate the work you do. Keep it up my friend.
Chris- for the 99.9% of your readers who don’t have an axe to grind and appreciate not only your skill but willingness to share it, thanks for all you do….now, find a chair you made with you own 2 hands and a cold beer and reflect on the joys of life….Rusty
We are all familiar with many nasty examples where there is conflict of interest, so it is not completely unreasonable for a reader not familiar with Chris to post such a comment. How often do you read a review in a national newspaper and wonder who got paid off to print that? It might be helpful to include a small disclaimer in future so that readers understand the playing field better.
I strongly disagree. Asking questions would be OK, but making an accusation without evidence is out of line.
When you take out the foaming at the mouth bit, there is actually very little in terms of accusation.
– He is assuming it is a tax write-off. I am no accountant, but I would hope at least part of expenses should be, even if he is keeping the item for personal use. Those expenses were required in order to create the print article for which Chris was hired.
– He is asking how many donations were involved. While we can assume he assumes the answer is > 0, it is still a question, not an accusation
– He was wrong on the $15 catalogue (who cares).
– He thought Chris got $300 item for free, when it was for $100.
– While Chris reads it to say that Mr. Gary thinks Chris was paid $6,000, it seems clear to me writer is suggesting nothing of the sort. He is saying that if you were to pay yourself for the time, it would cost you, with hardware and wood, $6,000. Not that I see why that line of reasoning is relevant to anything.
All together, very little actual accusation of anything, and mostly venting that he doesn’t think he can afford to build it. A non event. What I find amusing is the barrage of supporters coming out of woodwork and poo-pooing all over this guy… calling him a moron, a wannabe, demanding apology…
“Are you saying I was paid $6,000?”
I read it as he meant the peice of furniture cost $6000. As a break down of $700 for the brass $1500 (I believe you wrote that what it cost somewhere) for the wood and lets be generous and say $50 for nails,glue and finish. Then if you factor in time, although free for yourself it is necessary for costing, say it was 100 hours @ $25/hr. That brings the cost of the peice to $4750, then if it was sold in a store with a 25% markup brings the value of the peice to $5937.50.
So he was correct the item is worth about $6000, though not the cost.
I believe that a bespoke peice of furniture of this size and detail should be worth that. The problem with most woodworkers is they undervalue their time and skill.
On another note, I am always amused by comments. Who cares if you spent money or you got to write some off through tax or if unicorns came into your yard and crapped brass fittings and wood for you to use. It’s an article on techniques in a magazine that costs a few bucks, or if you follow this or PW blog you can get most of it for free. So why complain about the article.
Calculating $25 an hour for labor (not including payroll taxes) and only a 25% markup is excessively undervaluing the product.
Resistance if futile. They are everywhere.
The “WAS” association will just like to point out how upset they are now that- as of this posting- the ebay market price for “this sort of flack” that Chris gets almost everyday has now exponentially increased in cost and most “flack” distributors are in heavy backorder thanks to the Schwarz effect. 🙂
Chris,
I don’t know who Mr. Gary is, but this type of post is simply pathology!
I understand why you posted your reply, but I hope you are not planning to do it for every one of these. TIME is the most precious commodity! Do more and share more – this is all what’s important. Good luck!
Wiktor Kuc
I think Chris undestands the value of Time as a commodity better than most of us….
There’s a horse in every crowd… although sometimes they pass you by before you see it …
Good response Christopher. Keep up the good work.
Well, perhaps not the whole horse, just the back half.
Well, perhaps not the whole horse. Just the back end.
Why do you bother answer an email like that one, jealous morons are a dime a dozen, and with the web they can spread they cr.p for free.
I like your articles, and your books very much and I wish I was half as skilled as you, even tough I’m much better good looking 😉
Maybe he thinks you are too good to be true. Maybe he just needs to get up from the computer and go into his shop and sniff some walnut. I don’t know…
After reading your books and meeting you at one of the WIAs (and getting kissed on one cheek while Roy Underhill kissed the other cheek, for a picture), I think you and Roy and Frank Klausz and Marc Adams and all the rest are just saying, “Get in the shop and build something. Try new tools, push the limits of your knowledge, and huff some wood. Just do it!” We, the unskilled masses sometimes cry out for more direction, more specific details (like the guy who ask Frank Klausz exactly how long it took him to learn to hand cut dovetails) and to know specifically what tool to buy. I appreciate the patience, encouragement and compassion that you and the others show.
While packing up my house to move, I found the carcase of a tool box that I started to build a few years ago. I just need to finish the drawers. The carcase is white oak with all hand-cut dovetails. It is a reminder to me that though I am sorely out of practice with dovetails, I did some really nice work once. I can do it again.
Long story short (too late), thanks, Chris, for being who you are and doing what you do.
I’m glad Chris publicly took him to the woodshed. People who spend a little time with him and read his books know he is a straight shooter. Mr. Smythe would do well to apologize.
When I saw the title, I assumed this was addressed to a different Gary. Come to think of it, the name Smythe makes me think maybe it is.
Me too. And I like your codename.
“Build stuff until I croak.” Page 26, The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.
Chris, I Recently read “The anarchist’s Toolchest” and “The Work ench Design Book” which have inspired me to try hand tool wood working. Just reading these books convinces me that you do not you pay your own way. Don’t waste any more time responding to these types of posts. Be encouraged by the support you are getting from loyal fans.
We all know that this “campaign chest” is really just a new style of tool chest to hold your secret horde of $500K worth of donated Bridge City tools. Why else would it need to be so stout and lock? That’s why you’re always pushing everybody to buy $2000 smoothing planes.
Chris,
I really get annoyed by these online “trolls” that see it as their mission to let others know how miserable they really are. Like all those that commented on Jeff Miller’s jig on PWW, saying that is not true hand tool work, maybe for those hand tool bigots, but many of us appreciate the help from a jig like that, which is likely who this product is directed at..
If you don’t hve something positve or supportive to say, keep it to yourself, no one else really wants to hear it. Congrats Chris on the beat-down…
Rich
Maybe his tu-tu was too tight.
sounds like a frustrated wannabee
This bloke didn’t factor in all the cost of the different brass hardware you tested, at cost to you, for the pupose of educating us all where the best sources are- knowledge which none of us readers paid for and donated for free by you, like much (all ) of your wisdom. I found his letter somewhat kneejerk and did it seems he not realise the journey that has gone into the building of this piece. If he had read the ATC, he may have a better perspective of your personal journey as a whole.
I would be surprised (disappointed) if you could get only $6000 for this piece if you took it to market. I know people who would gladly pay double for such authenticity and craftsmanship.
As they say- empty cans rattle the loudest.
I must have missed something. If I’ve been reading your Campaign furniture blogs correctly, you are doing research and development for your forthcoming book on campaign furniture. I have seen many authors publish material from there book in one of the woodworking magazines. To me the cost of publishing a book and the cost of required R&D is a given and has nothing to do with a woodworker wanting to build a given piece of furniture and what it might cost them. I guess some woodworkers have no appreciation for all of the time, effort and money you have saved us in supporting our interests through your blogs, magazine articles, and books.
You’re not really famous until you have a stalker.
You’re not really a superstar until your stalkers have stalkers.
Congratulations on the fame, sorry ’bout the stalkers…
I believe reading your book The Anarchist Tool Chest best summarizes your philosophy for many things and particularly woodworking.
Ray
It’s not always easy Chris, but try to let it be like water off a duck’s ass.
Well, maybe this guy can stick around and provide ongoing commentary for the next few months? I seem to remember a faux french chef providing some “insight” for a while. His stupidity was quite entertaining
I feel your pain Chris. The brutal reality of the internet is that you’re always in danger of meeting trolls :0) Of course, you know you should just shrug off their nonsense and ignore them. But every now and then you just need to blast back at them, even though you know full well that it won’t stop them.
Keep up the good work.
Lots of growling goes on from emotionally immature and irrational people. The dog next to you does not want you to have a bone, he wants it for himself even if he does not need it. Ignore it, delete it, don’t respond to it. You owe absolutely no one an explanation or justification of your finances other than the IRS. You are not a politician running for an office who is required to disclose finances.
Every author no matter what subject they write about gets attacked by public opinion. It goes with the territory. When you put yourself out in public you will get slammed for doing good as well as for doing bad. The “public” seems to think they own people and their lives. They can’t stand not being in control of everything around them.
Wait a second here…..are you saying that if we want to write you nonsense e-mails accusing you of stupid things, we can get an offer to come to your house and go through your stuff??? Uh….yeah….check your email, Chris…I’ll come up with a doozy for you soon! 🙂
No need to dignify these comments. I am very happy to have almost daily post from your site. I prefer that you make a ton of money with your endeavors. This would certainly ensure preservation of the craft.
Chris,
This is what I love about you! You are honest and say it like it is. I am just like you in this respect, so keep doing what your doing, for Lost Art Press is the Best!!!!!!!!!!
Chris–
Thanks or sharing this letter setting the skeptics straight and always trying to do things the correct way!
I’m really not sure what point the original poster is trying to make. OK, so making an authentic campaign chest isn’t exactly cheap. And so?
Chris,
I’m not usually a commenter, just a woodworker who enjoys your blogs, articles, videos, books and classes. I liked your reply to the clueless Mr. Gary, but I think your time would be better spent woodworking and writing. Next time you get an e-mail like that, take a deep breath, hit delete and enjoy your day. Keep doing what you do 99.9% of us appreciate it. See you at Kelly’s in July.
I find building a.campaign chest with the wood and hardware that Chris used out of my budget as well . I also feel that turning me loose on that beautiful wood with my present skillset a criminal act!!!!!!!! Does this make me feel resentful?????? NO!!!!!!!! I look at the project and feel inspired by what I see!!! It makes me continue on my journey in woodworking. I look at the materials that I have available at an affordable price, realize its and my limitations and continue forward. Would I start with the secretary? Probably not but it is on my goals list. Now the bookshelf is a definite must build – probably with pine and Lowes hardware but it will be a joy to build with my limited set of tools. I hope he keeps building beautiful items with beautiful woods and hardware because it keeps me looking ahead wanting to improve my skills and my project complexity.
Chris keep challenging us and wanting us to disobey you.
As far as the costs or discounts or donations etc.
I hope some rich person leaves him 10 mil so he can do more in preserving skills and books which are disappearing each day.
For the hours he puts in on these projects and books money is not the primary motivator.
I feel instead it is a pationate love for the craft and a want to see these skills not be lost but be rediscovered.
Chris your work is appreciated!!!!!
Nice post.
I build furniture that I will never be able to afford. I enjoy doing it and seeing my skills improve. I get real happiness from my old tools and top quality new tools. It took me a year to build the craftsman desk I’m sitting at – so of course I bought the best quarter sawn oak I could find. Hand hammered copper pulls from a local artist were only a little more expensive than home center knockoffs.
Finding your blog and books have made a huge difference in my life. I hope you make MILLIONS. I’m certain that you would put it right back into projects like Making a Joint Stool, the molding plane book, the campaign furniture book and studying the Studley tool cabinet.
Good grief! In a world that idolizes rich guys playing sports, singers with digitally enhanced voices, boob jobs, mega-churches and thick, naturally looking hair – this guy goes after a furniture maker.
Ha… I might be accused of hero worship, but have you considered offering a Chris Schwarz action figure? Complete with engraved jack plane, Nikon camera and bottle opener belt buckle?
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60196377/
The End
I, personally, can’t understand where Mr Smythe is coming from with these abrasive comments. I commented on the PW blog stating that the $700 price tag for hardware was a deal breaker for me and your response was to inform me that there are certainly other ways to build the Campaign Secretary and offered alternatives. I very much appreciated that response from you but I had already begun to torque the design to fit my budget. If I was building something to show America then I would save my quarters and get the Horton Brass elite hardware but since I’m just interested in making sure my kids/grandkids remember me I’ll just whittle some pulls and handles. I’m glad you responded to his post …. makes me feel even better about your integrity.
Jealousy? Mayhaps?
Any expensive hobby can be frustrating. But I’ll offer Gary some unsolicited advice: take a deep breath and say to yourself “nobody, but nobody, is getting rich off of anything related to custom woodworking, not building, not toolmaking, not writing, not anything.”
If we all made as much as people think… BTW, if Chris was getting his photography done for him, he’d be in the poor house a little more.. I know what I charge for photos like that…
Looking forward to seeing you Chris in Pasadena in the fall.
Hey Chris,
There are always people who try to break down everything.Don’t listen to them.You have
inspired me to become a handtool woodworker and it’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me .Keep going.
Best regards,
jan ham [Netherlands]
I vote that we stick to talking about wood, tools and combining the two. This extraneous stuff is time-wasting and annoying.
I don’t get it. Who cares what you get paid and what you get for free?
Personally, I hope you do get paid a truck full of cash. I hope the wood and hardware was free and you got a Fed-Ex truck full of Veritas, Lie-Nielsen and hundred year old Stanley’s to make it.
I’m learning stuff, getting a free education to improve my own woodwork and I really appreciate it. So thanks, I hope you are getting rich and you are worth every penny.
Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that. — Norman Vincent Peale
I want my work to be limited only by my skill level as a woodworker, not my crappy tools or cheap materials… so I have been patient with my tool purchasing and only buy the best. I have been deliberate about my wood and hardware selection as well. If I can’t afford the materials to do a project justice, I don’t make it. Any errors to be found in my work are my own, no tool or poorly designed piece of hardware can be blamed.
I’m not sure this is so much an attack on your woodworking as it is an attack on your lifestyle. A lot of people can’t understand the “quality over quantity” lifestyle. You and your family made a lot of sacrifices earlier in life so that you could become debt free in order live the life you want to live. Part of that, as I understand it, is to only buy or make things of true quality that will last a lifetime. It also means living with less stuff in general. By making these sacrifices, you are now able to pay $700 for hardware, as an example, in order to build a quality piece of furniture that will last the rest of your life. Pretty shrewd investing on your part.
I know these types of attacks can be painful. I live a similar lifestyle to yours and get all kinds of rude and sometime vicious comments from people as a result. Most people just don’t understand. Don’t let them get you down. You have an ally in Nashville. If you are ever down this way, shoot me an email and will go for a beer. I wish you the best of success to you and your family Chris.
I have been following the recent posts and comments for some time and I have been tempted to weigh in earlier but I guess this kind of did it. This letter made me sad. It seems there has been quite a bit of blowback on the cost of the hardware.
As you likely know my company, Horton Brasses, provided the hardware. We custom fabricated all the corners and trim pieces and special ordered the flush pulls. The chest lifts, lock, and desk hinges were all stock items. I fully realize that hardware for a project of this scope is not within everybody’s budget. I am awed that Chris took the time to actually research and explain lower cost alternatives. That is truly remarkable, if not particularly helpful to me personally:-)
We are neither the most or least expensive hardware vendor out there. We aren’t WalMart – we aren’t always seeking the lowest cost supplier or labor. We seek skilled craftspeople to work with us and for us to provide specialty hardware that cannot be duplicated at a big box store. Maybe that’s bad business, maybe we should constantly seek to drive down the prices. However, if you always look to get something cheaper in the end you get exactly what you pay for.
We think of our hardware as the jewelry for a piece of furniture. The woodworker has spent countless hours making a piece. You went and found the perfect wood, slaved over every joint and detail, and when all that was done you had sweated out the finishing process trying to get it just perfect. Usually, hardware is the last thing you choose. But hardware is the part of a piece of furniture you actually use the most-it is what you touch every time you open a door or drawer. To me, and to many, it makes sense to choose a good piece of hardware that compliments your work rather than detracts from it.
A project like this, a full fledged secretary desk is never going to be a inexpensive project. I would bet that in a fine furniture store, or as a commissioned piece, this desk would sell for a minimum of $10,000. $6000 retail for a piece of furniture like this would not be nearly enough to compensate for the time, research, and expertise it took to produce it.
I would go further and suggest that there are many more types of campaign furniture that can be made for far less than a secretary. We have a client who makes a line of English campaign style coffee tables- and they are absolutely stunning. Rather than short change a masterpiece project like a desk why not make something smaller that can be done without cutting corners?
Chris’s compensation is none of anyone’s darn business, I find it remarkably offensive to even broach that subject. Would you walk up to your neighbor and ask them what they earn? Of course not. We are thankful to Chris for choosing our hardware. As most readers know Chris pays for his hardware. I can tell from experience-the woodworking community can spot a phony. You know when someone was comped all or some of the materials for a magazine project. It just doesn’t smell right.
Orion,
Thanks for taking the time to weigh in on this. I am certainly guilty of using cheaper hardware for some projects that I have spent lots of time and energy on, and this post has finally convinced me to quit complaining and go with the best pieces of hardware that are appropriate for a piece of furniture, regardless of price. I have pretty good metal working skills, so I know how much time and energy it takes to make quality metal pieces. From now on, your company will be at the top of my list when I am looking for brass hardware.
Thanks for supporting quality craftsmanship,
David
Thanks for the post, Orion! Don’t change a thing! You’ve got a niche in the hardware market. Personally, I aspire to get my skill levels up to the place where I’m ready to order some hardware from y’all.
If you have your nose on the grindstone and your shoulder to the wheel it hurts, especially when you see somebody who is maybe not getting rich doing what they’re doing, but is enjoying themselves. I wouldn’t spend $700 on mahogany for a project like that, but why not? I wouldn’t spend the cash for the high end hardware, but why not?
I actually read that comment yesterday and wanted to reply “You simply do not know Chris Schwarz.”
I tell people that I can build furniture for half the price of Pottery Barn with 10 times the quality, but simple economics isn’t the only reason I do. I am driven by a constant, near ravenous desire to create. When I’m not making shavings or cutting joinery I’m drawing out a new piece, and when I’m not doing that I’m cooking or playing guitar (badly) for my wife. I’ve used plywood and pocket screws to make some storage shelves, but I’ve also used the most figured and rare piece of wood I could find to make a small box for something special. Financially, that doesn’t make sense, but I didn’t do it because of the money. I didn’t think of the money when I was building it, I was thinking of what I wanted to build, and what I wanted to build it for.
Sometimes we make things for a purpose, sometimes making is the purpose.
This letter reminds me of my own comment that “I would like to weigh 170 pounds again,” but am unwilling to change my eating or exercise habits in order to make it happen. So, who’s fault is that? Whining about how other people do things is not productive, and probably symptomatic of envy, which I hold to be the most destructive dynamic in society. However, I can understand a certain level of cynicism against which Chris is laboring, and has in fact structured his working life to lead through integrity. As someone whose proposals for articles to major woodworking organs (well, one at least, which shall remain nameless, but PopWood is not the culprit) have been rejected primarily because they do not cause readers to run out and buy machines from the advertisers, I can appreciate but do not share the implied criticism even if was honest.
It appears to be a common drive in human nature to count other people’s money. Those afflicted the worst, and least self-aware, tend to really enjoy building up a head of self-righteousness about other’s spending choices. You are not going to win with such people. Your choices are not the same as theirs, and yours may even make theirs look bad, for heaven’s sake. You must be punished and sneered at. Take it like a man. 😉
The shame is that you deserve a much higher level of compensation for what you do given the positive impact you have had on all of us.
Had I been asked, I would have guessed the answers you gave to your inquisitor. Some folks must like with jock itch or ‘rhoids, causing their really jaundiced attitudes. I really enjoyed meeting you Saturday at Marc’s. I am the guy who was NOT gonna build the chest after reading the book, but was powerfully converted after seeing it. I do think just a little ornamentation on the inside is in order. Hope to learn to do some Follansbee kinda stuff in mine. Maybe on the front of the tills? Chris, I really love what you are trying to do to preserve some of the old skill that are essential parts of the craft. BTW gonna order the Sawing DVD and the Toolchest DVD
Ron
I meant live instead of like. Some guys say ignore this kind of crap that you responded to, but ebvery once in a while you just gotta…………………
Day after…
Chris, I flinched when I’ve seen this here and in your PWW blog. I did think you shouldn’t have posted it. Tried to come up with some wise support comment, and failed, thought “Not really my position to judge whether or not he should have posted….”.
Then, in one last attempt to at least come up with something funny, I googled “Gary Smythe”, seeking to make fun of the name or whatnot. Give it a try! Google, switch to “pictures”, and take a close look at the first picture.
It’s your very own campaign chest.
That’s how important the stuff you do is to us.
The Web gives some a place to vent the vitriol in their lives.
Reblogged this on Stu's Shed and commented:
My favourite reply to Chris’ post/response to a vitriolic attack from a ‘reader’ was this one by fairwoodworking “You’re not really famous until you have a stalker.
You’re not really a superstar until your stalkers have stalkers.”
My little collection had their commenting rights revoked, so I guess their is no chance of the stalkers getting stalkers! (But then I’m not saying I qualify as famous, so my “stalkers” are more vitriolic wannabees.
Who cares………..
I just unchecked the two boxes at the bottom of the page,
What you are paid is really only the business of you and your customer. The fact that you have the integrity to not take donations (bribes) and therefor provide free advertising for someone is no secrete. It’s the reason folks can trust you to give an honest opinion and only good advise. I just hope you are getting paid enough to keep doing what you’re doing. If you end up with a house full of furniture in the proccess, so much the better
I don’t usually post comments but I find it necessary to respond to the complaints about your use of mahogany for the campaign furniture. Yesterday, as I was driving home, I saw an unusual car in the distant. As I approached the car it became clear that it was the most beautiful car I have ever seen. It turned out to be the new Bentley Continental GTC. The moment was perfect as it was a warm, late afternoon day with this car beautifully silhouetted against the setting sun. I really enjoyed the moment despite the fact that the car was worth more than my house. I found the photograph of a side panel of your campaign chest with a razor sharp dado beautiful as well. The composition and lighting of the photograph really struck me and made my day much more enjoyable. I can’t find any logic in not enjoying such things because of what someone else paid to produce them or in insisting that objects produced for a magazine must fall within the means of the average reader. It seems more important to enjoy beauty when you find it.
Curt,
I mean this in all seriousness: you are a wise man. I was originally going to call you a prophet, but that seemed to be, perhaps, the wine talking, so I scaled it back.
In my opinion the real cost of using this mahogany Swietenia macrophylla is to the environment. I am sure Chris’ superbly cut dado would have been equally impressive had he made a less environmentally compromising choice of timber.
The financial criticisms levelled at Chris by the mysterious Mr Gary are obviously a load of hooey.
I understand the concern. I buy all my wood from a local dealer who harvests trees that would otherwise be firewood or landfill (ravenfarm.com). He only sells locally to reduce the carbon footprint from transportation and uses an energy efficient kiln. I can’t always get the wood I need for a project at a moments notice but by buying in advance and having a bit of patience it works for me. That said, while I don’t have the skill to use such a magnificent board as Chris used to make his campaign furniture, I do think that someone of Chris’s caliber building a piece of furniture that will be widely seen is the best use of a relatively rare species of wood. The choice of wood was an important aspect of the photograph to me.
Dear Chris,
Ignore the advice about ignoring this guy. At some point ya just gotta vent and get it out of your system. As you said, now you feel better. And to Mr Smythe; I do hope you read the firestorm of disapproval from all of us? You earned it, in spades. An apology would be appropriate, and might possibly restore a little respect. I’m not holding my breath, though.
Dear Rob,
Pulease! What environmental impact? The wood was already cut, sawn, dried, and ready for use! The waste at that point would be NOT doing something beautiful with it. Wasting that beautiful wood or building a house with it would have been a crime.
Hi Rascal.
When I said ‘In my opinion the real cost of using this mahogany Swietenia macrophylla is to the environment. I am sure Chris’ superbly cut dado would have been equally impressive had he made a less environmentally compromising choice of timber.’ I was referring to the use of this species in general, and there is plenty of literature available about this without reiterating it here. Suffice to say that the origins of this species ( and teak Tectona grandis, which he is also using) are often impossible to trace but that, to secure a desirable tree, it frequently necessitates loggers anonymous doing horrendous damage to surrounding forest and indigenous peoples.
Referring specifically to Chris using this mahogany: bearing in mind that he is writing a book on campaign furniture and that, if this tome follows in the footsteps of Anarchist’s Toolchest, others will follow his example, then we can expect to see other woodworkers also rushing to spend $3000 dollars on Swietenia macrophylla.
With respect to this particular board: a timber merchant is like any other retailer, when they sell an item they immediately look for another similar to replace it in stock – and where will that board come from?
As a teacher, and being independent, Chris is in a strong position to lead by example with using native US species, if he chooses to. But of course I respect his right to use whatever wood he wants, and I admire his joinery skills and positive impact on hand skills woodwork etc – it’s just my view that using home-grown timber is preferable to using exotics.
Back in the day when this furniture was built people were largely ignorant about the damaging effects of using mahogany – that’s no longer the case.
Anyway, this is a more interesting subject for discussion (I hope you agree…) than the preceding financial hoo-ha!
I agree! You make some good points. My answer is husbandry. Using any resource to extinction is unethical. My problem starts when governments try to tell us what is ethical and what isn’t. I have a huge distaste for the nanny state because bureaucracies have no conscience, only rules. Don’t know that I’m smart enough to know the solution. I do know the solutions I don’t like.
Cheers!
India’s attempt to control the sale of Indian Rosewood is both financially and environmentally motivated. Does this count as “husbandry”. It also seems to be successful: there appears to be a sustainable, but expensive, supply of the timber.
I’d be more happy to use that that teak, the provinence of which is often unsure.