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Chain of Tools

Posted on by fitz

At least once a month someone asks about lid stays for the Anarchist’s tool chest; now I’ll be able to refer them to this post.

Both Christopher Schwarz and I (now) use chains to hold out chests open, but they attach differently. Both methods work. As will multiple other methods, but these are ours.

But let’s back up two ticks. In “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest,” Chris directs readers to leave the back corners of the dust seal a little overlong and cut an angle on them. That will work if you’re gentle with your chest, and don’t use it all the time. If you are not gentle, and do use it all the time, that corner will start to break off – then you’ll need to come up with another method of holding your chest open.

The back corner of the original lid stay (after years of use), as shown in the book.

After the back corner of his dust seal started to show its years, Chris added a rigid aluminum lid stay, held in place by knurled knobs. The problem – if you can call it a problem – is that to use it, you had to unscrew the knob, put the stay in place, then screw the knob back in. And reverse that to close the lid at the end of the day.

Chris’ aluminum lid stay.

When I built the ATC I use at the Lost Art Press shop, I decided to add a nickel-plated chain to the outside, because I like shiny silvery things. So I bought a length of chain from McMaster-Carr along with some 3/8″ threaded rod, and found female-threaded finials on a lamp-repair-supply website. I cut two pieces of threaded rod to length, then epoxied them in place in the side of the dust seal and upper skirt. The chain fits over the rod; the finials screw onto the rod. (I’ve used this same approach on a couple of chests built on commission…but I added a threaded insert into the side of the lid and top skirt for extra insurance. Overkill, but I’d rather err on the side of solid when I’m sending out my work.)

It doesn’t look pretty when the finial is off – but it works.
That’s better!

Chris used a different approach, in part, I think, because he already had threaded inserts and knurled knobs from the aluminum lid stay.

A knurled knob and its insert.

He simply screwed both knobs in tight, then bought a dog collar.

The advantage here is that the chain can be removed in a jiffy when Fido needs to go for a walk.

In truth, though, both of us store our chests against a wall – so more often than not, it’s a wall, not a chain, that holds our chests open.

— Fitz

Stock Alert No. 2: Beer Steins and Bandanas

Posted on by Lost Art Press

Good news everyone. We found some more dirt.

Our ceramics supplier has just filled our entire order of Lost Art Press Beer Steins, and they are now available for immediate shipment. The mugs are $39, made in the USA by an artists’ collective and hold 20 ounces of beer, bourbon or coffee.

These mugs are handmade, dishwasher-safe and a joy to use.

We also have a new bandana design available in our store. This bandana features construction drawings from one of the comb-back chairs in “The Stick Chair Book.” The bandana was designed by Tom Bonamici to look like a blueprint. These are printed by One Feather Press in Tennessee, which makes the nicest bandanas we have found. They are pre-washed, soft and crisp.


Please note that because of ongoing supply-chain problems, we may not be able to restock these items if we sell out of them before Christmas. So if you are considering these as a gift, act now to avoid disappointment or shipping delays (remember last year? We do).

— Christopher Schwarz

New Bandanas and Other Things

Posted on by Lost Art Press
Yes, that’s Megan back there behind the bandana.

We have just received stock of our newest bandana design, and it’s a throwback to our first bandana. This one is black and features our skep logo, plus a bunch of dividers and bees. The big difference is that this bandana was made by One Feather Press.

These are the nicest, softest, well-printed bandanas we’ve ever encountered. They are made one at a time by one guy in his shop. Pre-washed. Ready to become a good friend on the first day.

The bandanas are 22” x 22” and cost $25. More details in our store.

Crucible Card Scrapers Back in Stock

For the last few months we’ve searched in vain for the steel to make our scrapers. Everyone was backordered until late July. Then one company said they had our steel in stock. We sent them $8,000 and discovered they were lying/mistaken/something not libelous.

A few terse communications later, they somehow found the steel and shipped it to us.

So now (after a lot of waterjet and machine tool action) we have scrapers in stock and ready to ship.

Other stuff: The GoDrilla bit extension is nearly done. We’ve solved the problem of the binding threads. Our holdfasts have been poured, but we are waiting on the grinders to do their thing. And we are working on some new T-shirts.

I know this last line of the blog entry (always a dangerous place for me) might curse us. But if you need a little bit of good news today, many things in our supply chains seem to be returning to normal. Everything we do is in the United States, so I have no idea how things are going with international companies. But here, my torn fingernails are starting to grow back a bit.

— Christopher Schwarz

Coming Soon: ‘The Belligerent Finisher’

Posted on by Lost Art Press

One aspect of furniture finishing that has not been fully explained is how to achieve the gently worn, warm and human surfaces that you find on antiques.

Sure, there are lots of people who “age” furniture by thrashing it with heavy chains and burying it in a dung pile. But their furniture looks like crap (at best) and not believable (at worst).

During the last few years, I’ve gotten to know John Porritt, a British chairmaker and antiques restorer who works from a small red shed in upstate New York. Porritt has been at his trade for many decades, and his eye for color and patina is outstanding. I’ve seen many examples of his work, and it is impressive because you cannot tell that any repair or restoration has been done.

For his first book, “The Belligerent Finisher,” Porritt explains all the steps in taking a new chair and transforming it into something that looks like it’s 200 years old. The goal is not to produce fakes, but instead to create a finish that looks correct for pieces built on antique patterns.

His techniques are simple and use (mostly) everyday objects and chemicals – a pot scrubber, a deer antler, vinegar and tea. How you apply these tools – with a wee bit of belligerence – is what’s important. 

The book will be lavishly illustrated with color photos. Megan and I spent two long days with Porritt in his shop, documenting every process for the book. We are currently editing the text and working on the page design. If all goes to plan, the book will be available in late summer or early fall.

Both Megan and I were properly amazed at the results Porritt achieved in a short period of time. We think almost anyone with a little patience (and belligerence) will be able to achieve beautiful results.

— Christopher Schwarz

‘The Anarchist’s Tool Chest’ Back in Stock

Posted on by Lost Art Press

We have just received seven pallets of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” at our Indiana warehouse. We have had a lot of inquiries from customers as to when it would arrive. So here’s your answer: today.

Like most manufacturing businesses, we have been fighting supply chain problems. We strive to never have our books go out of stock. But because of a lot of wild coincidences, this book took eight weeks to print instead of four.

This is our 13th press run of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” It is our bestselling book and every copy sold helps make Lost Art Press stronger. So thank you – all of you.

— Christopher Schwarz

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