Lost Art Press

Author: Lost Art Press

Publisher of woodworking books and videos specializing in hand tool techniques.

Jerome Bias’ Six-Board Chest Class

Posted on by Lost Art Press
Seven very happy (and tired) woodworkers.

Last week, Jerome Bias led a woodworking class of six black woodworkers as they built a six-board chest by hand in our workshop. It was one of the more memorable and enjoyable classes here at our storefront.

In addition to woodworking, every day of class was filled with explorations of the past led by Jerome, who worked as a tradesman at Old Salem Museum & Gardens and now explores African-American foodways by preparing open-hearth historical meals at plantation.

The chests were made entirely by hand, and each student personalized their chest with the decorative cutouts, the mouldings and the milk paint they applied on the last day.

Jerome at work.

This remarkable class was possible because of Jerome’s fearlessness and desire to encourage young black woodworkers. And it was possible because of your donations of cash and tools. Thanks to your help, the wood, the food and the kits of tools we prepared for the class (which they took home) were all covered, gratis.

I feel certain you are going to see these faces again, both here at Lost Art Press and in the world at large. The enthusiasm and drive of these students was infectious.

Thanks to everyone who helped. We hope we can do this again. First we all have to rest, but not for too long. Tomorrow at 10 a.m., Megan and I begin a new project that we hope will plant a seed for future generations. More details to come.

— Christopher Schwarz 

Final Day: 50 Percent off All Videos

Posted on by Lost Art Press
A still from our “Virtuoso” video.

Today is the last day you can purchase any of our Lost Art Press videos for 50 percent off. The sale ends at midnight Dec. 2. You can see all our videos here.

All our videos were made by working woodworkers. We’ve been making these videos for years with basic equipment. This sale will help fund new audio and video equipment for future videos. Though books will always be our first love, we know that many woodworkers learn best with the help of video.

Our current videos cover a wide range of topics, from turning to sharpening to building workbenches to building chairs. All the videos are easily portable from device to device. You can stream them on our website. Or download them to any device. We don’t add any digital rights management (DRM), so you’ll be able to put them on all your devices without any security or password aggravation.

One final note: We don’t do “fake sales.” This is our first-ever sale on videos in 16 years. After midnight, these videos will return to full price and remain that way.

Check out the entire collection here.

— Christopher Schwarz

Updates on Posters, Lump Hammers, Squares & More

Posted on by Lost Art Press
Almost ready….

First, if you are in the area tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 2), I hope you can stop by our shop at 837 Willard St. for our Open Day. We do this only twice a year, and it’s a great way to catch up with other woodworkers and snag some bargains on blemished or discontinued products (basically 50 percent off – cash only).

Second, here are some quick updates on some products.

The Anarchist’s Square Kit: We had some problems holding the parts as we were milling the joints – the tolerances are a bit crazy. But we have it under control now and are in full swing with production. We hope to have the first batch for sale next week (if we’re lucky).

Crucible Lump Hammers: We are still waiting on handles. And our hopes are diminishing that we will have hammers before Christmas. Lee Valley still has stock. As does Highland Woodworking.

Crucible Engraving Tools: I just finished assembling 145 of these on Wednesday with the new round cutter. As of this morning we are down to 113 in stock. As I type this Megan is sending out replacement round cutters to those customers who received the too-pointy ones.

‘With Hammer in Hand’ Posters: We are down to our last 150 posters from the run of 500. The good news: We turned a profit on this poster. The bad news, at this rate we will run out of these posters by January.

‘Lost Art Press Workbook’: We’ve sold half of the 1,000-unit press run. We have just gotten into the black with this project, which allows me to unclench various organs.

— Christopher Schwarz

Pre-Orders Now Open for ‘Backwoods Chairmakers’

Posted on by Lost Art Press

One of the many benefits of bringing our order-fulfillment operations back to Kentucky is that we can again offer pre-publication orders of our books, with a free pdf and free shipping.

So I am happy to tell you that we are now taking pre-publication orders for Andy Glenn’s first book, “Backwoods Chairmakers.” You can place your order here. The book is $47. When you do, here’s what happens:

  1. You will receive a free pdf of the book at checkout.
  2. Your order will ship – for free – as soon as the book arrives in Covington.

The book is currently at the printer in Tennessee, and it is scheduled to ship the last week of December. Because of weather and the holidays, that might slip to the first week of January 2024.

Why should you buy this book?

When working with Andy on this book, we had a lot of late-night conversations. This book is a massive work. Andy said to me: “If I ever do another book, you have to stop me from going to extremes. Like trying to do everything. I’m like that. I just can’t help it.”

“Andy,” I replied, “that fact that you go to extremes is why this book is so damn good.”

Andy traveled all through Appalachia for this book, putting thousands of miles on his car and talking to people far and wide to do one thing. It’s this: Give the Appalachian chairmaker their due.

For centuries, people in this region have been making chairs for their communities and for sale to others, and the skills have been handed down through generations. Thanks to the modern world, their numbers have dwindled. Andy went and found them. He documented their work and their lives.

And – this is important – he approached the work as a woodworker as much as an ethnographer.

I love the “Foxfire” series of books. I have the complete series on my shelf. But they weren’t written for practitioners. “Backwoods Chairmakers” is a must for anyone who makes chairs or is interested in the culture and spirit of Appalachia.

Andy took thousands of photos and collected archival photos from all over the region. He talked to everyone who would let him in the door. He wrote their stories with an open heart – empty of the bias that often permeates the writing about the region.

And he shows you how these Appalachian chairmakers influenced his own work at the bench. The final two chapters detail how Andy builds a settin’ chair and a grand rocker. 

Like all our books, “Backwoods Chairmakers” is made in the USA to the highest quality standards. The signatures are printed on #70 matte coated paper, sewn together with thread and bound with glue and fiber tape. All that is casebound between cloth-covered boards. And wrapped with a tear-resistant dust jacket. This is a permanent book.

Read more here.

— Christopher Schwarz