Lost Art Press

Author: Lost Art Press

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

Lost Art Press: Open This Saturday

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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We’re opening the Covington, Ky., storefront to the public this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As always, we’ll be selling our full line of books, plus some blemished tools.

There is lots to see this weekend. Brendan Gaffney has just finished an amazing cabinet on a stand in the style of James Krenov. Brendan has produced a lot of nice work, but this is his best piece so far, in my opinion.

I’m at work on an Irish Gibson chair (photo above), plus I have a walnut American Welsh stick chair in the store that’s awaiting delivery instructions from the customer. If you’ve ever wanted to sit in one, this is a good opportunity. I also have a Welsh stick chair from Chris Williams here, which is guiding my stock prep for his upcoming classes this month.

Also: Brendan has a bunch of surplus tools he’ll be selling, plus some of his “Rulers of the Ancient World” – he found a forgotten cache of them recently.

Megan Fitzpatrick is finishing up a cherry batroom (sorry, bathroom) vanity that is enormous. She’ll be working on the doors and drawers this Saturday, I’m sure.

We’re always happy to have visitors and chat about woodworking. We’ll also show you how to sharpen, or talk workbenches or wood movement. We’re not here to sell you anything – just trying to give back to the community for a day.

Spring is in full bloom here, and it’s a great time to go to Saturday brunch at one of the local restaurants in our neighborhood. We love Otto’s, Main Street Tavern and Libby’s Southern Comfort for brunch. And, as always, Coppin’s at Hotel Covington.

Hope you can stop by!

— Christopher Schwarz

Lump Hammers: On Sale at Noon on Friday

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We will begin selling our biggest batch of lump hammers at noon (Eastern time) on Friday, May 10. We hope that we do not sell out of these hammers and that we can return to our lives as furniture makers who sometimes make nice tools (instead of the other way around).

You’ll also be able to pick up one of the Arno burnishers we’re now carrying. We love these, and we’re selling them at an excellent price ($20 less than some places).

— Christopher Schwarz

Crucible Update: Lump Hammers & Burnishers (?!?)

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As promised, everyone at the storefront has thrown themselves into lump hammer production. We’ve just delivered the biggest batch of lump hammers to our warehouse. They will be entered into inventory and will go on sale later this week.

We’ve had a few customers complain that we don’t give enough advance notice of when tools will go on sale. To help reduce the emotional emails that John and Meghan answer, we’re going to put these hammers up for sale on Friday. I don’t know what time yet, however. Watch this blog for the time.

If you have been waiting to buy a hammer, we hope that Friday is your day.

Also, this week we’re going to start selling Arno burnishers. These are our favorite burnishers (we’ll explain why in a bit). And we will sell them for less than EDIT: for the same price Amazon does. So stay tuned.

Finally, we still have stock on Crucible Card Scrapers. That’s because everyone in our supply chain bent over backward to help us out. Thank you.

— Christopher Schwarz

New at Core77: Don’t be a Design Thief

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My latest column at Core77 discusses how to navigate the thorny world of borrowing design elements from others and how to attribute those influences.

The column, “Be Honest About Your Inspiration – or Else,” can be read for free via this link.

Most furniture designers I know take the wrong approach to attributing designs. They usually ascribe it to some historical piece (without doing the research) or simply omit any discussion of their influences.

Both approaches dump you in the deep end of the pool without your inflatable swimmies.

In the article I offer a short exercise that I use to help me avoid problems. The exercise also offers a roadmap for deciding when I can call a design my own.

As always, I am grateful to Core77 for allowing me to write on these topics. Next month’s column is likely to get me roasted. The working title: “How to be an Anarchist Designer.”

— Christopher Schwarz

Our Newest Sponsor

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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In addition to the Malodorous Mallet Co., we’re pleased to announce this blog is also sponsored by the Hold Harmless Clamp Co., makers of the No Dent Left Behind Squeezy Clamp. Hold Harmless clamps are prized for their patented “Released on their own Recognizance” technology, where the clamp pops open without any assistance whatsoever from the user. Amazing.