Lost Art Press

Author: Lost Art Press

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

Download Plans for the Staked High Stool

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Several people have asked to purchase plans for the staked high stool design I’ve been refining for the expanded “The Anarchist’s Design Book.”

My answer: No, I won’t sell you the plans, but you can have them for nothing.

Here are the rules: You can download these. Build as many stools as you like. Feel free to sell the stools you build. Here’s what you cannot do with these plans: Sell them or represent them as your own. In other words, don’t be a deT and we’ll be cool.

The sheets were drawn up by reader Josh Cook, who also make this nice 3D render you can play with.

Here’s the cutting list:

1 Seat: 1-3/8” x 11” x 20”
3 Legs: 1-3/8” x 1-3/8” x 25”
1 Front stretcher: 1-3/8” x 1-3/8” x 20-1/2” (cut it long and trim to fit the front legs)
1 Mid stretcher: 1-3/8” x 1-3/8” x 14-3/4” (cut it long and trim to fit)

The resultant angle for the front legs is: 13°. The resultant for the rear leg is: 22°.

The sheets can be downloaded in pdf format here:

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stool_PRETRIM_rev1

My stools are made using Southern yellow pine (a 2x12x8’ will make two stools). For the finish, I charred the parts before assembly using a MAP gas torch then brushed away the charred earlywood with a stiff acid brush. After assembly, I touched up the joints with the torch and applied two coats of a beeswax and linseed oil concoction (make your own using this recipe).

The techniques for building these stools are covered in detail in “The Anarchist’s Design Book.” So if you’re confused by talk of resultant angles, you might pick up that book or Peter Galbert’s “Chairmaker’s Notebook,” which also explains the geometry.

— Christopher Schwarz

In the Works: ‘Honest Labour’ by Charles H. Hayward

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One of the great joys in creating “The Woodworker: The Charles H. Hayward Years” was reading Hayward’s “Chips from the Chisel” column in every issue during its 30-year run. The column was a remarkable insight to the way Hayward viewed the world, the craft, his house and his garden.

The column began before World War II as tinged with insecurity. During the war years, Hayward kept a stiff upper lip and encouraged woodworkers to find solace in woodworking. And after the war, Hayward’s columns dealt with a craft that was being changed by technology and the old ways were disappearing.

The group of us who worked on “The Woodworker” books selected some of these columns for the books, and those appear at the end of book four. But I didn’t want to overwhelm readers with philosophy, so we selected only a few columns for volume four.

Enter Kara Gebhart Uhl, our managing editor, who wasn’t involved with “The Woodworker” books until the end of the final two volumes. She was delighted by the “Chips from the Chisel” columns and asked if there were more she could read.

So John and I began to wonder: Could the columns be a book on their own?

Thanks to Kara we are going to find out. For the last few months, Kara has been assembling the best columns from each year, plus vintage images from the magazine. She’s also preparing a timeline of important world events for each year, which will help put the columns in perspective.

And we’re seeking the help of the Hayward family in completing a biography of Hayward, who was the most influential workshop writer of the 20th century (in my opinion).

The working title of the book is: “Honest Labour: The Craft According to Charles H. Hayward.” During the coming months, Kara will share excerpts from the book here on the blog to give you a taste of what’s to come. I think you’ll find them well-written, thoughtful and as applicable to the craft today as they were 65 years ago.

— Christopher Schwarz

The Return of the ‘Baby Anarchist’ Class

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Mike Siemsen at the Mike Siemsen School of Woodworking is now accepting students for his third Hand Tool Immersion class on May 29 through June 5 at his shop in Chisago City, Minn. This low-cost, all-in, communal-cooking experience is designed to jump-start the hand skills of woodworkers who couldn’t normally afford a class.

Mike is an outstanding teacher. Funny (especially if you love corn). Very skilled. And a blast to hang out with. Just don’t get in his van (just kidding; John and I love his van).

All the details are below. If you can make it work, I promise you will not regret it.

— Christopher Schwarz

Hand Tool Immersion 101

  • Date: five days May 29th through June 2nd
  • Cost: $650
  • Materials: Included
  • Skill Level: Intermediate/all
  • e-mail

Course Description

Back by popular demand!  An intensive 5 day all-out immersion into handwork. The goal is to tu­ne up your hand skills to as hig­h a point as pos­sible in five da­ys. You will tune up your tools and use them to build a tool chest in which to haul them home. For those of y­ou on a limited bud­get, we will be cam­ping on the grou­nds of the scho­ol (please brin­g your own ge­ar) and cookin­g communally in my house. There is a shower an­d places to camp. If you choose to sta­y in a hotel, that’s t­otally cool and understandable. Know that you­ are always wel­come to hang ou­t late into the e­vening workin­g on your pro­ject. The school is o­pen 24 hours a da­y for you. This class is limited to 12 people and is aimed at, but not limited to, 30-somethings needing a jump start into woodworking.

Tools

I’d like every­one in the cl­ass to have a com­plete tool kit when t­hey finish the cou­rse. Below is a lis­t of the tool­s needed for the c­lass. If you wan­t to purchase to­ols that you need for the c­lass and would li­ke help selec­ting tools or ne­ed recommenda­tions on where to  buy them e-mail me and I wi­ll be happy to hel­p.

 

  • No. 5 jack pla­ne, such as a p­re-war Stanley wit­h a clean iron (no rus­t) and a tight chipbreaker.
  • Low-angle bloc­k plane, such as S­tanley 60-1/2 with a cle­an iron and mo­vable toe piece.
  • Wooden rabbet pla­ne (skew or s­traight iron)­. Wedge needs to wor­k.
  • Card scraper.
  • Large router pla­ne, such as S­tanley No. 71 or No­. 71-1/2.
  • Hand drill, so­metimes called an “eg­gbeater,” such a­s a Millers Fa­lls No. 2 or 5 wit­h a 1/4” chuck an­d intact chuc­k springs (i.e­. the jaws are sprin­g-loaded and wor­k)
  • Brace with a 10” swe­ep. Good chuc­k with its sprin­gs still intac­t and a tight pad­.
  • Bevel-edge chi­sels with woo­den handles (1/4”, 1­/2” and 3/4”)­.
  • 16 oz. hammer wit­h a wooden han­dle. Striking fa­ce should be smo­oth and slightly crowned.
  • Squarehead jo­iner’s mallet. We can make these during the class.
  • 12” combinati­on square that is s­quare, locks tig­ht and has cle­ar markings.
  • Marking gauge­. The metallic o­nes, such as t­he Stanley No­. 90, are pre­ferred.
  • Backsaw with a 10”- to 1­4”-long blade. Stra­ight saw plate, com­fortable wooden han­dle and little or no rus­t.
  • Coping saw that t­akes pin-end bla­des and locks tig­ht.
  • 10” cabinet ras­p (older and shar­p is better).

Materials are included in the price of the class.

‘Making Things Work’ Now in Store

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Making-Things-Work-dust-jacket-300I am pleased to announce that you can now purchase Nancy R. Hiller’s book “Making Things Work: Tales From a Cabinetmaker’s Life” in the Lost Art Press store. The price is $33, which includes shipping in North America.

We rarely carry books from other publishers in our store. Why? Well, we sell goods made in North America only, and most publishers print their books overseas. While we don’t have anything against Chinese printing plants – many of them do good work – we believe in supporting our neighbors first.

Second, we are picky about content. We have to love a book to be willing to carry it.

Hiller’s book satisfies both of those conditions, and we are thrilled to offer it. It is funny, thoughtful and terrifying, especially if you’ve ever considered trying to turn furniture into food. Her tales of trying to make ends meet, to stay warm and to find a place to use the restroom – all while building well-made furniture – will inspire you to take the plunge (or keep your day job).

Highly recommended.

— Christopher Schwarz

Roubo, Meet Godzilla

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If you’ve ever wondered who would win an epic battle between an 18th-century French joiner and a mutated lizard…. well you can keep on wondering. We don’t condone such things.

But my daughter Maddy has now turned 21 and clearly is working the fighting lizard circuit in central Ohio. Here her boyfriend’s bloodthirsty gecko is shown with one of the stickers Maddy peddles to our readers.

Would you like stickers for your lizard or fighting marmoset? It’s easy.

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You can order a set of three from her etsy store here. Yes, she accepts international orders.

Or, for customers in the United States, you can send a $5 bill and a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to Maddy at:

Stick it to the Man
P.O. Box 3284
Columbus, OH 43210

She’ll put the three current sticker designs in your envelope and mail them back to you. These are nice, 100-percent vinyl weatherproof and lizard-proof stickers. After our civilization is gone, cockroaches will collect them. They’re that durable.

— Christopher Schwarz