Lost Art Press

Category: The Anarchist’s Tool Chest

‘Lost Art Press’ on The Highland Woodworker

Posted on by Lost Art Press

From where you are sitting, I am sure there are times I look like a media harlot. Sweet mother of mystery, I get tired of seeing my name, image and videos spread all over the Internet. So I can only imagine how you feel about it.

Ask my mom if this is true: Though I’m a total goofball, I really am too shy to look strangers in the eye. Somehow, I have ended up where we are today – featured on “The Highland Woodworker.”

When I get phone calls to do a video, class or presentation, my first response is always “no.” I’d rather dig through old books and build things in the shop. Period.

But Charles Brock has always been a helpful and genuine guy; plus, I owe so much to Highland Woodworking in Atlanta, which is the sponsor of the show. So I agreed to have Charles and Stephen Price in my home to chat about Lost Art Press.

I think they did a great job. And they used some photos of the farm house my mom and dad built outside Hackett, Ark., so it was a nostalgia trip as well.

Check it out. As always, it’s a great episode with high production values and a little bit for everyone.

— Christopher Schwarz

An Open Letter to Christopher Schwarz

Posted on by Lost Art Press

ATC13_A-squares_IMG_3870

I woke at 4 a.m. this morning, my brain boiling with some thoughts on beds and coffins to build for the “Furniture of Necessity” book. And while barfing these notes into my laptop, I received an e-mail from David Savage.

Yes, that David Savage.

He wrote a review of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” for his blog. Read the whole amazing thing here. Or if you are incapable of clicking things, here’s an excerpt.

A real quality book, nice binding, good paper and a typeset that look good. I have had your book on my night stand for several months now remaining to be read. I have been a professional woodworker now for over 35 years and wood work books tend to hit the wall before I get past chapter one. Amateurs writing with utter conviction about something they don’t really know tend to get me cross. Schwarz is an amateur but somehow through a lifetime of woodieness he avoids the wall. Since starting this wonderful tome I have come to carry it about with me, almost closer than a good friend.

If Savage had thrashed me, I would have been just as honored. His woodwork is mind-blowing, and his writing is like getting bludgeoned by a hardbound copy of “The Sun Also Rises.” (That is a compliment.) He’s a regular contributor to many magazines that I read. For a sample of his prose, start here.

So, it’s a good day.

— Christopher Schwarz

Books we Found – 50 Percent Off

Posted on by Lost Art Press

WB_coverDuring some annual inventory activity, John Hoffman and I turned up two cases of books we don’t sell anymore at Lost Art Press. These books aren’t doing anyone any good sitting in a warehouse, so we’re offering them at 50 percent off retail until they are gone.

We don’t have a lot of these, so they likely won’t be around for long. Here’s what we found:

“Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use” (19 copies). This is my first book and covers the principles of bench design and construction that I still follow today. We stopped carrying this book because it’s suicide to compete with Amazon.com, and I’ve never been happy that F+W chose to print the title in China. We’re selling it for $15 plus domestic shipping. All the copies are signed.

You can buy “Workbenches” via this link.

ATC_cover_300_IMG_0969-1First edition of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” – the tan cover edition. The first edition has a few typos and doesn’t have an index. But you can download the index for free here. And at $17.50 plus domestic shipping, it’s a solid deal. These are signed via either bookplate or directly.

You can buy the first edition of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” via this link.

— Christopher Schwarz

Anarchist’s Tool Chest – Eagle Edition

Posted on by Lost Art Press

Chest-1

Woodworker Matt Czegan sent these photos of his recently completed tool chest. Love the eagle – and the extra detailing on the drawers. I’ve always meant to do something with the panel of my chest’s lid, perhaps a veneered panel or even some parquetry a la Roubo.

Nice work Matt!

— Christopher Schwarz

Chest-2

Long-overdue Tool Chest Storage Stuff

Posted on by Lost Art Press

I used to have a nice presentation for my students on the different kinds of storage schemes they might consider for their tool chests.

I somehow lost that presentation this year. I deleted it, overwrote it and lit it on fire I suppose.

During the last few months I’ve tried to rebuild that presentation. But until I find some free time to do that, this blog entry will suffice.

Above is a heretofore private little video I shot for a webinar on tool chests. It discusses some storage options. Also, below you will find downloads to two good historic resources you should study before dividing up the interior of your chest.

The first is from Vol. II of “Practical Woodworker,” from my personal collection.

Practical_Woodworker

The second is from “Spons Mechanics Own Companion,” also from my collection.

Spons

Hope these get you started. And apologies to all my students for the delay.

— Christopher Schwarz