I have stopped counting the hours and the years that we have been working on this huge project to revive hundreds of articles written and edited by the late great Charles H. Hayward.
Right now, only one number matters: I get the pre-press proofs back in less than 17 hours.
After years of technical and legal challenges, not to mention thousands of hours of work by a team of people all over North America, we are on the verge of publishing the first 888-page book of Hayward’s work at The Woodworker magazine from 1939 to 1967.
This first book will be split into two bindings: one on hand tools and one on hand techniques. Future books will focus on joinery, shop appliances, workshop furniture and historic drawings of important furniture pieces executed by Hayward.
These first two books will be sold as a set for $80, domestic shipping included. We’ll also offer them separately for $45 each if you aren’t sure you want to commit.
I can promise you this: No matter how awesome you are at handwork, no matter how much you know, this book will teach you lots of things that will make you better.
When will it go on sale? Good question. Because of the complexity of the project, we’re running a test signature on the press to make sure the images come out crisp. Once we get past that hurdle, we’ll offer pre-publication ordering.
Note, due to our contract with the copyright holder, we cannot offer a digital edition of this book.
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. Stay tuned for excerpts from Hayward’s autobiographical series of articles.
This is a dumb idea. But next week I am filming construction of a full-size Anarchist’s Tool Chest for an upcoming DVD with Popular Woodworking and am offering the finished chest for sale.
This construction of this particular chest marks the five-year anniversary of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” I’ve built that chest about 20 times on three continents; its appeal has surprised and pleased me to no end.
If you are interested in purchasing the chest, here are the details:
The chest is being built to the print of the one featured in “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” Same dimensions, wood, hardware and fittings.
I’m painting it black over red for the DVD. If you want a different color on top of that, we can discuss it.
I can deliver the chest within 100 miles of Cincinnati for the price of my gas. If you live beyond that frontier, it’s up to you to come get it or arrange shipping with a carrier.
Of course, I’ll sign the chest and will include one of our special red-cover editions of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” that we have printed for the book’s five-year anniversary.
The chest is being made from some extremely clear and wide pine I’ve been saving for this particular chest.
Any additional customizations are up to you, or can be completed for a fee.
The price is $2,500. That’s considerably less than I charge for these finished chests, but as it’s not really a piece of custom work, I think it’s fair.
If you are interested, send us a note at (sorry, the chest has been sold). The first person to say: Yes, I’ll take it and can deal with the delivery aspects noted above, gets it.
What is anarchism? There are as many flavors of anarchism as there are anarchists. So the only broad definition I will offer is that it is “against the state.” Unlike modern European anarchism, American anarchism is a pretty peaceful affair (with some notable exceptions) and has its roots in religious freedom and justice movements in the early days of the nation.
Since the early part of the 19th century, American anarchism has been best described as a “tendency” toward individual action. It is a reluctance to engage with large governments, corporations, churches or organizations.
Most modern anarchists are not living life in the woods (those are survivalists). Instead, for me it it is about disconnecting myself as much as possible from large organizations that seek to homogenize us, control us or – at the very least – trick us into buying a bunch of things.
Is it about revolution? Though many would disagree with me, I don’t think it is. A revolution would have to be organized and offer a replacement regime. Anarchism is not a viable way to run a railroad. Instead, it exists in parallel to whatever system is in place – capitalism, socialism, etc.
So why does it exist? To be a part of the bell curve of thought that makes us diverse, weird and something to think about.
Is it socialism in disguise? Hardly. American anarchism (particularly the aesthetic wing of it) is about private property. It advocates that individuals can own their tools and the fruits of their labors. The founder of American anarchism, Josiah Warren, dabbled in socialistic communities such as New Harmony, Ind., and rejected that as a way of living.
You can read all you like about Warren here at Wikipedia. Or you can skip that and read his book “Equitable Commerce” free on Google Books. Warren was an inventor, publisher, entrepreneur and band geek. But not a socialist or a revolutionary.
Is it Godless? Nope. The first seeds of anarchism were in the Massachusetts colony and were reactions to Puritan law. Early proto-anarchists such as Anne Hutchinson believed that God’s law superseded earthly law. And she fought for equal representation of women in society. And this was in the 17th century.
Anarchists don’t have any problems with spirituality. Just don’t get us started on mega-churches or the relationship between church and state.
How does this relate to “The Anarchist’s Cookbook?” Unfortunately, most Americans’ first encounter with anarchism is through this odd book, which has been disavowed by its author. The book has little to do with anarchism and is mostly a misguided manual on social mischief. It’s for people who want to make bombs, smoke banana peels and play with guns.
That book was my first encounter with the word “anarchism,” as well. In high school, one of my friends read the book, made some pipe bombs and threw them on the top of the local McDonald’s at 4 a.m. Luckily, he was an idiot and they didn’t go off. Was he an anarchist? Absolutely not. He was a screwed-up teenager who liked to play with fire and guns.
But when his day in court came, it was all about “anarchism.”
You say you are an anarchist. But what does that mean day-to-day? I don’t vote. I don’t go to church. I buy everything I can from small independent businesses or individuals. I pay a lot of taxes.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not involved in my community, I’m not spiritual or I am anti-capitalist.
Why inject politics into woodworking with “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” and “The Anarchist’s Design Book?” You might think that building quality furniture for yourself and others is a perfectly normal thing to do. I assure you it is not. Taking up tools and making something that lasts is one of the most subversive things you can do in this disposable society that encourages – nay, requires – rampant consumer spending.
I’m just trying to point out that you are not your Gap(TM) khakis.
Whenever people work with me at our new headquarters, I give them this warning: This is a glitter zone. You will find glitter in your hair, clothes and (shudder) feces after you work here.
The good news is that our efforts at glitter containment – it’s worse than asbestos – are succeeding. It has been about a week since I deposited a “Sparkle Pony” in the pool, if you catch my drift. And today we began to cover over the dark blue/purple ceiling of the first floor with white primer.
Tomorrow the floor goes in – solid white oak with a vapor/glitter barrier.
Then we start the framing.
After plying local architect Eric Puryear with tacos and margaritas, he and Megan Fitzpatrick visited the building. All three of us agree that the archway at the back of the front room is awkward and not original to the structure.
Eric put it this way: It was probably put in during the 1930s, 1950s or one of the other periods where exposed brick became fashionable.
We’re keeping the arch, but we’re going to build a wall obscuring it from the front room. Based on my archaeological pokings, I think the back wall of the bar was co-planar to the stairs. So that’s what we’re putting in – along with some vintage doors.
The little nook between the arch and this new wall will be a sharpening area or an office. Still working that out.
OK, kids are hungry. Got to take off the shop apron and put on my cooking one.
If you wish to have ornament, you must pay specifically for it, and the workman is compelled to produce ornament, as he is to produce other wares. He is compelled to pretend happiness in his work, so that the beauty produced by man’s hand, which was once a solace to his labour, has now become an extra burden to him, and ornament is now but one of the follies of useless toil, and perhaps not the least irksome of its fetters.
— William Morris, “Useful Work v. Useless Toil” (1888)
