Lost Art Press

The Only Review That Matters

Posted on by Lost Art Press

When you write a book, people criticize you.

I’m OK with that. After 21 years in the writing business I can take a sledgehammer blow to my bathing suit area every so often.

But today was a good day.

Why? Carl Bilderback gave me a call to discuss “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” If you have followed my blog for the last seven years, then you know that Carl and I go back even further than this blog. In fact, he first called me when I was a young cub at Popular Woodworking to set me straight on some issues of Norris handplane adjusters vs. Bailey adjusters.

And I have never forgotten his lesson.

For those of you who don’t know him, Carl is an extraordinary man. He’s a semi-retired carpenter with immense hand and machine skills. He has an impressive tool collection of planes and saws. He’s an officer of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Assn. He has the voice of an angel. And he is deeply – deeply – passionate about the craft.

But most of all, Carl is equal parts generous and honest. On the generous part: Though he is a tool collector, he probably has given away more tools than he has collected. If you like frame saws, he will send you some frame saws. Etc. etc.

On the honest part: When I’ve messed up in print or on the blog, Carl is always the first to tell me. He is blunt and to the point. The world needs about 300 million more people like him, with his enormous body of knowledge, his even more enormous heart and his willingness to share everything.

So Carl called today. And he had finished reading “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” He’s an accomplished editor (ask Megan) and had noted every typo, grammar and factual error in the 480 pages. After he detailed all those errors (which we are cleaning up for the second printing) I felt small and stupid.

But then he said something that I will carry to my grave.

“It is the best thing you have ever written,” he said. “There are things in there that I would want to try if I were 10 years younger.”

I almost burst into tears. After that conversation, I don’t care if The New York Times reviews this book. If Carl says it’s OK, then dammit (sorry for the language!), it’s not a piece of crap.

– Christopher Schwarz

About Tools for Sale — Please Read

Posted on by Lost Art Press

I’m getting a lot of messages from people who say they are having trouble with the “Tools for Sale” link on the right. They click on it, and they don’t find any tools for sale — except a Freud sawblade.

What’s wrong? Nothing.

When I put a tool up for sale, I put it in the “Tools for Sale” category. When it is sold, I put it in the “Tools that have Sold” category.

So if the category is empty, there is nothing for sale.

Hope this helps clear things up.

— Christopher Schwarz

SOLD: Bad Axe 10″ Carcase Saw, Walnut with Black Trim

Posted on by Lost Art Press

SOLD: As a long-time customer and reviewer of Bad Axe products, I have entirely too many of these saws. More than I ever suspected, until I consolidated my two shops.

Up for sale: A perfect 10″ carcase saw. Walnut closed tote. Black spine and sawnuts. Filed 14ppi, crosscut. Sharp.

Retail price: $195
Price here: SOLD

Please read the following before sending me a message:

As always, there are rules. I hate rules. But these rules are in the name of justice for all the readers.

First, please don’t ask for a master list of tools or to come over to my house (yes, this happened last time). These tools will go up on the blog when I have time to post them. I don’t know how many there are (I’ve sorted more than 40 so far). I will definitely add more tools to my list as I go – I have several more boxes to go through.

In other words, please don’t ask for special favors. I cannot grant favors and be fair to everyone.
Want to see only the tools that haven’t sold? Easy. I’ve created a category for that on this blog. Click here and bookmark that page. When you visit that link, you’ll see only the tools that haven’t been sold.

While you can ask me all the questions you like about the tool, the first person to send me an e-mail that says: “I’ll take it,” gets the tool. Simple. To buy a tool, please send me an e-mail at christopher.schwarz@fuse.net. Shipping will be USPS and based on the actual cost to send it to your address. When you send me a message, please make sure you specify which tool you are e-mailing me about. This avoids bad trouble.

Payment: I can accept PayPal or a personal check. As soon as the funds arrive, I’ll ship the tool using USPS. If you want insurance, let me know. I’m afraid I can only ship tools in the United States. Shipping internationally is very time-consuming and paperwork-heavy. My apologies in advance on this point.

If you don’t like the tool when you get it, I’ll be happy to refund your money if you return the tool. But postage is on you.

— Christopher Schwarz

SOLD: Set of Shapton Stones and Flattening Plate

Posted on by Lost Art Press

SOLD: I’ve recently switched back to oilstones and am selling off my long-time personal sharpening kit. It consists of:

1. A Shapton Pro #1,000. This is practically new. I’d just replaced it.
2. A Shapton Glasstone #4,000, about 1/8″ abrasive remaining.
3. A Shapton Glasstone #8,000, about 1/8″ abrasive remaining.
4. A Shapton Glasstone #16,000, practically new.
5. A Shapton Cast Iron Flattening Plate. you need abrasive powder with this, easily obtainable.

Like mentioned above, the #1,000 and #16,000 are like new. The Flattening Plate is well-cared for. The two intermediate polishing stones have seen heavy use. They still have a lot of life for an amateur woodworker, however – years, I would guess.

In any case, the price reflects that the two stones are worn.

Price: SOLD $200 plus actual USPS shipping.

Please read the following before sending me a message:

As always, there are rules. I hate rules. But these rules are in the name of justice for all the readers.

First, please don’t ask for a master list of tools or to come over to my house (yes, this happened last time). These tools will go up on the blog when I have time to post them. I don’t know how many there are (I’ve sorted more than 40 so far). I will definitely add more tools to my list as I go – I have several more boxes to go through.

In other words, please don’t ask for special favors. I cannot grant favors and be fair to everyone.
Want to see only the tools that haven’t sold? Easy. I’ve created a category for that on this blog. Click here and bookmark that page. When you visit that link, you’ll see only the tools that haven’t been sold.

While you can ask me all the questions you like about the tool, the first person to send me an e-mail that says: “I’ll take it,” gets the tool. Simple. To buy a tool, please send me an e-mail at christopher.schwarz@fuse.net. Shipping will be USPS and based on the actual cost to send it to your address. When you send me a message, please make sure you specify which tool you are e-mailing me about. This avoids bad trouble.

Payment: I can accept PayPal or a personal check. As soon as the funds arrive, I’ll ship the tool using USPS. If you want insurance, let me know. I’m afraid I can only ship tools in the United States. Shipping internationally is very time-consuming and paperwork-heavy. My apologies in advance on this point.

If you don’t like the tool when you get it, I’ll be happy to refund your money if you return the tool. But postage is on you.

— Christopher Schwarz

SOLD: WoodJoy Dovetail Marker – Plus an Abomination!

Posted on by Lost Art Press

SOLD: The WoodJoy Precision Dovetail template is great for woodworkers who like the traditional dovetail slopes – 1:6 and 1:8. This clever template allows you to mark them both. And it was the one I used all the time until I switched to a 14° slope (I just like the way 14° looks).

No apologies for this tool. It has seen lots of use. Has tons of life left in it.

As a bonus, I’m going to throw in the dovetail marker that I made from a Lee Valley saddle square. I had the great idea to make one with a 1:6 slope – this was before they offered this sort of tool. So I made it on the disc sander. Then I added sticky-back sandpaper to it, which is a good addition.

Then I showed it to Robin Lee, and he showed me photos of their prototypes. Oh well. It works great but i don’t need it.

Retail price: $25
Price here: SOLD: $20 plus actual USPS shipping.

Please read the following before sending me a message:

As always, there are rules. I hate rules. But these rules are in the name of justice for all the readers.

First, please don’t ask for a master list of tools or to come over to my house (yes, this happened last time). These tools will go up on the blog when I have time to post them. I don’t know how many there are (I’ve sorted more than 40 so far). I will definitely add more tools to my list as I go – I have several more boxes to go through.

In other words, please don’t ask for special favors. I cannot grant favors and be fair to everyone.
Want to see only the tools that haven’t sold? Easy. I’ve created a category for that on this blog. Click here and bookmark that page. When you visit that link, you’ll see only the tools that haven’t been sold.

While you can ask me all the questions you like about the tool, the first person to send me an e-mail that says: “I’ll take it,” gets the tool. Simple. To buy a tool, please send me an e-mail at christopher.schwarz@fuse.net. Shipping will be USPS and based on the actual cost to send it to your address. When you send me a message, please make sure you specify which tool you are e-mailing me about. This avoids bad trouble.

Payment: I can accept PayPal or a personal check. As soon as the funds arrive, I’ll ship the tool using USPS. If you want insurance, let me know. I’m afraid I can only ship tools in the United States. Shipping internationally is very time-consuming and paperwork-heavy. My apologies in advance on this point.

If you don’t like the tool when you get it, I’ll be happy to refund your money if you return the tool. But postage is on you.

— Christopher Schwarz