Lost Art Press

SOLD: Clark & Williams 2-1/4” Smoother

Posted on by Lost Art Press

SOLD: I purchased this 2-1/4” smoothing plane from Clark & Williams in 2002 after meeting Larry Williams at a woodworking show in Pennsylvania.

It’s a nice tool. Stamped with the now-defunct Clark & Williams logo and 2002. The sole has been reconditioned a few times, but the mouth remains very tight. I can’t speak for the current state of the sole — it has been about six months since I adjusted it. The wedge fits tight. No significant damage to the wedge or stock.

Retail price: $359
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 today). 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

The Tool Purge Begins Again. Today.

Posted on by Lost Art Press

During my last day at Popular Woodworking Magazine I had to clean out my corner of the shop. And what I found was disturbing: loads of tools that I didn’t even know I had.

This weekend I have been trying to sort out the tools, create a complete set for my daughter  and put the remainder up for sale here on the blog. 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 today). 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.

Here’s the first tool:

SOLD: Lie-Nielsen Bronze 1/2” Shoulder Plane

SOLD: My work doesn’t require a shoulder plane this small. It’s a great little tool. It works perfectly. The blade is already set up and sharp. But it’s not seeing much use in my shop. So on the block it goes.

Retail price new: $199
Price here: SOLD

— Christopher Schwarz

Moulding Glossary: Scotia

Posted on by Lost Art Press

Scotia \ˈskō-sh(ē-)ə, -tē-ə\:  A hollow moulding used especially in classical architecture in the bases of columns. While the term “scotia” (which means “darkness”) is sometimes used to refer to any hollow moulding, some sources use the term to apply to hollow mouldings that describes more than a quarter-circle, which is properly called a cavetto.

New Review, New Press Run, New Leather Editions

Posted on by Lost Art Press

Woodworking blogger Ben Lowery has published a nice review of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” I met Ben at the Woodworker’s Showcase in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., this year. Nice guy. I don’t recall bribing him.

My favorite part of his review:

As the (soon to be former) editor of one of the more popular woodworking magazines, I think it takes some testicular fortitude to say straight out that it would be better for most folks to limit their toolset and buy tools that you only have to buy once. He does include some power tools in the margins, things that will make life easier, but not the standard table saw. The shop as described is much more centered around the workbench, not the power equipment. The powered gear exists like a shop apprentice of old, dealing with the drudgery of dimensioning rough lumber.

If you would like to read the full review, click here.

Also, we are ordering a second press run of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” today. Customer demand surprised us, and we were optimistic when we ordered our first press run. If you care about getting a first edition of the book, you should order in the next four weeks.

We also are going to order another batch of 26 book blocks and do a second run of leather editions of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” If you are on the waiting list, I’ll be contacting you shortly to see if you want the new edition. You will have first dibs on the new edition.

For the rest of you, if you want a copy of the new leather edition, hold tight for a few days. We’ll be accepting orders starting at 9 a.m. EST on Wednesday, July 6.

— Christopher Schwarz

Rated PG for Language

Posted on by Lost Art Press

I knew this letter would come some day.

Today we received a return of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” with a pleasant note from a reader. Here it is:

“Not looking for a refund. Because of my eccentricities I don’t want a woodworking book to have the tone and words like-crap, suck, idiot, moron, stupid, hell Etc. I prefer more refined and reverent attitude and language. I guess an anarchist should be comfortable with the book as written?”

He makes a good point that I should have mentioned when the book was released. “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” has some coarse language in it. You will hear worse language and see more skin on television (I know you are thinking: “Thank goodness for that”).

But readers come in all different stripes. And this book is indeed different in tone, content and approach. It is not for everyone. And if it’s not for you, that’s OK.

The best part of the letter? I could tell it was from a woodworker. When woodworkers return stuff or complain, they are always nice about it — not like the suburban mommy nightmares I dealt with at the mini-blind store when I was 13.

— Christopher Schwarz

P.S. We have just sent a second load of copies of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” to Dictum GmbH in Metten, Germany. When the book is back in stock we will post a note here for our European customers.