Lost Art Press

I don’t have a lick of formal training in furniture or industrial design (my only design schooling was in graphic design). And yet, after reading the book “The Old Way of Seeing” by Jonathan Hale in the 1990s, I decided to give it a go.

Please consider the above paragraph to be a “surgeon general’s warning” for the next paragraph.

You can now read how I design furniture and other objects in my latest column for Core77. My process starts with becoming organized and disciplined about the visual world and how I experience it and preserve it – my image library is the backbone of my designs. Then I move on to sketches, models and prototypes. And I take different approaches depending on whether I’m building a platform or a box (the two major forms of furniture).

I don’t consider my process unique. But I do hope that explaining it might give you some tools to try out on your own designs, just like “The Old Way of Seeing” did for me.

As always, my column is free to read at Core77.

— Christopher Schwarz

Here are links to my other Core77 columns, which cover the problems faced by people who design and make things.

The (Mostly Forgotten) Power of Vernacular Design

Should You Publish Your Prices?

Be Honest About Your Inspiration – or Else

Anarchism & Design

The Exploitation of Wood

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks announced the fall 2019 Hand Tool Event Schedule this afternoon, and Lost Art Press is proud to be among those hosting.

The event hours are Friday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. We’re located at 837 Willard St., in Covington, Ky., 41011. Parking is free on the street.

From the press release: “We started these events to expose more woodworkers to the improvements in quality, environment, and enjoyment that handtool work can offer,” says Lie-Nielsen founder and president Thomas Lie-Nielsen, “and over the past decade we’ve seen their popularity explode with new and experienced woodworkers alike. Incorporating traditional tools and methods can offer even die-hard machinery users ways to bring their work to the next level. The fact that our tools don’t require earplugs or respirators just adds to the appeal.

“Lie-Nielsen staff will help demystify the world of hand tool woodworking and cover topics like sharpening, tool setup and use, and joinery. Visitors are encouraged to get hands on and ask questions.”

Christopher Schwarz, Brendan Gaffney and I (along with guest demonstrators yet to be announced), will be there, too. Like the Lie-Nielsen show staff, we’re happy to demonstrate and/or help you use any of the tools, reveal our “tricks” (ask Chris about his Magic Half Pencil!), answer questions about the Lost Art Press books, and more.

— Fitz

The Lost Art Press storefront will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and I’ll give a free demonstration on scraping at 2 p.m. that day.

The lecture will cover:

1. Understanding scraping. How and why it works. And what that means for the sharpening procedure.
2. How to sharpen any scraper using a block of wood, your sharpening stones and a burnisher (no commercial jigs required).
3. How to grind scrapers to special shapes for mouldings, chair seats and general use.
4. How to set up and use scraper planes and the No. 80 cabinet scraper.

Note that this will absolutely, positively not be a shakedown/sales pitch for Crucible scrapers. In fact, I’m going to show you how to make your own curved card scraper so you don’t have to buy one. (Yes, we will have a few scrapers and burnishers on hand to sell. But that’s not why we’re doing this.)

We also will have our full line of Lost Art Press books for you to check out, including the gorgeous new one from Marc Adams, “The Difference Makers,” and David Finck’s “Making & Mastering Wood Planes.” We have a few lump hammers here in stock. I don’t think we have any blemished books, however.

My commute on Saturday to unlock the front door for the open day will be the easiest ever. We moved in upstairs, so I’ll just have to walk downstairs. Yesterday we opened up the door between the storefront and living spaces. The cats, while terrified, are curious. So you might also see a Lost Art Puss on Saturday.

Directions to the storefront are here.

— Christopher Schwarz

Last night I swept out my shop in Fort Mitchell, rescued a few boards of old-growth yellow pine I’d forgotten about and took out the trash for the last time.

I built the shop 18 years ago, when Lucy was pregnant with Katy (who is leaving for college in 12 days). It was the first shop where I had a window, an outside door and – eventually – wooden floors.

This is where I built all the projects for “The Joiner & Cabinet-Maker,” “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest,” “Campaign Furniture,” and “The Anarchist’s Design Book.” Not to mention hundreds of other projects for magazine articles and commissions for customers.

Typing this out, I think I’m supposed to feel sad by leaving this space behind. The truth is, I simply wonder what will become of the space when the new owners move in this week. I left the wood rack in place. Plus the clamp rack. All it needs is a workbench and maybe a box for some tools….

— Christopher Schwarz