Lost Art Press

A Speckled Ax

Posted on by fitz

speckled_ax…I entered upon the execution of this plan for self examination, and continued it with occasional intermissions for some time. I was surprised to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined; but I had the satisfaction of seeing them diminish.

To avoid the trouble of renewing now and then my little book, which, by scraping out the marks on the paper of old faults to make room for new ones in a new course, became full of holes, I transferred my tables and precepts to the ivory leaves of a memorandum-book, on which the lines were drawn with red ink, that made a durable stain, and on those lines I marked my faults with a black-lead pencil, which marks I could easily wipe out with a wet sponge.

After a while I went thro’ one course only in a year, and afterward only one in several years, till at length I omitted them entirely, being employed in voyages and business abroad, with a multiplicity of affairs that interfered; but I always carried my little book with me.
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See the Chopstick Master Video from China

Posted on by Lost Art Press

John Economaki at Bridge City Toolworks has written up a nice overview of his visit to China on his blog here. It’s definitely worth reading. He also posted the video from his trip showing the Chinese woodworking show attendees making chopsticks in his booth.

You also can now sign up to receive more information about the release of Chopstick Master on its dedicated site.

— Christopher Schwarz

Commemorative Postcards with ‘Virtuoso’

Posted on by Lost Art Press

Studley-cover-2(3)We still have 109 postcards left to give away with copies of “Virtuoso” The Tool Cabinet and Workbench of Henry O. Studley,” which will be published next month.

So if you had given up hope that it was too late to get a postcard, it’s not.

The full-color 4×6 postcards will accompany the first 1,000 copies of “Virtuoso” purchased through Lost Art Press, whether you opted to pick it up at Handworks or have it shipped to you. “Virtuoso” is available with free domestic shipping if ordered before May 13, 2015.

— Christopher Schwarz

Divided we Share

Posted on by Lost Art Press

GW_square_IMG_2771

George Walker, one of the authors of “By Hand & Eye,” handed me a small box of tools yesterday as the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event in Cincinnati was winding down.

The tools were intended for the students at my Hand Tool Immersion class this fall at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking. While some of the students have their own tools, many will need some of the basics to complete the tool chest we’re building.

I picked through the box of well-cared-for, user-grade tools and thanked George.

He picked up a Brown & Sharpe 12” combination square from the top of the pile that looked like it had seen a lot of years. It had a well-patinated standard head, plus the protractor and center-finding heads.

“When I was an apprentice, this was my square,” he said, smiling a bit.

I know that my face screwed up a bit when I replied: “You’re giving away your first combination square? You sure you want to do that?”

“Sure,” he said. “During the last several years I found I have a lot less need for rulers in my work.”

Touche, George. This fall some lucky beginning woodworker is going to end up with a sweet tool with an even better story behind it.

— Christopher Schwarz