The summer reading I've been waiting for is nearly here. The Anarchist's Tool Chest, by woodworker/blogger Christopher Schwarz, is a 480-page treatise on how virtually anything can be built from wood using less than 50 tools.
"The Anarchist's Tool Chest," paints a world where woodworking tools are at the center of an ethical life filled with creating furniture that will last for generations. It makes the case that you can build almost anything with a kit of less than 50 high-quality tools, and it shows you how to select real working tools, regardless of their vintage or brand name.
The book also contains a tutorial—based on designs from the 18th Century, no less—on how you can use those very tools to build your own tool chest to hold them all.
Publisher Lost Art Press is estimating an availability time of one to two weeks, and you can order the book here.
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That's all.
The Anarchist Tool Chest is an excellent book and a phenomenal resource for anybody interested in hand tools. I've read many of the other excellent books on the subject, and Schwarz's now my favorite (Dunbar and Watson, are also fantastic). This in no small part due spirit in which this book was written. TACT has implications that reach far outside woodworking. It contains a message that is quite relevant and timely, especially amongst makers and designers of things. You should really read the book and let us know what you think about it.
On sharpening:
Sharpening is one of those third rail subjects, like religion or political policy, that people get incredibly dogmatic and emotional about. It also makes for terrible conversation at dinner parties. That's why I am reluctant to stoke this fire. Not mention that it has next to nothing to to with Schwarz's outstanding book.
However...
I am a woodworker and confessed iron-pig. I have literally many hundreds of edged tools (that I use) and I sharpen everyday that I am in the shop. Sharpening is an essential practice for me as I use hand tools extensively in every aspect of my process. I don't mind sharpening at all because I am able to do it quickly and efficiently. In fact, it can be nice way to end/start the day.
I use waterstones because they are fast and aggressive. For the very same reasons they work quickly on the steel they go out flat almost as quickly. I know how to wear my stones evenly and if I was using hard oil stones, I might never have to flatten my stones. However, because I would rather spend my time working instead of sharpening, it's waterstones for me. By the way, I use Nortons, nothing fancy.
There are many ways to flatten stones: diamond plates, steel lapping plates with grit (SiC, diamond), sandpaper on float glass, or stone to stone to stone (three stones), or bricks. I have used them all and I find simple electroplated diamond plate (98 dollars) is the most fast and effective. Not to mention all the countless other things that a diamond plate is useful for. I could go go into more detail about why I don't like the other methods, but I thing I am already entering into rant-territory.
Yes, the masters of yesteryear did not use diamonds, but they also couldn't make them in machines. Your argument isn't really valid because it doesn't reflect the practices, technologies and philosophies of these traditional craftspeople compared with the contemporary equivalents. The French Menuisier of the 18th century, for instance, probably wouldn't have used diamonds simply because because they would have been TOO EFFICIENT. The same reason they resisted the use of vices on their benches. They were more interested in keeping the status quo, including their high wages for long and complex commissions. By this logic we should throw out bench vises to the curb. Not going to happen.
Not to mention that neither western or eastern woodworkers have ever had to sharpen contemporary alloys like A1, D2, M1, CPM 3V and on and on and on. At the end of the day, diamonds are everyone's best friend. In fact, in "rock, paper, scissor, shoot", diamonds always win. It's science.
Anyway, I could beat this dead horse all day, but it still wont change the fact that Chris Schwarz wrote an awesome book and everyone should check it out.
Chris is in a delicate position....a recommendation by him of a tool sends all the hobbyist running off and buying said recommendation. Much of his blogs are nothing but reviews of the latest tools, hardly ever does he say....you don't this.
I would strongly recommend it as the new starting point for anybody interested in building practical hand tool set. It provides comprehensive survey of tools for hand work as well as engaging discussion of the Schwarz's personal philosophy of making and craft.
SFPaul: your comment does not compute. The driving philosophy of the book is about understanding what is really necessary to work practically and efficiently. A diamond lapping plate is fantastic way to keep waterstones flat (i would say it's an essential tool). His brand of anarchy is that of the "aesthetic anarchist". Check out this video he made earlier this year:
http://blip.tv/lostartpress/the-anarchist-s-tool-chest-4574283
Quite the anarchist.