Monday, March 31, 2025

A Treasure from Grandfather’s Chest, the Future of the OG ATC, Strength in Imperfection & More

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 ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏

A Treasure from Grandfather's Chest, the Future of the OG ATC, Strength in Imperfection & More

A quick look at all the stuff Lost Art Press published during the last seven days.

We spent last Thursday and Friday scrambling to finish filming a video with Welsh chairmaker Chris Williams (he was supposed to be here sooner, but the fire at Heathrow threw a spanner in those plans). And we got it done with time to spare and ample hours for our annual pilgrimage to Carhartt's. Now, he's in our shop teaching a group of students from around the country to build a Welsh stick chair.


Chris Schwarz is busy with the finishing touches on his new "Anarchist's Tool Chest," as he revises the book for its 15th anniversary. Today, he had to go to the lumberyard for one 8' piece of white oak for the till bottoms. (No matter how much we think we have in the basement, it's never enough!) And thank goodness…because I tagged along to pick up cherry for my upcoming Shaker step stool class (which I couldn't have done without Chris's help. I can drive now – but pull lumber from the racks while on crutches? Nope.) And speaking of classes, we still have spaces available in a few for the second half of the year – you can see those here…the three that say "buy tickets."


Fitz


Lost Art Press Blog


Doormaking and Window-Making

U.K.-based traditional joiner Richard Arnold discovered two little booklets ("Doormaking" and "Window-Making") in the bottom of his grandfather's tool chest – a chest that changed his life. Read more about it in this excerpt, the introduction to our volume that combines the two booklets into one book.

The American Peasant Substack


Earlywood: The Strength of a Chair Comes from Imperfection

Without a little tension, a stick chair won't be as strong as it needs to be. So while you don't want to aim for imperfection, the fact that it's darn-near unachievable is a good thing.

(Free for everyone)


Let the Beauty Be

I think most of what Chris writes is excellent (good thing, since I read a lot of it!) – but this piece resonates for me even more than usual. And it answers the question: "Why am I cutting all these damn dovetails?"

(For paid subscribers, with a free preview)


The Future of the Old Tool Chest

With the 15-year anniversary "Anarchist's Tool Chest" underway (both the revised book and the chest that will be shown therein), what's going to happen to the one Chris built in 2010 – the one that's been his constant companion ever since?

(Free for everyone)


The Anarchist's Apprentice Substack


So, Where to Next?

Looking beyond the Lost Art Press walls of Covington will help shape what's ahead for Kale – as long as they don't look _too_ far ahead.

(For paid subscribers, with a free preview)


Never Sponsored Substack


The Chappell Universal Square

We've tried more than a few framing squares in the LAP shop; this is the only one we can recommend unreservedly.

(Free for everyone)


When You Need to Attack the Crack

A bonsai brush is just the thing for getting into a tight corner to remove glue.

(Free for everyone)

On Instagram This Week

Inner-city nature, plus more on the new tool chest.

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