Christopher Schwarz

Founder and Editor, Lost Art Press at Freelance

Writer at The American Peasant

Reviews of movies, reintroduction of classics, mutterings, and general film stuff

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Articles

Japanese Saws vs Western Saws

Oct 29, 2024 | popularwoodworking.com | Christopher Schwarz

The difference is more than just pushing or pulling. It’s been over 20 years since the Western handsaw, a tool that cuts on the push stroke and was the pride of the English-speaking world, was surpassed as the tool most woodworkers reached for when they need a handsaw. It has been replaced by the Japanese saw, which cuts on the pull stroke and once was mocked by Westerners as “backwards.”What caused this shift to Japanese saws?
Build Furniture Without a Shop

Oct 23, 2024 | popularwoodworking.com | Christopher Schwarz

A few tools can go a long way. When you get started in woodworking there are many paths to follow, forks in the road, dead-ends and shortcuts. It’s a journey that our forebears would make with the help of a living, breathing guide: a master, a grandfather, a shop teacher. Sadly, the guides are fewer in number today. And so you are left with people like me to help. Like the making of meat byproducts, it’s not a pretty sight.
Folding Stool | Popular Woodworking

Aug 28, 2024 | popularwoodworking.com | Christopher Schwarz

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.pngPopular Woodworking//www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pw_stools_stool_open2_img_5089.jpg200px200px For camping, conquering and contemplating, these stools have a long history among artists, soldiers and rugged individualists. Plan: Download patterns for the leather seat and pocket. Web: Learn all about leather terminology.
‘The Styles of Furniture’

May 12, 2024 | blog.lostartpress.com | Megan Fitzpatrick |Christopher Schwarz

What follows is a broad overview of historic styles, by Henry R. Birks, who was an instructor in cabinet work t Regent Street Polytechnic in London. He earned City and Guilds first-class honors in cabinet work. This article is from Vol. IV (which covers Furniture and the Workshop) of our compilation of “The Woodworker: The Charles H. Hayward Years.” It was first printed in The Woodworker in 1938.
The ‘Hard Reset’ for Handplanes

Apr 7, 2024 | christopherschwarz.substack.com | Christopher Schwarz

There are times when I cannot figure out why a handplane is leaving nasty tracks on my boards. The iron isn’t chipped (as least as far as I can see). And the sole doesn’t have any scars or burrs (that I can feel). Even after I hone and polish the blade, the tracks persist. I could fiddle-fart around with it, or I could hit the “hard reset” button. Though the hard reset seems like more work, it’s always faster than tinkering here and there with the tool.
How & Why of Spring Joints

Mar 28, 2024 | popularwoodworking.com | Christopher Schwarz

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.pngPopular Woodworking//www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/springjoints.jpg200px200px Save on clamps with this traditional technique for panel glue-ups. A “spring joint” is a traditional method where you join the edges of two boards to make a wider panel and leave a tiny gap in the middle of the joint.
On Sale for March: ‘The Anarchist’s Tool Chest’ at 34 Percent Off

Feb 29, 2024 | blog.lostartpress.com | Megan Fitzpatrick |Christopher Schwarz

After much analysis and debate, we have decided to put “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” – our bestselling book – on sale for the month of March. Until March 31, the book is $34 – that’s 34 percent off the $51 retail. Plus, all copies sold through us are signed by the author and include a nice wooden bookmark (more on that below). We don’t do sales. So why are we doing this? During most of the pandemic, the printing plants we use were closed or operated on a skeleton crew. Paper was scarce.
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Chisels

Dec 20, 2023 | popularwoodworking.com | Christopher Schwarz

Posted December 20, 2023 Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Chisels2023-12-202023-12-20https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.pngPopular Woodworking//www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01pwm0417chisel-copy.jpg200px200pxWe may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. However, this does not impact our recommendations.
Easy Magazine Rack

Dec 6, 2023 | popularwoodworking.com | Christopher Schwarz

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.pngPopular Woodworking//www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/3-magazine-book-rack-1.jpg200px200px Two bits of wood and a jigsaw are what you need to make this magazine rack that converts to a bookstand. Because you’re holding this magazine, chances are you could use a magazine rack by your favorite chair to hold your current crop of periodicals and catalogs.
Pre-Orders Now Open for ‘Backwoods Chairmakers’

Nov 28, 2023 | blog.lostartpress.com | Megan Fitzpatrick |Christopher Schwarz

One of the many benefits of bringing our order-fulfillment operations back to Kentucky is that we can again offer pre-publication orders of our books, with a free pdf and free shipping. So I am happy to tell you that we are now taking pre-publication orders for Andy Glenn’s first book, “Backwoods Chairmakers.” You can place your order here. The book is $47. When you do, here’s what happens:You will receive a free pdf of the book at checkout.