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Good news: The next issue of Woodworking Magazine goes on sale on July 24. The new issue will be bigger than the last seven issues , 48 pages instead of 36 , and will be available in both printed and digital versions through our web site.
However, this new Autumn 2007 issue will not be available at newsstands. The only place you’ll be able to purchase the issue is through our secure server on our web site. We’ve decided to forego newsstand distribution for the new issue for a variety of reasons, including the recent poor newsstand sales of all magazines and the general wastefulness of the process (all the unsold copies are thrown in the dumpster).
Here are the details on pricing and availability: Starting on July 24, you will have two options for buying the new issue. For $6, you will be able to instantly download an enhanced pdf version of the magazine. This enhanced pdf will be much like the pdfs on our CDs, which have links embedded in the stories that take you to expanded content on our blog, web site or on other outside sites. The digital version will feature a full-color cover and the same rich sepia-toned photos inside.
For $8, you will be able to purchase a printed copy of the issue and it will be mailed to your house directly from our warehouse in Wisconsin. The printed version will be on heavy #70-pound paper stock and will be true black and white throughout.
I know that many of you are wondering if we will be offering subscriptions to Woodworking Magazine in the near future. The honest answer is that we don’t know yet. Our circulation and accounting analysts are still preparing a report. Theirs is a difficult task because our company has never published a magazine like this one, and the playing field is a crowded one. I can say that our executives will be paying close attention to how this new issue sells. So your continued support of the magazine is appreciated and might even sway their decision.
Below is the important stuff: The stories we’re working on right now for the issue.
The Holtzapffel Cabinetmaker’s Workbench
Author: Christopher Schwarz
In 1875, when the world was balanced on a precipice with its rural past behind it and the modern age spread before it, this bench was published in an English book: “Holtzapffel’s Construction, Action and Application of Cutting Tools Volume II” by Charles Holtzapffel. It’s a tremendous book even today and is crammed with details on working wood and metal with both hand and power tools.
The Holtzapffel workbench is the third archaic workbench that I’ve built and put to use in a modern shop. Each of the three benches had a deep connection to the culture that developed it. The bench from A.J. Roubo’s 18th-century books is as French as bÃ?©arnaise, strong coffee and berets. The bench from Peter Nicholson’s 19th-century “Mechanical Exercises” is entirely British. The only other place this English bench shows up with any regularity is in the Colonies.
The Holtzapffel is a cultural mongrel. The Holtzapffels were Germans who settled in England. And the bench has features of both cultures that, in my opinion, create a bench that is outstanding for cabinetmaking.
Wall-mounted Tool Rack
Author: Robert Lang
One of the most efficient ways to work at a bench is to have all your common tools in a rack right in front of and above your bench. We’ve built a number of designs, all of them simple and taking no more than a couple hours to build and mount. The trick is in knowing how to space the elements of the rack to accommodate the widest variety of measuring, marking and cutting tools.
Tool Review: Flush-cutting Saws
Author: Glen Huey
Flush-cutting saws allow you to trim pegs, wedges and through-tenons without marring the surrounding work. Well, that’s the theory, at least. Some of these saws stink. Some are nutty expensive (more than $100), and some seem a good balance of price and performance. We bring in half a dozen of the best examples we can find and give them a workout.
Tool Techniques: Cutting Flush
Author: Glen Huey
There are a wide variety of ways to trim pegs, wedges and tenons flush to your work, from a trim router with a planing bit, a special saw, a chisel and a gouge. We examine all the methods and find the ones that require the least set-up and the best chance of success.
Become a Better Borer
Author: Christopher Schwarz
Cutting accurate, clean and square holes is a skill that will serve you well in making furniture. We examine the mechanics and ergonomics of boring by hand and by power and show you how to develop your freehand boring skills to a fine art.
Finishing Technique: Pumpkin Pine
Author: Glen Huey
One of the most desirable finish colors is what is sometimes called “pumpkin pine.” It’s essentially an aged, mellow and warm clear finish. Is shellac the best way to reproduce this finish on new work? If so, what is easiest and best? Is there some other technique that doesn’t involve mixing flakes?
The Back Cover Poster: Sandpaper
We take a close look at this common but confusing abrasive. What is open coat? Closed coat? Stearated? P-grade? Garnet? We cut through the confusion so you’ll finally understand the labels and make the right choice.
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
Best of wishes mate with the magazine, but let me tell you that I would feel very bad if your magazine wouldn’t be available anymore… I will try to help as much as I can, but let’s hope others feel the same as I do.
This is certainly a challenging time in the publishing world. I’ve seen a wee bit of the economics of magazine publishing by being on the BOD of a non-profit railroad historical society, (NWHS.org,) and I can appreciate that publishing a no-advertising magazine must be a heckuva challenge. I’d prefer to have the PDF version of the magazine, and print just the pages that I need. I’m also positive that here will be those who need or prefer a printed copy. All readers -must- come to understand that digital distribution is much more economical for the publisher. (Physical distribution costs are a killer, and printing is no small cost either. Tree pulp and diesel fuel – neither are cheap any more!) Maybe F+W can run the digital distribution angle, and work a deal with one of the Print On Demand companies for paper copies.
Ahh, come on Chris! The suspense is killing me.
We need a print subscription version! (I’ve had trouble finding some issues on the major newsstands, and I don’t want to miss a single one.)
I much prefer to read a hard copy that is portable and lightweight.
PS: Chris, are you building a workbench museum or something? Keep up the good work, and I hope we see you at Galootapalooza in August. 😉 Bring a bench for the beer.
Good grief, I hate mag subscription with a passion, but if I must to keep getting my fix of this mag, then so be it! Being a military man, I travel around the country a lot, so far I have been fortunate to always find a copy of Woodworking mag every where I go, even here, in the middle of nowhere up north of Québec city, go figure 🙂
As much as I like the convenience of a searchable E-copy, I much prefer old fashion hard copy, call me old fashion, cos I am!
I suppose it was only a matter of time before the beans counter figured out that a mag without ads bleed red ink, shame, shame. I garantee you that you have a loyal following
Bob
In lieu of a subscription where you pay for an entire year up front (and then run the risk of having to process refunds if the magazine is canned) why not setup a recurring payment option whereby as and when each issue comes out you charge the credit card on file. People get their magazines on time without having to actively seek you out each month and you get to see real subscription numbers.
Ahhh if only there was a way for us non US credit card holders to sign up. Many’s the time I’ve dreamed about taking out a sub to Woodworking mag or Fine Woodworking, not havign a US friendly CC it just can’t be done it seems.
Mike
Sign me up for both! I had a Holtzapffel once… or maybe it was a Warsteiner, hmmm…
The last issue was hard to find at the newstand. I had to finally go to Lee Valley to pick it up. I like the idea of the download and the links. A digital magazine and the blog are a perfect match. I am still old school and would prefer paper, but will make the change. I can see future paper issues getting big bucks on eBay because of their rarity.
Kep it coming, as a European woodworker I have difficulty in getting US based mags, thank god for the American Book Shop in Amsterdam. Unfortunatley like other posters, I too have had difficulty in getting my sticky hands on WW 🙁
Please try to keep the printed version, but if, you decide to go the digitel way, then add my name to the list of subbies.
yours truely,
Karl Wissinger
It’s scandalous that the Colonies have had Woodworking Magazine, whilst us Brits on the mainland are without. Back-copies on .pdf too please.
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to read this wonderful woodworking magazine. It is by far the best one available.
I am willing to accept whatever changes Chris and his staff feel are necessary, to be able to continue receiveing this magazine.
Keep up the great work, Chis, and let us know when we can purchase subscriptions.
Interesting comments all around that got me to thinking, yet again, on the move of journals from hard copy to digital copy. It’s become the reality of the research library world that more and more journals are transitioning to digital copies with the intent of phasing out print copies. When first this transitionary period began, library users complained vociferously. They wanted their hard copy, not a PDF! Now, they want their PDF and not the printed version. I believe that the added values of a digital version became the deciding factor (e.g.: searchable, portable, active links to related articles or other online material and printable if necessary).
I believe that any major change requires time for adjustment along with time for feedback and improvements in the product.
A subscription to the digital version would be great, as well as improving circulation. But I am betting that the powers-that-be have already thought of that. As for reaching out to the people who don’t have internet access, it may well be a tradeoff comparable to the people who don’t have access to a store that carries the print version. Yours truly included. Once in a while I was lucky to find a copy at the local CVS pharmacy. Otherwise I would have to go over two towns to Barnes & Noble in hopes that a copy remained on their shelf. And I live just two miles south of Boston. If I lived in Lubeck, Maine, I doubt that the local pharmacy or general store would carry the mag. But there is always the possibility of ordering a hard copy for a few extra bucks to satisfy the needs and wants of those who are digitally deprived.
Me? I’m looking forward to the digital version. But then, I sold off a full run of FWW, not only because I tired of the mag but because it took up way too much space on the shelves. Plus I just picked up two external 250 GB drives for cheap for additional storage. That’s a lotta copies of Woodworking!
Best, Gary
I like buying online because our dollar is almost paired with yours (so the price goes close to the same amount). What I don’t like is once the package crosses the border CRA (our Uncle Sam) wants his cut. –I wonder what this FREE TRADE means if they are still charging Customs-. This would make PDF more valuable over printed (but), nah my printed magazine goes with me to places where my computer won’t.
Now, since payment will be online, can we pay in advance and get our copy once ready? You could email us when the magazine is on the mail.
Here is one thing, how are you going to let know the people that does not use computers that the magazine is still available, but won’t be on the newsstand? As many other I bought my first WWM simply because I saw it on the stands. Counting on PWW to spread the word?
Tough choice. PDF or print. No question that I prefer to have the hard copy. Sure, I could print this out on my own printer but I think the publisher’s choice of heavy paper/color/feel are bang on. But I, also, like the idea of the PDF. I agree with the previous commenter who suggests that purchasers of the hard copy should also have access to the PDF version.
And, please, provide the option of subscription. It would be a pain in the butt to have to purchase every issue individually.
As for newstands, I haven’t been able to get the mag on a newstand for several issues. I purchased the first few on the newstand but have seen very few since.
Keep up the good work, folks. It is a great magazine with great material.
Chris,
As we talked about this last week now is not the time for idleness. By banding together and each of us purchasing our copies of Woodworking we can keep them coming with some regularity. Of course subscriptions would be great and I will write the first check, but if purchasing through the web site is the only alternative to keeping the magazine alive and kicking, then that is what must be done. And it must be done by all of us.
Michael Rogen
If you purchase the printed version, can you also download the .pdf? I’m old fashioned enough to prefer the printed word to be on paper, but love the searchability of the electronic versions; having both would be ideal.
I agree that a subscription to the magazine would be ideal. Woodworking is my favorite magazine available and I hate the thought of missing any issues.
Hi all,
That’s a shame about unpurchased issues (trashcan). I’ve tried to purchase the past two issues a the newsstand w/ 50% success; the most recent I could not find – even where I found the previous! (Lowe’s). So, the frustration of unreliable newsstand availability will be gone, at least! 🙂
One comment: don’t assume that just because folks chose to buy one-off issues via .pdf (instead of printed), that means interest in printed issues is low.
I for one will buy the .pdf versions if you don’t offer a subscription; but WOULD subscribe to printed direct/subscription mailings. Call me strange.
-Chris
Hi guys,
I just love your magazine. It’s too bas it won’t be on news stands anymore, that’s how it discovered it.
If you choose to go only via order, please do offer a membership. I shall aply as soon as it is available.
Sincerly,
Charles-William Roy