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I just received my advance copy of Jim Tolpin’s new book, The New Traditional Woodworker, and even though I was very involved with putting the book together, it’s always a pleasant surprise to see the finished product. I’m proud of this one! Beyond the fact that Jim has put together an excellent teaching platform for learning to work with hand tools, this is a good looking book with lots of great photography. In writing the book, Jim chose to teach the reader how to work with the hand tools, by using them to build useful bench and shop tools. Each project builds on the skills learned in the proceeding chapter. This plan makes for an easy and fun learning curve.
The projects include: a straightedge; a try square; winding sticks; a face planing stop; a bench hook pair, edge planing stop; sticking board; and a rounds out with a workbench tote. There are an additional seven projects offered in quicker detail, to help stock your shop. Jim has also included helpful insights on setting up a hand tool shop, working with the wood and suggestions on workbenches that best blend with hand tool woodworking.
If you’re ready to learn the tool set, skill set and mind set to working with hand tools, this is a book that will start you successfully on the path.
Pre-order The New Traditional Woodworker, today.
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.
I agree with altaylor, I liked the full posts in the e mails. The short teasers just are not as nice besides the firewall at work prevents the link from going through.
Jim Tolpin’s in-person presentation style has a quiet quality that really focuses on the subject being taught. Jim does not feel the need to constantly talk while demonstrating. Consequently, when he does speak you know it is to say something noteworthy.
I’m willing to bet that that same thoughtfulness shows up in his writing and thus I have blindly pre-ordered a copy.
General comment about the change in format/content of the Popular Woodworking Magazine – Editors Blog… Weekly Wood News
The last three subject emails I received have only had a small lead-in sentence or two for one article, with a link to read more. Although other articles are listed further down the email, only linked titles are displayed. No content is revealed and the balance of this email is empty otherwise.
I enjoyed the previous format as it seemed richer and informative, sprinkled with photographs, etc. I liked reading content from more than one article, specially when more information is given in the displayed content, with a link later on in the email. I found myself “hooked” into the article and found myself going online and reading the entire posting… at least until recently. Don’t abandon the previous way of sending blog announcements, as I for one liked reading them.