Toolemera Blog

Cover trials

Ah, the trials and tribulations of publishing. So I say as if from decades of experience... Which reminds me of an email I once received. In the email, someone wrote that I "sound much older than I look". How I 'sounded' much older than I looked through an email list, I have yet to comprehend. Not to mention how I 'looked' much older than I sounded, again through an email list.

In any event, I've been working with a new piece of software to make book covers. I've always admired the marketing genius of O'Reilly books, Dummies, Real World and so on in their development of a 'look' that is always their own. I've wanted to do the same, partially from a marketing standpoint and partially because it makes sense to me.

I've also played around with the idea of producing facsimile copies of book covers, but the requirements of cover art and printing makes that one difficult. All those blind embossed covers look great in person, but getting one to match up with cover bleed is nasty. For those who think I am injured, fear not. Cover bleed is the term for the cover/page trimming error measurement required to make up for the physical trimming process in printing, particularly in POD printing. It's nearly impossible to get a cover design to print and trim precisely as it's designed.

Here's examples of two covers I've been working on, one for Moxon's Mechanick Exercises and one for Thorold's Our Workshop. With the exception of final pricing and creating the Bowker ISBN data, both of these are pretty much ready to go to press.

Feedback on the cover art would be much appreciated. Pros, cons and apathetic views equally accepted.

  Till next, Gary

The Joiner and Cabinetmaker: late review and comments

I've read this book by Joel Moskowitz, Chris Schwarz and Jeff Peachey twice. While at first I was wondering at the format and three part approach, on the second read-around I like it. It reminds me of academic articles that feature one topic as covered by three or more authors. All may agree, disagree, find problems in each other's work or go off on tangents.

I was hoping for a facsimile reproduction of the original book and not a re-typing, but beggars can't be all that picky. A copy of that title has yet to make it to my shelves. Or boxes. That's what happens when shelf space gets tight, the overflow ends up boxed. Anyhow, Joel provides an incredibly indepth discussion of the role of the apprentice in the early 1800's, which can be assumed to be a mirror of the late 1700's. His footnotes are copious, although I had to resort to squinting from one inch to read the small print. Clearly, Joel decided to keep to the fashion of the time period and go for little tiny type.

Made By Hand : Book Review

'Tis been a while since last I posted to the blog. I've been busy sleeping a lot (and working on getting sleep  apnea under better control), fiddling with publishing and watching reality TV. Yes, Virginia, I am becoming a Reality TV junky. Academy: Orange County Firefighters, Operation Repo, Animal Cops, Speeders and so on. After a lifetime of watching fine movies, I figure it's about time to fill my head with stuff that really matters.

On to Tom Fidgen's new book Made By Hand. I've read it twice already. Once to get the feel for it and once to read between the lines. I'll refrain from a thorough review of the contents as Larry over at the Wood'n Bits Workshop has already covered many of the points I would have. Instead, I'll comment on where I see this book sits in the current scheme of literature.

Made By Hand is a throwback to the 19th Century.

In the later part of that century we see the dominance of the Arts & Crafts movement along with Manual Arts as a theory and practice of education. Structure and formula crept into the world of crafts as a result of the move to machinery in the workplace and at home. Don't get me wrong, I am a devotee of Arts & Crafts style furnishings. But there was and is an underlying production theorem to the design and creation of the style. Just take a look at any Arts & Crafts period trade catalog and you'll see what I mean.

What, no finishing?

I've been watching the latest poll on the blog: Favorite Woodworking Activities. People have both common and diverse likes, but... no one likes finishing? I find this most strange. One of my favorite activities is finishing. Whether it's applying a finish to an old hunk of furniture I've restored or the finish to a new piece of woodwork, I find finishing to be restful, meditative and rewarding.

When else can you experience the joy of watching the wooden surface bloom under your expectant gaze? What was pretty but understated glistens, gains depth and life. Really folks, why don't you like finishing? 

Brushing on a shellac finish is most calming. It's an exercise in muscular control, in understanding wood grain and wood movement. Building up a brushed on shellac finish is great stuff. It goes on clear, is scuffed during scraping, is clarified again as each coat is applied and either shines or glows when rubbed out with pumice or rottenstone.

Wax is a delight. It smells good. It feels good. It deepens the coloration of the wood without filling the pores, leaving a welcome tactile sensation for the hand.

Varnish can look great when it imparts an amber hue to outdoor woodwork. Fairly easy to apply and quick to change the look of that weathered old wood into something warm and friendly.

Padding on oil is fun. It's sloppy. It smells good. It gets all over the place. It makes the wood change color in an instant, bringing to life forms and images you may not have known were there.

So what's not to like about finishing?

Till next, most grumpily, Gary

Barnes Drill Press Needs Good Home!

I have been contacted by a nice fellow from Manchester, England, who is in possession of his late fathers shop. In particular, a 26" Barnes Flat Belt Drive standind Drill Press. It's so tall his father had to bore a hole in the ceiling for the top of the spindle. It looks to be in marvelous shape and simply needs a place will it will be loved and used. The current owner would rather not have to scrap it.

Here is one image of the drill press, still in place, waiting for someone to tell it what to do. There are another five or so images over at the website at the bottom of the Barnes Drill Press page.

Not only is this a little too big for my shop (a nice Yankee drill press would do me fine) but it's in Manchester, England, not Manchester, New Hampshire USA.

So if anyone is in dire need of one of these, or knows of a local organization that could use one, please contact me and I'll pass the information along to the owner.

Till next, Gary