Which Woodworking Magazine?

[brouder]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about subscribing to a general woodworking magazine/journal, but it's a bit tricky to judge quality just by browsing online. I don't have any really specific needs - I'd be interested in something relatively general, but with good articles on technique, general tips, and tool reviews.

I'd be grateful for any recommendations, regardless of the country of origin.

Many thanks in advance,

Alan

 

[Frank Pellow]

I don't subscribe to any woodworking magazines but, rather, I browse most issue of most of them and only purchase those that have plans or articles that I want to study in detail.  I probably end up buying about 8 magazines per year.  I know that I pay a premium for doing it this way but it works for me.

I checked on the bookshelf in my shop and the five that I appear to have the most of are, in order: (1) Shop Notes,  (2) Popular Woodworking, (3) Wood, (4) Fine Homebuilding, and (5) Fine Woodworking

 

[brouder]

Frank,

Many thanks - that's very helpful. I'll have a look at their websites and see if they ship to Europe.

I should have mentioned that I'm living in a small town in Germany at the moment, and so unfortunately can't pick up individual copies of English-language journals - hence my thoughts re subscribing. On the upside, I'm in the home of Festool - so I can't really claim to be too deprived!

Thanks again,
Alan

 

[Dave Rudy]

Alan,

Check out finewoodworking.com.  The magazine now has virtually ALL content accessible by web.  The annual membership fee is modest.  You also get access to a huge collection of pdfs of previous articles going back years, as well as access to short videos on all sorts of subjects.  (They have apparently substituted short (less than 10 min) web-based videos instead of feature length dvds).  I have found the online access to be great -- I can print the articles that I want and not take up quite so much shelf space.  (That's in an ideal world; of course, I still get the paper mag as well so it's just wishful thinking at this point.)

HTH

Dave

 

[Dan Clark]

Alan,

I subscribe to Fine Homebuilding, Fine Woodworking, Popular Woodworking and a few others.  Given what you want, my first two choices would be Fine Woodworking and Popular Woodworking. 

Also, here's a strong second to Dave Rudy's suggestion about joining finewoodworking.com online subscriptions.  I've found a lot of great information.  Since it's online, you can pick and choose the articles and topics that you want to read.  For example, here's an article, pdf plans, and video about a portable router table:http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignArticle.aspx?id=28007.  I believe that you can view and download the info as a guest.  However, this video on using shoulder planes is only available by subscribing to the online service:http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=5231. 

Regards,

Dan.

 

[brouder]

Dave and Dan,

Many thanks - I've taken your advice and gone with Popular Woodworking and Fine Woodworking (print and online). Now I have an excuse to build something to house them all!

Thanks again,
Alan

 

[Steveo48]

At onetime in my life I subscribed to 13 different publications of this sort, from Fine Homebuilding/Woodworking to a couple of turning newsletters.

The one I've always kept is Woodsmith.  Good Projects, they do the jigs and setups to go with the projects.  I'm going to restart shop notes also.

Finewoodworking and Homebuilding are fun and inspiring, FWW presents an ultra high level of woodcraft.  They do have some neat projects you can easily do (my first FWW project was a baby rattle) and the pics are like looking at National G.

Steve

 

[brandon.nickel]

It's too late, but I'll third the motion for finewoodworking.com.  The magazine is expensive (though still worth it), but the online subscription is the best deal going.  Downloadable pdfs of every article they've ever printed in a searchable format??  Priceless.  I must have over 100 of their articles saved on my computer.  Even if I have the magazine on the sheld sometimes I'll still open up the pdf file instead of going to get it. 

 

[romlee]

You might look into Woodworking Magazine (published by the same company that produces Popular Woodworking).  Salient points:  1.  no advertising (though, oddly enough, I like to read ads) which Christopher Swartz and staff say allows them to editorialize and evaluate without prejudice  2.  tool evaluations (again, whose appearance is stated not to be influenced by advertisers)  3.  Well organized, attractive lay out and nicely written  4.  Issues and contents are arranged around a project or projects (that is, the project might be a cabinet, accompanying articles would include methods of building drawers, an evaluation of mortising chisels and a review of gel stains and finishing.  It's a nice way to gain a perspective on an entire project.  All written with a "voice" that seems to me to be distinctive amongst many good publications.

A DVD of past issues is available as well as downloads in pdf.

 

[brouder]

Brandon and Rom,

Many thanks for the advice - much appreciated. Woodworking magazine does indeed look like another potential subscription. I see on their homepage they quote Bill Wiese as saying that the magazine is 'the most important contribution to woodworking since the invention of electricity'! Hyperbole notwithstanding, I agree Rom that the arrangement of content around a project is a very nice approach.

Thanks again,
Alan

 

[CharlesWilson]

It's too late, but I'll third the motion for finewoodworking.com.  The magazine is expensive (though still worth it), but the online subscription is the best deal going.  Downloadable pdfs of every article they've ever printed in a searchable format??  Priceless.  I must have over 100 of their articles saved on my computer.  Even if I have the magazine on the sheld sometimes I'll still open up the pdf file instead of going to get it. 

Brandon,

I had subscribed to their online service, (till last August), but found that a number of their early articles were not to be found on their site. Has this been corrected?  I kept running into references to earlier articles that I couldn't find, and decided to opt out of the online subscription.

However, if they have put all of their stuff on there, I will sign back up.

Charles

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Charles,
  I think FWW had issues with getting permission to reprint from the authors of older articles. They have a lot of the older articles on line but not all.
Mike

 

[brandon.nickel]

Perhaps I spoke too soon in saying they were "all" there.  I didn't know that definitively.  I just know that I have encountered a large number of obviously VERY old articles.  I made an assumption that it indicated they were all there.  Thanks, Mike, for pointing that out.

I still think it's well worth it even if there's some missing info.  If I don't know it was there, I can't miss it.

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Brandon,

 

I still think it's well worth it even if there's some missing info

Me too. I can't find anything without the search engine. ;D I donated my back issues to the local library and go visit them once in a while if I need one of the missing articles.

Mike

 

[hgporter]

I Bought the Best of FWW DVD. Taunton said it had nearly every article ever published. In the early years, they did not know to get ? rights on articles and tips for future publication. They paid for one time use of the contribution.

I was pleased with the DVD ? it's a lot easier than searching years of printed magazines. At $125, it's an expensive option, in my opinion. After I purchased it, I discovered the entire DVD is available online and is included in the online membership.

 

[rwdawson]

Like everyone else, I have subscribed to more magazines than I care to admit.  FWW, and Woodsmith are among my favorites.  I also like Woodwork a lot.  It's a bit high end, but well done.

Having said that, I think my recommendation for one magazine would be Woodworking Magazine.  Each issue features a project, along with articles relative to various aspects of the project.  For example, the current issue -- # 9 -- describes building Stickley tabourets.  (I also had to look that one up:http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tabouret).  The project requires three joints; mortise and tenon, half-lap, and a large dovetail.  So, there is an article on the use of the hand saw, and another which discusses western backsaws.  Since the tabouret top is round, there is an article that deals with a method for cutting circles.  This approach is consistent throughout earlier issues, making it an excellent information source.

In addition to the magazine web site,http://www.woodworking-magazine.com/ which has its own blog, Chris Schwarz also has his own blog that is updated frequently. http://blog.lostartpress.com/

If I were a shop teacher or taught furniture making, I would make this magazine mandatory reading.

 

[Wonderwino]

In addition to Fine Woodworking, I also take American Woodworker, Wood and Workbench.  American Woodworker probably is the best of the latter three, but I have built projects from all the above.  Wood and Workbench tend to have less complicated projects and more outdoor ones.  American Woodworker has had the best plans for shop jigs, several of which I have built.  All four have good tool reviews, and have included Festool more often in the recent past.