So it is 11:14 pm and i just finished Christopher Schwarz's book "The Anarchist Tool Chest". Now I am sitting down to write my own review for a blog that has no followers and probably no hits. In a phrase it is pretty much just for me. I liked it- duh, it is about tools. I agree with some of his politic that he has thrown in. I prefer to buy from farmer's markets and knowledgeable sales people where I can touch things rather than amazon. I hate even looking at furniture (other than to get ideas) because I know how cheaply made it is. I live very near "Amish country". Here "Amish made" is a buzzword for food, quilts, furniture, and house construction. It often means "new age sweatshops". the furniture varies from WOW to pocket screw joinery samplers. Enough about the politics.
The book has a lot of things I have wanted to find and hope to find more of in Shannon Rogers Hand Tool School. A large portion of the book is a list of the essential hand tools and the almost essential. He is careful to discuss what to look for as you pick out yours without naming specific manufacturers. No endorsements, he tries hard to keep it honest and bias free. He also gives some insight in how these tools are used and cared for. As I've mentioned before I have fumbled around with things like sharpening myself. He gives many opinions on... well everything. But they are generally useful. He has had unique opportunities to play with a lot of tools, and see a lot of techniques so it behooves me to take what I can from him. I don't feel I have become a Schwarzian disciple. There are a number of things he put in his book that I'll quietly disagree with. No fire & brimstone letter writing or anything. I 'll play around and maybe learn, "yup, he was right" or find I like another way. We'll see.
The last third of his book is about building a tool chest to hold his essential kit. that has a lot of appeal, since I was already planning on doing something like that. I took a short woodworking class this spring. many of the people there had their meager collection of tools in sheet metal boxes. the sound just mad me friggin cringe. My toolkit was no better, but there was a warmth to the simple handmade tote I used for my tools. I was anxious my tote may seem pretentious compared to other tool boxes. That wasn't the goal. Just to have a bit of character in it. I have sought out ideas for a user, practical tool box with character and that traditional look. Roy Underhill made one last season on his TV show and it was featured in the cover of Popular Woodworking magazine. Now I have another source to pillage some ideas from.
Part of the afterward has another idea I plan to steal. My nephew has decided that he wants to make something this summer. Maybe he will follow me as I dabble with hand powered woodworking. He has struggled finding something that is uniquely his own. His brother excels at sports, but maybe this is something that Gabe will get into. The point that I am stealing here is that with fewer and fewer real craftsman doing all hand woodworking, to carry on some of this truly efficient ways of working hobbyists like myself working with my nephew will be one of the best ways for it to be carried on.
An another thing about the book, Chris has a very entertaining way writing. He delves off on the strangest tangents. many I followed (Klaatu ....) others, well... it kept me turning pages.
Thanks Chris. I expect this book to be a value to me for a long time. Even if I still need to find my own way, and my own path. I suppose otherwise I wouldn't have a chance at being an anarchist
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