Thread: Anarchists cutting back on tools

I can just see some furtive little gnome at the Federal A.G. office freaking at the number of these books being imported by people who weren't on their watch list

Originally Posted by bsrlee

I can just see some furtive little gnome at the Federal A.G. office freaking at the number of these books being imported by people who weren't on their watch list

I had pondered that too. The book having plans for a chest to keep your anarchists in, er, tools may be somewhat perplexing to them as well!

Yep I have given it thought to and most likely will get one. Just to compare it to my great great grandfathers chest that I have. Although his has more than 48 chisels and planes alone

I refuse to believe any good cabinetmaker would need forty eight tools! Even counting my chisels and screwdrivers individually, I would struggle to make thirty – which might explain a lot.

I thought you needed at least 300 tools?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cGNT-RSkEU]‪The H.O. Studley Tool Chest‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]
Where'd I get that idea from?

Originally Posted by seanz

I thought you needed at least 300 tools?
‪The H.O. Studley Tool Chest‬‏ - YouTube
Where'd I get that idea from?

Separating ones needs from ones mania has been a recurring affliction amongst many woodworkers.

It's not mania until the men-in-white-coats catch you. Until then it's enthusiasm.

48 tools? Great I have to buy more.

Surely you need a set of chisels. A set goes from 1/16" to 2" and comprises 20 chisels. Now you need different sets for different tasks:

Long Paring
Firmer
Gouges

+ a set of 10 Mortise chisels

My God we are up to 70 tools already!

Cheers
Peter

ps and don't forget the back-up sets.

I have received and read The Anarchist's Tool Chest (so I may well be on the Federal AG' S watchlist).

I hadn't intended to do a review but the more I tried to do contribute in a sensible way to this thread, the more the post became a review! Accordingly, I have posted a review in Product Reviews.

For me the problem is not one of how many tools you need to make furniture, but how many other tools you need to do what SWMBO requires me to do around the house. So Schwarz says that you only need one or two flat-bladed screwdrivers. True - that's enough for making furniture. But around the home you need a full set of Phillips and Pozidrives.

Also around the home you do need an electric drill (probably two - one cordless and one tailed) and a full set of spanners and sockets.

Then you come to consider files - and if you do any metalwork the tools for that.

So then you consider whether you should have separate tool chests (or cabinets or boxes or whatever) for each activity and then what you do where there is crossover between the activities....I mean do I need 5 claw hammers (one for each tool box) or should I share them around?

The other thing that I noticed about The Anarchist's Tool Chest, is that there is no discussion of finishing (don't you need brushes, rags, and potions???)

SO MANY DECISIONS and so little time....

I haven't read your review yet Jeremy, but regarding your post above, it sounds like Schwarz's book is somewhat ambiguous. If we're not talking just cabinetmaking tools, then why stop at house reno tools and metalworking tools. What about those who are into carving, engraving, papermaking, bookbinding, gilding, smithing (all of which, and more, I have enjoyed at one time or another), should all those tools be included?

I assumed, rightly or (seemingly) wrongly, that Schwarz, being a woody, was aiming this book at the woody community (hence my comment regarding forty eight tools being too many) and not jacks-of-all-trades.

I'll go and read your review now – only because you wrote it.

Originally Posted by Blue-deviled

I haven't seen anybody else mention Christopher Schwarz's new book, The Anarchist's Tool Chest Restricting the kit to 48 tools (or less) may be a little too much for some people.

However, with spring approaching, I'm ordering a copy!

I guess Chris means if you make the chest you need to put in 48 tools to complete the chest, and the ones on the bench, in the tool cabinets, on the shadow board etc don't count.

Well that would be my excuse

Regards

Interesting proposition! When I did that project a few years back, to make a set of furniture using only tools I hand-made for the job, I ended up with 52, and I don't think there were too many double-ups, or tools I didn't really need.
I'll have to have a peek at the book!

Cheers

Originally Posted by Woodwould

I haven't read your review yet Jeremy, but regarding your post above, it sounds like Schwarz's book is somewhat ambiguous. If we're not talking just cabinetmaking tools, then why stop at house reno tools and metalworking tools. What about those who are into carving, engraving, papermaking, bookbinding, gilding, smithing (all of which, and more, I have enjoyed at one time or another), should all those tools be included?

I assumed, rightly or (seemingly) wrongly, that Schwarz, being a woody, was aiming this book at the woody community (hence my comment regarding forty eight tools being too many) and not jacks-of-all-trades.

I'll go and read your review now – only because you wrote it.

I must not have expressed myself well. Schwarz is just talking about furniture making tools. My point is that even if I cut my woodworking tools down to the minimum, I am still going to be over-run by other tools. Schwarz doesn't address that (it is outside the scope of his book). My point is just that it may not be correct to look at the tool need by reference only to your furnituremaking activities....