Replies

1. 
   MPHarper | Oct 21, 2002 09:45pm | #1

   Kurt,

   American Woodworker and Woodworkers Journal are both good magazines for the advanced hobbyist.  Your Local Big Orange Box usually has most of the woodworking magazines on hand.  Take a look at them before you decide if you want to subscribe.  You could also check out their websites.

2. 
   thumbrule | Oct 21, 2002 09:52pm | #2

   I have picked up and enjoyed a few copies of Woodwork magazine at Borders.  The target audience appears to be similar to the target audience for FWW, but perhaps a little more focused on the artisan.  I don't think they have a web site.

   -- Bob

3. 
   JeffKurtz | Oct 21, 2002 11:32pm | #3

   Kurt,

   FWW is first with me, followed by Popular Woodworking and Woodworker's Journal.  I used to get Wood, but found their projects uninteresting and their reviews quite unfair.

   Jeff

1. 
   JOEJOHNY | Oct 22, 2002 05:31am | #6

   Wood magazine's reviews are a joke.  Now that someone else has said it, I know I am not imagining it.  They are clearly a sellout to Grizzly, conspicuously their biggest advertiser.  I suppose it means job security for their staff, but they really go to far.

4. 
   JHARDE02 | Oct 22, 2002 01:41am | #4

   Woodworkers Journal is what I'd recommend.  Most of the good staff at American Woodworker defected there when RD took over their mag.  WJ is where you'll now find Ian Kirby, Michael Dresdner, and the occasional article by Ellis Wallentine.  I think FWW got Frank Klausz though.

   Regards,

   John

1. 
   CWDaymon | Oct 22, 2002 05:08am | #5

   If it is something of the quality and style of Fine Woodworking that you are looking to find, I'd seriously suggest Woodwork Magazine. There is a lot more in the magazine that is oriented toward the artist using wood, but there is also a boat load of good information for any woodworker. One of the things I like about it is the length of some of the articles. There was a GREAT article on Inlay Techniques by Michael Fortune (who I consider one of the greatest living woodworkers) that was probably over 10 pages. That's a BIG magazine article. There was another recent issue featuring an extensive interview with Frank Klausz followed by an article describing a day in a class taught by Frank Klausz. They had a project article sometime back where they built a great little Tansu (?) tea cabinet from an 8 foot 2x4. The photos, print quality and paper are of the same quality as FWW. (Oh yeah, and they don't charge $8 an issue.) Here is their address as they do not have a web site:

   Woodwork Magazine

   P.O. Box 1529

   Ross, CA 94957

   (415) 382-0580

   It's $17.95 for a one year subscription. That's 6 issues. Cover price is $4.99. ($22/yr and $6.99 for Canada.)

   For me, and I still have a lot to learn, Woodworker's Journal is mostly an ad for Rockler. Too many articles on goofy little craft show items or toys for my taste. I pick it up once in a while, but don't subscribe. I DON't think you are going to find any "advanced" techniques in it.

   I like Popular Woodworking because they seem to do the most while spending the least. Also, I really enjoyed building the Arts & Crafts Globe Stand they featured recently. If you want an idea of the projects/articles they offer, check out their web site. There are quite a few projects from the magazine on the site and available for free.

   I like Woodsmith and ShopNotes because their plans are VERY clear and they cover the techniques necessary to build the projects in the same issues. (That and ShopNotes is oriented toward making things that make the shop work better. Nice drill press clamping table in the last issue.) Still, if you are looking for advanced techniques these are probably not for you.

   WOOD does some interesting things on occasion. That outdoor arched garden bridge was a good one exercising some things most woodworkers don't try every day. But they also have their share of those craft show and toy projects I find annoying.

   Anyway, this is all opinion, but I think if it is a magazine that is most likely to show you something new, your best bet is Woodwork.

   -Craig

5. 
   alias | Oct 22, 2002 05:58am | #7

   i also like a publication called - woodshop news 17.95 a year by sounding publications 35 pratt st. essex connecticut 06426. is that the one you refered to as shop news??i really enjoy this one it's a decent publication........cheers bear

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/21/2002 11:00:47 PM ET by the bear

6. 
   davamoore | Oct 22, 2002 05:08pm | #8

   Kurt, let me add my vote for "Woodwork" if you're looking for something that complements Fine Woodworking.  The other posters covered the pros and cons of Woodwork and the other magazines fairly well, so I won't elaborate -- except to say that Woodwork offers a lot of inspiration and pushes me to try new techniques, rather than falling back on the same ol', same ol'.

   I also subscribe to Woodsmith and Shop Notes.  As with any topic-specific magazine (including FWW), you get a little repetition (i.e., endless articles on how to cut dovetails, "woodworking's signature joint" -- I type that facetiously, since that phrase seems to be part of the lead-in for every article I've ever read on dovetails), but there are often tips, tricks ideas and resource lists that make them worth the price.  For example, after looking at bunches of diagrams of jigs for cutting mortises with a router, I saw one in Shop Notes that seemed to fit the bill.  I made it, and can't imagine how I got along without it.

   David

   Hmmm... the garden or the workshop today?
1. 
   kdk | Oct 22, 2002 06:45pm | #9

   Thanks for all the great replies.  As it turns out, just after posting the question I stopped by a magazine shop and picked up a copy of Woodwork.  From what I've seen so far, you guys are right in that it slants toward the artsy side of woodworking.  Not to offend anyone's tastes, but there is a fair amount of far-out-modern-art-lookin'-work that doesn't exactly suit my taste (particularly the projects that appear to be some sort of storage racks built to resemble bus-boys :)  ) but the magazine is very well edited and appears to be a high quality production.  I did find that there is valuable information in the articles.  Since I'm not terribly interested in reproducing a project based on plans provided in the magazine, the techniques used and described are of more value to me than plans.  I'll probably pick up a couple more copies from the news stand and may subscribe in the future.

   In addition, about 3 weeks ago a couple of neighbor kids were peddling magazine subscriptions for a school fundraiser.  I didn't remember which magazine I had signed up for when I posted the question yesterday.  It turns out that I subscribed to Woodworkers Journal.  I'll have to see if it meets my needs/wants.

   Thanks again for your responses!

   -Kurt

1. 
   camel | Oct 23, 2002 04:28am | #10

   Hey Kurt- Don't let that one issue of Woodwork w/ all the artsy stuff throw you off.  It's a very informative mag.  I hate that stuff too, but not every issue is like that.  A regular poster here is an contributing editor for Woodwork.  I'm not saying names for I don't want to piss anyone off.  John E. Nanasy

1. 
   Sancho | Oct 23, 2002 05:01am | #11

   FHB

   WorkBench

   Cabinent Maker

   Shop Notes

   There is a Local onne thats free at the lumber yard and tool stores called "WoodWorker West" It comes out every 2 months. It usually has articles that are excerts from new books being publish. Plus articles spot lighting different wood workers. As well as whats happening in the wood working world , shows exhibits, classes, tool sales ect I like

   Thats about it for me

   At Darkworks cut to size made to burn......Putty isnt a option

   Edited 10/22/2002 10:05:31 PM ET by Ron Teti

1. 
   3dog3 | Oct 24, 2002 07:50pm | #19

   Ron:

   Can you post more info on "Cabinetmaker"  Sounds like something I would be interested in.

   Thanks

   Michael

2. 
   DKZimm | Oct 25, 2002 06:14am | #20

   3dog,

   Here's their website - http://www.cabinetmakeronline.com

   If I remember correctly, you can fill out an online survey and get the magazine free. I know I don't pay anything and it continues to show up in my mailbox.

   Don Z.If I was doing any better, I couldn't hardly stand it!

2. 
   SgianDubh | Oct 23, 2002 08:30am | #15

   I'm not a contributing editor to Woodwork at all, John, if you were refering to me. I just send them an article I put together in my hallucinatory moments once in a while, and sometimes they publish my verbal diaerrheoa. I also write occasionally for F&C, the British mag.. Slainte. Some stuff I've made.

7. 
   riverr1 | Oct 23, 2002 05:13am | #12

   Kurt,

   I quit reading the mags years ago because of the advertising sellouts. You've been told about wood, but american woodworker is also up there vying for the worst sellout. The best, and still the best is FWW. Anymore, I put more time into the Tauton's books(and others) and the forums rather then mags.

1. 
   Adrian | Oct 23, 2002 05:21am | #13

   'Furniture & Cabinetmaking' and 'Woodwork'....keep the standards up, even if it's a hobby....the trade mags if it's a business thing, or just if you're interested.

   i haven't cracked a cover of American Woodworker since the sellout.....what's the verdict?cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S

1. 
   GregB126 | Oct 23, 2002 07:57am | #14

   I'll second the endorsement for Furniture and Cabinetmaking magazine.  It is a nice compliment to FWW, which I couldn't do without.  It is a British publication, and therefor has a somewhat different perspective.  Refreshing and thought provoking, for me.  Each issue usually contains articles on a major project, a restoration project, a power tool review, a study on a type of furniture from a specific period (e.g. regency chairs...), a professional maker profile, a technical article usually by David Charlesworth, and something relatively new, called Life at the Sharp end, which describes the evolution/travails of a professional getting off the ground.  I've gotten a different feel for techniques, hand tools and their use, as well as safety (you'll see all the photos you want of proper riving knives and blade guards, short rip fences, etc..., routinely discussed in this forum).  While the power tool reviews usually focus on machines not specifically sold here in the USA, at least not targeted at amateurs and smaller shops, they are still informative in their own way.  On balance it seems there is a greater emphasis on the professional maker, rather than the hobbyist.

   While their website is terrible, the magazine is really very good.  The site is at:

   http://www.gmcmags.com/

   Cheers,

   Greg

1. 
   b1gcountry | Oct 23, 2002 08:56pm | #16

   I read F&C once. Be forewarned, however, that many of their articles are done in a serial manner. They will break the article into three issues to try to make you buy future mags. I find this annoying, but a lot of UK mags seem to do this. Really, my only complaint about the magazine.

   Tom

1. 
   GregB126 | Oct 24, 2002 07:44am | #17

   Tom,

   Yea, I know what you mean; many articles are serial.  I'm not certain it's intended as a ploy, though.  Maybe the depth of the subject's treatment requires more space.  I remember a two part project article about a beautiful walnut desk which would have been awfully long if combined into one.  Even so, as a subscriber, I remain interested issue to issue.  Besides, it's a monthly, filling the gap between FWW issues.  Anyway, I've learned a lot about hand tool techniques there, as well as about interesting makers and projects, such as the One Tree.

   To be clear, nothing beats FWW.

   Cheers,

   Greg

2. 
   UncleDunc | Oct 24, 2002 09:15am | #18

   It's a tough choice for an editor. If you split up an article into several pieces it annoys the readers who want to finish the project right now. That's especially true for bi-monthly magazines. If you publish longer articles and keep the magazine the same size, you have fewer articles per issue. That annoys the readers who don't find anything in a particular issue that interests them, and if it happens often enough, they quit reading, and that annoys the advertisers. If you expand the magazine to accomodate longer articles and can't sell enough extra advertising to cover the extra costs, the magazine goes out of business and that annoys everybody.