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Lost Art Press

The Anarchist's Tool Chest

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Description

When I am too exhausted, ill or busy to work in my shop, I will shuffle down the stairs to my 15' x 25' workshop and simply stand there for a few minutes with my hands on my tools. To be sure, I thought I was a touch nuts because of this personality quirk. But after reading the oral histories and diaries of craftsmen from the last 300 years, I found it's actually a common trait among artisans. I am drawn, married or perhaps addicted to the things that allow me to coax wood into new shapes. At the same time, my relationship with my tools is like a tumultuous combination of an Italian family drama, a bigamist's decision about who to sleep with and a careful gardener. This book, The Anarchist's Tool Chest, paints a world where woodworking tools are at the center of an ethical life filled with creating furniture that will last for generations. It makes the case that you can build almost anything with a kit of less than 50 high-quality tools, and it shows you how to select real working tools, regardless of their vintage or brand name. The Anarchist's Tool Chest will guide you in building a proper chest for your toolkit that follows the ancient rules that have been forgotten or ignored. And it will make the argument that building a chest and filling it with the right tools just might be the best thing you can do to save our craft. Like all books from Lost Art Press, The Anarchist's Tool Chest is printed and bound in the United States on acid-free 60 paper. The 6 x 9 hardcover is Smythe sewn and covered in linen. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lost Art Press


Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2011


Edition ‏ : ‎ Second printing


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 493 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0578084139


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 38


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.7 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches


Customer Reviews: 4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars (88)


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • GREAT BOOK for the traditional woodworker!
Format: Hardcover
The Anarchist's Tool Chest is one of the most useful books I have purchased about woodworking. That's not because it gives a lot of tips on how to do things, but because it makes one think about the craft of woodworking, and the tools that are used while practicing that craft. Most modern woodworkers think in terms of machines to do the work, while this book focuses on the mindset and the tools of a craftsman. While I see a few people using their machines to make beautiful items, I see far more thinking that the machines will make them craftsmen. The machines are tools, just like a hand plane or a chisel. The craftsman resides within the person using the tools to make something extraordinary. The difference is more about mindset than which tools are used. Christopher Schwartz presents a very thoughtful and we reasoned case for the use of good hand tools, and gives excellent advice on which ones to consider and why. He also presents his thoughts on the philosophy of woodworking, and the mindset of the craftsman. He doesn't name brands or model numbers that you should purchase, but tells what to look for, and why (in his experience) one type of tool is better. More than a book about woodworking, this is a book about the mindset of a craftsman. There is a thoughtful presentation of the tools of a craftsman, how to store them properly, and a thought provoking dissertation (delivered in small tidbits of wisdom) on what makes a craftsman, as opposed to one that slaps projects together. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2013 by Dan Lambert
    • Clear and informative woodworking book
Format: Hardcover
Great reference book!
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2025 by Glo
    • anarchist tool chest
Format: Hardcover
Very nice book containing why's and why nots of all the tools you need to be a tradition wookworker. Christopher's wit and wisdom is second to none. Although I don't always agree with everything he says or all his view points, it is still a very enjoyable read, hard to put it down. Read the whole book in two evenings. The author gives great advice for the novice woodworker who is just getting his feet wet in traditional woodworking. and the only woodworking project in the whole book is,....naturally the "tool chest". Compleat with pictures and fully illustrated. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2012 by Jesse James
    • Like it so much I bought some of his other books
Format: Hardcover
The author does a great job of explaining the how and why of many hand tools in such a way that seem more conversational and less like reading. I've been a pretty much exclusive power tool woodworker for some time and someone recommended this book to me as a primer for starting hand tool work. I'm glad I got the book and I've started to collect and use hand tools and that has opened up a whole new side of woodworking for me. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2013 by Amazon Customer
    • Worth reading
Format: Hardcover
Gotta say first of all that I love Chris' writing style and his sense of humor. That being said, this book would be most beneficial to the new woodworker on proper tool selection as it will save you money in the long run. I'm one of those woodworkers that bought each new thing that came onto the market provided the advertising promised whiz bang results. Only to find out that most of the tools I purchased were either junk, didn't perform well, broke or a combination thereof. Chris' book doesn't pretend to give a definitive end all list, but rather suggestions and the reasoning why. If I would have read this book sooner, I would have saved more then enough money to buy this book 10X over. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2012 by Joel
    • This book speaks truth.
Format: Hardcover
A truly marvelous book, though not an easy read. It gives proof that the Old Testament genealogy in Genesis is true and that we all descended from Noah. I would recommend it to anyone who has questions about scripture.
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2019 by Charles Bartlett
    • I am a Chris Schwarz fan....
Format: Hardcover
I had read a few reviews both good and bad. I'm a Chris Schwarz fan so I was inclined to read it. I think the raves and criticism are both accurate. Having read the reviews first I think my expectations were realistic. I really enjoyed the book and I really appreciate Mr. Schwarz humor.
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2012 by MN Woodworker
    • Thinking man's reasons for selecting a usable collection of tools.
Format: Hardcover
Most woodworkers have way too many tools. Myself included. This book guides you through the process of selecting the essential tools, constructing a box that will hold them and not required a fork lift to move them about.
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2013 by Richard W. Moore

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