British Woodworking - Issue 04

[OPJ]

I've noticed a few other people also received the latest issue sometime last week and still, nobody appears to have started a discussion about it. Until now...

One of the reasons I really enjoy reading this magazine is because it goes where other woodworking magazines don't want to - this isn't just another collection of 'here's something I made; this is how I did it' (excluding F&C, of course).

I've enjoyed reading David Savage's article on Rosewood and Nick's own article on sustainability - in particular, these are the kind of things that make this magazine stand out from the crowd. If only we didn't have to wait so long in between issues. But, one day, just maybe...

What about our very own Steve Maskery's crown guard upgrade for the Xcalibur saw. A definite improvement on the supplied model, that's for sure. But it still lacks an extraction port. What can be done to include this and also enclose the top of the guard, without compromising the weight?

Bill Newton steals the centre-stage again with another excellent piece. Do people think too much space is often given to one article? Would you rather seem more furniture pieces being made?

Back Page - looks like you can "build" your own workshop for £500 after all! :wink:

What are your thoughts please?

 

[woodbloke]

...but then I had a look at one earlier in the week. Couple of bits on turning (not really interested) and a few pages on how to make a nice seed tray for the garden or greenhouse with thru' d/t etc (definitely not interested... hammer, pallet wood and nails job) and if I'm not interested, I'm not going to pay for it. Sorry - Rob

 

[Corset]

Interesting issue this one. I didn't rate it as highly as issue three. I really enjoyed the articles on wood sustainabilty It really is something i hadn't given much thought. Thought David Savage views were spot on, I think there is nothing wrong with a bit of elitism.
Thought the projects weren't that inspiring for me personally, They were either bit basic or not my cup of tea. I personally prefer less detail and a little more design and views on the thinking behind the work. I spend so long making stuff, i have time to read up on the techniques involved.
I think a gallery section would improve the magazine as I love look at the skills of others.
Finishing and restoring are a dark art to me and i have really enjoyed that section and I would like to see that expanded.
Tool reviews are great but can we have a user report followup after 6-8months it makes more sense after a product has been abused by people
Still good magazine and I am happy to be subscribed.
Owen

 

[Harbo]

That's a bit hard to knock it Rob just because it has some woodturning articles in it - if you had read it more carefully one of them was part of a feature on a tilt top table construction. And the seed tray one was really to try out the Gifkins Dovetailing jig.
I like the mag along with FWW and FC - but one thing is that I tend to read more of it than the others.
Anyway difficult to please everybody all of the time

Rod

 

[motownmartin]

I enjoy this magazine very much, then again being a beginner I have nothing to compare it against, apart from the 170 magazines that Richard S dropped off this week.

Being a beginner I haven't got a clue about how to use a hand plane, in this issue there is a section entitled Wood School which is about planing, or to be more precise, starting to plane, which I found very useful and I hope its carried on so that I can develope my own skills on using a hand plane.

Another article I liked was a letter from a chap called Mike Sturgeon entitled Real Woodworkers. he starts off by saying 'The idea that real woodworkers only use hand tools is rubbish' He also says that the skill required to use hand tools such as planes and saws are quite difficult to obtain straight away.
I have to agree and if I had not bought the machinery I may have got fed up not being able to produce decent stuff in such a short period of time, but that doesn't mean that i'll never want to use hand tools.

 

[Anonymous]

One of the reasons I really enjoy reading this magazine is because it goes where other woodworking magazines don't want to - this isn't just another collection of 'here's something I made; this is how I did it' (excluding F&C, of course).

So you clearly haven't read Good Woodworking for a long time then? GWW is definitely not a collection of "this is what I made , and how I made it", although what use would a woodworking mag be without some project work and description of where the inspiration came from as well as guidance on how it was built.

I think GWW is the most improved magazine in the past year, and the Feb 2008 is exactly what you are looking for Olly - give it a look over


I bought the first issue of GBWW, but none since as most of the writing is by Nick Gibbs himself and I think there is too little diversity. I do look at it in W H Smith's on the shelf, but have put each one back since issue one

 

[Losos]

So you clearly haven't read Good Woodworking for a long time then? GWW is definitely not a collection of "this is what I made , and how I made it", although what use would a woodworking mag be without some project work and description of where the inspiration came from as well as guidance on how it was built.

I think GWW is the most improved magazine in the past year, and the Feb 2008 is exactly what you are looking for Olly - give it a look over


I bought the first issue of GBWW, but none since as most of the writing is by Nick Gibbs himself and I think there is too little diversity. I do look at it in W H Smith's on the shelf, but have put each one back since issue one

Sorry Tony, I took the opposite view, namely that GWW improved a lot when Nick Gibbs came in as editor, and the few issues I saw after his departure seemed to indicate a decline, but I'll admit I haven't seen the Feb. issue.

I subscribed to BWW partly because it's not easy launching a new title these days. I thought NG did deserve a fair crack at the job.

I also thought that a bi-monthly was probably a good idea, especially as BW slots in between the publication dates of FWW so I effectively get one woody mag a month which is enough for me.

I think it's too early to judge, BWW has made a good start, there are some things that need a little attention but I hope that Freshwood Publishing can get past the initial new company start up phase and become a regular well read publication.

 

[Steve Maskery]

there are some things that need a little attention

Hi Losos,
I'm sure Nick will welcome your generally positive comments, but why not tell him what you think does need improving? He's always eager to know what people really think, as that's the only way that things improve. He and I regularly exchange views!

Personally I think he's made an excellent start, the challenge will be to continue it. The bi-monthly period of publication means that the pressure to churn stuff out every 4 weeks come what may is not so great, so I think that was a good strategic move. And as more people contribute material, it will have less of the Nick Gibbs Show appearance about it. I reckon more power to his elbow.

Cheers
Steve

PS I hope everyone was suitably impressed with the exploded view of Bill's table

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Thanks for the feedback, though as Steve Maskery mentions, it is more helpful to be given some idea of which bits need improving and which bits don't!

I am incredibly sensitive of having to write a lot in the magazine. It isn't ideal. There are a couple of issues here.

1. Budget. Starting a business from scratch is expensive and risky, and we're doing so from our life savings, so we're having to spend the small amounts we have very carefully. Thanks to everyone who has offered their services for little or no return. It has helped a lot.

2. It's no point me launching a new magazine with only the same people and the same approach. To introduce new ways of publishing a woodworking magazine (like Bill Newton's huge table article) you have to take control to show people what you are trying to achieve. Hopefully woodworkers who like what we're doing will come forward with their own ideas. Alan Wood, for instance, presents his articles in a format I haven't seen before, and introduces a new approach to publishing using detailed SketchUp drawings to make his point. The idea to make projects with kit we're testing isn't easy when you're working with other people as you have to get the kit to the right place and then ask for a project to be made, but it's easy to do in our own workshop. Which is why we're training up Simon as a student through Wood School, and hopefully one day he'll be able to make projects for us in the British Woodworking workshop.

So, if you think you can contribute (like Colin Barnes in issue three), please email me your ideas.

The one key thing I've tried to achieve is to make British Woodworking interesting to read, and not just to scan for the odd project you might want to make. I had a fantastic letter today from a reader who said that Bill Newton's table isn't his style, but the way it has been presented has inspirated him to have a go at some of the techniques and to read bits he would normally have missed.

Keep the comments coming. It just makes me keener to make the mag better and better.

Thanks.

Nick

 

[lurker]

I'm with Losos on this - I initially subscribed to support Nick mammoth undertaking; he will live or die by listening to his customers, whereas other mag editors will just find a new job.

I subsequently added another year cos the mag was good and for the screws

I thought the tilt table article format was great!! =D>
You have a complete "how to do it" but it also broke the job up to discuss techniques that could be used on any number of different projects.

I like the way Nick does a product review and then uses the product to make something. Sure it not great that so much is by him but his reasons a fully understandable.

GWW bores the socks off me same old same old year in year out, each mag usually has one item of interest and the rest is dross.

 

[OPJ]

I think GWW is the most improved magazine in the past year, and the Feb 2008 is exactly what you are looking for Olly - give it a look over

Tony, I am actually a subscriber to Good Wood and have been for a few nearly four years! :shock: There was a period last year where I did consider cancelling my subscription (after Nick re-appeared with BWW), but things do appear to be improving, albeit slowly. Andy King certainly has a lot of faith in Dave Roberts, so I'm willing to stick with it for a while (plus, I also own a lovely bevel-up smoothing plane, thanks to them! ).

But British Woodworking seems to have a stronger appeal to me overall. I will go back and read through it several times. However, with GWW, there will sometimes only be certain articles (yes, including your own, Tony! :wink: ).

You cannot please everyone all the time; as proven by Rob in the first reply to this topic. Each person is entitled to their own opinion.

I don't fully understand why people have come to critisise Good Woodworking. Perhaps it's easier to forget that they went under new ownership with a new editor less than twelve months ago?

I don't know. But this thread is about British Woodworking, so let's try and stick with that.

 

[mr]

I don't fully understand why people have come to critisise Good Woodworking. Perhaps it's easier to forget that they went under new ownership with a new editor less than twelve months ago?

They are actually onto their second editor since Nick left and I must say that speaking purely as a reader Dave Roberts is doing all the right things I think.

I don't know. But this thread is about British Woodworking, so let's try and stick with that.

Sorry.

I still can't find BWW on any of the shop shelves round my neck of the wood. I know it must be hard for a small press to get placed on the shelves - I do keep looking.


Cheers Mike

 

[Losos]

Hi Losos,
I'm sure Nick will welcome your generally positive comments, but why not tell him what you think does need improving? He's always eager to know what people really think, as that's the only way that things improve.

Hi,
Sorry Steve I did think about writing in with a few constructive comments after issue 2 but as my SWMBO will confirm I suffer from chronic inertia, have done all my life :lol: As soon as issue 4 drops into our post box I will do something I promise. Not that you or Nick will find it especially 'earth shattering' I still have a long way to go with my woodworking skills

 

[Nick Gibbs]

I still can't find BWW on any of the shop shelves round my neck of the wood. I know it must be hard for a small press to get placed on the shelves - I do keep looking.

We are gradually building up distribution, but it is a problem when you are starting out. If anyone needs to find a stockist just email me and we can either find you a local newsagent, send you a copy direct, or start up a subscription.

Thanks

Nick