British Woodworking magazine

[Lataxe]

Having given the early copies of this magazine some stick, earlier in the year, for being what I perceived as inadequate and unambitious, I'm pleased to be able to offer praise to the latest issue, which is a different sack of trout from the early issues by a long way.

For a start, there's some woodworking in it instead of acres of tool "tests" (adverts). Moreover, the woodworking has a lot of interest in it and even that patio table article has something interesting to say, despite it's B&Q design.

I know, uncharitable to Maskery stuff. But his info about construction is illuminating so that's all right then. ;-)

Strewth! There was even a decent look at some tools, without the uncritical gush that makes one shudder with distaste. Perhaps Mr Savage (another good article, despite that WW-luvvie writing-style o' his) has been giving the editor lessons in how to lose his reticense concerning the items we may buy in pursuing our craft?

What a sea-change there seems to have been. Congratulations to all involved. You have come very close to persuading this critical ole git to subscribe.

Lataxe.

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Thanks for that, Lataxe. I appreciate it.

Cheers

Nick

 

[lurker]

Lataxe,

Go on!!
Do your bit for a small deserving small business and subscribe.
Considering it is delivered the annual Sub is cheap.
Unless we do this, all mags will be in the hands of owners who don't give a monkeys about the subject nor the readership.

From very early on it was fairly obvious that the articles in BWW were not " how to build a garden table" the table is just a vehicle to describe a number of techniques & pass on information & knowledge. Additionally Steve discussed his mistakes and the lessons he learned, there was no "look what a clever bloke I am building the perfect table" attitude you get elsewhere.

My woodwork is definelty at the crap end of the scale & I think I'd give up if I wasn't aware that even the "experts" **** up sometimes.

I've seen the Maskery table in the flesh and can assure you its nowt like B&Q stuff. I found the article interesting even though I've absolutely no intention of making a garden table.

That grinder thingy -I'd not touch with a barge pole but again it was worth seeing someone elses opinion.

 

[Lataxe]

Mr Lurker,

Well, I tried a year of Pop Woodworking (the US magazine) but didn't find enough in it at all; so that's dropped off my list. Perhaps BWW is worth a year's trial? I have been hankering for a British WW persective for a long while, ever since I tired of F&CM's pretend-tests of £10,000 combi machines and their absolute fetish for burr elm pieces of the contemporary ilk. At present I subscribe to Fine Woodworking only.

I thought British Woodworking Mag made a terrible start but no doubt they were finding their feet. I doubt my past carping at them had much effect but perhaps they got carped at by others more influencial than me, as the quality of the writing, photos and subject matter has improved enormously since last April/May (when I last looked).

They need to watch out that it doesn't become "Hello!" magazine for woodworkers. But it's illuminating to hear woodworking folk of note and/or experience reveal their thoughts on design, techniques, styles and so forth. As long as their chatter is about woodworking and not themselves, I'll be happy.

As to Mr Maskery and his table - I am hard on the bloke yet really these matters are just ones of taste. The fact is, his last article about that ugly (oops) table was very informative about the construction process and the various dangers/solutions involved.

I suppose some lads like articles about jigs; I detest the things meself but again, it's a matter of taste and preference. One would hate to be thought a one a-them intolerant galoons who insist "There is only one right way and it's mine". At least Mr M's jig was relevant to his accompaying construction notes about the table.

Now they just need to get rid of the Draper-effect.

Lataxe, a difficult (magazine consuming) customer

 

[wizer]

Why don't you send in an article Lataxe? I'd be interested in the sort of woodworking you do. Seems like the perfect way to show us how an article should be written.

 

[Green]

show us how an article should be written

:?

Why dont you? You always seem to have something to say and plenty of time too.

 

[wizer]

Dig accepted. Except, I freely admit I don't know what I'm talking about.

 

[maltrout512]

Way To Go..... Way To Go.... Tom Can Do It. Don't go all shy, there is a book in everyone. Start simple and go in low. Start with an article. The water's not that deep and it's not that cold. Beware of the Sharks. (low psi bite, but sharpe teeth)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The Shark]

Tom,
You must know SWMBO as she says I don't know what I am on about either #-o

Malc

 

[Raggy]

Is the new edition out then ?? Not received mine yet !!

 

[Lataxe]

Write an article? Hmmmm. I have writ a number for websites but they do tend to length and detail - perhaps not the succinct style required by magazines. I notice that most of those articles have dropped off the website, as other more recent stuff accumulates. Just as it should be.

Which prompts me to mention that I rarely visit here because there seems to be a general ethos of the one-liner "clever" remark postings that are devoid of any information except "look at me the funny bloke" or "yah-boo".

Me, I like to gas on and on; by the same token I enjoy exchanges that are about some interesting subject and contain lots of meaningful detail provided by other gassing geezers........

Lataxe, who generally infests Taunton's Knots, for preference.

 

[OPJ]

Is the new edition out then ?? Not received mine yet !!

Raggy, Lataxe is referring to the December/January issue, which has been out for a while now.

The new one doesn't come out until this time next week (it's dated as Thursday 29th in the current issue). :wink:

 

[MikeG.]

I rarely visit here because there seems to be a general ethos of the one-liner "clever" remark postings that are devoid of any information except "look at me the funny bloke" or "yah-boo".

Me, I like to gas on and on

I think this is a mis-interpretation and mis-representation of what normally happens on here, and I suggest that it is only because you don't visit often that you could say something like that. If you were here regularly you would know which were were your sort of threads, and which were the ones to ignore.

What you will see, though, are plenty of one line put-downs for people who seem to declare themselves "holier than thou".

Mike

 

[Maverick.uk]

What a sea-change there seems to have been. Congratulations to all involved. You have come very close to persuading this critical ole git to subscribe.

Lataxe.

Well, based on this thread i went and checked out said magazine's website and liked the look of the information enough to part with 18 quid for a years sub, sent of an email as directed and asked to be billed by PAYPAL but am still waiting...........This was a few days ago, must admit i thought they would have sent it same day!

Cheers

Mav

 

[OPJ]

Mav,

I suggest you drop Nick a line at:

nick.gibbs @ freshwoodpublishing.com

 

[Maverick.uk]

Mav,

I suggest you drop Nick a line at:

nick.gibbs @ freshwoodpublishing.com

OK, thanks ill try that.

Mav

 

[Nick Gibbs]

What a sea-change there seems to have been. Congratulations to all involved. You have come very close to persuading this critical ole git to subscribe.

Lataxe.

Well, based on this thread i went and checked out said magazine's website and liked the look of the information enough to part with 18 quid for a years sub, sent of an email as directed and asked to be billed by PAYPAL but am still waiting...........This was a few days ago, must admit i thought they would have sent it same day! Mav

Have we sent you a PayPal invoice yet, Mav?

What most people probably don't realise, and I say this with caution, is that British Woodworking really is just me, with the help of some great contributors, producing a magazine in my home because I feel the market deserves the competition. I don't have a team at all, though we now have a craftsman starting in the workshop and somebody helps me one day a week with invoices etc... But everything else, and I mean everything else, is done by me. That's the only way you can get a foothold in this sort of market. If you have high overheads you're dead.

That's why it takes time for the magazine to evolve. The magazine is nearing where I wanted it to be when we started, and fortunately enough people realised that early on that we have survived and are growing. I've edited enough magazines in enough markets to know that the early issues are never a patch on what you aim to produce. But if you haven't edited a magazine you have very little idea of the challenges and obstacles you have to face. I don't say that negatively, or for sympathy, but just that most people don't recognise quite how difficult magazines are to produce.

I've edited sailing mags, mountain biking mags, computer mags, business mags and more, and still, even though it's my specialism, woodworking ones are the most difficult. We in the UK are judged by USA standards, there are complicated drawings to be done and you have to explain how to make things as well as testing complex bits of kit. You have to get photos taken of the making of projects and of the finished project, as well as having a good story.

The great thing about magazines is that you can always improve them. And that's what will happen with British Woodworking. But we still need every bit of support anyone can give us, either by subscribing or by offering top notch contributions.

Thanks to everyone for the continued interest.

Cheers

Nick

PS I hope we've sorted your sub, Mav (not sure what your real name is!)

 

[Maverick.uk]

PS I hope we've sorted your sub, Mav (not sure what your real name is!)

Nick

PM received and returned and email also sent.

Best of luck with the magazine, I hope it will deliver some stuff for us novices as well as those experianced guys.

Thanks

Kevin