Current Woodworking Magazines

[lowell holmes]

I have two of them on my coffee table and there is nothing in either magazine that interests me.
Am I the only one that feels this way?

I have old issues that I will read and still find interesting articles. I suppose the new generation of writers
have different points of view.

Just curious.

[Bill White]

I'm not renewing any subscriptions. They are all redundant. Getting info from the web.

[Jim Koepke]

It is seldom one of the current woodworking magazines catches my interest.

If some inspiration is needed, rereading my old issues of Fine Woodworking from the late '70s and early '80s tends to be more in my tastes. There is a lot less machine work and more hand work. More real wood and less plywood and particle board.

jtk

[lowell holmes]

Oh for the return of Megan and Fitzpatrick.:(

[Tony Shea]

I would have to disagree. PWW def fits into this statement for me but the latest FWW catches my interest. In fact I have recently ran into Tim Manney at the Lie Nielsen Open House in Warren and talked a lot about the exact chair that's in the latest issue. I was super excited to see it in the most recent issue where he talks about the steps involved in making it. He did his best explaining his process at the event but without actually him being able to show the process it was very tough for him to describe. I absolutely adore his new chair design and in person his chair is absolutely stunning.

FWW doesn't always have the most amazing issues but you can tell they are putting so much more time and attention in then PWW. PWW is not worth the the paper it's printed on IMO. I will not be renewing this sub any time soon.

[ken carroll]

I stopped buying FWW at around 225, still have them from #1 (bought the first 80 or so off ebay) and prefer physical magazines vs CDs. I tried PWW for a couple of years and thought it quite good but not enough to renew. Now I glance through FWW at the library and that's it, usually the articles are very similar to something I already have in 1-225. The only new content are tests of the latest bandsaws or whatever, so there's no reason to buy anymore.

[Jim Koepke]

FWW doesn't always have the most amazing issues but you can tell they are putting so much more time and attention in then PWW. PWW is not worth the the paper it's printed on IMO.

FWW is owned by a publisher with a vision of remaining a publisher or quality magazines.

My understanding is there were decisions at PWW by 'new management' to change the structure of the company. It may have been great in the short run for those holding the cash, not so great for those left holding an empty bag.

Many may remember this from earlier this year.

https://readwatchdo.com/2019/03/popular-woodworking-corporate-owner-files-for-bankruptcy/

jtk

[Roger Davis]

I received an email from Fine Working magazine announcing special pricing of $20.00 for six issues. I subscribed and sent a gift subscription to fellow woodworker. Link; http://fm.e.taunton.com/ats/msg.aspx?sg1=052f4102759acfba24ce2aec475e2a09&source=W10313EM&tp=i-H43-BC-IWd-vuTz6-1o-8Xxt-1c-vuO6P-10qIcT&sourcekey=W10313EM&utm_campaign=holiday-2018&utm_source=email&utm_medium=emarketing&utm_content=holiday-dec-5&cid=71215&mid=855712784

[roger wiegand]

I was a charter subscriber to FWW and still retain all of them (though I'm thinking about getting them electronically and ditching the paper).

There was a time when I was really interested in articles about how to cut a dovetail or a mortise and tenon (or whatever), but now I long since know six ways to do that and the reappearing articles on basics get fairly tedious, likewise the near-endless long pictorials in excruciating detail on exactly, step-by-step, how to build some relatively simple piece of furniture. However, the magazines need to keep publishing them because they will die if they don't get new interest and new subscribers, which means appealing to folks who are early in the learning curve.

i still subscribe because (FWW anyway) manages to keep enough content on design and on the why in addition to the how of woodworking to be of interest. The reader's gallery is by far my favorite section. I still aspire to have a piece of work published. I loved "Home Furniture" with its focus on design for its brief few months, but obviously I was in a small minority!

[J. Greg Jones]

I was a charter subscriber to FWW and still retain all of them (though I'm thinking about getting them electronically and ditching the paper)...
As a suggestion, don’t let your current subscription expire until you have confirmed that you can get the digital subscription at the price you want to pay. They now have reduced the available options for new subscribers, and I don’t think they offer the digital except in the unlimited plan for $99. They did grandfather active subscribers to keep what they had, and they may let you move your current subscription from print to digital at a good price

[Joe Tilson]

I have decided to keep mine coming, because I can't stand staring at a computer screen for a long period of time. Besides we can always relearn processes we have forgotten or haven't used in a while. It doesn't take very long to read the articles between the to many adds.
Take care,
Joe

[lowell holmes]

I bought a current copy of Fine Woodworking. It still leaves me cold.

I guess I am a cantankerous old man.

[Dominik Dudkiewicz]

What i'd like to see more of in woodworking magazines generally are more articles interviewing woodworkers - professionals making a living in the fields of fine and/or custom furniture, lessons learnt, interesting experiences, their story, trials, challenges and triumphs. Some articles that look into really specific niche techniques and styles. Maybe some articles that look into amateur and professional shops / setups - because it's always fun looking at how others work. Maybe some articles looking at older, somewhat forgotten techniques and approaches. Etc etc. I agree that there is too much of the same basic skills, tool reviews, basic furniture builds etc.

Once you learn the basics more articles on basics are of ni value - but there are infinite stories and experiences of real people, always some niche technique that teaches something, numerous individual approaches to shop setups and tools people have and use etc. Just needs a better balance.

Anyway, my 2 cents.

Cheers, Dom

[Jack Frederick]

FWW is the only magazine I take and I will continue to do so. I like having something made of good quality paper. I have cancelled the automotive mags, or more correctly have been cancelled by them due to termination of publishing(Bimmer). I was in the local Re-store” recently and looked at some early issues of FWW. Pages of classifieds and detailed ads. It is how we connected then. All gone today, but I continue with Taunton Press on this limited basis. For most of my life my day began with coffee and the New York Times, or Boston Globe, etc. Now, the coffee remains, but where is my iPad? Frequently I will leaf through an issue of FWW and shrug at the content. Oftentimes, possibly months later I will recall something and go digging for it. Sure, the digital would be quicker, but paper has an appeal.

[Derek Cohen]

The other magazine worth getting is Furniture and Cabinetmaker (UK). Also, have a look at Australian Wood Review.

Both tend to feature a wider style of furniture designs.

Regards from Vienna

Derek

[lowell holmes]

Another magazine came today. It is thin and of no interest to me. I will not renew the subscription.

IIRC, this subscription was really inexpensive.

I have a collection of old magazines that I will read when I am bored.

[mike v flaim]

FWW and Mortise and Tenon magazine are the best out there. PWW, Wood, Woodcraft and Woodworkers Journal all compete for the same customer. Paper thin with the same old articles year in and year out.

[Jim Koepke]

FWW and Mortise and Tenon magazine are the best out there. PWW, Wood, Woodcraft and Woodworkers Journal all compete for the same customer. Paper thin with the same old articles year in and year out.

Maybe running the same old articles helps save on the cost of new content.

jtk

[lowell holmes]

Another magazine came today, it is not at all interesting.
It is not popular woodworking.
I doubt that I will renew any new magazines.

[Tom Bussey]

I am considering renewing WoodSmith but only because I been with them since Issue 22. I renewed with Wood for 3 years for the price of one but after a year they seem to have forgotten about the other 2 years and it is the second time this has happened. Anyway I am done with all the rest . Never had one to Fww.

[Mike Manning]

I picked up the FWW magazine archive on USB drive a week or two ago. Now I can enjoy every magazine from 1975-2018. Installed it on my PC and when you bring the app up it displays the magazine covers and you can select which issue you want to read. I haven't tried the search features yet. Got it off the big auction site for just over $60. Gonna be fun reading thru them.

[lowell holmes]

Another magazine came yesterday. It spent one night on the coffee table and then went to the stack.
I will not be renewing. I do read the old ones.

[Jim Koepke]

Another magazine came yesterday. It spent one night on the coffee table and then went to the stack.
I will not be renewing. I do read the old ones.

Yes, there certainly does seem to be more pleasure derived from reading FWW from 40 years ago than what is being published today.

jtk

[Thomas Wilson]

I have the complete set of FWW. I do like going back and thumbing the old ones. I do think the depth of knowledge is lacking in the recent years. The authors are now internet "content creators" who make their living being entertaining about making something rather than from the work product itself. I will say I find some of the current crop of personalities entertaining. I do think the YouTube,/Instagram/Twitter lifestyle for woodworking is interesting and it comes as a total surprise to me that it is possible. I would walk across the street to meet Megan Fitzpatrick, Craig Thibodeusx or the other authors this month because I am curious but they are a few levels down in woodworking skill from the people sought out in the early years.

Perhaps this forum should work on promoting our own writers and craftsmen to publish. I saw Brian Holcomb's piece carried in a mag recently. It was good. I say let's produce what we want to read.

True confession, I still have my rejection letter from the only submittal to FWW I ever made. Not to say I am bitter, but I know where the guy that wrote it works today and where he lives. Just joking. I still have the article if anyone wants to read it and the table that is the subject is in the living room. It was a pretty good piece.

Edited to add pic of the envelope. I thought the "Love" stamp was a nice touch.

425598

[Tony Zaffuto]

Saw earlier today an interesting Youtube podcast, of a FWW visit/interview of the Woodsmith Shop current crew. Very interesting and complimentary to each other. Different audiences, but both contribute to the growth of our hobby and/or profession.

[Charles Guest]

The only subscription worth having these days is the full Fine Woodworking online subscription that allows access to the very first issue from the mid 1970s to present. They throw in the physical mag in the deal. There's gold in those old issues, if not enough nostalgia to last a lifetime.

[John Makar]

I sprang for the digital archives of FWW and PW a couple of years back, now have 100s of issues, enough plans to last the 20 or so years I figure I have left. That works because today's versions are repetitive or ridiculous (yet another story on how to tune scraper blades or make a cross cut sled). I browse the library's copies of the current ones, that's sobering because what I see demotivates me for subscribing. I poke at buying Mortise and Tenon, but it's pricey and pretentious and I suspect will maybe last 2 years. SMC is far and away my value purchase.

[Bill Lyman]

At my level, I like FWW, Woodcraft, Woodsmith and Mortise and Tennon.
I don’t want to store a bunch of magazines and without an index to articles' subject matter I don’t find storing them very helpful.
Most helpful is cutting and scanning articles into my computer and extensive indexed digital files. FWW works best because one can simply download the pdf of the article.
That way, if I want information on what I am doing, I simply call up that subject in my computer and read the articles related to it.

[Stan Calow]

I read most of them, with the goal of finding at least one good idea in an issue. Doesn't always happen, but I know that some of the rehashing is because its always new to somebody. I've bought stacks of old Woodworkers' Journal, Popular Woodworking, Woodsmith, and others at garage sales, and I see a lot of those articles and projects were crap even back then.

[Jim Koepke]

I see a lot of those articles and projects were crap even back then.

While straightening up a few neglected things yesterday an old magazine of my fathers was looked at. It had a lot of what could be considered crap from back then. The only date found inside Popular Mechanics Christmas Handbook is 1948. Subtitle is, "A wonderful collection of ideas, gifts, toys you can make.

Some of the ideas are reasonable. The one for the 120v powered locomotive and track for the back yard that is "virtually impossible for a child to get shocked from the third rail" seems a bit much by modern standards.

425832

This just needed an image.

jtk