Thoughts on The Taunton Press

[Steve Canada]

I jumped headstrong into woodworking a little over a year ago. I'm the type of person who loves to do research and a lot of reading to educate myself on various interests of mine.

So naturally, as I began to learn the intricacies of fine woodworking, I seemed to keep picking up Taunton publications; from FWW to their variety of books, they have superb photos, and editorial content, no doubt the leader in woodworking publications.

One thing I have noticed and find irritating though, as my library has begun to grow, is that Taunton seems to use the same articles, and same images across the many books and magazines they publish.

They seem to recycle alot of content which devalues any one particuliar publication. I just recently brought home a new Workstations book, only to find many of the same content as in my edition of "The Workbench book".

I'm sure many of you have been reading Taunton stuff far longer then I have, so I am nterested to hear what you think?

[Rob Bodenschatz]

Yup, you're right.

[Gary Keedwell]

They retread everything.....Read an article in this month's magazine...it is a rehash from 5 years ago. They all do it!!!

Gary K.

[Mike Henderson]

Yep, I did exactly the same thing as you - I read a of lot of books and did research before doing any amount of woodworking. I, too, gravitated to the Taunton publications and quickly discovered that many of their books were simply reprints of articles that were in the FWW magazine. There is some advantage to this because it puts all the articles of one subject in one place, but while they don't hide the fact that the articles are reprints, the mention is made sort of "in passing" and is easy to miss.

I eventually bought a complete set of FWW so I can access any of their articles but the storage space is a problem. It would be really nice to have electronic access to the complete set. I contacted FWW about that and received a nice response from the publisher who pointed out that they did not obtain electronic rights from the early authors and cannot make those articles available on the web or on DVD.

All that said, I have to say I learned a lot from FWW.

Let me add one additional thing - while you can learn a lot from books, woodworking is a skill that is best learned from an experienced craftsperson. If you have the opportunity, take some classes at your local community college or where ever you can. You'll learn a lot about safety that you won't find in books. And a good instructor will just amaze you with the little tips and tricks that you just won't get from a book. Working with someone knowledgeable is a joy - plus you get to enjoy the social part of being with a group of people with your shared interest. While the finished product is nice, the journey is what it's really all about.

Mike

[Jim Becker]

Taunton is not unique in this respect...but they do have great articles!

[John Gornall]

I would like to find a publication that just showed projects with a good description of the woods, designs, techniques, finishes, and a few dimensions.

I looked back at the last few years of FWW and there were few projects of interest. I wish they would provide some information on the gallery pieces.

Any suggestions.

[skip coyne]

I own very few woodworking books , our local public library has a good selection including most of tauntons . they have a well done website where I can search the catalog , I can also search most libraries in the state and if the local one dosnt have the book I can request it from another library (no charge as long as I get it back in time ) max is 10 books on reserve and I almost always have ten requests in

you might want to see what your community offers .

I agree that the same articles are often in several books but since I'm not buying them its not a big deal to me . when I'm looking for info on a project taunton press is the first place I look

[Jesse Cloud]

I heard an interesting thing from a Taunton author. Apparently, they go to great lengths to ensure consistency in style and tone across all their publications. This author was considering going to another publisher who would let the author put more of his personality into the book. On the other hand, that may be why a Taunton book is usually a safe bet for a quality book.

For a real kick, pick up a copy of Fine Cooking and look at the similarities between that and Fine Woodworking - there's even a reader's tips section at the beginning and a master class at the end.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I heard an interesting thing from a Taunton author. Apparently, they go to great lengths to ensure consistency in style and tone across all their publications. This author was considering going to another publisher who would let the author put more of his personality into the book. On the other hand, that may be why a Taunton book is usually a safe bet for a quality book.

For a real kick, pick up a copy of Fine Cooking and look at the similarities between that and Fine Woodworking - there's even a reader's tips section at the beginning and a master class at the end. Maybe we could submit "burning cherry" for the tips section of Fine Cooking. I can't say anything bad about Taunton now, as last week I cashed a $100 check for one of my tips. Lets see, ten minutes, an envelope, and a 39 cent stamp=$100- sounds like a good deal to me!

[Richard Goodwin]

I have found their publications invaluable. Fortunatly our local library (in New Zealand) has a good selection of their books, and also subscribes to Fine Woodworking mag. I love the pages with pictures of work others have conpleted. Its an inspiration and shows that the art of fine woodworking hasn't died. I have purchased several books my self and am always dipping back into them. Keep it up Taunton, and I can live with the odd re-run of older articles!

[Wilbur Pan]

I eventually bought a complete set of FWW so I can access any of their articles but the storage space is a problem. It would be really nice to have electronic access to the complete set. I contacted FWW about that and received a nice response from the publisher who pointed out that they did not obtain electronic rights from the early authors and cannot make those articles available on the web or on DVD.


Which is interesting, because I keep seeing ads for their FWW on DVD collection that say


Now, for the first time, you can put your finger on 33 years of Fine Woodworking magazine captured on a single compact DVD-ROM.

Read every article, section, and ad – in it's entirety. Your only chance to add some early, out-of-print issues to your collection.

No mention of missing articles due to issues with electronic rights.

[Chip Lindley]

The fact that FWW has missed publishing early articles on DVD should be addressed. I feel that they have misled consumers with NO disclaimer to parts of complete magazines which have been omitted! Now I will have to go back through early ssues and compare with the DVD. Something I wished to AVOID by buying the $150 DVD in the first place. Maybe Taunton would consider publishing a LIST of missing articles to make life easier??? Oh Well !.......

I began buying FWW in the early 80s and collected all but 4 issues up through the early 2000's. FWW has tons of information for the beginner woodworker. After a time the material begins to become redundant for the advanced woodworker. Seen one treatise on hand-cutting dovetails, seen em all! FWW has much *information* yet fewer *projects* than other magazines.

FWW has very few measured drawings compared to other publications. Many more hands-on projects with complete plans in WoodSmith and Wood magazines. I enjoy WoodSmith for its detailed drawings and no-nonsense approach to jigs and fixtures. Wood is more glossy, but with some nice projects. I only wish these mags would issue their *complete* library on DVD!!

[Rob Bodenschatz]

Yup, you're right.

;););)

[David DeCristoforo]

As someone who has done "a lot" of this kind of writing, I can offer you some insight. You are correct in that articles are reused many times. Publishers typically buy all rights to the articles that appear in their magazines. Once they have paid for them, they want to get as much "milage" out of them as they can. I have seen articles I wrote for FWW as far back as 1985 appearing in "new" Taunton offerings.

In addition, you have to realize that most of what is "known" about woodworking has been known for many, many years. It is not very often that something truly unique and original appears. For example, there are only so many ways to cut dovetail joints. Most of those ways have been available for a very long time. And even though commercial dovetail jigs have been refined over the years, and routers have improved tremendously, they are, in principal still the same.

What this means for the publisher is that at some point, they will exhaust the existing knowledge base at which point they will have to begin repeating themselves. With woodworking publications, this usually takes about five years. In an attempt to "keep things looking fresh" they may have new authors attempt to put a different "spin" on a subject that has been written about many times but it will still be a subject that has been written abut many times.

When FWW appeared, they steadfastly refused to publish "project pieces", taking the position that those articles were too much in the realm of "how to" and they wanted to maintain a higher vision, focusing strictly on technique and profiles of artisans. Eventually (odd... it was right around five years) the magazine inevitably began to repeat itself. At that point, project pieces began to look not so pedestrian. FWW has always attempted to position itself as a publication that answers a "higher calling", being devoted to keeping alive an otherwise "dying art". But reality has a way of rearing it's ugly head and, all in all I think Taunton has done an admirable job of adapting and surviving.

[Paul Demetropoulos]

In addition, you have to realize that most of what is "known" about woodworking has been known for many, many years. It is not very often that something truly unique and original appears. For example, there are only so many ways to cut dovetail joints. What this means for the publisher is that at some point, they will exhaust the existing knowledge base at which point they will have to begin repeating themselves. With woodworking publications, this usually takes about five years. In an attempt to "keep things looking fresh" they may have new authors attempt to put a different "spin" on a subject that has been written about many times but it will still be a subject that has been written abut many times.

FWW has always attempted to position itself as a publication that answers a "higher calling", being devoted to keeping alive an otherwise "dying art". But reality has a way of rearing it's ugly head and, all in all I think Taunton has done an admirable job of adapting and surviving.

All good points, and as has been said, they all endlessly recycle articles.
But I think you'd be hard pressed to find a publisher that's put out more good books on woodworking than Taunton.

[Carlos Alden]

I've also noticed this tendency to repeat information, but it doesn't bother me that much. I like the format and love the drawings, and the mix of tool reviews, projects, techniques, and ideas. As a former graphic artist I also like the layout and graphics.

I have also noticed that their information seems to be repeated a lot in the books, so if you buy a book about workshops it is 90% of the info in the book about setting up shop. But that's okay now that I know this. Also, as has been astutely pointed out, for the most part this is all stuff that's already known and is out there. It is just nice to have it all in a nice glossy book for eye candy, so one book is enough.

I recently discovered something very positive. I went to the Taunton sales website to check on the price of a book I saw at Woodcraft, part of their intro to woodworking series (or something like that.) I had seen a nice project that I wanted to do, but didn't want to pay the $20 or so for the whole book. When I checked the internet price I saw it was the same, but also found out that I could download PDFs of each separate project for $2 each. I'll have to check and see if that's true for other project books. If so that's a tremendous benefit over having to purchase an entire book of projects, many of which you don't want. I'd love to see that for the other books as well. It would be great to download only a section of a book on the table saw or router, for example.

Carlos

[John Thompson]

Right on David as I have gotten FWW from issue #3. I somehow can't get as excited as I did back in those days when the magazine arrived. Perhaps because much is "old hat" to me at this point but.. I am sure it is new and welcomed by any that have just gotten their feet wet as was the case with me in the early 70's when the mag hit the scene. There was litterally not much info printed at all in those days that we take for granted now.

Sarge..

[William Addison]

I subbed to FWW with issue number 3 and kept my subscription until issue 100. I dropped it because they've not only dumbed down but seem to be increasingly only interested in hand tools. Each month, you get an article on dovetails (handcut), sharpening, and finishing. Earlier today I was looking for something and started browsing issues 36-41. In those days a much wider range of topics was covered, as a sampling-The Minature Shipwright #36,Making Your Own Hardware #39, Louisville Slugger #40, Wallace Nutting #39,Repouring Babbit Bearings #38, Making Wooden Beehives #39. Not all topics everyone would be interested in but how many ways can you hadcut dovetails?

[glenn bradley]

They retread everything.....Read an article in this month's magazine...it is a rehash from 5 years ago. They all do it!!!

Gary K.

Shop Notes states openly that they believe their reader 'hydraulics' mean that a three year re-visit interval serves arriving and departing subscribers the best. So . . . yes, they do it but it would irritate me to pay for a book that is 15% identical to another book by the same publisher.

[Mike Gager]

theres only so many things they can write about

car magazines are the same way.

[Eric Sayre]

I would like to find a publication that just showed projects with a good description of the woods, designs, techniques, finishes, and a few dimensions.

I looked back at the last few years of FWW and there were few projects of interest. I wish they would provide some information on the gallery pieces.

Any suggestions.

August Home titles cover plans, techniques, finishes, dimensions, and a few tool reviews, although they have the same thing in common with Taunton as far as repeating things - mostly in their specialty books. With them you get a lot of bang for the buck.

August Home titles include Woodsmith, Shopnotes, and several specialty books (Router Workshop, Tablesaw Tough Cuts, Storage Solutions, etc.)

-Eric

[Seth Poorman]

I would like to find a publication that just showed projects with a good description of the woods, designs, techniques, finishes, and a few dimensions.

I looked back at the last few years of FWW and there were few projects of interest. I wish they would provide some information on the gallery pieces.

Any suggestions.

John
Taunton published a FWW Home Furniture magazine for 3-4 yrs that I think you should look at if you dont know about it already. They were published in the 1990s and you can still get them at that famous auction sight. They only published 4 per year.
This reminds me that I need to find a few of the issues to complete my set. If you dont know about them ,I think that these are just what your looking for. I was vary disappointed when they stopped publication.

[Ken Milhinch]

If you think their books are old, wait till you have a look at their "how to" videos. You would be lucky to find one that was less than 10 years old, and most are older.:(

[Scott Wigginton]

See, the sad thing about a guy like you is in 50 years you're gonna staht doin some thinkin on your own and you're gonna come up with the fact that there are two certaintees in life. One, don't do that. And Two, you dropped two hundred and fifty bucks on an education you coulda got for a dollah fifty in late chahges at the public library

I second the public library route. Considering how highly demanded WWing books are, I can normally check 'em out and renew them 4 times. There is a good variety so books with beginner projects, advanced books on wood & finishing, and for more advanced project ideas there are several books on antiques/furnishings/custom homes (I know they're not plans, but if you can made it through the plans in the magazines mentioned you should be able to create your own)

The library's not going to have the most recently published books, but if it is from Taunton's it's going to have the same articles anyhow. Only book I wish they would add is Chris Schwarz's Workbenches (http://www.amazon.com/Workbenches-Design-Construction-Popular-Woodworking/dp/1558708405/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232972182&sr=8-13), but they do carry The Workbench book (sadly I've checked it out thrice but it still falls low on my shop-project list)

[Ken Higginbotham]

Maybe they should ref the original (and subsequent) publishing(’s) when they ‘re-use’ an article - ?

[Rod Sheridan]

In the seventies, FWW was a revelation to those of us with a woodworking hobby.

It was a magazine that didn't have articles on building a birdhouse, it actually had information about good techniques, and tools that weren't available in small town hardware stores.

You mean there actually are other chisels than those acrylic handled Stanley ones????

However over the years, we've become much better at our hobby, (or in my case much better at hiding my mistakes).

Hand tool suppliers abound now, there actually is good machinery available now to the non industrial user, and finishes other than poly are now easy to source. This wasn't the case when FWW started, hand tools seemed to have died out at about that time.

Face it, those of us with grey hair, have probably read every article about dovetails, wood movement etc that we ever wish to see, and our skills have grown immeasurably due to FWW.

Therein lies the rub, if FWW wants to keep us interested, they would have to publish a magazine that is so esoteric and specialised, that hardly anyone would purchase it.

They need to have a certain cycle to their publication, to bring the newcomers up to a level where they are no longer satisfied with the publication.

Maybe they need a FINE and FINER Woodworking magazine???LOL.

Regards, Rod.

[Mike Gager]

Chris Schwarz's Workbenches (http://www.amazon.com/Workbenches-Design-Construction-Popular-Woodworking/dp/1558708405/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232972182&sr=8-13),

google has the first 31 pages on preview if you wanna read some of it

[Bill White]

I jumped headstrong into woodworking a little over a year ago.

AH HA!!
Therein lies the issue. If you had jumped in headLONG you wouldn't have been so critical of the re-run subjects in mags.
(Hey, I'm jerkin' yer chain.)
I, too, have the same prob with the books. The kids gave the old man a gift cert for a book. Try as I might I could not bring myself to "spend" it on books that began with - First: Plug in the saw. DUH!!!
Gave the cert to Maggie. I know we all started somewhere, but I'm gettin' a little drugged with the arcane foolery some of the mags are spewing.
Bill:rolleyes:

[David Keller NC]

"They need to have a certain cycle to their publication, to bring the newcomers up to a level where they are no longer satisfied with the publication."

Yeah, but I also think FWW has seriously "dumbed down" their content in a rather mis-guided attempt to make the magazine appeal to "all woodworkers". In my opinion, this is simply inappropriate - they are not American Woodworker, Shop Notes, Wood, or any of the other magazines on the rack at the grocery store that have content that is intended for rank beginners, and whether they realize it or not, they can't be.

The point that FWW seems to have missed (and they don't gear their marketing toward) is that it doesn't matter whether you can actually make the furniture in the magazine, it's there to give you something to shoot for, and at least in my case, that was exactly why I read it.

Moreover, I suspect they're going to have a very hard time re-cycling chisel and random orbit sander reviews a few years down the road.

[Ken Higginbotham]

So the lesson being you can thumb through FWW at the newstand to make sure content is fresh and pay full price or take a chance with the discounted subscription price ??

[Mike Gager]

So the lesson being you can thumb through FWW at the newstand to make sure content is fresh and pay full price or take a chance with the discounted subscription price ??

thats pretty much it. i had subscriptions to several magazines and when i would get them in the mail id sit down and read it for about 15 minutes and be done not finding much of interest. i decided to just let the subscriptions expire and then if a magazine had something interesting at the newstand id buy it or find it online

[Art Davis]

Well, here's a slightly different take on FWW.

As a rank (with all the implications that word conjures up!) beginner, I originally looked at FWW and said, "But I can't make a Merriwether Lewis lap desk for the Smithsonian or a cherry colonial breakfront! I need something that tells me how to get started." So I bypassed FWW.

A few years later (and, though still rank, it now rankles!) I found that FWW was now addressing my needs. While understanding that pro woodworkers probably won't find many of the articles very challenging, they work for me.

The point, I guess, is that there definitely is a need for mags that try to educate the neophyte and keep him or her interested in woodworking.

On the other side of the coin, I once wrote an e-mail to the editor of one of the mags (forget which one now) suggesting that he run an article or series dealing with finishing from the perspective of "Here's a piece of wood that I am using to make project X. What type of finish do I use, both from the point of protection from stains, dints, etc, but also from the point of which finish will bring out the natural beauty of the wood." The guy kissed me off. Now maybe this doesn't seem like the kind of thing that is doable, but it would help.

I've seen so many articles on aliphatic compounds, resins, alkyds, etc, etc, that I think finishing is at least a course in chemistry---or perhaps in alchemy! I need something that tells me what to do, not how to achieve a phd in chemistry.

What do you think?

[Ken Higginbotham]

I think my first source for anything 'wood' will be this forum. Then if something in a magazine catches my eye I may buy it...:)