Woodworking Magazines - How many of your subscribe to any?

[Al Launier]

Like many of you I find way too much repetition of common "how to" woodworking techniques (some of which are ridiculous in terms of quality craftsmanship), similar tool recommendations, unique finishing procedures nor applicable to my interests in WW, plus there usually are few articles of actual interest in terms of interesting projects. I'll go to B&N with my wife and when she is shopping I'll scan the WW magazines hoping to find an interesting project or article. If I do I'll buy the magazine, if not I'll go back to the car and take a nap until my wife is through with her shopping. Frankly I get much more useful info on projects and techniques from SMC and other WW forums.

[Thomas L Carpenter]

I'm somewhat design impaired so I usually piggyback someone else for inspiration on what to build. I used to subscribe to a bunch of them when I first started and enjoyed just thumbing through them but finally sold them. Big mistake. Like Michelle, I'm old and like taking it easy in the shop and reading some of the old ones - which are now gone, darnit. My favorite was the old giant size Woodworking Journals. I only get Wood these days and occasionally one of the those $8 a year subscriptions to the lesser mags.

[Sanjeev Agarwal]

I subscribe to FWW and Popular Wooodworking and have been doing for the past 10+ years. Also have the digital subscription for FWW. I have considered stopping these every time I have to renew as both mags have lost their appeal, but as a matter to habit still continue to subscribe. FWW is full of the same old articles and they are making articles out of small techniques which fill their pages but are a waste of magazine real estate. What I like about the magazine is their back cover, master class and occasionally a few good articles.

[Brian Henderson]

I use to subscribe to way too many and have weeded them down to my last issue of wood came last week So no more and now I have a ton of magazines I want to get rid of with no place to do this. I hate to just throw them out. But magazines got so rediculously redundant. They all said the same things and sold the same tools and the projects are one in a year maybe worth the effort. I scan them in the store now and if i find something I like I will purchase.

When we moved 2 years ago, I donated all of my magazines to the local library. Now, not only do I not take any, I don't own any either.

[Cary Falk]

I subscribed to Wood some years back when I got 4 years for something like $16. I would thumb through them in less than 5 minutes when they got here. I have acquired Wood, Woodsmith, Shop Notes and Fine Woodworking on DVD. Don't look at them much. My list of projects comes from my wife who sees them on Pintrest.

[Osvaldo Cristo]

Do you subscribe to any woodworking magazines?

If so which ones do you subscribe to and are they print versions or on-line?

[...]

Thanks

I have subscribed a few of them in the past, all of them for the printed version (well, there was no internet then...). I subscribed more recently Fine Woodworking... my single on line subscription but it is due and I did not renewed it.

My experience is all those magazines turn extremely repetitive after a period from one to three years. IMO it isn't worth a subscription after that period.

All the best.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I subscribe to two, Wood, and Woodsmith. Used to do three till ShopNotes was combined into Woodsmith. While waiting in line at BORGS, I scan FWW, and FHB, mostly for the readers tips. I've been a "Top Tip" winner in Wood, and have had several tips in Woodsmith over the years. Funny thing is when I did the "Top Tip," I didn't have to fill out a 1099, but the gal who came to take my picture did. Shows who got the most cash.

[Jeff Zihlman]

I subscribe to FWW and PopWood. I find I learn more from FWW but get more project ideas from Pop.

-Jeff

[Edwin Santos]

I think FWW is excellent. I get inspiration from many of the showcased designs, and while I agree there can be a lot of redundancy, I often pick up new ideas, even small ones, that become useful in the shop. Some of the contributing editors are excellent builders, Michael Pekovich is one.
Edwin

[Simon MacGowen]

I think FWW is excellent. I get inspiration from many of the showcased designs, and while I agree there can be a lot of redundancy, I often pick up new ideas, even small ones, that become useful in the shop. Some of the contributing editors are excellent builders, Michael Pekovich is one.
Edwin

He is also the Art Director (Designer? or something like that) for FW.

What makes FW stand out from the rest is that it draws from hundreds and hundreds of contributors, unlike the rest which rely on in-house staff (Woodsmith) or only two or three dozen writers. I did comment before about PW being dependent too much on Chris Schwarz even though he has left and a close knit of friends.

The breadth and depth of knowledge and experience of FW are unmatched by any other publications. It is more for advanced woodworkers looking for design ideas and inspirations. For DIYers, Wood, Woodsmith, Woodcraft, and Woodworker's Journal have endless supply of projects.

Simon

[David Utterback]

PW and FWW for years. Occasionally, I find inspiration in the FWW gallery submissions. Otherwise, it is a force of habit that keeps them coming in addition to some interest in providing support for the craft itself.

[Rod Sheridan]

I have a paid subscription to FWW and American Bungalow.

I have a free subscription to Canadian Woodworking (I'm a forum moderator).

Having been a long term FWW subscriber, I now mostly subscribe to it because Diann likes reading it. I have become disillusioned with the cyclic repetition of content. I really don't need another article on why you need a jointer and a planer. That said, the contributor work showcase is worth the price.

FWW has sponsored Rough Cuts, and I watched the first episode last weekend. I really enjoyed it except for the lack of a saw guard and the bizarre use of sleds on a Felder sliding saw. I wrote FWW thanking them for the show and choice of host, and castigated them regarding the guard and sled.

I like American Bungalow as I like A&C styles............regards, Rod.

[Edwin Santos]

The breadth and depth of knowledge and experience of FW are unmatched by any other publications. It is more for advanced woodworkers looking for design ideas and inspirations. For DIYers, Wood, Woodsmith, Woodcraft, and Woodworker's Journal have endless supply of projects.

Simon

This was one point I was trying to make but you articulated it much better than I. At one time in the 90's Taunton had an even higher brow magazine called Home Furniture which showcased studio/gallery furniture and included construction details. Think of it as design first, woodworking second as opposed to the reverse. Unfortunately that magazine only lasted a couple of years but some of the furniture showcased was really exquisite. Woodwork was a very design oriented woodworking magazine, but it didn't last either.
Edwin

[Randy Heinemann]

FWW print and online membership (but I believe that, if you subscribe to the online FWW site the digital version of the magazine is included with a total cost of $34.95). I use the FWW online access quite a bit for references on techniques and alternative ways to do things when I need a refresher or just am not sure about something. With articles dating back to the 70's and newer videos, I think it's a good resource.

Woodworker's Journal but I am much less interested in the content recently and may discontinue after my current subscription runs out.

Tried Woodsmith this year, but found that most of the content was a little too basic for me since I've been a woodworker since 1975.

[Jay Larson]

I subscribe to FWW, mostly out of inertia than anything else. I have every copy since inception, and 'hate' to have a hole in there. I still like to go back to some of the early issues and take a look at the 'how to make this machine' articles. I would like to hear some of the safety comments on some of those in this day and age.

I did subscribe to PW, but have let that lapse. Got repetitive and now they are even recycling the same articles, never mind techniques.