Popular Post Marcus Hand Posted August 16, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 I’ve had a subscription to Popular Woodworking for a year now. I got it largely because it was recommended so many times in old episodes of WoodTalk. I was excited because it really sounded like a great magazine for the beginner/intermediate woodworker. The magazine has been a big disappointment. It is not so much that the articles and projects seem geared towards advanced woodworkers, but that many of the articles are esoteric or barely woodworking related. This last issue is great example. Five to six pages of Christopher Schwarz waxing philosophical about soap finishes and five to six pages dedicated to restoring old power tools. Am I wrong to think that is a lot of space dedicated to fringe topics? In comparison to Schwarz’s treatise on soap finishes, a few months ago FWW had a 2 page article on soap finishes, which seemed just as informative. Other examples are the articles on jointers and carpenters in old England. I love history and thought it was interesting, but not what I really want in a woodworking magazine. I really like the finishing articles by Bob Flexner in PWW. They have always been educational, informative, and interesting. There is also a general quality issue with the magazine. Again, if you look at the article in the most recent magazine about shaker boxes, the photography is not good. I know nothing about photography, but compare it to photo shoots from FWW and the difference jumps out. Some of the pictures are fuzzy and the lighting is terrible. I'm probably spoiled by the high visual quality of content like Marc's TWW videos. I have some older (10-12 years old) books that were published by PWW and I really like them. They are the kind of books that are basically a collection of related articles (like a book for jigs). Maybe the quality has gone down or this past year was just a bad year. I’m going to renew my subscription for another year and hope it gets better. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 Fool me once, shame on you... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 For intermediate/beginners I would recommend Woodsmith. Good tips for the shop and methods of work along with some of the best plans I've seen in a magazine. The featured piece in a given issue is often built by the person writing the article so they can give "builder's notes" from actually doing the tasks. Any woodworking magazine will eventually repeat itself as there is a cycle of readers and experience levels. I will see the same topics covered about every third year it seems although that's just a "feeling"; I didn't count or anything. The magazine is also available online. The search engine that is used in their "Woodsmith Library" is the best I've seen and I have been online with FWW, Wood and others for years. I have no affiliation and BTW, they have no ads. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 The soap issue was pretty bad... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 Yeah I don't care about soap either, but you have to realize...a lot of us are sick of hearing about dovetails and how to build a birdhouse. Advanced and obscure is the only thing that holds my attention anymore. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 Pop wood..... seems to me to be more of an advertising mag! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 I read Schwarz's blog semi-regularly & enjoy it. But he sure comes up with some loopy subjects. That one on the soap finishes was the worst. About the dumbest idea for a finish I've heard of yet. And his obsession with ancient workbenches and tool chests gets tiresome. But still, he's entertaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 I still get both but if I could only get one it would be FWW hands down. I agree not much in the latest issue of PWW for me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post thewoodwhisperer Posted August 16, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 The way I see it is the folks at Pop WWing have been at this game for a very long time. And while most magazines are focused on regurgitating the same information in a 3-year cycle (or whatever time-frame they go by), Pop WWing is trying something different. It's almost becoming a niche interest magazine for woodworking scholars/enthusiasts. In other words, topics that are somewhat tangential to woodworking. Hence the focus on history and delving into extremely niche topics. I can't say I blame them for taking this route as it does help differentiate them from other magazines and really plays to the strengths of the people writing the magazine. If you're looking for straight up woodworking tutorials and projects, you have plenty of places to get that information and most of the best stuff isn't in a magazine anymore. So speaking for myself personally, if I'm going to subscribe to a magazine I'd hope to get something out of it that I can't get elsewhere. There's no doubt their approach will rub some people the wrong way. I'm not really all that interested in soap finishing either. But I'm glad the Schwarz wrote the article for the few weirdos who might enjoy reading such a thing. In a world where most companies shoot for the lowest common denominator simply because that's where the easy money is, I like to see a company like PWW go down a bit of a rabbit hole. Is it good for business? I have no idea. But I fully support the effort. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 Strangely enough, your post might make me want go buy the new issue. If you hate the new issue that much, maybe they are at least trying something new :). For the last year or so, I do think PWW has pretty much delivered dog poop. They lost their best editors when Bob Lang, Chuck Bender and Glen Huey left. I was never a fan of Schwarz's pseudo-intellectualism, he just rubs me the wrong way. I know he nominally left the magazine for his Lost Art Press thing, but still seems to have a heavy influence on it, maybe even more so since he left. His whole brand seems so.... sanctimonious and pretentious. I am sure he is a great guy, lots of people seem to like him. Just not for me I guess. I am a little more meat and potatoes at the core. I still like FWW and continue to subscribe. The photography is always great and I love the reader's gallery. There is usually a project or two that gets me inspired (either in the gallery or one of the featured projects). I guess there are mac guys and PC guys and PWW guys and FWW guys. I am a mac/FWW guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted August 16, 2016 Report Share Posted August 16, 2016 Watch a little Barron. Sellers and Schwarz all of a sudden no longer seem pretentious. Thoughts proposed to me by @Llama. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 14 minutes ago, C Shaffer said: Watch a little Barron. Sellers and Schwarz all of a sudden no longer seem pretentious. Thoughts proposed to me by @Llama. He lost me when he compared his tool cabinet to Studleys. Just no. He does good work, but wow, not close to being a Studley cabinet. Edit.. I guess both cabinets had hinges, so there's that.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 14 minutes ago, C Shaffer said: Watch a little Barron. Sellers and Schwarz all of a sudden no longer seem pretentious. Thoughts proposed to me by @Llama. 1 minute ago, Llama said: He lost me when he compared his tool cabinet to Studleys. Just no. He does good work, but wow, not close to being a Studley cabinet. Edit.. I guess both cabinets had hinges, so there's that.. I don't trust anyone who uses a "guide" and a dozuki to cut dovetails. But the anal is strong in him (LOL), which I appreciate, and he does nice, tidy work. But there's something about him...can't put my finger on it...Frank Costanza said it best... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 Barron who? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 Sellers never struck me as pretentious. Just an opinionated jerk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 Barron who? http://www.davidbarronfurniture.co.uk Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradpotts Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 I have been displeased as well. I am not renewing any of my subscriptions. The only thing I look at is the readers gallery in the back of FWW. I could give two craps about using soap as a finish. I wish there was something with advanced techniques and projects. That would be a lot more motivating. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 http://www.davidbarronfurniture.co.uk Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Thanks Shane. I recognize him now, and totally agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prov163 Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 I subscribe to PWW and FWW. I happen to be a Schwarz fan and don't find him pretentious, but agree he does go off on tangents that aren't all that interesting to me, but they may be to someone else. A couple of months ago some guys said they had subscribed to a new mag they really liked - I think they said it had wood shavings inside or wrapping the cover? I agree with Marc that the majority of new and exciting content is not found in magazines anymore. Some, yes, but not as much as used to be the case. There is a plethora of really great digital content available. You just have to search through it to get what you're looking for. Chuck Bender and Glen Huey have the 360 Woodworking site, which I tried for a while but just wasn't my cup of tea. I guess it all depends on what level of woodworking you are at, and where you are trying to go. There's never been a time in history with more content available in more delivery methods than today. Just gotta search for it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassAct Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 I try not to slag something because I don't like it. My tastes change over time, my knowledge base changes over time, and what interests me today may be uninteresting tomorrow. If I don't like it, I don't read it/ watch it/ use it. Live and let live, yaknow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 2 hours ago, prov163 said: A couple of months ago some guys said they had subscribed to a new mag they really liked - I think they said it had wood shavings inside or wrapping the cover? I haven't subscribed so I can't comment on the content. I know @Llama has it so maybe he'll give us a review to return the favor that @-MattK- did for him. Mel has nothing but time on his hands these days anyway. http://mortise-tenon-magazine.myshopify.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 20 minutes ago, Eric. said: Mel has nothing but time on his hands these days anyway. I have it, but haven't read it yet. I should, I do have plenty of time on my hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 Barron who? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prov163 Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 3 hours ago, Eric. said: I haven't subscribed so I can't comment on the content. I know @Llama has it so maybe he'll give us a review to return the favor that @-MattK- did for him. Mel has nothing but time on his hands these days anyway. http://mortise-tenon-magazine.myshopify.com/ Yeah, Eric, that's the one. Just curious as to what the new kid on the block had to offer that might be worth a look. I looked on their website just now and at $24 per mag, it better be good I do like one of their stickers - it says "We plane, We saw, We conquer." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdabroxx Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 I can't remember the last time I bought a magazine. The NRA still sends me one every month, but I haven't looked past the cover in years. There just really isn't anything I need from a magazine any more. Hell, I even installed a USB charging outlet by the john when I remodeled my bathroom. Takes up a lot less space than a magazine rack full of 2 year old magazines nobody reads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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