jmaichel Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I am thinking about starting an electronic woodworking magazine that comes out about once quarter. I have been thinking about this for some time now. I know what your thinking...great one more magazine but just hear me out. I subscribe to most of the big woodworking magazines and lately I feel there is a slight disconnect between the magazines and a majority of the woodworkers. I have hard time following some of the projects and the techniques that are used. I want to see what kind of work the average woodworker turns out, what their shop looks like and what tools they use. I am talking about the weekend warriors, the dad's who are woodworking at 1 o'clock in the morning while everyone else is a sleep and that is the only time he could find. I want to to be able to connect with woodworkers like myself who don't always turn out the best projects or who spin there wheels for months deciding whether or not they should buy a table saw or if they can get by with a track saw. The magazine would be free and maybe a few ads just to help pay for the cost of the magazine and maybe a giveaway or two. I am hoping to fill content with contributions from woodworkers from the this forum and maybe a few others. Does this sound interesting at all? Are there woodworkers out there who would be willing to write an article, submit a project and pictures with no real compensation? Would you be willing to read articles from regular woodworkers, where the editor may miss a grammar error or two and where it's probably not as refined as other magazines? Let me know what you guys think? If its a dumb idea please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Hello James, It sounds like a nice idea. I think it would be very surprising how much hard work it could be to even do one a quarter. If you did one I would read it. If you wanted me too try and write an article (I'm no scholar) then I would be happy to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I agree with graham. I think it's a great idea, I would read it. The amount of work that it would require may be quite substantial, but I encourage you to "give it a go", as the say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 As they say, free is for me! I would certainly read it. I would contribute as well. Perhaps a how-to or something? Great idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarryP Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I also get a feeling that the average woodworker gets little exposure. Most of the online content is by people in the business with huge shops and the best tools. I can aspire to their situation but a lot of it is beyond my time and financial restraints. Another area that I'd like to see more about is a shop that is easy to move. Like many others, I have to move fairly frequently with my work. I usually rent a home with a garage and spend time setting up a semblance of a shop. Then packing it up again a year or two later. I'm working on an idea for a modular shop with a solid central bench that combines most of the basics, table saw, router, flat work bench with built in storage. The whole thing would be moveable since I like to work in the driveway to minimize dust in the garage. Other modular units could be located along the wall as needed. Everything would be readily sized in modular units that could be loaded in a moving van. You may have hit on a segment that needs more exposure. Keep us posted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 James, I like your idea as well. It sounds like a more "fleshed out" version of the project posts and Q & A that we see here at WoodTalk. I would certainly love to read it, and would be willing to contribute on occasion. I can certainly identify with the 1:00 am dad syndrome. I wish you good luck. I'm sure the others are right about how much work it will entail, but I hope that doesn't discourage you. Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPCV_Woodworker Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I might be down, I used to work on a quarterly newsletter for Agroforestry in West Africa. I could do a "Tree of the Quarter" or something short Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted August 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Great feedback, and thank you to everyone who said they would contribute. I may very well take you up on that offer. Garry good suggestion on what do frequent shop moves. RPCV I really like your tree of the quarter suggestion. Keep them coming, let me know what you would like to see in the magazine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted August 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I would contribute. I am pretty much the guy you describe. I am sure most are familiar with woodworkingformeremortals.com. I think Steve does a nice job of providing content for weekend warriors with average shops. But it also cool to see his techniques and skils grow over time. Norm gets a bad rap for having a $100,000 shop. But in season 1 of New Yankee Workshop he had an old unisaw with not outfeed or side tables, a radial arm saw, and a router as far as I can tell. Another suggesion would be to do a series where average guys try to build the stuff in magazines, but adapting where necessary to make it work in a home shop. Thanks Woodsap! I am familiar with WWMM, good suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I would definitely like a free magazine. and I would be willing to write articles or help out anyway I can. perhaps a article or two on inlay since that is what I have been focusing on prity seriously. let me know if I can help out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdie Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I like the concept and finding it interesting. There's nothing to lose with a free subscription and I'm sure I could be convinced to contribute on an infrequent basis. I believe I have a fair amount of woodworking skill but a lack of time (and sometimes energy) to put it to use. You're very right that it's the guys like us that are under represented in this market. I admire the guy who has the skill to build a New England highboy, but I have no use for one in my house and no inclination to build one. I don't have $1000s of dollars to spend on tools and do a pretty good job of making do with the fair to middle of the road ones I have. I'm more interested in the kind of projects we see here and the way others worked out their shortcomings than to hear the latest argument of "pins vs tails" or "mortise vs tenon." There certainly is a place for the Fine Woodworkings and Popular Woodworkings of the world but I'm looking forward to Average Joe Woodworking too! Let me sum up: GO FOR IT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted August 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 I like the concept and finding it interesting. There's nothing to lose with a free subscription and I'm sure I could be convinced to contribute on an infrequent basis. I believe I have a fair amount of woodworking skill but a lack of time (and sometimes energy) to put it to use. You're very right that it's the guys like us that are under represented in this market. I admire the guy who has the skill to build a New England highboy, but I have no use for one in my house and no inclination to build one. I don't have $1000s of dollars to spend on tools and do a pretty good job of making do with the fair to middle of the road ones I have. I'm more interested in the kind of projects we see here and the way others worked out their shortcomings than to hear the latest argument of "pins vs tails" or "mortise vs tenon." There certainly is a place for the Fine Woodworkings and Popular Woodworkings of the world but I'm looking forward to Average Joe Woodworking too! Let me sum up: GO FOR IT! Thank you for the encouragement! I just might go for it but I need it to not cost an arm and leg. I cannot put any financial burden on my family because they come first. As soon as I solve that problem I can move forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerofly0610 Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Free is good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted August 11, 2013 Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Yes I'm interested too. I don't mind contributing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted August 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Thanks again for everyone who showed interest. I have decided to move forward and give it it the "old college try" If you are really interested in contributing PM me and we will go from there. In the interest of full disclosure I don't have the means to compensate for contributions. The best I could do is link to your site(if you have one) and give you special mention in the magazine. Maybe at some point in the future I will be able compensate but not at the expense of my family. Again this is a not for profit venture and my goal is a common one that I think most of us have and that's to share projects, tips, experiences and knowledge with one another at level that most of us can relate to. Now then I need to come up with a name. Any suggestions? What do you think about Woodworking Society? Any special projects that you would like to see? Content suggestions? This magazine is going to be driven by woodworkers like us, so its important for me to know what's important or relevant to you? Thanks again for your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reiska Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 How about names like 'Home Workshop', '5-to-9 Woodworker', 'Weekend Warrior Woodworking' or 'Midnight Crafter'? I would suggest to forego the tedium of desktop publishing and rather opt for a Wiki approach with long articles vs. blog style short ones. Maybe syndicate your wiki with Google Ads or some other reputable ad-serving company? Don't know how exactly the copyrights go, but this forum as well as others have a ton of great tips & trick kind or content that is burried in bazillion threads that could make a nice wiki if organised into categories and crosslinked accordingly. I'd love to see this come to life, but don't believe I'd have time to contribute much myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren66 Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 James I agree, I also think there is a gap in the market as you describe. Many of the projects in mainstream magazines are simply too aspirational for me! A gathering of articles and projects too by 'weekend warriors' could be far more inspirational especially for beginners. Additionally some of the magazines with online versions don't publish in a way that makes reading on smaller devices effective eg ePub works better than PDF on iphone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 if your going to go with a magazine about everyday wood workers rather then more classically trained full time specialist then I think the name should reflect that something along the idea of weekend do it yourselfer. since many like me do most of their work in the summer maybe something like seasonal sawdust. since most wood workers are corner of the basement or what they have in garage the projects should be limited to simple tools use like instead of a scroll saw project a jigsaw project. or instead of a table saw a circular saw project. then branching out with more complicated items and articles as time progresses. i like the idea of shop set ups focusing on basement/shed/garage shops. i like the idea of wood working book reviews I haven't yet seen that and some books are a waste of time and money so i would like to know ahead of time. ways to make tools double duty like my drill press is also my curved sander. my belt sander is also a grinder. my lathe is my buffer. that way small space workers can accomplish more is a tight corner. it would be nice if the magazine was set up so that beginners and the magazine started working at the same rate for example first issue is about figuring out a space to build a shop in. one article about basement shops, another article about sheds, another article about garage. then a look at projects with limited tools like a bench build with circular saw and miter saw using just box store lumber. then as time go on we can start talking about lumber sources and specialty projects like wood carving and so forth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted August 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Feedback has been incredible and so many good ideas. I think Reiska you are right and the name should fit the style of the magazine. I am going to go with a company that specials in e-zines so the format should be different that many of the other print magazines that just have their magazine formatted for a PDF or IPad or whatever device you use for electronic viewing. Woodsap - those are very good suggestions. I have often seen articles with projects that I am interested in but once I go to price the wood I get discouraged when it approaches $400 or more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted August 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 I need to lock down a name today. I can't move forward without a name, any input? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewoodwhisperer Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 I'll throw in a vote for something related to Weekend Warriors. I think that's a pretty universal phrase for folks who are doing something as a hobby when their job/family allows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Just tossing these ideas out... Weekend Woodworking Weekend Woodworker Home Woodworker Woodworking for... Not really sure I really like the ideas about pricing the material. Recently I have been making projects out of pallet wood. Perhaps that would make a good segment. What's better than free? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave H Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Garage Shop Quarterly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Weekend Woodwarrior 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 If you are going for the quality and not just any hobbiest I would consider something closer to 'Weekend Craftsman' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.