Author Archives: fitz

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About fitz

Woodworker, writer, editor, teacher, ailurophile, Shakespearean. Will write for air-dried walnut.

On a Fox(ing) Hunt

Posted on May 1, 2018 by fitz

Among the more time-consuming (and eye-straining) tasks in preparing Peter Nicholson’s “Mechanic’s Companion” for publication has been digitally removing the “foxing” from the 175-year-old pages. It’s a balance of taking out the staining while simultaneously rendering the text legible in … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press | Tagged | 14 Comments

In the Works: Nicholson’s ‘The Mechanic’s Companion’

Posted on April 27, 2018 by fitz

In about three weeks, I’ll be sending to press the first Rude Mechanicals Press (RMP) book – a high-quality reprint of Peter Nicholson’s 1845 edition of “The Mechanic’s Companion.” As soon as it goes to the printer, I’ll be taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Uncategorized | 39 Comments

Sneak Preview of Upcoming Classes

Posted on April 22, 2018 by fitz

First, I’m not yet committing to an on-sale date for the classes below (with one exception – the Dovetailed Silverware Class at Lie-Nielsen Toolworks), but it will be soon – before the end of April. (I’ll announce the go-live date/time … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Silverware Tray in a Weekend

Posted on April 12, 2018 by fitz

The headline is a bit of misstatement…because unlike my students, who did indeed start and finish their dovetailed silverware trays last Saturday and Sunday, I finally got around to gluing up mine today. (What can I say…I was busy teaching!) … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts

Posted on March 20, 2018 by fitz

I learned a valuable lesson today through shipping a Dutch tool chest to its new owner: Pack things in the smallest-possible-but-still-safe configuration. And build a crate – that would have been easier, and likely less expensive. And it sure would … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 17 Comments

EAIA & ‘The Chronicle’

Posted on March 16, 2018 by fitz

After almost two decades at the helm, Patty MacLeish is retiring after the June 2018 issue as editor of The Chronicle, the Early American Industries Association (EAIA) scholarly journal. I could not be more pleased to have been selected as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Will Build (and Edit) to Suit

Posted on March 12, 2018 by fitz

The majority of my income now comes from freelance editing (and I have some woodworking-related writing projects in the pipeline), but I also like to make stuff. I built a fair number of large pieces during my tenure as managing … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

‘Elementary Turning’ by Frank Henry Selden

Posted on March 8, 2018 by fitz

I have turning on the brain – because after my bathroom is done, I’m out of excuses to not turn my attention back to the front staircase and entryway. When I bought the house, the entryway was split alongside the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 25 Comments

A Thousand Cuts

Posted on March 7, 2018 by fitz

As a freelance editor without a steady income, what better decision than to hire tiling professionals for the bathroom renovation, I ask you? I’ve tiled a couple of bathrooms myself, after all, and they turned out pretty nice. But one … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Wenzloff & Sons Saw Kit for Sale

Posted on February 24, 2018 by fitz

So…that bathroom tiling job I’m fervently hoping to not have to do myself? (Because my deteriorating knees simply cannot take it.) It will cost a breathtakingly significant amount more than I was expecting. Enough more that I’m finally spurred to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments