We woodworkers have great expectations when it comes to our work, whether it’s part of our full-time occupation or weekends in the garage workshop. Most often we indeed turn to and rely on woodworking magazines for inspiration, education, news surrounding woodworking and woodworkers and of course new products reviewed by experienced users of equipment, tools and machines. Of all the magazines out there, the benchmark of quality in content, photography and graphics was set long ago with the American owned magazine known internationally as Fine Woodworking. This magazine now has many decades of fine work under its belt and a wealth of archives to glean from via their interactive online extensions. Quite honestly, if you want to know about just about any subject to do with woodworking, you will find the answers by Googling via their website.
This week I picked out three magazines from the racks at WH Smiths and thumbing the pages I immediately saw the difference between the UK offering in two of them and what the US counterpart brought to the world of woodworking. The difference was remarkable. There is no doubt that yet again in this month’s mag pick of the month I favoured Fine Woodworking and I think with good reason. Here are just a few of my professional observations:
Fine Woodworking’s pages
The number of advertisement pages were 50% less than that of the UK mags
The photography throughout was of the highest professional standards
Almost every photographic image had hand and body shots of the author at work
The standard use of high-end graphics throughout each and every article
They took great care not to merely pose shots but engage the reader with the project and the craftsperson
The articles are always, always inspiring, insightful, educational and inspirational
The line up of contributors go to great lengths to comply to and maintain the high standards of FW and The Taunton Press in general
For some reason, two magazines from the UK, went in entirely the opposite direction to the above altogether. Here is an image of the Good Woodworking offering. This was typical of the whole content and contrasts markedly with what I might expect from a well-established magazine. As I looked at the four key articles in Good Woodworking this month, of the 18 pages filled with 85 photographs, only seven images contained very brief glimpses of people or hand shots and these were indeed of the very lowest standard. This was the exact opposite of the FW magazine with only seven of 85 counted images in sequence being without human presence. Another point I saw was that the UK Good Woodworking articles contained almost no graphics at all; only two poorly executed graphics in one of the four articles. Amazingly, three of the four articles had no people or hand shots in them at all. Now I hasten to add that this is not so much the fault of the contributors but the magazine itself. If someone takes the trouble to write the article, the magazine is made aware of the project or news and can indeed follow up with good photographs or graphics that compensate to bring clarity to the reader. Other articles by editorial staff offered about the same passive and lax content. A good gauge of quality is when the advertisements and equipment reviews become more interesting than the key article content. If and when this happens, there is not much to hold any reader’s attention. Good Woodworking is not the only failed offering. I thumbed the pages of Furniture and Cabinet Maker only to find that they too had similar hand-less, body-less articles that often left you guessing. I don’t know if anyone else questions why this is happening in a time when people are ‘going local’ again. I paid £14 ($21 USD) for the three magazines. That translates into articles and adverts of one kind or another in about equal proportion. I am sure there is a lot of pressure surrounding these magazines and the economies we live in. I cannot know the whole of it, but editing and quality content must go beyond advertising otherwise what we could be seeing in Britain may well mark the end of British woodworking magazines and that would be a sad day because, though American magazines are for the main part highly aspirational, their content is obviously geared towards it’s domestic audience and availabilities in terms of product and materials – news, reviews and so on, are also very American-oriented. I think that there is a place for both. What we really need is the challenge of new breath. I don’t think that it’s too late to turn the tide here. Just that it will take much greater effort to address the need and not allow complacency to set in.
7 Comments
Hello Paul
I had a sub to Good Woodworking for over ten years. When I reflected that I read very few articles, and those I did read were not inspiring, i gave up my sub.
Ah Paul,
Remember that the US mags, and FWW in particular, are very, very clever with their advertising – much more so than the British mags. FWW (and others) cleverly leave particular tools types visible in most of their article photos in a way that resembles – an advert! So they combine subtle advertorial and article in a way that satisfies both their “paymasters” and their readers. The British mags are going this way as well but are mere “babes in the woods” in comparison with the US mags at this stage. Look at the way F&C has made very subtle changes to its format and style over the last year alone. The overt adverts are only part of the overall advert loading of each magazine.
I have recently been disappointed with the lack of content in the US mags. In general they have gotten so thin, and the articles are terse compared to early issues. After reading your comments about UK mags in this blog entry, I guess I do not have anything to complain about.
I was a subscriber to FWW for a few years, appreciating their high quality of publishing, but stopped mainly because of their dependance on power tools. The editors claim to be hand tool proponents, but almost every project they publish uses a table saw, power router, or the bandsaw for over 90% of the joinery process. Use of hand tools is almost always just for final fitting, paring or light surface prep. Readers who would like to learn the proper use of hand tools for their joinery are largely left in the dark. Some of FWW’s older articles are more hand tool friendly, many of which can be accessed with an online subscription.
Popular Woodworking is much more balanced with hand tools, often demonstrating hand tool joinery techniques, although they sometimes gets stuck in arcane historical (largely American) styles, and often showcase boutique (unaffordable) tools. Regardless of these shortcomings, I do feel more at home with PW since they do seem to be afraid to cut a joint with a hand tool, and there is alway some manual skill waiting to be gleaned from each issue.
I have seen some of what you say in different magazines. I know the UK magazines were about as bad as it gets this time, and I felt truly disappointed to be paying for regurgitated adverts and product info surrounding machines, machine support equipment, more and ever more kit bags and of course routers. These two magazines dumbed down woodworking to its lowest point I’m afraid. Picking up the copy of Fine Woodworking gladdened my spirits and especially so in this issue, which was just crammed with article after article of the highest standard. The graphics were phenomenal in that they weren’t just some programmed graphic but multidimensional, creative and captivating.
Here is a rub too. I followed one article in Furniture and Cabinet Maker where 32 photo’s had only two hand and body shots but had one shot showing two planes totalling around £5,000 used as weights to sandwich some panelling until the glue dried. Imagine a Karl Holtey plane used for such a thing. I would rather have seen them being used.
So, this months pick of the mags yet again was FW. And, despite the occasional mistake that all of us make from time to time. FW is the best educational resource on the open market for woodworkers. Well worth the £5.25 we Brits have to pay in the UK. At a third the size of a good woodworking book for one fifth the price, it gives the best value buck for buck in my my book.
I wasn’t necessarily advocating leather dye and I am not sure where you are. There are many very good woodworking dyes that hold the colour well. perhaps try Googling some of those and also reviews others have given too.
Hello Paul,
I agree that FWM is the best woodworking magazine from the entertainment perspective. However, as most have noticed, it features mainly well-known writers and professional woodworkers. It also tends to spend more than needed space on a subject with large photos. It makes a reader feel good but in the end, little extra is learned for the extra page allotted to it.
PWM is committing (or following?) a similar mistake by mainly publishing articles from the circle of authors or friends associated with it. That’s why I am dropping my subscription; I have not done a project based on anything published there in the past two years of subscription!
American Woodworker has its ills but is exceptional in bringing all kinds of unusual projects to the table by both known and unknown woodworkers.
Since all woodworking magazines in addition to FWM are surviving, I take it to mean that FWM is only for some woodworkers.
Paul,
I used to subscribe to as many ww mags as my wallet would bear but not any more. I have become tired of seeing the same old tired content pushing some tools or the other. I don’t need to be told that I should buy yet another tool or need a super expensive chisel to build or worse yet, a $68 burnisher. Every magazine I have ever had a chance to read has failed to show that with a few tools, one can be productive and more importantly, enjoy the satisfaction of producing something with one’s own hands. I totally believe that ww mags are devoid of any journalistic integrity and are engaged a survival mode. In my case, I was really misled by the books and articles that I read and wish I had just started sawing and nailing some wood! In fact, you were one of the very first who showed me what I could do with a few inexpensive tools.
FWIW, I think many hand tool enthusiasts who blog have given me more information on woodworking as a hobby than the mags. I have learned so many techniques and garnered so many tips by following some of you. I absolutely think WW mags are completely worthless to me and they are a dying breed.
I might also mention the curious case of this one woodworker who used to blog a lot and who has since acquired a show of his own. I really enjoyed reading/watching his blog posts. He didn’t seem to use fancy and expensive tools. In fact, I remember how he implored people to just get a $5 gents saw and fix it up. But, now his show is showcase for Festool routers and sanders, with nary a sight of any $5 gents saws. No points for discovering the missing gents saw!
I can only conclude that woodworking shows and mags are there to merely serve the interests of the sponsors/advertisers.
Just my 2 cents.
Comments are closed.
Privacy Notice
You must enter certain information to submit the form on this page. We take the handling of personal information seriously and appreciate your trust in us. Our Privacy Policy sets out important information about us and how we use and protect your personal data and it also explains your legal rights in respect of it. Please click here to read it before you provide any information on this form.
Hello Paul
I had a sub to Good Woodworking for over ten years. When I reflected that I read very few articles, and those I did read were not inspiring, i gave up my sub.
Ah Paul,
Remember that the US mags, and FWW in particular, are very, very clever with their advertising – much more so than the British mags. FWW (and others) cleverly leave particular tools types visible in most of their article photos in a way that resembles – an advert! So they combine subtle advertorial and article in a way that satisfies both their “paymasters” and their readers. The British mags are going this way as well but are mere “babes in the woods” in comparison with the US mags at this stage. Look at the way F&C has made very subtle changes to its format and style over the last year alone. The overt adverts are only part of the overall advert loading of each magazine.
I have recently been disappointed with the lack of content in the US mags. In general they have gotten so thin, and the articles are terse compared to early issues. After reading your comments about UK mags in this blog entry, I guess I do not have anything to complain about.
I was a subscriber to FWW for a few years, appreciating their high quality of publishing, but stopped mainly because of their dependance on power tools. The editors claim to be hand tool proponents, but almost every project they publish uses a table saw, power router, or the bandsaw for over 90% of the joinery process. Use of hand tools is almost always just for final fitting, paring or light surface prep. Readers who would like to learn the proper use of hand tools for their joinery are largely left in the dark. Some of FWW’s older articles are more hand tool friendly, many of which can be accessed with an online subscription.
Popular Woodworking is much more balanced with hand tools, often demonstrating hand tool joinery techniques, although they sometimes gets stuck in arcane historical (largely American) styles, and often showcase boutique (unaffordable) tools. Regardless of these shortcomings, I do feel more at home with PW since they do seem to be afraid to cut a joint with a hand tool, and there is alway some manual skill waiting to be gleaned from each issue.
I have seen some of what you say in different magazines. I know the UK magazines were about as bad as it gets this time, and I felt truly disappointed to be paying for regurgitated adverts and product info surrounding machines, machine support equipment, more and ever more kit bags and of course routers. These two magazines dumbed down woodworking to its lowest point I’m afraid. Picking up the copy of Fine Woodworking gladdened my spirits and especially so in this issue, which was just crammed with article after article of the highest standard. The graphics were phenomenal in that they weren’t just some programmed graphic but multidimensional, creative and captivating.
Here is a rub too. I followed one article in Furniture and Cabinet Maker where 32 photo’s had only two hand and body shots but had one shot showing two planes totalling around £5,000 used as weights to sandwich some panelling until the glue dried. Imagine a Karl Holtey plane used for such a thing. I would rather have seen them being used.
So, this months pick of the mags yet again was FW. And, despite the occasional mistake that all of us make from time to time. FW is the best educational resource on the open market for woodworkers. Well worth the £5.25 we Brits have to pay in the UK. At a third the size of a good woodworking book for one fifth the price, it gives the best value buck for buck in my my book.
I wasn’t necessarily advocating leather dye and I am not sure where you are. There are many very good woodworking dyes that hold the colour well. perhaps try Googling some of those and also reviews others have given too.
Hello Paul,
I agree that FWM is the best woodworking magazine from the entertainment perspective. However, as most have noticed, it features mainly well-known writers and professional woodworkers. It also tends to spend more than needed space on a subject with large photos. It makes a reader feel good but in the end, little extra is learned for the extra page allotted to it.
PWM is committing (or following?) a similar mistake by mainly publishing articles from the circle of authors or friends associated with it. That’s why I am dropping my subscription; I have not done a project based on anything published there in the past two years of subscription!
American Woodworker has its ills but is exceptional in bringing all kinds of unusual projects to the table by both known and unknown woodworkers.
Since all woodworking magazines in addition to FWM are surviving, I take it to mean that FWM is only for some woodworkers.
Paul,
I used to subscribe to as many ww mags as my wallet would bear but not any more. I have become tired of seeing the same old tired content pushing some tools or the other. I don’t need to be told that I should buy yet another tool or need a super expensive chisel to build or worse yet, a $68 burnisher. Every magazine I have ever had a chance to read has failed to show that with a few tools, one can be productive and more importantly, enjoy the satisfaction of producing something with one’s own hands. I totally believe that ww mags are devoid of any journalistic integrity and are engaged a survival mode. In my case, I was really misled by the books and articles that I read and wish I had just started sawing and nailing some wood! In fact, you were one of the very first who showed me what I could do with a few inexpensive tools.
FWIW, I think many hand tool enthusiasts who blog have given me more information on woodworking as a hobby than the mags. I have learned so many techniques and garnered so many tips by following some of you. I absolutely think WW mags are completely worthless to me and they are a dying breed.
I might also mention the curious case of this one woodworker who used to blog a lot and who has since acquired a show of his own. I really enjoyed reading/watching his blog posts. He didn’t seem to use fancy and expensive tools. In fact, I remember how he implored people to just get a $5 gents saw and fix it up. But, now his show is showcase for Festool routers and sanders, with nary a sight of any $5 gents saws. No points for discovering the missing gents saw!
I can only conclude that woodworking shows and mags are there to merely serve the interests of the sponsors/advertisers.
Just my 2 cents.