Woodwork Magazine

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

David — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:46:50 GMT

G'day TN

Yes the telecommunications world we now live in is not overly rich in positive experiences. However we are fortunate that we can turn to woodworking to reinforce our pysche. Try posting on the
Woodwork forums, instead of the AWW site, this will not only reinforce your preference, but permit you to communicate with like minded individuals and, make it clear to the publisher that there is real support for Woodwork's resurrection. Currently there are only two active members on the site !!

Salve Sis

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

TNfurnituremaker — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:49:46 GMT

I am posting because I was just contacted by a sales representative of American Woodworker offering me a special rate as a preferred subscriber. When I mentioned that I was a subscriber of Woodwork magazine and that I was not interested...I barely got the words not interested out of my mouth when the sales rep. hung up on me. I know he was cutting his losses, but that kind of rudeness does not help my image of American Woodworker.

I had nothing against American Woodworker, and I am sure it has its audience. However, my experience only underscores the huge difference between those two publications. Woodwork had a devoted following precisely because it treated its audience with respect and did not "dumb down" to someone's notion that woodworkers lack any degree of intellectual curiosity. Over the years Woodwork carved out a niche and responded to a need that no one else was willing or able to do.

I would prefer to forego a magazine in which I have no interest and let my subscription money ride in hopes that a magazine like Woodwork would publish even on an irregular basis. Failing that, I would like to see the subscription money go to a nonprofit like the Furniture Society to help them with their publication program. I don't picture them hanging up in my face.

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

doctorbob1 — Thu, 28 May 2009 05:10:28 GMT

Hi Tom,

New subscriber, hope to see a poker table in that November issue.

Doctorbob1

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

Timberwerks — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:57:55 GMT

Hi Guy's

You should join the forum and start contributing. My hope is that if we show support and interest that the magazine will be back sooner than later.

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

David — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:37:53 GMT

G'day 1artworkz

According to Tom's posts Woodworker will rise from the ashes, albeit slowly, and it seems that New track Media needs our cooperation to achieve this. I would be very sad to see the demise of Woodwork, and I too am not interested in AW as a substitute, I have suggested in a post on the Woodworker site that they consider allowing people to purchase back copies of Woodworker instead of receiving AW . Obviously this is not an ideal solution, but the ideal is not available and some compromise may assist New Track Media to get there, and allow us to enjoy Woodworker on a regular basis once again.

How would you feel about that

Regards

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

1artworkz — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:11:50 GMT

Hey Tom,

I just got the June/July copy of American Woodworker. It's now sitting th waste can next to my desk. I called the American Woodworker Customer Service number 1-800-666-3111and was told that Woodwork Magazine was dead, gone, fenito, history and the American Woodworker issue was a subsitute.

New Track Media made commitments to many followers of Woodwork Magazine that they would continue publishing it in the same format and with the same content as it was when owned by Ross Periodicals. It was the only woodworking magazine I subscribed to. I will not renew the substitution of the American Woodworker and I would suggest that anyone the subscribes to the American Woodworker cancel their subscription in protest.

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

sdimond — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:21:43 GMT

Tom,

I know what happened to the distribution system and understand that it may be hard for some subscribers to realize the extent to which you and the publisher are victims of a system you have no control over. I appreciate your efforts to keep Woodwork magazine alive.

Please make it easy for us to buy back issues of the magazine through the web site. There are a lot of good articles and interviews in the older issues that I want to buy and read. I hope circumstances will allow you to bring the magazine back to quarterly issues in a year or so.

Thank you,

Stuart

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

David — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:06:39 GMT

Tom

Well done on the website & good luck with the Magazine. There is obviously support amongst the woodworking community for your endeavours, which will hopefully enhance New Track Media's committment to continue.

My own experience in talking to woodworkers over recent years, has been that more people were seeing Woodwork as an option to your major competitor, whereas previously people were not really aware of Woodwork.

I look forward to further issues and especially the Australian content, which will assist in the correction of the misconception that we are at the bottom of the world. When we look up we see sunny skies and not the Northern Hemisphere therefore we must be on the top of the world.!!

Salve Sis

David

p.s. Is it possible to transfer this thread to the Woodwork site ?

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

Tom Caspar — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:36:29 GMT

Hi guys,

I suppose I should weigh in here. I wish I were wealthy enough to buy a magazine, but alas, I'm just a woodworker who ended up being an editor. The business decisions by our company, New Track Media, are made by another fellow, our publisher. I'm responsible for what goes into the magazine, and how it's presented-a very similar situation to what existed before, when John Lavine was editor. I understand full well that American Woodworker is not the same type of magazine as Woodwork. Woodwork will continue, though-as I wrote before, we're planning on putting an issue out this November. We also just launched a new website for Woodwork (www.woodwork-magazine.com). So the spirit still continues, and if the economy improves (and our November issue does well), I hope we can return to a normal publication schedule. Believe me, I'm eager to bring Woodwork back to life one more time.

Best regards,

Tom Caspar

Editor, Woodwork Magazine

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

David — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:09:27 GMT

Bill

You are correct I was making light of an unhappy situation.

There is in Australia and organisation called "The Mens Shed" where local communities have a place for men to meet, socialise, follow their interests with others, and seek help when they may need it. I usually donate anything that is surplus to my needs and that is where the magazine will finish up.

Salve Sis

David

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

Bill Houghton — Tue, 12 May 2009 00:29:29 GMT

David:
...in the meantime AWW will be converted to expensive Garden compost

You may have been joking, but, rather than composting it, consider donating your issues to a local high school woodworking class (if there are any in your area still...), a local thrift store, or a rummage sale. All else failing, drop them on the table in your doctor's or dentist's office at the next visit.

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

David — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:40:02 GMT

I can only assume that Tom bought Woodwork with good intentions to keep it going, & based on his previous experience as Editor several years ago, with the knowledge that it was a good product. it would have been a very silly decision to buy expecting to convert subscribers to AWW as that is a very different publication, & I for one will not be encouraged to continue after my Woodwork subscription expires, as it is not at all my style of publication.

I must assume that something has gone awry with Tom's plans, & am prepared to cut him some slack until he can hopefully bring Woodwork back to life, in the meantime AWW will be converted to expensive Garden compost.

Regards David

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

Timberwerks — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:31:03 GMT

I can't believe they would even consider replacing your Woodwork subscription with AW. Woodwork has been a top notch magazine for many years and it sad to see they want to print it once a year .They did a great job on the Spring issue, KEEP IT GOING!!!! Print AW once a year and keep Woodwork on the stands.

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

mistrfix — Sun, 10 May 2009 23:29:41 GMT

Tom

You've known that Woodwork was discontinued for 3 months? Why did you solicit my renewal? AW is not even close to a substitute.

I am a bit more than disappointed. I have no interest in building a breadbox - really, now ... or the other featured article in the second issue I received on the same day, a caddy for router bits - the featured cover article with plans! Why would you need plans? I built something similar when I was in Junior high shop class - with plans I drew myself.

I am very sad to see the end of Woodwork. I am a bit frosted to have AW pawned off as a replacement ..."sorry for the inconvenience".

... but don't worry I can buy the annual issue when it comes out in December?

How about a refund?

Chris Werner

Rochester, NY

Re: Letter from Woodwork's Editor

mistrfix — Sun, 10 May 2009 23:15:52 GMT

David:

Difficult to find because Woodwork has folded - just after soliciting my renewal.

... but "be assured" my renewal "is not lost". we are going to get American Woodworker instead. As Tom said in the earlier post, they are very different magazines.

Thanks for the suggestion of Australian Wood Review and Fine Wood Working.

Now for a call to the attorney general's office in Florida.

I am very sad to see the end of Woodwork. I am a bit frosted to have them pawn off AW as a replacement ..."sorry for the inconvenience".

Regards,

Chris