Popular Woodworking 2002-02 № 126, страница 10

Out on a Limb

A Better Magazine

We've added more pages, writers and a beefier cover.

If you read this column with any regularity you know I don't waste this space by telling you what you're going to find in this issue. I'm confident you'll find it in the table of contents without any help from me. I prefer to write about something that I hope you will conclude has some value.

This time around, however, I do want to share with you some goings-on with your magazine that happen to begin in this issue. And besides, a little good news is a nice break from the stretch of bad news we've been getting lately.

Perhaps most important to you is the addition of Lonnie Bird as a regular contributor. Of Lonnie's many skills, I'm not sure which to rate as his strongest — woodworking or teaching. His mastery of the craft ranks him up there as one of the best in the United States, especially when it comes to traditional furniture styles. But Lonnie has been teaching woodworking for years to students who went on to become full-time career woodworkers. This combination — his deep knowledge of the craft and his keen ability to share that knowledge and make it understandable — even to beginners, is a true gift.

In Lonnie's first article, he explains why wood expands and contracts and how to deal with it. You might have read about this subject before, but I promise that reading Lonnie's take on it will surely teach you something you didn't know before. Next issue, he'll explain how to use a cutting list. Believe me, there's more to it than meets the eye.

We're also starting a new column in this issue called "Q&A." I think you'll find it helpful because it is somewhat like "Tricks of the Trade." Each month we answer hun

SAWSTOP UPDATE

In last month's column I invited you to weigh in on a new product called SawStop. It's a passive safety device which, if it is found to be effective in the long term, could save many woodworkers' fingers. Many of you visited our website and cast your votes, for which I thank you.So far, more than 1,300 readers have voted with nearly 75 percent saying they'd pay $150 extra to have such a device on their table saw. In the next issue, I'll give you the final results and some reaction from machinery manufacturers.

dreds of woodworking questions from readers that come in on the phone, in the mail and in our e-mail. We're publishing the best questions in this new column, and some really good answers, too.

More good news is the quality of the magazine you are holding in your hands. We've been working hard to bring you quality projects, technique stories and tool reviews. But now we are bringing you a higher quality manufactured product, too. For example, this issue is 100 pages long. Last year, this issue was about 90 pages. Your extra pages are being used for more articles, I should add, not more advertising.

You might notice the paper on the cover is heavier, too. We know many of you save your issues, sometimes for years, and this better paper will help preserve your magazines for years to come. And it also will take more abuse as your issue travels through the postal system.

This issue is also wider than what you are accustomed to receiving. The extra width will allow us to present photos and drawings more clearly. It's not a huge difference, but it helps. I think you'll notice that there's a different look and feel to this issue compared to those in the recent past.

All these changes add up to our determination to produce a better magazine in every way. Over the years we've been building a team of top-drawer contributors. I'm proud of the fine work they regularly produce for you. It pleases me greatly to now bring more of that work to you in a better quality magazine. PW

Popular Woodworking February 2002

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Steve Shanesy

Editor & Publisher Specialties: Projects, new products and tools, tricks of the trade 513-531-2690 ext. 238 steve.shanesy@fwpubs.com

David Thiel

Senior Editor Specialties: Projects, new products and tools tricks of the trade 513-531-2690 ext. 255 david.thiel@fwpubs.com

Christopher Schwarz

Senior Editor Specialties: Author liaison, website, projects, hand tools

513-531-2690 ext. 407 chris.schwarz@fwpubs.com

Tricia Barlow

Art Director

Specialties: Magazine and cover design, photo direction 513-531-2690 ext. 599 tricia.barlow@fwpubs.com

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To report problems with your subscription visit our website at popwood.com, call our subscription offices at 515-280-1721, or write to Popular Woodworking, P.O. Box 5369, Harlan, IA 51593.

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SAFETY NOTE

Safety is your responsibility. Manufacturers place safety devices on their equipment for a reason. In many photos you see in Popular Woodworking, these have been removed to provide clarity. In some cases we'll use an awkward body position so you can better see what's being demonstrated. Don't copy us. Think about each procedure you're going to perform beforehand. Safety First!