I knew nothing about machining 20 years ago. One day while I was browsing through a used bookstore I found a few used copies of “Home Shop Machinist” magazine (HSM). Looking through them, I knew I had to subscribe. Over the years they have published all manner of shop projects from building your own tools, modifying machine tools, and interesting and odd builds of everything under the sun. Projects they have been writing about lately include the construction of a grinding wheel balancer, a precision router table, use of a rotary table and a quick clamp. I’ve even written a few articles for them over the years.

Many of the articles are published over several issues, which can be a bit of a pain if you start subscribing in the middle of a series. Used issues aren’t cheap but they do come up on Ebay frequently (yes, I have a complete set). They also publish two other magazines, Machinist’s Workshop (MW) and Digital Machinist (DM), the former being basically the same as HSM but with more single-issue projects and more gunsmithing, the latter is primarily about home shop CNC. All three are worth subscribing to.

They have a nearly-complete index of past issues, as well as a great forum. A subscription to HSM costs $29.95 for six issues, MW $26.95 (6 issues) and DM $19.95 (4 issues).

The Home Shop Machinist, Machinist’s Workshop
Digital Machinist

Popular Mechanics used to release an annual book containing all their shop tips and tricks, appropriately called “Popular Mechanics Shop Notes.”  I own several original volumes from the ’30s and ’40s which make for entertaining bedtime reading.  Now the folks at Lee Valley Tools have reprinted every volume between 1905 and 1930 at a low cost — $7.50 each or $32.50 for 5-year increments.

You can find used original copies at around the same price or more, depending on condition and year. There’s even one copy fully scanned on Google Books, from 1921.  Topics vary from year to year and decade to decade, but each book contains at least a few items that’ll solve a problem or spur a solution — a highly recommended bit of reading.

Popular Mechanics Shop Notes [Lee Valley]

If you happen see a copy of Grassroots Motorsports peeking around the dozens of other car magazines on the shelf at your local retailer, you’d probably think it’s another mag just for racers or ricers.

You’d be dead wrong.

Started by a small staff of car lovers and active Florida motorsports participants many years ago, GRM is a fantastic resource for anyone who loves performance cars — but doesn’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars to drop on the latest toy. It turns out that a lot of the cars all of us drooled over in our youth are still out there. And many can be had for quite reasonable money now, assuming you have some basic tools and are willing to turn a wrench or two to own your dream.

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228 Storage Tips And Easy Projects packs into its 144 pages lots of great storage ideas for your home and workshop. The book describes and illustrates every project in detail, making it quick and easy for handypersons of all skill levels to follow. Even better, most of the featured projects require low-cost supplies that you may already have in your scrap pile.

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Popular Mechanics is my comfort magazine; I look forward to reading it every month.  For a limited time you can now get it a 12 month subscription for just $5. Sadly, I just renewed my subscription before I found this deal. Magazines such as Esquire, House Beautiful, and CosmoGIRL! are among the other titles available for $5.

Popular Mechanics [Official Site]
$5 Subscription [Hearst Magazines]

It’s hard to believe that there was a time in this country when children were encouraged to do risky (and interesting) things. But it’s true! Boys and Girls were given simple items and allowed to experiment with the way the world works by making and doing things that could possibly poke an eye out. Nothing exemplifies this better than The Boy Mechanic, a collection of simple projects that graced the pages of Popular Mechanics during the end of 19th and first half of the 20th century.

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The ultimate clamp for cabinetmakers is the parallel jaw clamp. They clamp down tight, they evenly distribute force, and they have resin coated jaws that won’t mar or damage your project. Check out Irwin’s entry in the parallel jaw clamp game: 24” and 48” models.

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When the folks at JLC first told me about their Archive DVD, I was very skeptical. I figured there couldn’t possibly be a good reason for the $100 price tag, and that whatever was on it wouldn’t be worth the green. Then we got our hands on one. As it turns out, I was wrong. Not just wrong: screeching nails on a chalkboard wrong. Read on to find out why.

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Our friends over at ReadyMade magazine are offering Toolmonger readers an exclusive deal: order their combination tape measure/level ($6) from the ReadyMade Store before July 4th, apply coupon code “DEALMONGER0707″ at checkout and get free shipping on your entire order.  (U.S. only.  Sorry, Canadian and Australian Toolmongers!)

The ReadyMade tape measure level is a credit card sized 79″ tape measure with a level built into the top – perfect for those Home Depot/Lowes trips and hanging framed photos.  The back has a cool museum-worthy “wall text” design.

And hey — if you haven’t already, give ReadyMade a look.  They’re always offering sweet projects you can make out of stuff you find around the house — and well as tool reviews from time to time — and the editors and staff are first class people.

Wall Text Tape Measure Level [ReadyMade Magazine]

There are hundreds of ways to build bookcases — from 1×12s stacked on cinder blocks to complex, hardwood masterpieces — but this design from Popular Mechanics strikes me as a good compromise.  It’s simple, and you can built it with inexpensive wood, a few hand tools, and a circular saw. 

If you — like me! — are addicted to books and need a place to store them more than you need a work of furniture art, this design is for you.  Best of all: these aren’t just plans.  The article includes step-by-step instructions complete with diagrams like the one you see above.

How To Build A Bookcase [Popular Mechanics]

If you’re a hands-on kind of car guy, you should definitely have a subscription to Grassroots Motorsports.  While Road & Track and Car & Driver are fun, they rarely get down to the hardcore nuts and bolts of fixing up cars, and they’d never consider writing about something many of us tool guys love — older cars.

Back when I was in college, I was autocrossing around the Central Florida region, and actually spent some time with many of the people who still work for GRM.  I strongly doubt that any of them would remember me — I was just another snot-nosed college kit — but I did see many of them at the track, and I wrote some coverage of the old One Lap of Florida for them once. 

Here’s what I remember: These guys are completely legit.  They love cars — and not just brand new expensive ones.  They’d rather spend their evenings dirty under the car than standing around drinking and shooting the bull about cars they — and we — can’t afford.

After college I lost track of the magazine, but a few years ago I picked it back up and was amazed at how much it’d grown.  Now it’s thick and glossy, but it’s still packed with real-deal articles about real-world project you could actually take on.

Seriously, check it out.  You can find GRM in major bookstores like B&N and Borders now, so pick one up and check it out.  I’ll bet you end up with a subscription.

Grassroots Motorsports [Corporate]

Sizod ran across this link for a free “industry insider” subscription to Tech Home Builder magazine over at DealNews and sent it over.  He writes: “TecHome Builder is a magazine focusing on bringing technology into new and existing homes.  Even better, it’s free with this link!”

Free Subscription [TecHomeBuilder]

Update (02/08/2007): Looks like they’re stopped offering the free subscription today.  You might want to try back tomorrow.

Workbench Magazine presented their “2006 Top 10 Innovative Tool Awards” in the February issue, and the article’s now online for everyone on their website.  So, who made the list?

• Powermatic PM2000 Cabinet Saw w/Integral Castors
• Craftsman Powder Coater
• Hitachi C12LSH Zero-Clearance Sliding Miter Saw
• Panasonic EY7202 Impact Driver w/Digital Clutch
• Festool C12 Brushless-Motor Cordless Drill
• Makita JR3070CT Anti-Vibration Reciprocating Saw
• Rikon 20-110 Jointer w/Micro-Adjusting Fence
• Jet JJ-6CSDX Jointer w/Auto-Indexing Knives
• Bosch BlueCore Batteries
• Milwaukee v28 Lithium Ion

It looks like cordless technology is definitely taking front stage as four of the ten were battery systems or cordless tools.  Workbench lauded both Bosh’s BlueCore and Milwaukee’s V28 systems for their attempts at reducing battery heat.  The Festool C12 cordless drill made the list for its use of a brushless motor.

We were a bit surprised with the inclusion of the Craftsman powder coater, though.  Not that there’s anything wrong with it; it just seems less than innovative to us since the Eastwood Co. Hot Coat system has been available for some time.

2006 Top 10 Innovative Tool Awards [Workbench Magazine]

Woodworkers’ Journal, Delta, and Porter Cable have come together to offer a chance to win Norm’s (of New Yankee Workshop fame) shop.  Well, sort of.  In their words:

Okay, not Norm’s actual shop; he’s kind of fond of it. But we are providing an opportunity to win just about all the goodies he has in the New Yankee Workshop. Click here for a complete list of prizes (tools) and you’ll agree — we’re not kidding around.

And you won’t just win the tools. We’ll be flying you to Boston (airfare for two is on us, so bring your spouse or shop buddy), putting you up in a nice hotel, and keeping you well fed! Then, we’ll take you out to the New Yankee Workshop … (You have to promise not to tell anyone exactly where it is) … where you’ll watch the filming of a New Yankee Workshop episode. Lunch with Norm and the crew will also be our treat! 
 

They’re not kidding.  Click on that link above and start figuring out where the tools’ll fit in your shop.  And don’t forget to enter the contest.

Sweepstakes Information [Woodworkers' Journal]
Sweepstakes Entry [Woodworkers' Journal]