Anarchist's Tool Chest

Anarchist's Tool Chest

Fourteen years after the release of "The Anarchist's Tool Chest," Christopher Schwarz spent nearly a year revising every sentence and idea in the book. The result is a text that is even more focused than the original. The core message is clear: invest in good tools (here's how), build a chest to protect them, and while you're at it, consider stepping away from corporate America.

“The Anarchist’s Tool Chest: Revised Edition” presents a vision in which woodworking tools are central to an ethical lifestyle focused on creating furniture that lasts for generations. It argues that you can build just about anything with a kit of fewer than 50 high-quality tools and shows you how to select practical working tools, regardless of their age or brand.

This revised edition will guide you in constructing a proper chest for your toolkit that adheres to the ancient principles that have often been overlooked. It also posits that building a chest and equipping it with the right tools might be the best way to preserve our craft.

From the first chapter of the book:

When I am too exhausted, ill, or busy to work in my shop, I often find myself shuffling down the stairs to my 15' x 25' workshop, to stand there for a few minutes with my hands on my tools.

I once thought this quirk was a bit eccentric. Still, after reading the oral histories and diaries of craftsmen from the past 300 years, I discovered it’s actually a common trait among artisans. I feel deeply connected—or perhaps addicted—to the tools that allow me to shape wood into new forms.