‘Dutch Tool Chests’ is Inspired Instruction

One of the hardest things to do when writing a book is to truly teach something. It’s quite easy to inform, inspire and amuse a reader. But if you seek to embed a difficult process in a person’s mind, then using words on a page is my last choice.

But because of Megan Fitzpatrick’s unique set of skills, her new book, “Dutch Tool Chests,” is a remarkable teaching manual for woodworkers entering the world of hand work.

Megan has taught hundreds of people from all over the world how to build one of these tool chests – many of them who have never held a dovetail saw. And I’ve watched her encourage, gently cajole and sometimes cheerfully drag beginners through the process.

Because of this long history, Megan knows what you are thinking as you are laying out, sawing and chiseling your first joints. She knows how to get ahead of the problems you will create for yourself. And she can bust through the mental blocks (such as a fear of failure or wasting good wood), that plague hand-tool beginners.

A…