The 10th Annual Anarchist’s Gift Guide

Ten years ago, I cracked open a beer and watched a video from a famous TV woodworker: It was his annual gift guide. The guide featured some handplanes, so I was eager to hear about them.

Within 5 minutes I was horrified. The products he recommended were shit – beyond shit, to be honest. The “gifts” were overpriced overstocks sold by his show’s sponsor. When I reached the end of the video I was (to put it mildly) somewhat perturbed. Hapless spouses and beginning woodworkers spend money because of these guides.

But what was the alternative?

I opened my laptop and began writing the first “Anarchist’s Gift Guide.” It was designed to be the opposite of all the affiliate-linked honey-handed circle-jerking you’ll find on YouTube and social media.

The Anarchist’s Gift Guide is comprised of stuff I have bought and used in our shop. I paid full price for everything. Most of it doesn’t come from your regular woodworking suppliers. There are no affiliate links. And I seek out things that your childre…