Comments on: Highland Woodworking: Hand-tool Stalwarts of the South

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:23:39 +0000

That’s what Chris Schwarz calls “the milkman’s workbench” – you’ll find the plan for it in our June 2013 issue.

By: wallace

wallace — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:38:12 +0000

In the FEB 2013 HW Video you showed us a BENCH TOP MINI Version of a “European Design” Clamp Down Work Vise which you said you found on the Internet. I can’t Find anything like it? Not at Lie-Nielson, Not Highland, Not Rockler.?”

WHO? WHERE? How Much$?

Wallace at wallace.l.johnston@gmail.com

Help!

By: garpet

garpet — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:52:22 +0000

Hi Chris, I could see from the long shadows of light coming into the front of the store on your video that you must have shot it later on Saturday….. I really enjoyed talking with you as brief as it was but THANK YOU so much for autographing the “A” book for me . I want to apologize for my comment about your exclamation remarks…. I really did enjoy them and it gave interesting perspectives about many trials and victories, et al. (those dastardly others!!) I will do some research about certain Hardwood FINDs on Craig’s List and those possible home owners with whom I might be able to make “a deal” ….. somewhere in Kentucky …. during our Mission trip up to Blackhawk.. Hope you had a safe back home from Highland Ave, Atl, GA….. I’ll be listening in , Sincerely, your hearing and learning underling, Gary Peterson.

By: cbhighland

cbhighland — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:20:49 +0000

Joel,
Not exactly like being here in the store, but we love that you visit the Highland Woodworking website, open 24/7. There’s even a Google Streetview link on our homepage that let’s you take an interactive virtual tour inside the store. (There’s also a store tour video on YouTube.) Be sure to drop by if you’re ever in Atlanta. Boy, seems like the magnolia trees down the middle of Lanier Blvd were in full bloom not that long ago.

Thanks for your business,
Chris Bagby, owner

By: billboard

billboard — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 03:41:51 +0000

My son Tyler and I were there today. We saw the Lie Nielsen hand tool event and Chris Schwarz. I have been shopping at Highland for years and love the store. We had a blast today.

By: Joel Jacobson

Joel Jacobson — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:24:07 +0000

As a youngster in Atlanta back in the 1940s, I lived on Lanier Blvd – not far from where Highland Woodworking now stands.

Although I’ve bought items from HW, unfortunately it’s no longer in walking distance … from my home in Northern Virginia. I envy the folks can visit there.

By: Playful Plans

Playful Plans — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:11:39 +0000

Enjoyed the vid- thanks.

My first visit to HH (sorry- HW!) was sometime around 1980 for a weekend seminar with Ian Kirby, my woodworking idol at the time who impressed upon our small audience that the new generation of American woodworkers was notably enthusiastic but quite haphazard about our ideas, tools and techniques.

He preached the Continental gospel of a “whole” technical arsenal (including not just tool use, but right attitude and respect for traditional processes) that could be mastered by time and practice. It was a bit of a revelation at the time. I went on to use his innovative torsion box techniques for clients of my first cabinet shop.

Kev

By: BLZeebub

BLZeebub — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 14:06:15 +0000

I lived in Atlanta during the ’80s when they were starting up. I left plenty of my DNA there in the form of drool. Left plenty of my hard earned there too. Even attended a Tage Frid seminar. Jimmy Carter was there too post POTUS. I didn’t vote for him but he didn’t hold that against me. LOL Been hooked on wood shavings ever since.

My advice to anyone considering a visit, bring plenty of money and don’t stay too long. Or else you’ll be explaining to the missus how the mortgage might be late next month. It’s happened before.

By: Maurice

Maurice — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 13:10:23 +0000

Editorial comments: “in the Atlanta area”, and “In return”.

By: Maurice

Maurice — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 13:07:24 +0000

Highland Hardware is where my addiction started as well! Fortunately, I was living in the Atlanta, and was fortunate enough to physically haunt and lurk there. By far, tha most important aspect of the store is the staff: they are wonderful to a fault. No question too weird, too “newby”, or too dumb. As one veteran employee, Mike, has said to me “there’s no wrong way to do that, just different ways”. Meaning, “yeah, you could try that, but try this way, or that way instead”.

Highland became a learning resource for me, and they never minded fielding my questions. I return, they became (quickly) my go to source for all things woodworking, even classes. I recall a Woodcraft store opening in the suburbs, and thinking to myself upon entry, “well, it’s nice and all, but it’s NO Highland Hardware!

I knew that I was spending a lot (read: too much) of time and money there when the cashiers began to know me by name. Oh, well, one could have worse addictions……