Reviews (7)

Read this book first!
Having muddled my way through about 6 years as a hobbyist woodworker, I wish I would have found this book first.It provides excellent instruction on basic woodworking techniques, but it also unashamedly recommends the surprisingly few, but high quality tools one needs to produce beautiful furniture.Had I read this book first, literally hundreds of dollars in unnecessary or substandard tools wouldn't be cluttering up my shop today!
Excellent for a beginner like me
I am a weekend amateur woodworker who has gone through many of the typical problems you run into when you think that wood is something straight and two pieces are easy to joint even when you cut them "almost" right. This book is excellent if you are new into woodworking. Everything is explained and illustrated with very good pictures.
Very Good For the Self Taught Woodworker
I have found it difficult to find a book with actual exercises to build hand skills in an organized manner.I think many self taught woodworkers have peaks and valleys of skills due to the nature of "solo woodworker" learning (project plans and piece meal magazine articles).Sometimes my inefficient methods have taken more time and wasted more wood than I would care to admit.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. House & Home    5. Woodwork    6. Woodwork - General    7. Woodworking    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork   

Reviews (26)

Yes, the example cabinets are UGLY...
but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater!
For utilitarian cabinets, not fine woodworking
I was disappointed in this book at first. I have never before bought a book where not one pictured project was attractive to me personally. You will not see any kitchens like this in magazines. It's all one big paean to particle board.
Suppliers List
The suppliers list on page 126 is weak. Proulx's system requires leveling legs. He show photos of the legs he uses, but does not provide a source for legs shown. It would be very helpful to have that information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cabinetwork    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - Carpentry    5. House & Home    6. Kitchen cabinets    7. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    8. Furniture & cabinetmaking    9. Woodworking   

Reviews (7)

Scroll Saw Workbook
This is an EXCELLECT book!!! It tells you all different ways to use the scroll saw, like Fret Work, Intarsia, Compound, Stackables and many others. It gives step by step instructions, Very easy to follow and do. If you're not sure what kind of scroll sawing you want to do this book will help you choose that one. Or maybe you're like me and you'll end up liking them all. A definte or any one who enjoys the SCOLL SAW!!!!

Best Book to Buy
This is the best book to buy to learn about using a scroll saw.Great instructions, explanations, and fantastic excercises in logical order to move you forward in expertise and confidence.
Nice guide to start
Very nice book. It guided you step by step on the use of the scroll saw and explains the differences between saws. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Power Tools    5. Woodwork - General    6. House & Home / Power Tools    7. Woodworking   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (3)

This is a great book
I bought and built a good sized house kit home but wanted to know how a house is really put together and proper terms after all my years of remodeling and odd jobs in construction.
How To Do The Job Right
A complete do-it-yourselfer's guide to residential carpentry from basements to balustrades. If you're the type who wants to know how to do it right, this is the book. It's really an omnibus of carpentry because itdeals with rough and finish carpentry, drywall, floors and flooring,cabinets, insulation, doors and windows, tools and safety and more! It alsoexplains how lumber and plywood are graded in the U.S. and Canada andincludes great charts explaining architectural drawings and symbols. If youalready know what a Phillips screwdriver is you don't need half of the"home improvement" books out there. This one is different. Mr.Spence has placed homeowners in his debt with this exceptional volume.

Carpentry & Building ConstructionA Do-It-Yourself Guide
This book was informative.I have been remodeling for over 25 years and still I learn things in every job.This book can be used as a guide to building any part of a house.I liked it so much after reviewing from thelibrary that I bought a copy as a reference book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Carpentry    3. Construction - Carpentry    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House construction    7. BG-COOKBKS - BG - COOKBOOKS    8. House & Home / Carpentry    9. Woodworking   

Subjects:  1. Antiques    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Chairs    5. Design - Furniture    6. Furniture    7. Furniture Arts And Crafts    8. History    9. History - General    10. Art / Design / Furniture    11. Decorative Art; furniture; interior design    12. Furniture & cabinetmaking    13. Product design   

Reviews (3)

Hoped for more
Although it does cover the subject and offer examples for inspiration, it does so in very broad strokes. I had hoped for mre istruction and less inspiration.

Informative, Instructive, Well written, Great pictures
I used this book as a basis for all my carvings, This book actually started me in the buisness of woodcarving and I created my first Walkingstick from the instructions therein.

The best carving instruction I have ever received.
Two years ago I purchased this book and a set of six tools. My goal was to create a hobby that was rewarding and relaxing. I can truthfully say that I have never been more satisfied with any purchase. I have found a world of enjoyment from the simple act of cutting wood. In three days, I will exhibit in my first show, The Tupelo Gum Tree Festival, Tupelo, MS. I have never been more relaxed and proud of anything I have done before. Thank you Tom Wolfe! Dennis Renfro ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Tom James)    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Carving    4. Crafts & Hobbies    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Sculpture    7. Staffs (Sticks, canes, etc.)    8. Themes, motives    9. Wolfe, Tom    10. Wood-carving    11. Carving & carvings    12. Woodworking   

Reviews (7)

High quality work
I took the initiative to build the carved corner china from the plans in this book and they are excellent. When I was done with my project I wrote Mr. Gottshall with photos of my project and he wrote back immediately, as I am perhaps the only other person he knew who built this particular project.
Instructions and Measured Drawings for 40 Classic Projects
I gave this book "Making Antique Furniture Reproductions" as a present to a person who is learning how to make furniture. This book was very well received and appreciated for all of its detailed information and illustrations.

Gottshall will be a good companion.
Franklin Gottshall has written a number of great woodworking project/reproduction books and periodically reshuffles and reassembles his popular plans. This book one is similar to an earlier red cover version on Reproducing Antique Furniture. I built a variation of the blockfront chest. Gottshall's construction explanations are very clear and his drawings are thorough, and accurate. I wanted a four drawer instead of a three drawer chest. I used a Kittinger catalog to rescale the piece, but basically followed Gottshall's construction. His piece did call for full 7/8in sides which required a little research to find.A source supply would have been nice. I accomplished the carving of the shells from his layout, though I modified the center design somewhat, and thought his shell looked a little thick, but simply thinning it down did the trick. Because when I built the piece in 1974, I didn't have the variety of router bits available today, I found I had to design some templates and jigs to ensure success on the complex cuts. But all that is doable. Recommend that you draw up full scale plans from Gottshall's plans for complex pieces. It will help you learn the construction. Even if you do not like or build all the pieces, it is a valuable reference on fine furniture construction that you'll reference often. It's a great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Antiques & Collectibles    3. Antiques/Collectibles    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Furniture    6. Furniture making    7. Woodwork - General    8. Antique furniture    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    10. Furniture & cabinetmaking    11. Reproduction of artworks   

Reviews (9)

Great book on workbench philosphy and design
This is a great book for what I wanted - a survey and idea book to design my own bench. Essentially the author surveys a number of different woodworkers and what type of benches they use and why. The book is broken down into logic chapters on various components of the bench including the top, base, vises and holding techniques. He covers ideas on how the bench fits in the shop, ergonomics, tool storage/trays, holding wood, and other issues related to layout and placement. It covers some history of workbenches but isn't a history book.
Buy this book
Though I am a huge fan of Scott Landis' book on this subject, I think I like this book even better.Because I will soon build my third and final bench (yes I am a dreamer), I have been reading a lot about this subject lately.This book does a great job of grabbing your interest, showing you the thought process you should use to determine what design and features are best for you, and then showing many beautiful examples of hard working benches in scores of woodworking shops.
Excellent Book
This is an excellent book.If you are thinking of designing and building the perfect workbench, you absolutely should buy this book.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Design and construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Equipment and supplies    6. Furniture making    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House & Home    9. Woodwork    10. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    11. Woodworking    12. Workbenches    13. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    14. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (13)

Outstanding Book
I am new into woodworking and this book is the best intro to woodworking I have seen.This is outstanding.
Excellent!
I just got this book a few days ago, and I've had a hard time putting it down.There are lots of full-color pictures, with thorough descriptions of almost every aspect of woodworking.I've already learned a lot about different types of wood, how to make several kinds of cuts with several kinds of tools (including suggestions for what to do even though I don't have a large selection of power tools), and have some projects picked out to start as soon as I can get the lumber!It is a very thorough book, unlike several others I looked through at my local bookstore.I would highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in woodworking!It is both fun and informative.Almost half of this substantial book is general background information and instruction, including a detailed glossary, and the rest is a good selection of detailed, well-illustrated plans.
The Not Quite Complete Book of...
I've been hesitant to review this book because, despite its title it is by no means a 'complete' book, and yet it is well written, and what it does it does well.It is well written, and covers many of the important subjects - Setting Up Shop, Designing Projects, Introduction to Wood, Joints, Finishes, etc.And it provides a host of projects suitable to the beginner.It's hard to fault what it does do, but there are several problems with what it doesn't do.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Woodwork    6. Woodwork - General    7. Woodworking   

Reviews (31)

"A Most Helpful Tree House Guide"
David Stiles seems to know exactly what aspects of building give us would-be owners of tree houses our cold feet.He has organized this book so that our every little fright is answered before it occurs.Every potential problem has, if not a clear answer, at least a path for readers to "whomp up" an answer themselves.I was wonderfully impressed!Come fall, one or two trees in my backyard may be wearing houses themselves!

Tree Houses You Can Actually Build
There's a lot of info in this book that would have been hard to scramble up on my own.And, is presented in such a way that even a beginning carpenter can put together one of these or just use the info to design one's own. I especially liked the info on the "extras" such as rope ladders and other tree house accessories. It's a real "how-to" book and I can't wait to get started!

Critical resource for the first-time builder
I used this book to build a great tree house. I found the line drawings to be much more useful than the photographs in the other 3 tree house books I bought. The drawings offer advice for beginners (including don't saw the branch you are sitting on) that seem frivolous till you start working in the tree. The book gives a few plans, and though none would quite work in my tree, I was able to combine ideas from all of them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - Carpentry    3. Design and construction    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    8. Tree houses    9. Woodwork - General    10. Building construction & materials    11. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    12. Woodworking   

Reviews (8)

Wood ID
This is probably the most comprehensive wood identification text out there. I highly recommend it.

For scientists only
I am sure this is a wonderful book for those interested in a cellular approach to identifying wood.It is not appropriate for those of us who want to identify wood by observation. The book is too sophisticated and technical for the everyday user.

Identifying Wood : Accurate Results with Simple Tools (Hardcover)
I think it is a great book to identify wood. It has some great pictures of wood samples. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. House & Home    4. Identification    5. Wood    6. Wood Technology And Products    7. Woodwork    8. Woodwork - General    9. Woodworking    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    11. Timber & wood processing   

Reviews (1)

The missing manual that should have come with your router

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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Routers (Tools)    6. Woodwork    7. Woodwork - General    8. Woodwork - Tools    9. Woodworking    10. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (5)

The Best!!!
Perhaps the best book of its kind currently on the market.Positively dripping in excellence, this book is your one stop resource for all of your furniture restoration questions.Warped tabletops, veneer repair and replacement, broken chair leg, worn chest of drawer's runner, dents, scratches, staining and finishing, no subject is given short shrift, and all of the examples are accompanied by a plentiful supply of colour photographs, and clear instructions.It even makes a great read for those who lack the time and resources to undertake such repairs.A thoroughly satisfying book.

Excellent book
If you only wish to buy one book on repair of old furniture, this is the book. The author is a true specialist within the field and everything is explained and illustrated excellently. In addition it's a very pretty book with many fine photos. The only little flaw is that the info on refinishing is a little scattered. Anyway, the info is there. Go buy the book!

A great book for the DIY furniture repair
This is a great introduction book to furniture repair.Read more

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Furniture    3. Furniture finishing    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Repairing    8. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    9. Antique furniture    10. Furniture & cabinetmaking    11. House & Home / Furniture    12. House maintenance   

Reviews (60)

Improve Your Finishing Knowledge
This book dispels many myths and misleading thoughts about wood finishing.I've done a few simple finishing projects over many years, daunted by confusing and conflicting instructions, poor results when precisely following the instructions, etc.
Finally, it all makes sense!
I'd read several books on refinishing (I have a craftsman house and am refinishing the built-in woodwork), and though I was learning, it all seemed like like an arbitrary collection of independent facts -- some made sense, some I could not quite figure out, some seemed contradictory -- all very confusing. Then I got Flexner's book and everything finally made sense. He explained the "why" behind all the seemingly arbitrary "rules" so you can truly understand what is going on, figure things out, and make your own judgments. I have 4 other books, and none of them comes close... Really! Oh - and it's nicely organized with a good index too!

For those who like to understand what they're doing
Understanding Wood Finishing is aptly titled.Unlike most books I have read on wood finishing, Flexner's work gives a great deal of attention to understanding the subject.Other books I have read, including one of my favorites, Finishing Methods of Work, are compilations of methods and instructions.Flexner explains the mechanics of the finishes instead of just the properties and dogmatized applications.Make no mistake, he provides instructions on those areas as well, but he leaves the reader with an understanding of the products that will allow him or her to improvise with a high likelihood of success.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Stains and staining    7. Wood finishing    8. Woodfinishing    9. Woodwork - General    10. Woodworking    11. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (1)

Ideas Galore
If you're doing trimwork but have never spent a lot of time looking at various ideas out there, this is an excellent book to get your creative mind going.There are numerous variations of trim possibilities within these pages.But the best thing for me was the pages of molding profiles showing the various types and styles of molding available.Not all of it is available in my market, but it gave me ideas for molding I could make using my tools.Overall a really good book - I keep it by my bedside and go through it regularly just to create new ideas for trimwork. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - Carpentry    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design    7. Woodworking    8. DIY    9. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (7)

Great source for insperation
Great collectionto make you think and to inspire you to "build out of the box".

Lots of quality photos
Very nice book, lots of great looking boxes. Great for new ideas (woodworker) or if you are looking for something special. Only downfall, is most do not offer a picture of the inside of box.

Thinking outside the box!
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Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Hobbies/Crafts    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. Wooden boxes    5. Woodwork    6. Woodworking    7. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    8. Handicrafts    9. LITERATURE - LIT CLASSICS TRD PB   

Reviews (1)

An outstanding book
I have years of experience in residential carpentry and furnituremaking, and I've installed dozens of kitchens, but I had never actually made a set of kitchen cabinets. We are renovating our house, and replacing our cheap cabinets is one of the items on the list. I spent hours at my local Barnes and Noble and Borders stores looking for a comprehensive book that focuses exclusively on kitchen cabinetmaking, and couldn't find one out of the dozens of books on cabinemaking that thoroughly covered both the cabinet design and production processes. Then I took a chance and ordered The Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker, and found exactly what I was looking for.
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Subjects:  1. Cabinetwork    2. Carpentry    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. House & Home    6. Kitchen cabinets    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Woodwork - General    9. Woodworking    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork   

Reviews (3)

Good starter book
I am a carver -- mantle pieces and such -- and bought the book for a young man who wanted to try his hand at carving. It covers all the basics and even has some great patterns.

I feel better now
I have wanted to carve wood for some time, but had no idea how to go about learning. Most of the books I've looked at were either too technical or too advanced for me.Finally, this book has given me the confidence to begin. The discussions are well written at a level that's good for a beginner like me. I read the entire book in about 3 hours and am now going back and starting my first project. The projects look doable and I know what I'm supposed to be learning in each one. Unlike most books, this one doesn't assume a progression from project to project so that you have to do them all--whether they interest you or not. I like being able to focus on whittling or chip work and being able to put off other types until I have a reason to do them.

Good introduction to woodcarving
Just as the title says this is a good introductory text for the person interested in starting woodcarving. There is not a lot of in-depth information about each type of carving, but there is enough to get youstarted in the right direction.Read more

Subjects:  1. Carving    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Wood-carving    6. Woodwork - General    7. Art techniques & materials    8. Carving & carvings    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    10. Woodworking   

Editorial Review

Whether you own a wooden boat or are just toying with the idea of buyingone, Read more

Reviews (7)

Great read, but a bit thin in critical areas
This is a very entertainingly written book, essential for anyone restoring a wooden boat - worth it as a fun read alone.The book is full of fun wooden boat philosophy, interesting personal anecdotes, and great stories.On the practical side, the author provides a good introduction to wooden boat types and construction, excellent information about selecting, evaluating and purchasing a boat for rennovation; planning and initiating projects; necessary tools and supplies; repairing holes in a wooden hull; and even some tips about building in cabinets and furniture.
Great Read
I found the book both entertaining and very useful.
Decent info - but proceed with caution.
The previous reviews touch on the good points of this book, so I won't bother to repeat these.Suffice to say, there's plenty of good info to be had from this book.I would however express one word of caution.It has to do with the author's tendancy to push the reader toward approaches and methods that may not be appropriate for boats with truly historic or aesthetic value.Mr. Trefethen makes no bones about the fact that he wants to get the boat back in the water ASAP and minimize maintenance.To use his own words, "authenticity be damned".
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Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boats and boating    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Maintenance and repair    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    7. Small Craft Maintenance And Repair    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Wooden boats    10. Woodwork    11. Woodwork - General    12. DIY    13. Ships & shipping: general interest    14. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (13)

Suggested title change
This book should be called "101 Uses for C-clamps and yard sticks".
Give me a lever long enough...
Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it,
The pros are right.
While I don't do so at the moment, I have made a living as a contractor.This book may be great for a novice but if you're a pro and don't know most of this stuff already maybe you should find someone to apprentice to...Read more

Subjects:  1. Building    2. Construction - General    3. Decorating    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. House & Home    6. House construction    7. Residential Construction    8. Self-employed    9. Technique    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Building construction & materials    12. Carpentry    13. House & Home / Reference    14. Woodworking