Reviews (5)

I saved a lot of money buying this book
I completed my refacing project in a few days after thoroughly
Just as an aside...
The MUT (multi-use tool) is now available from Rockler, rather than fabricating your own.
Decent manual - delivers what is promised
This book delivers exactly what it promises. I have used the techniques and they DO work. I would recommend this approach for the extremely budget minded renovator. By the way, the veneer he uses can be found easily online. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cabinetwork    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Kitchen cabinets    6. Kitchens    7. Remodeling    8. Remodeling & Renovation - General    9. Remodeling & Renovation - Kitchens    10. Repairing    11. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. House & Home / Carpentry    14. Woodworking   

Reviews (4)

One of the best lathe book I've used
I actually used this book to help me become more informed before I made a lathe purchase.
Save your money
As an advanced woodworker I decided to try my hand at turning so I purchased this book based upon the other reviews.The book is written in a confusing, disjointed, and rather condescending manner.Conover seems to want to impress with his "expertise" at the expense of clearly disseminating information. Good instructional presentation
Hey...before I read this book I was quite uncertain which way to approach the lathe.Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Hobbies/Crafts    3. House & Home    4. Lathes    5. Power Tools    6. Turning    7. Woodwork - Tools    8. Woodworking    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork   

Reviews (3)

Woodcut and wood engraving updated
Walker has taken woodcut, arguably the oldest of printing techniques, and brought it into the twenty-first century. Albrecht Durer would certainly recognize everything that goes on in a woodcut artist's shop. It's the tools, inks, papers, and especially subject matter that have changed. This book steps clearly through every step, combining very readable text, illustration, and samples of original prints.
Ever print artist wannabe needs to read
I found the previous reviews to be helpful and true.I read it cover to cover immediately and can't wait to try some of the tips and to find a couple of tools I found quite interesting.

A practical handbook and valuable reference work
A thoroughly engaging and accessible work, beautifully illustrated with many outstanding examples of woodcuts and wood engravings. Most readers will be itching to try their hand at this craft well before they've finished the book, and George Walker provides plenty of information to help you do just that. The writing is clear and readable, with a good balance of background information, practical tips and instructions, and resources for further reading. Although Walker makes no bones about the difficulty of mastering this craft, he encourages beginners to play and experiment, and gives many pointers to help you avoid the pitfalls. Obviously, his years of teaching experience have given him some insight into what people find trickiest about making printing blocks. He not only provides encouragement, he even gives instructions for repairing any mistakes you might make!
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Printmaking    4. Techniques - Printmaking    5. Woodworking    6. Art / Printmaking    7. Relief processes (eg woodcut, lino)    8. Wood-engraving - Technique   

Reviews (1)

A Classic Set
This set is very well done.Exerpts from the best woodworking magazine around (Fine Woodworking), it is beautiful.Keep in mind it is several paperback books placed in a hard cardboard sleeve.The tips, tools, and knowledge is exceptional, and exactly what I was looking for.If you want only one book or set, this is the one.If you are looking for projects, go elsewhere.If you want to be a quality woodworker, welcome home. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. House & Home    4. Woodwork - General    5. Woodworking    6. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    7. Handicrafts    8. Crafts & Collectibles   

Subjects:  1. Construction - Carpentry    2. Design & Construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - Carpentry    5. Equipment, Appliances & Supplies    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Carpentry    9. House & Home / Design & Construction    10. Woodworking   

Reviews (11)

OK for Inspiration; not OK for actual building
The book containsa few designs I've not seen before but as far as building anything from this book alone, forget it.You'll need to take the basic (very rough) designs and draft your own detailed plans.However, I think it was worth the few bucks I spent on it.

Easy woodworking patterns.
This book turned out to be even better than I'd hoped.I can't wait to get started building some of the pieces.Easy to read and understand the diagrams. Condition of the book was great, and I've read it over and over as I plan the remodeling of my "new" old house.

Great shop guide and overview
This is a great book for someone with shop skills and tools. The book shows a good variety of furniture most likely to be of interest to a person building furniture for their own home (or perhaps a gift!). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Furniture making    3. Woodwork - General    4. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    5. Furniture & cabinetmaking    6. Woodworking   

Reviews (3)

quick bits for quick reads
Each topic is one, or at most two pages. Nearly all have entertaining and even helpful sketches with them. The candor and insights into woodworking technique, tools, and wisdom are entertaining as well as educational. What's more, in addition to the editoral content - Tolpin's book is worth the price for any of the following: 1) the list of 20 favorite tools, 2) the list of 20 favorite books, 3) knowing how horses rear ends determined the width of the space shuttle booster rockets (REAL horses), or 4) how to use a story stick instead of a tape measure - and WHY.
pearls of wisdom
i bought this book mainly because i was so impressed with the author's original on building traditional kitchen cabinets. this book is great entertainment and wisdom as master cabinetmaker jim tolpin recalls numerous lessons from his formative years as an apprentice in woodworking. some of the best pieces of advice that he gives include:
Wonderful!
After you've read some of the many books detailing aspects of woodworking technique, and have spent a little time in the shop, read this for pure enjoyment. The crisp prose and amusing hand drawings are like having a great conversation with the author. This is "A Cabinetmakers Notebook" for the rest of us! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. House & Home    4. Miscellanea    5. Woodwork    6. Woodwork - General    7. Woodworking   

Reviews (7)

I Love this book!
This book is terrific! Annie B. Bond has such a lovely way of writing and she pulls and lulls you into this book with her writing style.I loved every topic in her book and have so many pages bookmarked so I won't have to hunt for them later. I'm all for healthy, toxin-free living and this book hits the mark exquisitely.She gives you great receipes for natural, safe cleaning products and takes you through-out your home with great suggestions for its care. She ends her book with addresses of govenment or company names to find information or products of all the items she covers in this book. The is a book that will always be close at hand for me to refer to.Thanks Annie!

Wide-ranging details on creating and maintaining a healthy environment makes it a unique, top pick
If 'home' means more to you than a roof over your head, and you seek to create a nurturing, toxin-free atmosphere and lifestyle within its walls, then Home Enlightenment is for you: it provides an encyclopedia of natural living which covers everything from animal dander and water management to lighting, fire, mercury concerns, laundry and fabric health, and more. It's rare to see a guide on home systems so attentive to overall health concerns: Home Enlightenment's wide-ranging details on creating and maintaining a healthy environment makes it a unique, top pick.
Valuable Resource
This author has the distinct ability to make the reader feel like they are conversing with a friend rather than reading a book.The content is vast and is very well written.Annie B. Bond is very generous with her knowledge and leaves virtually no question unanswered.If you made a New Year's resolution to lead a healthier life by creating a healthier home, then this book is a must have! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Furniture Arts And Crafts    5. Healthy Living    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Housing and health    9. Hygiene    10. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques/Collectibles    3. Architecture    4. Care & Restoration    5. Furniture    6. Historic Preservation    7. Repairing    8. Antique furniture    9. Antiques & Collectibles / Care & Restoration    10. Care & restoration of antiques    11. Furniture & cabinetmaking   

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Hobbies/Crafts    3. Metal Work    4. Woodwork - General    5. Model engineering    6. Woodworking   

Reviews (4)

Violinmaking instructions
This was a very useful book for the beginning violin luthier with simple instructions and line drawings.

Depends on your goals
This book is directed, not to the amateur violin-builder who admires and aspires to emulate the fine craft of violin-making on a modest scale, but rather to the 'amateur' in the sense of someone who is less interested in immersing themselves in the craft and more interested in building a fiddle at all, somehow. Violin Making - A guide for the amateur
Being a true amateur - I have begun building a violin making this book - having never even touched a violin - it will be an interesting experience.My rating of the book - is that it is quite good, so far.It would benefitfrom some actual pictures to go with the dialog - as it would be nice tosee an actual picture of what you are trying to build rather than a roughsketch.The book is dependent on rough illustrations to guide the amateur. The templates are very good but you do need to 'smooth' some of thetemplates to match the final violin shape.Not all the components arethere, for example the tail piece for securing the strings is not mentionedat all, as is the Bow, so I assume these items need to be purchasesseparately.Before you start it is best to read the book right through -otherwise some of the steps given earlier on in the book make no sense - inthis regard it would be helpful to give a hint as to why "you must doit this way" - anyway overall it is a very good book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Musical Instruments - Construction And Repair    5. Musical Instruments - Strings    6. Violin    7. Woodwork - General    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    9. String instruments    10. Woodworking   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Antiques & Collectibles    3. Antiques / Collectibles    4. Antiques/Collectibles    5. Biography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Furniture    8. Furniture design    9. Furniture designers    10. History    11. Scandinavia    12. Furniture & cabinetmaking   

Reviews (2)

The only book you need for pens
This book is head and shoulders about anything else out there on pen turning. After reading the Sing and Cripps primers I ordered this. There is no question that this book should be the one you read.It is well organized, clearly written and gives multiple ways to perform each step in the pen making progress. Pen turning book excels!
Dick Sing is supposedly the guru of pen and pencil turners.He has written several widely read books on the subject.Until recently, Sing's only competition was author Mike Cripps.But all of Sing and Cripps books pale in comparison to Christensen and Burningham's "Turning Pens and Pencils".This book is so good that it's hard to begin describing its numerous attributes.It's an excellent book for the beginning wood turner and pen maker.But it goes way beyond anything that Sing or Cripps provide.Christensen and Burningham are creative designers and it shows in their pen making.The book is packed with useful suggestions on everything from cutting and boring pen blanks to pen assembly.These guys are pros with years of experience, and it shows.I was stunned by their creative ideas such as the use of polymer clay in lieu of wood.The quality of their pens is simply awesome.It would be impossible for me to commend this book too strongly.If you like to turn wood and you're interested in pen and pencil making, you owe it to yourself to get this book.You'll be glad you did. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Woodwork - General    5. Woodworking    6. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    7. JUVY-NON FICTION - JUVY-ACTIVITY NON FI   

Reviews (14)

Ok but not very detailed
This book is a more a of brief review of table saw technique and jigs. The chapters are not very detailed and don't actually contain any directions for doing most of cuts or processes. The most frustrating thing is where he will say "just use this very handy jig" and then gives a very crude drawing of the jig with no explanation of how to build it or even a basic layout. A MUCH better book is Kelly Mehler's The Table Saw Book.

thank you
The book was very good a need to have in the shop

A great book for novices or beyond
Several other reviewers have commented on the value of the jigs, and I agree.I wish Tolpin would have presented an overview of his fence jig system early on, it would have been easier to grasp the concept BUT unlike one other reviewer I certainly did not have to go through the book several times to get it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Circular saws    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. House & Home    5. Woodwork    6. Woodwork - Tools    7. Woodworking    8. Woodworking tools   

Reviews (1)

Excellent resource for sawing/drying/do-it-yourself kilning.
Book is a compilation of articles on growing timber,sawing methods using a variety of mill types as well as how to stack and air dry lumber. It also includes a detailed section on kiln construction for the hobbiest. Different types of kiln plans are included including solar, anddehumidification types.Overall, an inexpensive resource with a lot ofusefull information for the serious wood hobbiest that harvests, saws anddrys their own lumber. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Carpentry    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Drying    4. General    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Lumber    8. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    9. Wood    10. Woodwork - General    11. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    12. Woodworking   

Reviews (2)

Amazing
So much information for beginners it's unreal.I just started turning last year as a hobby and I can't stay away from it.Well organized, detailed pictures, a must have for any turner, beginner or expert.It is something you can keep learning and use as a guide if you have any questions.

Want to learn how to turn?
Mr. Raffan's books are some of the best books I have ever read
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Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. House & Home    5. Woodwork - General    6. Woodworking    7. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    8. Handicrafts    9. Hobbies, Quizzes & Games   

Reviews (6)

Great book to help identify woods.
I am constantly trying to figure out what kind of wood I'm trying to work with and this book helps immensely in that.The color pictures give a great identification of both finished and unfinished wood.

Disappointing
I bought this book because a quick glance showed the the photos are very good.As one reviewer noted, most woods includes a full page photo that is split in half, one showing unfinished, one showing finish.
Good reference book for the beginner and expert woodworker
Very good book, can be used as quick reference guide when trying to choose a wood to build any furniture, I found very useful the fact that it shows the wood appearance with and without finish so one figure out how the colour will change when a finish is applied.
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Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - General    6. Wood Structure And Properties    7. Woodwork - General    8. Woodworking    9. House & Home / Decorating    10. Wood    11. Woodwork - Amateurs' manuals   

Subjects:  1. House & Home    2. Woodworking   

Editorial Review

With

Reviews (8)

Built-In, North American Style.
This book does have enough pictures of built in cabinets/furniture from every room in the house to give you an idea of what can be done, but I found that other books I have read, such as Kitchen Design books, have way more information on certain topics than this book is able to cover. There is also some instructions on how to make some of the cabinets yourself. The style is all North American which is ok, but you should also read some books on how the Japanese design built in furniture, such as, Small Spaces: Stylish Ideas for Making More of Less in the Home, by Azby Brown.

Ideas abound!
Apparently the hardcover edition reviewer bought a bad copy - this is an excellent book with crisp, bright photos and excellent ideas for expanding any room.But don't stop here...let this serve as a base and let your imagination really take off.I've used ideas from this book to make projects that turned out much better!

Neat Stuff !!
Built-In Furniture is a great book for everyone who's ever dreamed of having a secret door to a hidden room or just wants to utilize seamingly wasted space. This book of ideas has been agreat launching pad for my own new home design.It's NOT a project book with plans and instructions but if you're in the "looking for ideas" phase this is a good picture book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Furniture    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Woodwork - Furniture/Cabinetry    7. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    8. Home furnishing & decoration    9. Woodworking   

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Furniture Arts And Crafts    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Residential Interior Design    7. House & Home / Decorating    8. Interior design    9. c 1970 to c 1980