Decorative woodwork Books

Book SynopsisWhile wood bowls are commonly made on a lathe, this guided resource offers 28 projects for crafting beautiful bowls with the more accessible scroll saw. Each project is organized in a progressive learning format; beginning crafters can start with the most basic starter bowl and gradually work their way toward more elaborate bowls - such as laminated swag bowls; a flared lobed bowl made with varied angles; a thin, eight-segmented bowl; and an inward curving bowl. Original patterns for other types of vessels include a vase, a ginger jar and a candy dish. For advanced wood crafters, an appendix expands upon the earlier material and pushes wood artists to create new patterns or adapt the existing ones to create art of their very own.Trade ReviewInspiring work that is hard to believe was done on a scroll saw.I had the opportunity to review one of the best How-To woodworking books I've ever read. Carole Rothman makes a seemingly impossible task utterly simplistic through her many step-by-step bowl, jar and vase projects in Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw. I was impressed with how detailed each project in the book was so intricately laid out and explained, but what really made me fall in love with Carole's how-to writing style, was that she must have her beginner readers' best interests in mind. In the first chapter she discusses the pro's and con's of several species of wood and encourages the woodworker to try other types also. Carole discusses all of the possible tools needed and how to use them. She even includes templates for how to build your own bowl glue-up clamps. This book has taken me on a journey to learn something that I would never have thought possible on just a scrollsaw...Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw(Fox Chapel) will surprise readers with its collection of projects that look like they were painstakingly turned on a lathe. Instead, these handsome bowls, vases, dishes and jars were made easily with just one affordable tool - the scroll saw. Using a simple method of cutting a concentric set of rings, Carole Rothman, a former teacher and award-winning cake decorator, can achieve the same graceful form and beauty usually found in lathe-turned objects. Twenty-eight projects walk readers step-by-step through choosing the appropriate wood, cutting rings with a pattern, drilling entry holes, stacking & gluing the rings together, sanding and finishing.When she first began woodworking in earnest, Carole Rothman used skills honed on the sewing machine to control the band saw -- but it's her scroll saw work that she hopes creates a new genre in woodworking. Although Carole has been involved in working with her hands since childhood, it didn't come from any family influence. Her family are teachers and academics -- "my father would call an electrician to change the light bulb." By age eight,she had learned to knit and crochet from her mother, but when they bought a sewing machine and learned to sew together, Carole quickly surpassed her mother's skills, sewing her own clothes by age nine. As a young married woman (she designed and sewed her own wedding dress), Carole encountered a situation familiar to many: "We didn't have much money -- we were pretty strapped." She began refinishing furniture for her new abode, because it was less costly than buying new."Oak was in, in those days," Carole said. She learned about oak and other woods -- "how it worked, how it finished" -- from an antique dealer. When her young family moved on to a 50-year-old Tudor style home, Carole began learning a new set of skills, in carpentry, plumbing, heating and more home improvement. "We built a deck; we replaced doors....," she said. "I learned to find my way around a lumberyard," and, also, "I learned to deal with contempt. I once had a man in a hardware store ask me why I wasn't home making soup." Enough reticence regarding the male-dominated aspect of woodworking remained that it took Carole over a year to join the woodworking club which is part of the condo unit where she and her partner live. Carole,divorced from the husband of her younger days, had wanted her partner to make a collapsible wooden basket but, after a year in which he hadn't made the project, she decided to do it herself. As she made the basket on the band saw, she discovered, "It was not a big deal. The skills I'd developed on the sewing machine gave me control." As she continued to work on the band saw, other people in the shop began noticing her work and asked Carole, who has 32 years of experience teaching at the college level, to teach a class on band saw basics to publicize the shop. The class was approaching, and "it was around this time that the band saw went badly out of alignment. I was going to be teaching new people, and I was afraid for their fingers. I needed a backup plan." The shop had a scroll saw, but "it was a pin type, that was a piece of junk when it was donated," Carole said. She characterized the attitude of the other shop members as, "It's a scroll saw, what do weneed another one for?" After convincing them to buy a more modern scroll saw, Carole used an introduction to the scroll saw book by John Nelson to teach herself about the tool. Self-taught in other areas, she learned how to use the tool, successfully taught the class -- and began moving her own scroll saw work from baskets to boxes. The boxes incorporated techniques honed from another of Carole's crafts: cake decorating. "I'd always been interested in cake decorating," she said, and at one point, submitted a picture of one of her cakes to a contest, won a prize, and began an extensive contribution to a cake decorating magazine. She developed her own style in cake decorating, with a particular interest in "recreating edible objects that looked real. "When those objects were meant to reflect wooden items, she used wood graining tools in her sugar paste, and mixed wood grain alcohol and shellac flakes to create the look of finished wood, "that was completely edible." These cake projects -- such as a cake shaped like a wooden wine crate -- trained her eye to see how things were constructed, Carole said. The first piece of furniture she built was a pie safe with pierced tin panels to act as storage for her cakes and cake decorating supplies-- and when she began scroll sawing in earnest, she brought her cake decorating skills and patterns to the new medium. A box she made in imitation of a cake decorated with gift-wrap bows won third prize in a woodworking contest judged by Frank Klausz. "As I moved on, I discovered scroll saw bowls," Carole said. She had liked the look of lathe-turned bowls, but "I was put off by the tremendous waste; you just leave shavings on the floor." She found a book by Patrick Spielman on scroll saw bowls, but the construction methods relied heavily on the router, and she felt the level of instruction was too high for a beginner. "I don't like using other people's patterns,"Carole said, and so, as in other areas she'd explored, she made her own,cutting up wood to see what would happen and using her background in sewing and understanding of fabric construction to recreate, in wood, patterns such as ginghams and plaids. As she made more bowls using the scroll saw and sandingtools, Carole soon found herself with her own book contract. Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw, published by FoxChapel [ISBN 978978-1-56523-433-8], is "the book I needed when I started out," Carole said. It's also the book she hopes will launch scroll sawn bowls as a new genre in scroll saw woodwork, along with such items as fretwork puzzles. The scroll saw, she said, is a very safe tool that can serve to demystify woodworking to a larger audience, and is also "economical with wood. It's a wonderful craft for our times. It's a wonderful way to make beautiful things without them being a big deal." Now that her first scroll saw book has been put to bed,Carole herself has been experimenting with open segmented bowls, different laminations and colors. She gets those colors from natural woods such as padauk, yellowheart and purpleheart, finished with clear finishes. "I'm now able to do things I couldn't do when I started out, because I didn't have the woodworking skills." Some of her newer bowls defy understanding, she said, and actually could not be made on the lathe. "When you do something that no one has done before and are entirely self-taught, someone doesn't say 'you can't do that,' so you don't know you can't do that," she said. "What I'm after is to make beautiful projects."Scroll-saw work usually results in straight cut pieces such as those for jigsaw puzzles. Rothman has devised her own method of making slanted cuts by tilting the saw table. Progressively smaller pieces are cut, stacked, and glued to form bowls resembling those turned on a lathe. Projects include pieced designs using different woods.First Carole, let me say that I love your book. I have a basic bowl in poplar waiting for the round sander to arrive so I can finish the inside. Thanks to your crystal clear instructions in both the book and the video it was very easy. I have a shelf full of wood working books and this is one that I will use frequently. Many woodworking books have indecipherable instructions and pictures and drawings that are useless. I could not find one instance where I couldn't understand what you were saying in minutes.No lathe? No Problem! You can still create some magnificent looking bowls through the use of your scroll saw. The author has put together 28 beautiful and utilitarian bowls, vases and baskets using only the scroll saw. Carole Rothman, a psychologist and retired college professor shows how surprisingly easy it is to create these laminated bowls from scratch.Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw is a different take on bowl making. In it Rothman shows you how to make 28 different projects with lots of step-by-step photos and instructions. And you don't need a lathe. The bowls are made with flat pieces of wood and a scroll saw.Looking for a new project to use some of those wood samples on? The book Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw, by Carole Rothman (Fox Chapel Publishing, ISBN 978-156523-433-8, priced at $19.95) introduces new techniques for creating the kind of bowls you'd typically find coming off a lathe. No need for that here: just a flat piece of wood, a scroll saw and the desire, common among woodworkers, to go to the shop and make something out of wood.WOODEN BOWLS FROM THE SCROLL SAW, by Carole Rothman, features 28 useful and easy-to-make projects. The surprising part about this book is that the featured projects look like they were painstakingly turned on a lathe. Instead, these bowls, vases, dishes and jars were made easily with just one affordable tool - the scroll saw. Using a simple method of cutting a concentric set of rings, Rothman, a former teacher and award-winning cake decorator, shows readers how they can achieve the same graceful form and beauty usually found in lathe-turned objects. She walks readers step-by-step through choosing the appropriate wood, cutting rings with a pattern, drilling entry holes, stacking and gluing the rings together, sanding and finishing. Projects include basic stacked bowls, in addition to more challenging designs using laminated woods, bowls cut from multiple angles and thin wood bowls. Each includes a list of the tools and materials needed, as well as full-size patterns and color photographs of the work in progress and variations of the finished piece.This book is absolutely a must whe you have a desire to mak a bowl or urn or what ever. My first project was made inless than 3 days for a Wood Craft Art Show. I Choose a hard one to start with the Tweed Pattern Bowl. This bowl won a second place ribbon. The Judge was such a critic of the show. No other bowls won a ribbon. I recieved the only ribbon for wooden bowls. This would have not been as easily acomplished with out this GREAT book. Carl Harden Boise Id.A scrollsaw is probably not the first machine you would think of, if you wanted to make bowls. But, as the author of this book shows, some very attractive and innovative bowls can be made with a scrollsaw. Approximately the same method is used for making all 2B bowls. The worktable of the saw is set at an angle and the bowl cut out in horizontal strakes which generally grow larger towards the top. The bowl is completed by a solid bottom. When all of the strakes and the bollom are finished, they are glued together and the bowl is finish sanded using, where possible, portable sanding equipment and a spindle sander. The first bowl is a simple circular shape, but the second begins to demonstrate the design freedom inherent in the technique. Called an Eight-Petal Bowl, it has a wavy form that nevertheless tapers from top to bollom. There is a 'four-petal' bowl later in the book as well as a RippleEdged Round Bowl and a Heart Shaped 80wl. The most striking of the bowls are, however, those which are made using laminations and multi-angle shapes. The latter part of the book is devoted to Think Outside the 60wl- an exploration of vase and jar making using the same techniques. The minimum presentation for each project consists of a photo of the finished bowl, the drawings necessary to cut oul the shapes, instructions and a guide to materia and tools. The more complicated projects are given a larger amount of space with detailed instructions and stage by stage photographs. Since the methods used are relatively simple, there is no reason why this book should not appeal to the novice, while the attractive and useful projects should hold the interest of the more experienced.This book provides you with all the info and ideas you need to get started on knocking out beautiful and complicated-looking bowls.You want to make wooden bowls but don't have a lathe? Well did you know that you can make some pretty impressive ones using a scrollsaw? The basic principle is you cut out several rings. drill entry holes. glue them together, sand, and finish. This book provides you with all the info and ideas you need to get started on knocking out beautiful and complicated-lookingbowls, vases and jars. Great for alternative bowlmaking.

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Book SynopsisWhether you're new to scrolling or have been at the craft for quite some time, there's a puzzle project waiting for you inside this new book. Collected from the pages of "Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts", you'll discover 29 of the most beloved puzzle patterns and projects. Creative, colourful and separated by difficulty level for easy selection, each design features a colour photo of the finished puzzle and a pattern, while selected projects feature step-by-step instructions for easy completion. Readers are treated to the work from a variety of talented artists, like John A. Nelson, Carl Hird-Rutter, Judy and Dave Peterson, Jim Sweet and many more. The puzzles make perfect gifts or items to sell at craft fairs. Inside you'll find: cuddly cats, Jonah and the Whale, an owl with her family, a woolly mammoth, a teacher's puzzle, The World's Most Difficult Puzzle and many more. These "Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts" subscriber favourites are sure to become your most beloved puzzles too!Trade ReviewPros: a nice book with wood project accessible for all levels. Great presentation with step by step instructions. Cons: All three projects I made so far have errors (or missing steps) in the instructions. Beware, It's very frustrating to have to redo your projects from start...A collection of articles from the Scrollsaw Woodworking & Crafts magazine, Wooden Puzzles deals primarily with projects that have a jigsaw puzzle element and hence are suited to being made on the scrollsaw. There are 31 puzzles in all. Many, such as the Woodimal Moose and Lion, Kangaroo, Wizard, Star and Motorcycle are identifiable 20 shapes which can be pulled apart like a jigsaw puzzle. Others such as the Dairy Delight, Apple Alphabet and Paul Bunyan consist of a backing tray and pull-out pieces. There are a few 3D puzzles. These include the Whale which has a small Jonah figure inside, the Interlocking Lizard and an introduction to layered marquetry puzzles. The Wooden Puzzle Vault is an interesting and complex project for the router table and drill press, rather than the scrollsaw. One project that stands out is the World's Most Difficult Four-Piece Puzzle. It might not be the most difficult but it will certainly amuse your friends. It consists of four seemingly identical jigsaw pieces that make up a square. However there is a trick to getting it apart and putting it back together. To successfully produce the puzzle a little trial and error with the cutting on the scrollsaw is required. All projects are detailed with plans, colour photographs and step-by-step instructions. Wooden Puzzles will provide hours of fun for anyone with a scrollsaw and represents good value for those interested in wooden puzzles generally.For the scroll sawyer these puzzles are fun to make and even more fun to solve. There are 31 puzzles from the pages of ScrollSaw & Crafts Magazine and they are great. I liked the challenging (to solve) four-piece puzzle, the Apple Alphabet puzzle for kids and 29 more. The authors do a great job of showing you how to make the various cuts and the materials that they used. A fun book for all.Do our LumberJocks' scrollwork projects inspire and intimidate you? Are you puzzled by scroll saw work? The book "Wooden Puzzles" takes "puzzled" to a whole new level! In "Wooden Puzzles" there are thirty-one projects that are divided into beginner, intermediate and master categories. There are puzzles for children, for educational purposes, for teenagers and for adults. Although my scroll saw skills are limited and my confidence level on the machine is low I am inspired to try my hand at making one - the projects are just too cute to resist and the beginner ones don't look too difficult. Each scroll saw project comes with a pattern for the puzzle and a picture of the finished product (sometimes with different variations which is helpful). Many of the projects come with a series of photos accompanying the step-by-step instructions. Throughout the pages of the book are dozens of tips regarding wood selection and combinations, pattern reproductions, and scrolling tips. I have looked through the book several times now, gaining the courage to try my hand at making a puzzle. Although I love the simple but beautiful puzzles I am intrigued by the variations presented. Maybe, just maybe, I'll jump right into mixing it up a bit! My Ratings of The Book Layout and Appearance: Good balance of photos, plans and instructions. Thumbs Up! Instructions: Clear step-by-step instructions and patterns. Thumbs Up! Projects Selection: Great variety (in subject matter and skill level) Inspiration: There are so many of the projects that I want to make! Inspired, indeed. Thumbs Up! Overall: Thumbs Up!

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Book SynopsisStill the Undisputed Champion of Router How-to Books More than 10 years after its original publication, WOODWORKING WITH THE ROUTER remains the most highly regarded--and best-selling--router manual available. Clear, comprehensive, and readable, it's packed with the techniques and tricks you'll need to unleash your router's incredible potential. All that and more is covered in this expanded, thoroughly revised and updated edition. Hundreds of large, clear photos and drawings--now in full color--show you everything you need to know about using a router productively and safely. The information is specific, tested, and accurate, making this crackerjack manual almost as indispensable as the router itself!

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Book SynopsisReusing Mother Nature's beauty inside the home is a great way to add warmth to any decor, as this book shows. It includes five chapters that are divided into the areas of a home where the 35 stylish and practical projects can be used. It takes the reader on a journey that is both creative and inspiring. For years, Chris Lubkemann has been transforming twigs, branches and fallen trees into artfully designed yet functional pieces for the home, from candle holders and coasters to coffee tables and curtain rods. With insight into picking the right piece of wood to the basic techniques of cutting, trimming and shaping, "Tree Craft" takes the reader on a journey that is both creative and inspiring. The five chapters in the book are divided into the areas of a home where the 35 stylish and practical projects can be used. Aimed toward those with a general appreciation of wood, the projects are interesting because they use natural pieces of wood that can be turned into unique and useful items with some creative tweaking. Reusing Mother Nature's beauty inside the home is a great way to add warmth and rustic elegance to any decor.Trade ReviewOur friends at Fox Chapel recently sent us a copy of Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects that Bring the Outdoors In, a terrific new book by Chris Lubkemann. The book is a fun collection of wood carving projects that are as approachable as they are easy to make. A master whittler, Lubkeman shows readers how to apply his craft to home projects. With easy-to-follow instructions, he lets us into the basics of woodworking and carving. So, effectively in fact, that soon you'll want to turn your own backyard logs and branches into everyday home furnishings. The whole book is based on only a few different woodworking concepts, but the plethora of ideas that come from those concepts is really wonderful and creative. For Tree Craft, Mr. Lubkemann turned to his own yard. He used a couple of trees that he had cut down to make most of the projects in the book. What we loved about the book is that he doesn't spend much for his materials and recycles materials that he already has very crafty! He has found ways to turn his old tree trunks into useful items from coasters, planters, necklaces and checkerboard tables, to planter, photo frames and lamps he really gives us a run for our money! I was so inspired that after finishing the book, I picked up a stick from our own backyard and carved a letter opener. OK, so I used a box cutter because we didn't have a pocketknife, and Lubkemann has had much more practice at whittling, but . . . I think mine looks really great!This book is AWESOME! Author Chris Lubkemann shows us 35 different crafts using found wood. He has everything from salt & pepper shakers to curtain rods to coffee tables and all sorts of coat/jewelry/hat racks. The projects in Tree Craft are not only a great way to bring the outdoors in, but are also fairly easy to make! Trust me when I say there is something for everyone in this book, and it'll have you out looking for tree stumps and fallen tree limbs.Inspiring, purposeful, and stylish--Tree Craft has ideas for everyone. This book is an inventive spin on eco-living.Great book with plenty of ideas to inspire novice or experienced woodworkers. From the lumber in our buildings to the food on our table and the landscaping on our property, trees play a big role in human life. Now woodworking craftsman Chris Lubkemann offers a way to use fallen trees in additional ways to dress up our world. Lubkemann's book, 'Tree Craft: 35 rustic wood projects that bring the outdoors in' from Fox Chapel Publishing, features projects using parts of trees to create beautiful and useful furnishings for home, yard and office. The beauty of this book rests in the open-ended plans for each item. A novice will find ways to enjoy working with tree parts to create a simple item, while a more experienced woodworker can adapt and enhance the projects to finish with a highly personal piece. Lubkemann begins with a strong foundation-a table of the characteristics of various trees and their woods. He builds on that with descriptions of the potential sources of wood for projects and the methods of cleaning wood that you've found in the great outdoors. Add a few pages on sharpening your tools and you're ready to get started. He organizes the projects by uses for the finished product. Starting with decorative items such as candlestick holders and jewelry, he then moves into ideas for dining, living, playing and working. Each of the plans starts with a tree limb, trunk or branch. None of these projects require an elaborate workshop, although the craftsman with a well-equipped shop can enjoy the book as well. A good saw and a whittling knife can handle many of the projects. Because the various concepts provide starting points rather than demanding instructions, beginners and experts can employ the ideas to their own skill levels. The book offers numerous photos of the content, from preparing the wood to the finished piece. Many of the projects can be adapted for use with young woodworkers such as Scouts, 4-H or other youth organizations. Whether you consider yourself an experienced woodworker or just an interested crafter, you'll find plenty of reasons to enjoy this book. Perhaps the greatest strength of the publication is that it provides a primer for ideas of other adaptations. If you learn to make a natural checkerboard, how big a leap is it to make a natural tic-tac-toe board? How far from a business card holder to bookends? I can safely say that after reading this volume, I will never look at a fallen branch in quite the same way again.Hand expert wood carver chris Lubkemann a piece of wood and a knife and before you know it, a pair of candlesticks, a set of wooden spoons, something wonderful to play with or even a place to hang your hat will emerge right before your eyes. With Tree Craft, this bestselling author of The Little Book of Whittling shows you how to transform mere twigs and branches into coasters, salt and pepper shakers, bud vases, a checker board with game pieces, a coat rack and 35 woodworking projects in all that will bring the rustic beauty of the outdoors into your home. Projects range from simple to complex and Chris does such a fantastic job of introducing the tools and explaining the techniques, that even beginners can get in on the fun.Projects range from simple to complex and Chris does such a fantastic job of introducing the tools and explaining the techniques, that even beginners can get in on the fun.This book has 35 projects that can "bring the outdoors in". Tree Craft by Chris Lubkemann tells you how to make rustic wood pieces for your home using found twigs, sticks and logs. Examples of the projects include lamps, a key chain, salt & pepper shakers and clothes hooks and racks. "Going green" is such a hot topic and maybe this book can help in the effort by providing creative ways to decorate your home with found items.It's a little late, but this post is in honor of Earth Day. (I was just too busy on Earth Day to post it!) Recently we got a copy of a new crafting book called Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In by Chris Lubkemann. When I first heard about it, I admit I wondered if it would be a little hokey. Okay, I was totally wrong. This is such a cool book! Check out some of the beautiful projects Chris shows you how to make using tree branches or stumps that you can find for free. They're totally "green." And several of them would make great Mother's Day gifts. . . My favorite is probably this curtain rod. Have you noticed how expensive curtain rods are? Even at Target? I could go walk around in the woods behind my house and find a curtain rod just laying on the ground! Brilliant! The other thing I like is that these projects are not just for cabins. Yes, most of them are PERFECT for cabin decor, but I could see myself using these in my own home, too. Like how cute is that spoon hanger? That would be darling with kids photos hanging from it for Mother's Day. . .hmmm, I feel a project coming on! If you want to find a copy of Tree Craft, start here. The photography is great, the instructions are clear and simple, and the ideas are genius. Love this book!Easy Projects For Giving Your Home Eco-Chic Style In the past few years the trend toward green living has grown exponentially. More than ever, people are conscious of their impact on the environment and finding opportunities to reunite with nature. Discovering creative ways to recycle and reuse are hot topics, and for the crafty homeowner, living off the land is easier than you might think. With Tree Craft (Fox Chapel Publishing. September 2010), the eco-friendly can give their homes a touch of rustic elegance by bringing the outdoors in. Using found wood, twigs and branches, readers can create a wide range of easy-to-make projects, like taper candlestick holders, knotty wood photo frames, attractive table lamps, and one-of-a-kind decor, like curtain rods, clocks and planters. There's also practical items that add beauty to the dining room and kitchen, such as spoon holders, napkin rings and salt & pepper shakers. With nothing more than a few basic tools, and the step-by-step instructions inside Tree Craft, readers can make 35 fresh projects that will bring the natural warmth of wood indoors. There's even a project for outdoor seating and a game of checkers. Also included is a gallery of contemporary rooms showcasing ideas for decorating a modern home with natural wood accents. Readers will find unfinished pine can provide a soothing, spa-like quality in the home. The many examples of how to reuse and preserve maple, oak and nature's other towering beauties, makes Tree Craft the perfect gift for thrifty and eco-friendly crafters, woodworkers, decorators and home-owners.TREE CRAFT, by Chris Lubkemann, is a how-to book of 35 rustic wood projects that "bring the outdoors in." It's a book about sustainability, using found wood to craft mass-produced items like salt shakers and curtain rods. Lubkemann transforms a small twig into a key chain, slices a branch into coasters, and a downed limb into a coat rack. Not exactly high-end or difficult projects, but an excellent introduction to working wood, especially for the younger generation. Other projects include lamps, clocks and photo frames. The checker and croquet sets are better than anything you're likely to buy in a store.Okay woodworkers, the next time you have finished a project and are waiting for materials for the next one, go out to your woodlot and pick up some dead birch, maple or even viburnum branches and then buy a copy of author Lubkemann's book. He will show you how to make perfect use of those and branches or stumps from other wood species. The author illustrates everything from napkin rings, candelabra and coasters, to the more elaborate lamps or umbrella stands. Lubkemann tells us in detail how to prepare the wood limbs for working and how to preserve them. Convert your ash tree into a gracious jewelry tree or a large tree trunk into a chess board. All of this fun stuff can be found in this beautifully illustrated Fox Chapel book.Two books have recently come on the market that should be included in the libraries of anyone who loves the "art of wood." TREE CRAFT, from Fox Chapel Publishing, provides detailed information on how to construct thirty five "folky rustic" objects of art that will help bring the outdoors, in all its charm and innovation, into your home. What's great about this book is that it provides information and insight into rustic design that has taken decades for many of us in the business to learn. Both books are richly illustrated and will provide hours of entertainment and great information for those interested in wood craft and design. And both books are part of my own library and I refer to them often!"An enduringly popular form of woodworking is the use of natural twigs, branches, and 'found wood' in making items both useful and decorative. In "Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In", woodworking expert Chris Lubkemann has compiled a series of do-it-yourself, environmentally friendly projects using such materials to create unique and distinctive items ranging from curtain rods to coat racks, and from tables to walking sticks. This superbly illustrated, 144-page instructional manual provides informative and practical information on how and where to find wood, choosing the right tools to work with it, and is further enhanced with the inclusion of a gallery of contemporary rooms presenting ideas for decorating contemporary homes with rustic accents, such as the project 'Thanksgiving Tree'. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In" will prove a welcome and popular addition to personal, professional and community library woodworking reference collections.Among the 35 stylish, distinctive home décor projects in "Tree Craft" are table lamps, photo frames, curtain rods, planters, vases and a checker set. The following is an excerpt from Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In by Chris Lubkemann (Fox Chapel Publishing, 2010). Nothing adds more warmth and charm to a home than the simple beauty of natural wood. Thanks to woodworker Lubkemann's creative, practical projects in Tree Craft, bringing the splendor of the outdoors into your home is easier than ever. (Mother Earth News goes on to excerpt the Rustic Coffee Table project and Coat Rack Project)Go Green has become the collective mantra of the times, as people from the four corners of the world try to reconnect with the environment and live a conscious life, cognizant of their impact on the earth's fleeting resources. Accordingly, Chris Lubkemann's Tree Craft (due from Fox-Chapel in August 2010), adds to the ever-growing canon of green literature - a manual dedicated to teaching us how to re-use found wood and transform it into one-of-a-kind furnishings. In Tree Craft, Lubkemann (a seasoned writer and regular contributor to several wood-carving magazines) outlines how readers can use the wood they find strewn about the forest and beach and park to build practical items for both the home and office. For example, Lubkemann demonstrates how a simple branch can be used to build fashionable curtain rods that not only recycle a vital natural resource but also prove significantly more durable than those disposable plastic-based wares that line the shelves of the nation's big-box stores. With incisive step-by-step instructions, Lubkemann educates readers on how to make some 35 projects - as Tree Craft evinces, things like photo frames, table lamps, clocks and planters can be built with ease using a few common household tools. Aside from its cool Green Message, what's best about Tree Craft is in the way it's written: Rather than lecture from the pulpit, Lubkemann proves himself to be a true teacher who shows his audience how it's done by doing it with them. In this age of iPods, fast-food and endless consumption, Chris Lubkemann presents a book that slows us down a bit, urging each of us to open up our eyes and look around at what's in front of us. Ultimately, Tree Craft is not just about building things. It's also about seeing the many faces of the world that surround you.Step away from the chain saw. Think twice about what you toss into that chipper-shredder. Those nuisance storms littering your yard with tree limbs and branches could help you decorate your home. In "Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In," Lancaster County woodcarver Chris Lubkemann shows how a pocketknife, a handsaw and some sandpaper can turn tree parts into interesting home accessories: candle holders, coasters, coffee tables, even clothes "trees" that don't try to hide their humble origins. Put them all together, and you might feel as if you're living in a hobbit house. But an accent piece or two can be noticed and admired for their natural elegance. As the book says, "Nothing adds more warmth and charm to a home than the simple, rustic beauty of natural wood." And that doesn't mean highly polished cherry with Queen Anne styling, but birch with the bark still on it. Fox Chapel Publishing in East Petersburg has produced the attractively designed 128-page paperback, priced at $19.95 and packed with excellent photographs of both techniques and finished projects. Style Editor Peg Couch gets credit on the title page and in the acknowledgments for the "eco-chic" theme of this book. Lubkemann, who demonstrates woodcraft at the Amish Farm and House on Route 30 East, has authored other books for the specialty publisher. In the introduction, he explains that this one is aimed at the casual carver rather than the dedicated hobbyist. In "Getting Started," he clearly outlines basics such as selecting wood, cleaning bark, sharpening tools. Projects are divided in those for "Decorating" (i.e., knothole photo frames), "Dining" (salt and pepper shakers) "Living" (umbrella stand), "Playing" (checker set) and "Working" (letter opener). He not only includes instructions but often adds a personal anecdote. And if you don't have storm-downed wood and don't want to go out and prune your trees, Lubkemann points out that even fireplace logs will suffice for some projects, such as lamp bases. This would be an inspirational book for any Boy Scout working on the wood carving merit badge or anyone who likes to hand-make Christmas gifts. (Better get started now.) One item that captured my attention was the "Living" chapter's "Bonus Project": the "Anniversary Stump." Chris found a chunk of driftwood on Cape May's beach during an anniversary getaway with his wife. He used a woodburner to create an arrow-pierced heart with "Chris & Sheri" inside, followed by "40 Years" and "2007." I mentioned this to my husband, who seemed to believe I was dropping a hint as our 30th approaches. As long as he includes the beach getaway, I'll be appreciative. But Chris, instead of "Anniversary Stump," can we call it "Anniversary Sculpture"?From a childhood in the South American jungle to an Amish farm in Pennsylvania Dutch country, Chris Lubkemann has been playing with wood - and, this month, his latest book of playful creations, Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In (Fox Chapel, ISBN 978-1-56523-455-0) is published, with a focus on projects made from found wood. Chris himself first found wood fun to play with as a boy between the ages of six and eight years old in Brazil and Peru, where his parents were missionaries in the 1940s and 1950s. His dad would be making furniture, Chris said - it was a situation where "he had to make his own oven so he could make his own bricks to make his own house" - and small pieces of wood would fall to the ground. Chris would save these small pieces to build "fun little things" like boats. Part of that was perhaps inspired by all of the boat building going on at Contamana, the town on the Ucayali River, where the family lived in Peru. "We swam in the river, where there were alligators," Chris said, calling his "an adventurous childhood." About this time, he also began carving small dental tools from wood - he doesn't remember what inspired this, but does remember that "My mom put a stop to that. She figured we'd get some rare tropical disease, poking around in our mouths." Chris began attending boarding school in the United States at age 13 and didn't do much woodworking for the next few years, until the summer between his junior and senior years of college. While assisting the minister Dr. John Luke in programs around the mountain areas of North Carolina, Chris noticed that many of the mountaineers were making carved roosters out of Y-shaped branches. He picked up a $2.95 pocketknife, and the pastor taught him how to make these roosters. "You make the head out of this branch, the tail out of this branch, and I made my first rooster. It looked like it got in a terrible fight - and lost." In the 40-plus years since then, Chris has made "thousands" more roosters from Y-shaped branches, including one he carved from a pocketknife in 1981 that is 1/8" tall, including comb and tail. He was trying to get into the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest rooster ever carved from a Y-shaped branch, but the woodcarving category didn't exist. He did receive a certificate of superlative for the "world's smallest woodcarving" - but Chris notes that, "I don't believe for a minute that it's the smallest carving; somebody has to have carved an apple or something that's smaller." Back in the 1960s, rooster carvings and woodburnings provided items for sale that helped to fund his last year of college and, following that, the overseas travel of Chris and his wife, who themselves served as missionaries for many years. Before the first trip, Chris sold his carvings door to door to raise funds. In his travels around the world, Chris says he's used about 80 species of wood for his carvings and other projects. (Most of those other projects consist of furniture for himself - he estimates he's built "about a zillion" bookcases, although his latest is a 29"-long, foot-wide truck made of scrap wood for his grandson.) Generally, Chris said, he prefers harder woods: birches, maple, oaks, citrus woods, holly, beech, guava in the Philippines. The tighter grain and smaller pith in the harder woods works better for his type of projects: when carving something like a head on a rooster in spongy pith, he said, "It's like carving Styrofoam . It doesn't hold up." With the harder woods, "Some roosters I made 40 years ago are exactly the way I made them." While roosters are "sort of the mascot of branch carving," as well as a popular image all over the world ("they're the only bird that naturally has its tail go up," Chris says), he has carved other things, too: pheasants, herons, songbirds, roadrunners and other species. And, since 1972, he has been involved in teaching others how to do these carvings. That's when Chris wrote his first instruction sheet, which led to television appearances in Portugal and England, his books The Little Book of Whittling and The Book of Twigs and Branches, and teaching branch carving to people in the Philippines, Canada and Mexico. He also writes a column in Chip Chats, a national woodcarving magazine, and was featured carving a branch rooster on the DIY Network. Despite all this, Chris says, that, among carvers, "I consider myself sort of the low man on the totem pole. Some guys spend hundreds of hours on this. If I have a project that took me over an hour, I consider it probably took me too long." That's one reason that when Peg Couch, acquisitions editor at Fox Chapel, asked Chris to write an "eco-chic" book, he responded, "'Eco' I can handle. 'Chic" - I don't even have a clue." Tree Craft's focus is not particularly on carving, but on creating its 35 projects for home or personal use from found wood. A checker set was created from a stump in Chris's front yard; a coat rack from a neighbor's Bradford pear tree that had to come down - Chris told him, "Don't throw it out. I'll make something out of it" - and some lamps from old Christmas trees, old oak firewood and hardware Chris took out of old lamps purchased from Goodwill. Knothole picture frames are a project from the book Chris cites as particularly practical, and wooden knives, spreaders and letter openers as among the most popular. "I can't believe how much people like these little wooden knives." Chris makes his projects using a drill, a makeshift table saw and a small belt sander. "I don't have a fully equipped shop; most everything I do is with hand tools," he said. That 12' x 20' shop is located in part of old barn, where Chris does his woodcarvings and "name logs": "I cut out a slice from a log and then woodburn people's names. If they're a lacrosse player, I add lacrosse sticks. If they're a musician, I add musical notes." Chris is a resident artisan at the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Amish Farm and House living history museum, where, besides his woodworking, he also works with animals like goats - he refers to them as his "kids, grandkids and great-grandkids" - and donkeys. "I have a ton of fun in what I do," he said.Decorate Your Home the Natural Way! Nothing adds more warmth and charm to a home than the simple, rustic beauty of natural wood. Now, thanks to the inspiring and creative ideas of woodworker Chris Lubkemann, bringing the natural elegance of the outdoors into your home is easier than you think. With little effort that can produce amazing results, twigs, branches and fallen trees can be transformed into artfully designed candle holders, coat racks, and coffee tables that will flavor your home with an eco-chic style. If you're creative, have an appreciation for wood, and can work with a few basic tools, you can create these 35 unique and practical projects using easy-to-follow instructions and some found wood. Among the distinctive projects in Tree Craft, you'll find: *A gallery of knotted-wood photo frames to hold your favorite pictures *Attractive table lamps in a variety of styles *One-of-a-kind dà cor items such as curtain rods, clocks and planters *Beautiful and practical coasters, napkin rings and spoon holders Reusing what nature has provided is a simple way to add rustic elegance to your home.Get outdoors, find some wood and make something beautiful! "Tree Craft" includes 35 earthy-yet-elegant woodworking projects, such as kitchen utensils, photo frames, table lamps and a coffee table. You can tap the splendor of the outdoors easily and practically by crafting these woodworking projects that are at once rugged and artful. Using some found twigs, branches or fallen trees and a few basic tools, you can create Lubkemann's unique, striking pieces for your own space.Eco-living, the artistic way! That's what Tree Craft can show you - how to create a multitude of useful wooden items for your home and personal use. In each of Chris Lebkemann's projects the "rustic" effect is left, which shows the true beauty that nature can offer. The book is broken into 5 main chapters - "Decorating, Dining, Living, Playing, and Working." Each offers a variety of projects, ranging from simple ideas that a youth group could work on, unique additions to your dining table like napkin rings, vases and candle holders, fun games, furniture and more. Chris gathers fallen branches and limbs, eyes stumps with an artistic eye, and is always collecting materials which will find their way into the project they were meant to be at some point! He even uses "scrap" pieces of milled lumber as a base for some of his projects. The beginning of the book discusses types of wood, methods of cleaning bark, and sharpening tools. Next the creativity truly begins. Variations and bonus projects for each idea expand the options. One of my favorite projects is a unique planter or small trash can made from a hollow stump! Another is the "fencepost hole frames" - rustic and beautiful in their simplicity, they would make interesting additions to your home even without photos! The easy writing style, full color photographs, supply lists, and stepped out instructions guide you through the projects and will make you want to start gathering the supplies and start creating projects to, as his book cover states, "bring the outdoors in" yourself!An early class in some woodworking courses involves a visit to a local forest where students are given the opportunity to look at trees that are typical of those from which their raw material is derived. An instructor goes along to help them imagine how the position of the wood within the tree will alter not just the appearance, but also the physical strength of the bowl, chair rail or table leg, which they wish to make. It might be argued that the author of this book needs even more imagination to see his work in a tree since his designs are always constrained by the inclusion of some part of the tree's external surface. The book is essentially a series of projects, but the projects tend to be only superficially similar to those in other woodworking books. Tree Craft begins with a discussion about wood which - as you might expect - deals only with those available in North America. Nevertheless, mention of citrus and other fruit trees suggests that what the reader would be looking for among local trees are those with dense, close-grained wood and firmly attached bark. There are also a few notes on sharpening and some comments on wood blocks before the author launches into the making of a Bud Vase. This consists of a short segment of hollowed branch mounted on a block of prepared timber. It's simple, effective and attractive. Then there are variations on this theme - an Oil Lamp, Toothpick Holder and several Candlestick Holders. (With respect to the latter, it should be noted that no mention is made of the need (or the metal protector required by Australian laws - Ed) Chris Lubkemann then shows how a Centrepiece Ring can be cut from a hollow log and how small offcuts can be used to make wooden jewellery. There are wooden block Drink Coasters, Napkin Rings, Salt and Pepper Shakers, a Coat Tree, Lamps, Games and a Clock. The pieces would be fun to make and they certainly wouldn't demand a lot of tools or equipment - and they'd add both practical benefits and conversation starters to your home.Table of ContentsIntroduction How to use this book Getting Started Chapter 1: Decorating *Bud Vase *Candlestick holders *Centerpiece ring *Necklace *Pendant *Photo frames *Planter *Table art *Thanksgiving tree Chapter 2: Dining *Coasters *Kitchen utensil tree *Name logs *Napkin rings *Salt and pepper shakers *Wooden spoon holder Chapter 3: Living *Clock * Coat rack *Coat tree *Coffee table *Curtain rod *Hooks *Jewelry tree *Lamps *Magnets *Umbrella stand Chapter 4: Playing *Checker set *Croquet *Tightrope walker Chapter 5: Working *Business card holder *Letter opener *Desk set Dedication and acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisFeaturing 15 fabulous toys, each with clear step-by-step instructions, detailed photographs, and easy-to-follow diagrams. Beginners can try their hand at colorful yo-yos, spinning tops, quoits, and skittles, while intermediate-level turners can relish the challenge of a kaleidoscope colour top, diavolo, or the endearing walking penguins.

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Book SynopsisWith this book, anyone can learn to build their own functional and stylish bookcases and shelves. It features 19 projects for all kinds of shelves & bookcases; from rustic to contemporary. It includes step-by-step instructions, exploded diagrams and colour photographs. From books and DVDs to electronic equipment and art, everything needs a place to be stored and kept safe. Bookcases and shelves do that job, while reducing clutter, organising our lives and enhancing our decor. With the advice and instructions inside "How to Make Bookshelves & Bookcases", anyone can learn to build their own functional and stylish furniture. The experts at "American Woodworker" magazine have compiled their best articles on making shop-tested shelves and bookcases and provide clear instructions, exploded diagrams, step-by-step photographs and everything readers need for success. From rustic to contemporary, readers will find 19 projects for all kinds of bookshelves. Handsome, durable and strong, the shelves and bookcases inside this new, handy project guide are sure to beautify the home and provide years of usefulness.Trade ReviewAll of the popular woodworking magazines have at one time or another, offered plans to make bookshelves and bookcases of varied styles. The following American Woodworker book puts theirs together in this book. The editors and writers of American Woodworker magazine have put together this collection of excellent bookcases in styles and sizes to fill just about any space or style. The authors start from the basics and walk the woodworker through the various processes of bookcase construction. The book is rife with ideas to make your bookcase efficiently with a minimum of wasted materials. Specific styles are addressed and there is a step by step plan for an elegant Craftsman style library. From shadow boxes to étagère's, you will I'm sure be impressed with the 19 bookcase variations illustrated.From simple wall shelves to elaborate floor-to-ceiling bookcases, this superb collection of 19 storage projects from the pages of American Woodworker is sure to help you organize and beautify your home. Extensive instructionals on techniques guide the beginner and challenge the expert: sliding dovetails, torsion-box construction, floating shelves, and more. Each project includes step-by-step instructions, exploded diagrams and a full cut list to minimize waste and ensure success.HOW TO MAKE BOOKSHELVES & BOOKCASES, from the editors of American Woodworker Magazine, includes a compilation of articles on making shop-tested shelves and bookcases. From rustic to contemporary, readers will find 19 projects for a sliding bookrack with Arts and Crafts details, a Swedish wall shelf you can make in an afternoon, cantilevered display shelves, a dovetailed bookcase, the popular floating shelves that defy gravity, a cottage bookcase made from reclaimed lumber, a display cabinet with built-in light and glass doors, and much more. Durable and strong, the shelves and bookcases inside this new, handy project guide are sure to beautify the home and provide years of usefulness.With 20 step-by-step projects, you'll be making all manner of excuses to create superb storage.Table of Contents*Stonger Shelves *Sliding Bookrack *Swedish Wall Shelf *Cantilevered Display Shelves *Floating Shelves *Walnut Wall Shelves *Bow-Front Bookcase *Contemporary Bookcase *Free-Form Wall Shelves *Dovetailed Bookcase *Cottage Bookcase *Two-Part Bookcase *Sliding Door Bookcase *Display Cabinet *Craftsman Bookcase *Floor-to-Ceiling Bookcase *Craftsman-Style Bookcases and Mantel *Grand Bookcase *Sapele Display Cabinet *Index

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Book SynopsisAnyone can learn to easily construct their own beautiful frames with the advice and instructions in this book. It features clear instructions, dozens of illustrations and step-by-step photographs. A good frame can accentuate a piece of art, protect a cherished memento, or enhance the decor of your home. However, professional framing can be very expensive. Fortunately, with the advice and instructions inside "How to Make Picture Frames", anyone can learn to easily construct their own beautiful frames. From antique to contemporary, readers will find designs for rustic frames, easy-to-make oval frames, highly decorated frames and even a handsome Craftsman-style frame. The experts at American Woodworker magazine have compiled their best articles on frame-making and provide clear instructions, dozens of illustrations, step-by-step photographs and everything readers need for success. With workshop tips, plans for jigs and matting & mounting instructions, readers are guaranteed to create frames they can be proud of.Trade ReviewWith a dozen featured projects and ideas for dozens more, this book is sure to get you in the right "frame" of mind for housing your family's most treasured memories and artwork. Step-by-step instructions, and vivid, full-color photographs bring the woodwork to life and ensure the success of your projects. Also includes complete tutorials on matting and mounting.Table of ContentsContents Featured Projects 6 Picture Frame techniques 8 Weekend Picture Frames 10 Create Extraordinary Frames with Ordinary Router Bits Matting and Mounting 18 Improving Aesthetics and Protecting Your Art Photo Frames by the Dozen 22 Two Jigs Let You Crank Them Out Flawlessly! Tips for Better Picture Frames 32 Frame Like a Pro with Simple Tools Router Moldings 40 Tips on Safely Making Clean-Cut Moldings for your Home and Projects Three Router-Made Picture Frames 46 Three Custom Profiles with Infinite Possibilities Tablesaw Picture Frame 52 Safely Make Shaper-Quality Molding on Your Tablesaw Without Fancy Jigs Picture Frame Projects 58 Rustic Picture Frame 60 Found Wood Brings Outstanding Results Oval Picture Frames 62 Don't Let Their Shape Intimidate You- Jigs Make Classic Frames Easy Photo Album 72 Creating Beautiful, Individualized Display Pieces Three One-Day Picture Frames 74 Distinctive creations Without Mitered Corners Craftsman Frame 84 Pegged Half-lap Joints Are the Cabinetmaker's Way to Build a Beautiful Frame Fab Frames 92 No Miters and No Fuss! Multiples and Cool Variations are Easy Lindsey Dill's Fabulous Frames 100 An Ingenious Young Woodworker Discovers the Fun of Jig-Making Sycamore Hallway Mirror 104 Weekend Project Uses Beautiful Wood, Invisible hinges, and Simple Joinery Oak Hallway Mirror 112 Step-By-Step instructions for creating an Heirloom Index 118

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Book SynopsisGet Back to Basics with the core information you need to succeed. Learn what is important to know in Woodworker's Guide to Joinery from Butt Joints, Miter Joints, and Lap and Groove Joints, to Mortise-and-Tenon, Dovetail, and Box Joints. Learn how to master the various families of joinery - from themost basic butt joints to half-blind dovetails, tongue-and -groove joints, and beyond.Trade ReviewExcellent joinery skills are paramount when it comes to woodworking and every woodworker must be able to execute precision joinery skills where needed. This book not only covers a myriad of woodworking joints and their variations, it explains how to become proficient at making them. It also includes countless tips on successful joinery through the use of shop built and store bought jigs. Gluing and clamping techniques are discussed along with joint stress and how to deal with it. How to cut perfect fitting joinery on the table saw, table mounted or hand held router or even by hand, it's all covered here, presented in a clear and concise manner with hundreds of illustrations. This book happens to be my favorite of this series and one that I'm constantly going back to.This 190 page book not only covers just about every wood joint known but it illustrates just how to make them. Sure, the standard mortise and tenon joints and dovetail joints are covered but there are variations of these illustrated as well. The author's show how to make an M&T joint with a router, drawer lock joints, rabbet joints, half lap joints and many others are detailed with construction details to go with them.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Joinery Basics Chapter 2: Butt Joints Chapter 3: Miter Joints Chapter 4: Cap, Rabbet, Groove, and Dado Joints Chapter 5: Mortise and Tenon Joints Chapter 6: Dovetail and Box Joints Chapter 7: Japanese Joinery Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisThis title provides woodworkers with advice on setting up a safe workshop, whether hobbyists or professional. An important topic for all woodworkers - this presents the options for creating a healthier atmosphere. Research tells us that prolonged exposure to fine wood dust can pose a variety of health risks for woodworkers, from pesky allergies to serious nasal and lung cancers. Add the risk of workshop fires caused by wood dust and the need for a collection system becomes a top priority. With the advice and guidance inside, "Workshop Dust Control" readers can breathe easier, knowing they have found the best solution for any size workshop. From masks and vacuums to central dust collectors and air scrubbers, the options for creating a healthier atmosphere are presented by the experts from "American Woodworker Magazine", with pros and cons. And to top it off, the book offers tips for keeping a cleaner shop and dust-free tools. Whether a part-time hobbyist or a professional woodworker, the advice and techniques inside "Workshop Dust Control" will purify the air in your shop and could potentially save your life.Trade ReviewDust control never sounds very exciting until you're swimming in dust - this book will help you plan ahead. Written in a fun, yet informative style with hundreds of color photographs, it shows you how to get tough with that most persistent of woodworkers' foes. Whether you use an ordinary shop vacuum, or a top-of-the-line collector, you'll learn the shortcuts to getting the most draw from any system, with any tool. It's loaded with clever solutions, like building an inexpensive muffler box for your noisy shop vac, and it will tell you everything you'll need to know when shopping for a dust collector.Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Well, in this case the new book spurred our item on static electricity which of course prompted our story on spontaneous combustion. In this issue of ShortCuts Book Review, the authors have nailed the subject of dust control perfectly. Most of us woodworkers know of the dangers of sawdust, the toxicity, the static dangers, the mess etcetera. The books' editors have listed an excellent selection of shop vacuums describing the pros and cons of each. A necessary blast gate for portable vacuums is described and machines with tool activated switches are featured as well. Beefing up your shop vacuum and cutting down on the noise are chapters that are a must-read. Determining the size of a built-in dust collection system for your particular shop could be a big money saver along with the chapter on installation tips. This is an excellent book and should be consulted before even considering some sort of dust collection gear.Tired of wood dust coating everything in your garage or workshop? A good dust-control system can eliminate the mess. This small, concise book illustrates several options for the home woodworking shop, from the best use of your shop vac to tool-specific systems and shop-wide air filtration. Great illustrations show how each system works, along with simple installation instructions and clever tips. Highly recommended for any woodworking collection.' an excellent guide.' 'Highly recommended!'Table of ContentsHazards of Wood Dust Vacuum the Dust *Shop Vacuums *Blast Gate Manifold for Vac Hoses *Shop Vacuums for Portable Power Tools *Soup Up Your Shop Vacuum *Dedicated Dust Collection *Muffle Your Shop Vac Collect the Dust *Central Dust Collection *Those Blasted Gates *Turn Your Dust Collector on its Head *Dust Bag Hangers *Clever Duct Tricks *Dust Collectors for a Small Shop *Cartridge Dust Filters *Random-Orbit Filter Cleaner *Wide-Mouth Dust Collection *Tool Test: Cyclone Dust Collectors *Remote Control for Your Dust Collector Tool Solutions *Dust Collection Tips *Dust-Free Band Saw *Anti-Slip Dust Collection Table *Dust Collection for Routers *Handy Blast Gate Lever *Capture Tablesaw Dust Clean the Air *Tool Test: Shop Air Cleaners *Air Scrubber Trio *No-Hassle Filter Cleaning *Electrostatic Prefilter Advantages Compressed Air *Tool Review: Small Air Compressors *Plumb Your Shop with Air Sources Index

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Book SynopsisThis is a skill-expanding and money-saving book that every woodworker needs. For the woodworker who wants to purchase wood wisely and save money by finding, cutting, and drying it on their own, this guide from the experts at American Woodworker is a must. Along with learning the most economical way to buy and process lumber, discover how to interpret rough lumber, work with defects and use boards that are not perfect, as well as other useful skills. With expert advice, detailed drawings and step-by-step photographs, this is a skill-expanding and money-saving book that every woodworker needs.Trade ReviewGETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR WOOD-BUYING BUCKS, by the editors of American Woodworker magazine, shows woodworkers how to stretch their wallets when it comes to finding, cutting and drying their own lumber. With hundreds of tricks and tips for selecting and using material, even beginning craftsmen can build their dream projects without worrying about cost. Experts from American Woodworker share their ideas on how to find cheap wood, prepare it yourself and overcome some of the obstacles imperfect wood presents, such as knots and warping. Authors, including Dave Munkittrick, Tom Caspar and Tim Johnson, offer instructions on how to work with a portable sawmill, overcome defects, resaw imperfect boards and dry the lumber.A collection of articles from American Woodworker magazine that provides information about finding less expensive wood and how to mill and dry it yourself. There are sections on several different woods such as Butternut, Birdseye Maple, and Mahogany with specific characteristics and tips about each. The book also includes finishing tips and techniques.What a goldmine this book from American Woodworker magazine is! Your US$19.95 will save you hundreds, maybe even thousands if you are doing commercial woodworking. "Getting the Most" suggests that you can save a bundle just by buying lumber a grade or two below the best. A Wood Miser could save you thousands over the long haul and salvaging used wood has a high payoff as well. Bandsaw resawing is another way of saving $ and the authors cover this in great detail. There are great tips for milling rough lumber, stabilizing green wood and how to best dry your own wood. More good stuff shows you how to spot those 'special' wood species in the rough and how to best work with them. This is an excellent book for both the amateur and the professional woodworker, one you will refer to on a regular basis. Buy it and save money!With these simple tips for successfully milling rough lumber, you can turn inexpensive wood into the raw material you need to build beautiful wood projects. (Milling Rough Lumber chapter excerpted)

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Book SynopsisWoodworking should be a fun and fulfilling hobby. Bypass the overwhelming overload of woodworking information available, and get Back to Basics with the core information you need to succeed. This new series offers a clear road map of fundamental woodworking knowledge on sixteen essential topics. In Constructing Kitchen Cabinets, you'll learn what is important to know now and what can be left for later. Best of all, the information is presented in the plain-spoken language you'd hear from a trusted friend or relative, and includes: - How to layout and design your kitchen to meet the demands of your household - Keeping your casework construction simple and well-built -Five different door styles and how to build each - Techniques for building strong, smoothly functioning drawers - Options for installing upper and lower cabinets - Choosing and installing the best counter surface The world's already complicated - your woodworking information shouldn't be.

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Book SynopsisThis handy reference will help you get the most for your money. No matter what project you're building, if you're working with wood you're working with glue and clamps. But are you getting the most out of your clamps and that bottle of glue when you're carving, drilling and building furniture? Where's the manual that explains how to best utilise these two essential workshop tools? This manual takes care of that for you. From gluing boards to using clamps in furniture repair, you'll discover the techniques and tips you need to achieve woodworking success.Trade ReviewAlmost every type of clamp is explained in Glue and Clamps. There are 101 pages just crammed with how to information on clamp usage, tips and jigs and how to make some specific use types. Gluing is where you will more than likely put your clamps to work and tha various types of adhesives are delved into, the glues are explained in detail and what type of glue is best used on specific work. The Missing Shop Manual book series should find a convenient shelf in your woodshop as I guarantee you will be referring to them on a regular basis.I love woodworking. I'm not great at it - I figure it'll take me another 15+ years to hit that magic 10,000 hour mark in the shop to reach an expert's level of craftsmanship. But in the meantime, I try to always have something going on in the shop that either allows me to learn a new skill or get a bit more practice with an older one. Right now, I'm enjoying learning how to properly use my router table. I know how to use a router as a stand-alone device, but the table is going to allow me to branch out and really do some interesting stuff. But mounting the router underneath the table brought with it some questions that required me to dig out the router manual a big white heap of pages that answered my question but not with a lot of enjoyment. I've done this in the past, breaking out my stack of manuals to remind myself how to tune my table saw or replace the blade correctly in my band saw. The operator manuals that come with tools are definitely useful, but they have one glaringly obvious drawback - the manual will tell you how to properly and safely operate a tool, but it won't tell you how to really use it. You won't get the advice that a pro can offer when you're first getting your feet wet with a new tool (well, unless you have access to a few pros). This is exactly the situation I found myself in when I first purchased my circular saw, my table saw, my band saw, and my router. I tell you all this so you'll understand (and not poke too much fun at me) why I grabbed the box from the UPS guy and beat a path to my man cave to tear into the care package sent to me from Fox Chapel Publishing. They've got books on a lot of different subjects from Mennonite Cookbooks to Sewing to Winemaking to Woodburning. But it's their woodworking titles that make me drool, with subjects ranging from furniture making to pinewood derby cars. Tucked in the box were ten little books I've been itching to read and review, and I've just completed the entire set after just a little over a week. If that sounds like a lot of reading in a short time, rest assured that these ten little books are short, easy to read, and sure to be of interest to anyone who has stared at a power tool and wondered how to operate it, how to maintain it, and ultimately how best to use it. The series is called The Missing Shop Manual, and while I certainly hope the library continues to grow, you'll likely find at least one of the books that matches a tool in your shop maybe more. The series claims you'll wish this was the manual that originally came with your insert-tool-name-here. I can't speak for all ten books as I've not yet got a jointer, shaper, or lathe (my wife is grimacing right now as she realizes I don't yet have all the tools I really want), but I can tell you that the claim holds true for my band saw (2-page manual, I kid you not), my router (a bit better manual, but no actual usage examples), and my drill press (a little better with a 3-page manual but half of it was warnings and troubleshooting steps). I'll go ahead and say it - I wasn't really certain how much these little books (most of them averaging less than 150 pages) were going to really help me when I started reading. But after completing the Router and Table Saw books, I couldn't stop smiling. I had already picked up on some of the advice in these books, but there was new stuff in there (to me). Stuff I know I would likely never have figured out without someone with experience telling me. But since I typically work alone and am of the I'll-figure-it-out-on-my-own mentality, I tend to make mistakes often. That's how I learn, I guess. But let's take the Band Saw book, for example. I thought using a band saw was pretty straight forward. I knew how to operate it, how to tighten the blade, and how to do a few tricky cuts. But I never thought to check the blade wheel alignment. I guess the manufacturer just figured it would be perfect from the factory. (Wrong.) This little book even showed me how to test for (and fix) an out-of-round blade wheel. There was zero mention of this in the manufacturer's manual fortunately my blade wheels were round but the alignment was a bit off. I fixed it per the book's instructions and did a test cut on a piece of hardwood that had been giving me trouble. Immediate improvement that I could tell just by feel. I can go on with more examples. The Circular Saws and Jig Saws book (two tools in one book) gave me a much better understanding of two of the tools I use most in my shop. Again, I thought I knew all there was to using these tools, but the little manual proved otherwise by offering me some tips on how to make specific types of cuts with these (at times) not so accurate cutting tools, especially the jig saw. The Table Saw book I read twice. I honestly could not believe how little I knew about the maintenance and operation of one of the most expensive tools in my shop. I mean, seriously - how hard would it be for tool manufacturers to provide some DVDs and mini-projects to help us learn how to use our new tools better? Thankfully, it's never too late to learn and I can point to the Table Saw book as a prime example of where The Missing Shop Manual is a worthy investment. I started reading the Glue and Clamps book as I was waiting for my wife to get ready to go shopping - she gave me the funniest look when I put a bookmark in and took it with me. Yes, I actually enjoyed reading about gluing and clamping techniques while sitting and waiting for her to finish her shopping. I even had one guy pass by me, give me a strange look, and then ask me if the book was any good! I've never done any drawer assembly, but now I know what to buy (and why) should I ever try to put together a box. All of the books contain a mixture of color photographs and color line drawings to demonstrate techniques or concepts. They're also, as I said earlier, short and sweet. You can typically read an entire book in less than 45 minutes or, in the case of the Jointer book's 77 pages, about 20 minutes. The books range in price from $9.95 to $12.95, with the exception being the Bench Planes book that comes with a 55-minute DVD showing techniques and proper usage. After reading all ten books, I'm thinking I'd really like a lathe. The Lathe book was fun to read, even though I don't own one. I know what's involved (to a point), so it was interesting to read a detailed overview of how the tool works, how the various cutting tools are used, and some of the interesting things I can do with it. The Missing Shop Manual series is well done. Most of us who enjoy woodworking are not professional woodworkers, so it's nice to have little books like this available to help refresh our memory on operation, cleaning, tuning, and proper usage. I know I'm guilty of getting lazy here and there and operating a tool improperly, so I think I'm going to make myself a promise to review these books once a year to keep me on my toes and keep my tools in proper working order. Take a look at your own tools and find the one that gives you the most trouble or the one that you tend to take for granted that you know everything there is to know about it. Pick up a copy of the matching Missing Shop Manual and give it a read - I'll be curious to know what you think. The ten books in the series include: Jointer Lathe Shaper Glue and Clamps Band Saw Circular Saws and Jig Saws Router Table Saw Drills and Drill Presses Bench PlanesTable of Contents*Chapter 1: Clamps *Chapter 2: Gluing Up *Chapter 3: Holding the work *Chapter 4: Edge Gluing *Chapter 5: Cabinetmaking *Chapter 6: Furniture Repair *Chapter 7: Clamping Jigs *Chapter 8: Glues for Woodworking Index

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Book SynopsisTraditional snowshoes and the art of making them is alive and well in Gil Gilpatrick's authoritative book on the topic. With this book, you will learn how to make a variety of snowshoes and furniture made in the snowshoe style using updated materials. Skills such as bending and shaping wood, assembling parts and lacing are emphasized. You will learn how to select the size and style shoe that is right for you and how to make them. You will also find directions for making an end table, rocker, coffee table, footstool and wood holder in the traditional snowshoe style. Perfect for any rustic retreat. Detailed plans and patterns are included.

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Book SynopsisDurable and pocket-sized, this manual includes clear diagrams and instructions. It is ideal for quick reference in the workshop that offers concise and accessible information. Dedicated to providing integral information about woodworking tools and techniques that other manuals overlook, the books in this series contain safety facts, explanations about basic project set up and tips for maximising tool performance. In "Band Saw", woodworkers will find out how to best utilise this essential workshop tool and how to get the most for their money by getting the most from their equipment. Filled with clear diagrams and instructions, this durable pocket sized manual offers concise and accessible information and is ideal for quick reference in the workshop.Trade ReviewI love woodworking. I'm not great at it - I figure it'll take me another 15+ years to hit that magic 10,000 hour mark in the shop to reach an expert's level of craftsmanship. But in the meantime, I try to always have something going on in the shop that either allows me to learn a new skill or get a bit more practice with an older one. Right now, I'm enjoying learning how to properly use my router table. I know how to use a router as a stand-alone device, but the table is going to allow me to branch out and really do some interesting stuff. But mounting the router underneath the table brought with it some questions that required me to dig out the router manual a big white heap of pages that answered my question but not with a lot of enjoyment. I've done this in the past, breaking out my stack of manuals to remind myself how to tune my table saw or replace the blade correctly in my band saw. The operator manuals that come with tools are definitely useful, but they have one glaringly obvious drawback - the manual will tell you how to properly and safely operate a tool, but it won't tell you how to really use it. You won't get the advice that a pro can offer when you're first getting your feet wet with a new tool (well, unless you have access to a few pros). This is exactly the situation I found myself in when I first purchased my circular saw, my table saw, my band saw, and my router. I tell you all this so you'll understand (and not poke too much fun at me) why I grabbed the box from the UPS guy and beat a path to my man cave to tear into the care package sent to me from Fox Chapel Publishing. They've got books on a lot of different subjects from Mennonite Cookbooks to Sewing to Winemaking to Woodburning. But it's their woodworking titles that make me drool, with subjects ranging from furniture making to pinewood derby cars. Tucked in the box were ten little books I've been itching to read and review, and I've just completed the entire set after just a little over a week. If that sounds like a lot of reading in a short time, rest assured that these ten little books are short, easy to read, and sure to be of interest to anyone who has stared at a power tool and wondered how to operate it, how to maintain it, and ultimately how best to use it. The series is called The Missing Shop Manual, and while I certainly hope the library continues to grow, you'll likely find at least one of the books that matches a tool in your shop maybe more. The series claims you'll wish this was the manual that originally came with your insert-tool-name-here. I can't speak for all ten books as I've not yet got a jointer, shaper, or lathe (my wife is grimacing right now as she realizes I don't yet have all the tools I really want), but I can tell you that the claim holds true for my band saw (2-page manual, I kid you not), my router (a bit better manual, but no actual usage examples), and my drill press (a little better with a 3-page manual but half of it was warnings and troubleshooting steps). I'll go ahead and say it - I wasn't really certain how much these little books (most of them averaging less than 150 pages) were going to really help me when I started reading. But after completing the Router and Table Saw books, I couldn't stop smiling. I had already picked up on some of the advice in these books, but there was new stuff in there (to me). Stuff I know I would likely never have figured out without someone with experience telling me. But since I typically work alone and am of the I'll-figure-it-out-on-my-own mentality, I tend to make mistakes often. That's how I learn, I guess. But let's take the Band Saw book, for example. I thought using a band saw was pretty straight forward. I knew how to operate it, how to tighten the blade, and how to do a few tricky cuts. But I never thought to check the blade wheel alignment. I guess the manufacturer just figured it would be perfect from the factory. (Wrong.) This little book even showed me how to test for (and fix) an out-of-round blade wheel. There was zero mention of this in the manufacturer's manual fortunately my blade wheels were round but the alignment was a bit off. I fixed it per the book's instructions and did a test cut on a piece of hardwood that had been giving me trouble. Immediate improvement that I could tell just by feel. I can go on with more examples. The Circular Saws and Jig Saws book (two tools in one book) gave me a much better understanding of two of the tools I use most in my shop. Again, I thought I knew all there was to using these tools, but the little manual proved otherwise by offering me some tips on how to make specific types of cuts with these (at times) not so accurate cutting tools, especially the jig saw. The Table Saw book I read twice. I honestly could not believe how little I knew about the maintenance and operation of one of the most expensive tools in my shop. I mean, seriously - how hard would it be for tool manufacturers to provide some DVDs and mini-projects to help us learn how to use our new tools better? Thankfully, it's never too late to learn and I can point to the Table Saw book as a prime example of where The Missing Shop Manual is a worthy investment. I started reading the Glue and Clamps book as I was waiting for my wife to get ready to go shopping - she gave me the funniest look when I put a bookmark in and took it with me. Yes, I actually enjoyed reading about gluing and clamping techniques while sitting and waiting for her to finish her shopping. I even had one guy pass by me, give me a strange look, and then ask me if the book was any good! I've never done any drawer assembly, but now I know what to buy (and why) should I ever try to put together a box. All of the books contain a mixture of color photographs and color line drawings to demonstrate techniques or concepts. They're also, as I said earlier, short and sweet. You can typically read an entire book in less than 45 minutes or, in the case of the Jointer book's 77 pages, about 20 minutes. The books range in price from $9.95 to $12.95, with the exception being the Bench Planes book that comes with a 55-minute DVD showing techniques and proper usage. After reading all ten books, I'm thinking I'd really like a lathe. The Lathe book was fun to read, even though I don't own one. I know what's involved (to a point), so it was interesting to read a detailed overview of how the tool works, how the various cutting tools are used, and some of the interesting things I can do with it. The Missing Shop Manual series is well done. Most of us who enjoy woodworking are not professional woodworkers, so it's nice to have little books like this available to help refresh our memory on operation, cleaning, tuning, and proper usage. I know I'm guilty of getting lazy here and there and operating a tool improperly, so I think I'm going to make myself a promise to review these books once a year to keep me on my toes and keep my tools in proper working order. Take a look at your own tools and find the one that gives you the most trouble or the one that you tend to take for granted that you know everything there is to know about it. Pick up a copy of the matching Missing Shop Manual and give it a read - I'll be curious to know what you think. The ten books in the series include: Jointer Lathe Shaper Glue and Clamps Band Saw Circular Saws and Jig Saws Router Table Saw Drills and Drill Presses Bench PlanesTable of ContentsIntroduction *Choosing a Band Saw *Setup *Safety *Blades *Cutting Curves *Straight Cuts *Angle and Taper Cuts *Cutting Duplicate Parts *Cutting Jigs *Band Saw Joinery *Cabriole Legs *Scroll Saw Basics Index

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Book SynopsisThis handy pocket-sized guide offers all the tips, tricks, and ideas a woodworker or furniture maker needs to get the most out of this indispensable tool.(#1) (#2)Covering everything you need to get the most out of your tools, the Missing Shop Manual Series goes beyond the basic safety and set-up. You'll learn tips and techniques for maximizing your tools performance with jigs and fixtures without the fluff, just straight tool information you need to succeed.

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Book SynopsisThis title offers everything you wanted to know about choosing a router, making a router table, using a router to shape wood and making joints using a router. Mounted in a table with a fence, the shop router becomes as versatile as a shaper and it's a whole lot cheaper. Along with shop test buying advice, this book includes complete plans for four complete router tables and routing work stations, plus dozens of proven, photo illustrated shop tips and router table add-ons. It also includes a special section on amazing sliding dovetail joints, which can only be made on the router table.Trade ReviewIf you are new to woodworking you will want this book. If you are an experienced woodworker you will want this book. If you are about to buy a new router you will want this book. In this writer's opinion there is only one expert at using the router and that is Patrick Spielman and sadly Patrick is no longer with us. This book is the next best thing. There are many woodworkers involved with the publishing of this book and American Woodworker/Fox Chapel has chosen the best. The book starts with the basics like choosing a router like fixed or plunge base tools and covers trim routers as well. This section looks into router lifts and tables. Further on into the book you will find great plans and ideas for building your own router table along with a router lift. Router bit storage is nicely covered as is the proper selection of bits for plunge work. Raised panel work is covered as is template routing. There are excellent tips to be found on page 130 and you will want to read about joining wood with the router on page 172. This book will be a constant reference for you in your woodshop!ROUTERS AND ROUTER TABLES, from the editors of American Woodworker magazine, offers practical advice on how to choose and use the most versatile power tool in the shop. Fully illustrated, the book offers buying advice for identifying the router that best suits your needs. It also includes plans for building four router tables and routing workstations, a router lift and several auxiliary fences for special operations, such as producing raised panels and jointing edges. Dozens of shop-tested tips and router table add-ons are included, along with a special section on producing sliding dovetail joints.Table of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS Choosing a Router Router Tables to Build Router Techniques Joining Wood with the Router Index

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Book Synopsis"Wildlife Projects" is jam packed full of 28 extraordinary animal projects for the scroll saw. These tried and true favourite projects are plucked from the archives of "Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts", the foremost periodical on scroll sawing. Join your favourite authors, including Kathy Wise, Gary Browning, Charles Dearing and Lora Irish, as they scroll handsome projects from the animal kingdom. Readers can create birds, pets, sealife, North American wildlife and African big cats in wood. Among other animals included are: rooster, blue jay, cat, rabbit, crab, turtle, bear, elk, wolf, tiger and lion.Trade ReviewDefinitely one for the collection!Table of ContentsBirds *America's Symbol of Freedom *Birds and Boughs Fretwork *Blue Jay Intarsia *Break of Dawn *Loons Pets *Intarsia Cat Portrait *Man's Best Friend *Horse *Easter Bunny Intarsia Sea life *Brown Trout Scrollsaic *Build a Realistic Crab *Catch of the Day *On the Ocean Floor *Sea Turtle Intarsia North American Wildlife *Bear Layerscape *Buffalo Layerscape *Howling Wolf Trivet *Majestic Elk *Majestic Moose Coat Rack *Lighted Woodland Shadowbox *Pack Mates *Hunter's Pride Display Shelf *Grizzly Bear Portrait Walk Through Big Cats *Hangin' Out with Mom *Jaguar Cub *Solid Surface Veneer Lion *Stalking Leopard Portrait *Tiger Portrait

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Book SynopsisThis title includes information that is presented in a clear and friendly manner making this an approachable book for beginners. This guide covers all aspects of cabinet construction including carcase construction, frame and panel construction, drawers, doors and legs. "The Back to Basics Series" bypasses the overwhelming amount of woodworking information with the core information needed to succeed. Woodworker's learn what is important to know now and what can be left for later. Best of all, the information is presented in the plain spoken language one would hear from a trusted friend of relative.Trade ReviewThis is the eighth book in the "Back to Basics" series from Fox Chapel and it is a great series of books as a reference for the professional cabinetmaker and a great series for the starting woodworker. It is said that the best way to increase the value of a home is to update your kitchen and or bathroom and for the DIYer this is the book to get things started. There are five chapters in the book, 'Carcass Construction', 'Frame & Panel Construction', 'Drawers', 'Doors' and 'Legs'. Each chapter is liberally illustrated and contains excellent written instructions and tips to make sure that the work is accurately performed. Drawers are particularly difficult to make so that they glide smoothly but the advice given here assures you that they will. Keep this book close to your workbench!Table of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Chapter 1: Carcase Construction Chapter 2: Frame and Panel Construction Chapter 3: Drawers Chapter 4: Doors Chapter 5: Legs Index

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Book SynopsisIf you thought carving a linked chain or a ball-in-cage was a challenge, get ready for some mind-altering woodcarving projects! Learn how to uncover the structure of space by looking inside a pieceof wood and carving away anything that doesn''t match your vision.

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Book SynopsisWritten specifically for the woodworker seeking new adventures in the world of wood. Awaken your modern design aesthetic with 21 striking contemporary designs for the home. The fusion of nature's elegant shapes and modern architecture's bold symmetry yields a dynamic and engaging collection of designs for scroll saw woodworking. Patterns, easy-to-understand instructions and step-by-step photography make crafting these projects attainable, no matter your skill level. Perfect for beginners looking to progress their scroll saw abilities with interesting and compelling projects; learn the ropes of scroll sawing with seven step-by-step photo-illustrated instructional projects. Advanced woodworkers can master joinery, 3D cutting and inlay with advanced projects such as Nesting Boxes, the Zigzag Business Card Holder and the Flower Abstraction Wall Mirror.Table of ContentsGetting Started: Tricks of the Trade; Chapter 1: Beginner Techniques & Projects: Wall Art (Radial Symmetry Trivet, Tree Forms, Floral Tessellation Light Catcher, Linguine Décor) Picture Frames (Farm Fields, Ripples, Linguine Forms) Chapter 2: Intermediate Techniques & Projects: Wall Art (Floral Detail, Leaf Forms, Leaf Array, floral Essence, Sun and Harvest) Clocks (Floral Time, Radial Squares, Asymmetric) Bud Vases (Circular Void I, Circular Void II, Geometrix I, Geometrix II) Chapter 3: Advanced Techniques & Projects: Boxes (Arabian, Elliptical Array, Chinese Lattice, Spiraling Shape, Ascending Spiral, Seed Pods, Rectilinear Spirals I & II) Business Card Holders (60 Degree Repetition, Simple Balance, Wright Inspired)

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Book SynopsisThis title includes information on choosing, setting up, tuning and using bench planes. This is a durable, pocket-sized manual that is ideal for quick reference. It provides a complete overview of bench planes and their accessories from master woodworker Ernie Conover that includes information on everything to do with bench planes: choosing, setting up and tuning and using. It also features plans for shooting boards and other useful plane accessories and jigs. This is a durable, pocket-sized manual that will show readers how to get the most for their money by getting the most from their equipment and is ideal for quick reference.Trade ReviewI just finished watching your planes video. For me it is right on the button. Not expensive like most woodworking media. No nonsense, pride in your heritage, a brief history lesson and a warmth for your passion. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with us average guys.I love woodworking. I'm not great at it - I figure it'll take me another 15+ years to hit that magic 10,000 hour mark in the shop to reach an expert's level of craftsmanship. But in the meantime, I try to always have something going on in the shop that either allows me to learn a new skill or get a bit more practice with an older one. Right now, I'm enjoying learning how to properly use my router table. I know how to use a router as a stand-alone device, but the table is going to allow me to branch out and really do some interesting stuff. But mounting the router underneath the table brought with it some questions that required me to dig out the router manual a big white heap of pages that answered my question but not with a lot of enjoyment. I've done this in the past, breaking out my stack of manuals to remind myself how to tune my table saw or replace the blade correctly in my band saw. The operator manuals that come with tools are definitely useful, but they have one glaringly obvious drawback - the manual will tell you how to properly and safely operate a tool, but it won't tell you how to really use it. You won't get the advice that a pro can offer when you're first getting your feet wet with a new tool (well, unless you have access to a few pros). This is exactly the situation I found myself in when I first purchased my circular saw, my table saw, my band saw, and my router. I tell you all this so you'll understand (and not poke too much fun at me) why I grabbed the box from the UPS guy and beat a path to my man cave to tear into the care package sent to me from Fox Chapel Publishing. They've got books on a lot of different subjects from Mennonite Cookbooks to Sewing to Winemaking to Woodburning. But it's their woodworking titles that make me drool, with subjects ranging from furniture making to pinewood derby cars. Tucked in the box were ten little books I've been itching to read and review, and I've just completed the entire set after just a little over a week. If that sounds like a lot of reading in a short time, rest assured that these ten little books are short, easy to read, and sure to be of interest to anyone who has stared at a power tool and wondered how to operate it, how to maintain it, and ultimately how best to use it. The series is called The Missing Shop Manual, and while I certainly hope the library continues to grow, you'll likely find at least one of the books that matches a tool in your shop maybe more. The series claims you'll wish this was the manual that originally came with your insert-tool-name-here. I can't speak for all ten books as I've not yet got a jointer, shaper, or lathe (my wife is grimacing right now as she realizes I don't yet have all the tools I really want), but I can tell you that the claim holds true for my band saw (2-page manual, I kid you not), my router (a bit better manual, but no actual usage examples), and my drill press (a little better with a 3-page manual but half of it was warnings and troubleshooting steps). I'll go ahead and say it - I wasn't really certain how much these little books (most of them averaging less than 150 pages) were going to really help me when I started reading. But after completing the Router and Table Saw books, I couldn't stop smiling. I had already picked up on some of the advice in these books, but there was new stuff in there (to me). Stuff I know I would likely never have figured out without someone with experience telling me. But since I typically work alone and am of the I'll-figure-it-out-on-my-own mentality, I tend to make mistakes often. That's how I learn, I guess. But let's take the Band Saw book, for example. I thought using a band saw was pretty straight forward. I knew how to operate it, how to tighten the blade, and how to do a few tricky cuts. But I never thought to check the blade wheel alignment. I guess the manufacturer just figured it would be perfect from the factory. (Wrong.) This little book even showed me how to test for (and fix) an out-of-round blade wheel. There was zero mention of this in the manufacturer's manual fortunately my blade wheels were round but the alignment was a bit off. I fixed it per the book's instructions and did a test cut on a piece of hardwood that had been giving me trouble. Immediate improvement that I could tell just by feel. I can go on with more examples. The Circular Saws and Jig Saws book (two tools in one book) gave me a much better understanding of two of the tools I use most in my shop. Again, I thought I knew all there was to using these tools, but the little manual proved otherwise by offering me some tips on how to make specific types of cuts with these (at times) not so accurate cutting tools, especially the jig saw. The Table Saw book I read twice. I honestly could not believe how little I knew about the maintenance and operation of one of the most expensive tools in my shop. I mean, seriously - how hard would it be for tool manufacturers to provide some DVDs and mini-projects to help us learn how to use our new tools better? Thankfully, it's never too late to learn and I can point to the Table Saw book as a prime example of where The Missing Shop Manual is a worthy investment. I started reading the Glue and Clamps book as I was waiting for my wife to get ready to go shopping - she gave me the funniest look when I put a bookmark in and took it with me. Yes, I actually enjoyed reading about gluing and clamping techniques while sitting and waiting for her to finish her shopping. I even had one guy pass by me, give me a strange look, and then ask me if the book was any good! I've never done any drawer assembly, but now I know what to buy (and why) should I ever try to put together a box. All of the books contain a mixture of color photographs and color line drawings to demonstrate techniques or concepts. They're also, as I said earlier, short and sweet. You can typically read an entire book in less than 45 minutes or, in the case of the Jointer book's 77 pages, about 20 minutes. The books range in price from $9.95 to $12.95, with the exception being the Bench Planes book that comes with a 55-minute DVD showing techniques and proper usage. After reading all ten books, I'm thinking I'd really like a lathe. The Lathe book was fun to read, even though I don't own one. I know what's involved (to a point), so it was interesting to read a detailed overview of how the tool works, how the various cutting tools are used, and some of the interesting things I can do with it. The Missing Shop Manual series is well done. Most of us who enjoy woodworking are not professional woodworkers, so it's nice to have little books like this available to help refresh our memory on operation, cleaning, tuning, and proper usage. I know I'm guilty of getting lazy here and there and operating a tool improperly, so I think I'm going to make myself a promise to review these books once a year to keep me on my toes and keep my tools in proper working order. Take a look at your own tools and find the one that gives you the most trouble or the one that you tend to take for granted that you know everything there is to know about it. Pick up a copy of the matching Missing Shop Manual and give it a read - I'll be curious to know what you think. The ten books in the series include: Jointer Lathe Shaper Glue and Clamps Band Saw Circular Saws and Jig Saws Router Table Saw Drills and Drill Presses Bench PlanesTable of ContentsIntroduction *When to use jointer, jack and smoothing planes *The physics of how planes cut *Working up rough sawn boards with bench planes *True face and true edge *Metal planes are easier to use than wooden planes *Planing the second face parallel to the first face *How planes are still useful today inthe real world *Planing end grain *Recap of points covered thus far *Infill or stuffed planes *Stanley Bailey planes *Bedrock planes *Sharpening planes *Shooting boards to make and use

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Book SynopsisReaders searching for unique and interesting box projects for the scroll saw need look no further! Carole Rothman, author of the best-selling Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw, returns to offer hercreative spin on box projects. She''s surveyed the most popular boxes in woodworking and shows you how to make band saw-style boxes, jewelry boxes, and lidded boxes on the scroll saw. Inside, you''ll find 29 beautiful and creative designs for boxes you''ll love to make and love to use. Rothman also walks you through the creation of her scroll-sawn bow technique, which she adapted from cake decorating. You''ll love the chapter on Fun with Food, where you'll learn make a box that looks like a pie, a cupcake, or an ice cream sundae. These scroll saw projects are useful, surprisingly easy-to-make, and make great gifts!

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Book SynopsisKeeping chickens is a trend that just keeps on growing, even for city dwellers. With this book, today's modern farmer will find plans and construction techniques for making seven different chicken coops, along with interesting chicken facts and recipes for eggs. Experienced farmer, woodworker and author Chris Gleason's hip eye for design, combined with sound woodworking techniques make the coops both attractive and sturdy. Practical information such as how to properly size a coop and how to source reclaimed materials is included. Don't miss the authors 'tour de coop' where he visits coops from other backyard farmers to find out why they keep chickens and what lessons they have to share with others interested in doing so. This book offers a whimsical and fresh perspective that reflects today's backyard farmer.Trade ReviewEver since we bought our first house I've been wanting to convert a portion of our backyard into a food source of sorts. A small garden and perhaps a chicken run would be ideal. The gardening idea hasn't made it farther than a few herbs and tomato plants but we're in the process of redoing our backyard's landscape. In the meantime I've been reading a book here and there about keeping chickens and realized there's no way I can pull it off. LOL That said, I loved this book! Not only is it inventive and inspired, but Gleason's approach is very Earth-friendly. One of the things I expected to see was all new supplies and instead the reader is encouraged to reuse old doors or scraps of wood when possible. As someone who values reusing and repurposing when possible I was really happy to see several of the coops had been made using repurposed materials. The designs themselves are each charming and adaptable. Designed for different sized flocks and with different features for both the keeper and the hens' convenience I would honestly love to build any of these if I was sure I could make it worth my efforts. Additionally this book is peppered with cool information about chicken breeds, history and recipes featuring eggs. As a whole I would recommend this book to an experienced chicken keeper looking for some nice design plans for a new coop. I also think it's a great inspiration for a new keeper, or-as in my case-someone considering keeping chickens. Maybe this would even make a neat gift for someone who just adores chicken paraphenalia.The Book: Chickens need a coop, and what better way to show your love than building one? In The Art of the Chicken Coop, seven unique coops are presented with detailed building instructions, along with an additional gallery for more inspiration for your ideal coop. With additional information from other chicken owners, the lessons to creating a place for your chickens starts here. The Yarn: When I saw this book sitting in the NetGalley listings, I knew I had to scoop it up. I dream about having chickens one day, and the idea of being able to construct my own coop seems daunting. Gleason's book helps to show anyone how to create sturdy coops from materials people may already have or can acquire easily. Chris Gleason is a known DIY author on woodworking who deals with recycled materials, but the materials lists presented for each coop are clearly able to be gleaned from any large store you can buy construction materials. Bright, colorful, step-by-step photos along the way assist in making sure that the instructions can be followed as much visually as in print. I liked the additional information such as how to build chicken runs (attached to the coops or not) or how to resize the coops based on a standard 2sf (square feet) per additional bird. Little informational bits such as chicken breeds and recipes are scattered throughout the book. At the end are three profiles of "chicken keepers", who outline why they keep chickens and how. All three are based in Salt Lake City, Utah, which while showing that even urban backyard areas can support raising chickens, they don't quite give as diverse a look at urban poultry keeping as I would like to see. The Art of the Chicken Coop is not as expansive a collection of construction plans as probably exists in other titles on the market. However the vivid photographs, construction techniques and focus on reused materials make this good for those looking for a budget-conscious DIY book.Cute Coop Ideas! I've had backyard chickens for two years now. I love my chickens and as I'd like to have more in the next few years, researching coop ideas has become a hobby for me. I was very happy to be able to review this book. Art of the Chicken Coop by Chris Gleason, has seven different coop ideas. Four of them are for flocks of six chicken or less, which is a great size for a back yard flock. We get on average five eggs per week from each of our chickens, which has given us more then enough for our family, as well as some to share. If you are planning on keep more chickens, three of the coop designs are for larger coops, if you'd like to have twelve to fifteen chickens. Also included are some guidelines on how to increase the size of any coops in the book. There's even instructions for a coop made out of salvaged materials. This is also a great book for the beginning chicken owner, because not only are there coop designs but there are a lot of chicken keeping tips through out the book and explanations for what you need to have in your coop and why. The book includes a completely supply list, step-by-step pictures - which I love - and some great egg recipes as well. There is also a section on the popular backyard breeds with pictures and a bit on info on each. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it called for chicken wire in the coops. From my research I have learned that you need to use hardwear cloth in your coop building as the holes in chicken wire are too big, and raccoons and other predators can get through it. Also I would have loved more then one movable coop idea. Other then that, I thought this book was just great. I do not have much building experience but I would feel confident trying to build any of the coops in this book. Recommended!We've had backyard chickens for two years now. It's been so wonderful to have pastured, organic eggs, right from our own backyard. I love my chickens and as I'd like to have more in the next few years, researching coop ideas has become a hobby for me. I was very happy to be able to review this book. Art of the Chicken Coop by Chris Gleason has seven different coop ideas. Four of them are for flocks of six chickens or less, which is a great size for a back yard flock. We get on average five eggs per week from each of our chickens; this gives us enough for our family, as well as some to share occasionally. If you are planning on keep more chickens, three of the coop designs are for larger coops, if you'd like to have twelve to fifteen chickens. Also included are some guidelines on how to increase the size of any coops in the book. There's even instructions for a coop made out of salvaged materials. This is also a great book for the beginning chicken owner, because not only are there coop designs but there are a lot of chicken keeping tips through out the book and explanations for what you need to have in your coop and why. The book includes a completely supply list, step-by-step pictures - which I love - and some great egg recipes as well. There is also a section on the popular backyard breeds with pictures and a bit on info on each. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it called for chicken wire in the coops. From my research I have learned that you need to use hardware cloth in your coop building as the holes in chicken wire are too big, and raccoons and other predators can get through it. Also I would have loved more then one movable coop idea. Other then that, I thought this book was just great. I do not have much building experience but I would feel confident trying to build any of the coops in this book. Recommended!More and more people are discovering the joy of gardening in their back yards. Even in a small yard, You can find enough space to enjoy fresh vegetables. Just one tomatoe plant can provide fresh tomatoes all summer long. Well now with the help of this book, you can add the joy of having fresh eggs to your table. I used to raise chickens and I loved having fresh eggs. They seem to taste so much better than store bought. Besides, you know what goes into their production and your chickens are not suffering in cramped, crude living conditions as most of the chickens producing store bought eggs are. Another positive thing about backyard chicken coops are the benefits of fertilizer for your garden. You no longer have to throw away those left overs bevcause chickens will eat just about anything you give them. But, they really love fresh vegetables and fruits. You can feed them the peels and pits. Also, Chris suggests using salvaged goods for building uour coop. You can find salved wood from construction and demolition sites. This book by Chris Gleason has really sparked a new interest in chickens for me. Now, if I can just talk my husband into it. I am contemplating just sticking to a few of the bantam chickens. When I had chickens, I loved the Old English Bantams, the Frizzle's (these were the best momma's and the sweetest birds), I also had a few of the rumpless Aracauna chickens that lay green eggs. Not only does the book provide wonderful ideas for coops, runs and nest boxes, but it also provides the materials needed for each project and step by step instructions. Most of the steps have color photographs to go along with the directions. Also icluded int the book are several recipes for using the eggs. One of the suggestion that I believes is one of the best things ever, is for making a hand sanitizer holder that is attached to the door of the coop. This is such a simple thing, and yet so smart. This makes it easy to have clean hands before touching your birds as well as clean hands before going back in your house.This colorful guide to chicken coop construction provides step-by-step instructions for building artistic yet practical small scale housing for chickens. The volume provides plans for seven coops of varying shapes and sizes and includes three case studies of urban chicken owners and their egg-producing pets. Additional sections provide information of building runs and a collection of photographs of other coop styles and designs. Gleason is a professional coop builder and the author of several other do-it-yourself titles.Coop-a-doodle-do! The first step in the increasingly popular hobby of raising chickens is to provide your birds a home. "Art of the Chicken Coop" provides detailed instructions for building seven functional, cool-looking coops that range in style from rustic to Victorian and accommodate flocks from six birds to 15. Tossed in you'll find handy tips for keeping chickens, delicious egg recipes from around the world, and profiles of three modern homesteaders who offer advice on living the chicken-keeping life.The Art of the Chicken Coop is of course the more practical of the two, but it's by no means a dry, technical, how-to construction guide. Seven coops are described with instructive drawings and material lists, and the construction process is also profusely illustrated with excellent color photos. Most of the coops are pretty artsy -designed more for the owners and neighbors than for the chickens, who probably won't even notice that their home looks like a gypsy caravan or a miniature barn. If you fancy a coop decorated with stars and sunrise overlays, this book is for you. But it's not totally about construction, or coops. Actually, it's like those coop tours that have become so popular: you visit several people who love and raise chickens, see what they have done to house their birds in creative as well as practical ways, and chat about cock-a-doodle-do-dom in general.Gorgeous chicken coops Sure, you could probably raise chickens in a wooden box, but with this do-it-yourself guide to coop construction, you won't have to. Art of the Chicken Coop: a Fun and Essential Guide to Housing Your Peeps by Utah native Chris Gleason lays out plans and step-by-step instructions for seven different coops, including one from salvaged parts."Art of the Chicken Coop" by Chris Gleason. What came first, the chicken or the egg? Thanks to this book, you're about to learn the correct answer to this age-old question - neither. The coop came first. So, if you're planning on keeping chickens, whether it's just a few or a large flock, you'll need a place to house your egg-laying friends. In this book, today's modern farmer - both urban and suburban - will find creative plans and easy-to-follow construction techniques for making seven stylish chicken coops.Named a 2011 Best Book in Do-It-Yourself from Library Journal. Got an urban flock? Craft some stylish housing for your backyard chickens with this specialized construction guide. Included are seven coop designs, with great instructions and clear illustrations for each step.Part 1: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00m1q5l Part 2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001v6c0One of the biggest expenses when you decide to start keeping chickens is that of the housing. Your chickens may be relatively cheap, but if you're looking to buy a coop you can expect to pay anything from a hundred to several hundred pounds. It can be eye watering, and makes a lie of the 'cheap supply of eggs' waffle spouted by enthusiasts like me. So if you're in any way handy, building your own hen accommodation can be a much more viable alternative. Chris Gleason's 'Art Of The Chicken Coop' attempts to offer some inspiration. Packed full of photographs and detailed instructions, this book is a pleasant browse. In fact, it's down right pretty. My son has spent many a bedtime cooing over the pictures. Make no mistake, though, this isn't for the novice. I am what could charitably be called incompetent with a tool kit, so as I read through the detailed instructions and material lists I had a sense of encroaching doom. Plus, I never have the competent DIYers stock of scraps of wood, wire or cabinet doors. Try as I might, I doubt I'd ever be able to make the gypsy caravan coop. In fact, I know I couldn't. However, if you do know your way around a tape measure you could make yourself a little masterpiece. Even though I'm useless, however, I suspect that some of these designs would need some slight adaptations for the inclement British weather. Gleason makes his coops in Utah. There are seven coop designs looked at in depth, and then several more design tweaks at the back. Most of the differences are purely aesthetic, but I imagine that most people would be able to find something here that could be adapted to their own set ups.The coops are adaptable to your flock size, which is a nice touch, and we're introduced to three keepers and their home made housing. Chicken keepers are a nosey lot, by and large, and we do like to see how other people keep their poultry. I know a fair few back yard chicken keepers at this stage, but none of them have such wonderfully decorated coops. These are brightly coloured and elaborately decorated and therefore instantly appealing to the pet keeper who just wants a few eggs. They also have the benefit of looking attractive in the garden which is a concern for the average suburban or urban enthusiast. Neighbours are more likely to complain if your garden looks like Steptoes yard. Although I can imagine many a serious poultryman losing his eyebrows in his hairline at the idea of adding wooden stars and individually cut shingles to his poultry shed. But Chris Gleason hasn't written a book for the serious poultryman. He has written a book for the DIY capable novice. He has included a brief profile of some of the most popular chicken breeds, and some basic care instructions. Touchingly, there are also some basic egg recipes scattered through out the book for when your new flock decides to deliver. The whole thing reads like a gentle coax in to the world of chicken keeping, and an attempt to seduce the would-be carpenter in to using his or her imagination. It's certainly a breath of fresh air from the 'just convert a shed' mantra. My advice? If you're reading this because you really, really want chickens but your other half is reluctant, BUT likes building things, buy them this book. It might just entice them to flex their creative muscle in order to show off, and while you're enthusiastically praising their efforts you can sneak a few hens in around the back. It's a win-win situation.Starred Review: Many are seeing the benefits of urban farming and with chickens the small livestock of choice, there are a growing number of titles on the topic. This slim book focuses on housing. Gleason included a chicken coop design in his Backyard Projects for Today?s Homestead, but the seven hip coop designs here are new and fresh. Colorful, attractive illustrations display the stages of construction. The guide is well organized and features helpful tips from other city flock owners. This delightful little book is highly recommended, especially in areas with urban flocks.If you have an eye for something a bit off the beaten path and are looking for plans to build your own chicken coop, this book was written with you in mind. Author Chris Gleason, also an experienced chicken keeper and woodworker, has provided the plans for seven unique coop designs. Each set of plans includes photos of the finished coop, a pencil sketch, materials list, and step by step instructions. This has got to be my favorite one... A movable chicken gypsy caravan coop ! The author includes practical information such as what size coop you need, and how to find materials that can be re-purposed. Also included are short profiles of several backyard chicken keepers from around the country with photos of their coops and some words of wisdom from each of them. There are even a few egg recipes included. Really a fun read with some very unique coop designs. The only downside would be choosing which coop to buildIt's no longer enough to simply provide a secure shelter for your brood. Chicken coops are an art form! From chicken condos to chicken tractors and all styles in between, you'll find a plan that's just right for your girls in Art of the Chicken Coop. Offering seven unique coop designs appropriate for both large and small flocks as well as three in-depth profiles of experienced chicken-keepers, this book will provide inspiration galore for sheltering chickens in style. Whether you're preparing for your first clutch of chicks or you're an old pro, you'll find tips, ideas and advice that you can put to work today. Each chapter focuses on a different coop design and is complete with plans, materials list, step-by-step instructions and color photos.Keeping chickens is a trend that just keeps on growing, even for city dwellers. With this book. today's modern farmer will find plans and construction techniques for making seven different chicken coops, along with interesting chicken facts and recipes for eggs. Experienced farmer, woodworker and author Chris Gleason's hip eye for design, combined with sound woodworking techniques make the coops both attractive and sturdy. Practical information such as how to properly size a coop and how to source reclaimed materials is included. This book offers a whimsical and fresh perspective that reflects today's backyard farmer.In Art of the Chicken Coop there are easy to follow construction plans for seven different coops, four of them for flocks of six chickens or less. The perfect size for a backyard flock. One coop is a space saver, only using 2 x 3 feet of space! Each coop includes a complete supply list and lots of pictures! If you will be keeping over six, up to fifteen, three of the coop designs will accommodate such a flock. The author also includes instructions on how to increase the size of any of the coops in the book. What I really liked was the use of salvaged materials. Both my coops used salvaged materials. I'm sure my new coop will be no different. There are also 3 profiles of chicken keepers who offer some great advice and tips, a whole chapter on building coop runs, advice on everything you'll need in your coop, a characteristic chart of popular backyard breeds (with each breed pictured), and egg recipes. From beginner to veteran this book has great information for anyone!Table of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS Coop-a-doodle-do: Coop Designs 1. Sunny Side Up 2. X Marks the Spot 3. Simply Salvaged 4. Rustic Sophistication 5. Little Big Barn 6. Gypsy Hen Caravan 7. How the Chicken Crossed the Road Fowl play: Profiles of Fine-Feathered Chicken Keepers 1. Andrew Stone 2. Jimmy & Brit 3. Kate & Molly

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Book SynopsisLearn how to make two different ukuleles, from a beginner's basic box-shaped uke, to a professional grade soprano ukulele.

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Book SynopsisCarve various types of faces, noses, and hair alongside one of the leading caricature carvers in the country, Harold Enlow. Learn expert tips and techniques to achieve detailed facial features and make your carvings pop with life and expression. Kit contains a high-quality, hand-cast resin study stick with a wood color stain and a 32-page instructional booklet with step-by-step instructions and coordinating photography, making this a must-have addition to your woodcarving library! Study stick measures 12” in height.

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Book SynopsisMake your backyard more exciting with a unique bird or squirrel feeder or a birdhouse that will be sure to attract the attention of backyard critters, not to mention that of your neighbors.

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Book SynopsisUse this workbook along with Getting Started in Pinewood Derby to learn the basics of building a Derby Car. After all the hard work is done, glue pictures of your speedy car right into this book to record your memories of the race.

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Book SynopsisLegendary woodturner Stephen Hogbin's work has been groundbreaking at every turn. He first burst on the scene in the early 1970s with an exhibition of turnings unlike anything seen before-cut apart, re-assembled, enhanced by carving, and bearing little resemblance to the standard round stuff that had previously characterized the lathe. Now, the internationally recognised designer examines eleven of his finest and most innovative creations, distilling each piece to a useful project any woodturner can replicate. This is the first time Hogbin has described his techniques and presented his ideas in step-by-step project format. All of these projects begin with the lathe, but each features inventive cutting into the turned elements and recombining the pieces to make entirely new forms. They do not require advanced technical skills, but will encourage you to break out of the basic vocabulary of woodturning and see marvellous new possibilities.Trade Review"Hogbin on Woodturning" is not a traditional 'here's how-to' book. While exceptionally instructional, its written for an easy read, often autobiographically but featuring a value-added text, each page rich with personal anecdotes and real-life lessons. Presented in waves, inspiring background text and colourful imagery followed by detailed visual instruction spiced with unexpected gems then capped with enticing examples of alternative ways all readers might consider each project, this splendid book is hard to put down. Creative turners or cabinetmakers also will appreciate how Stephen broadens our creative points-of-view from first thoughts about any project through its purpose and ultimate delivery or gifting. No matter whether you're looking for new projects to make, new dimensions to add to your work or an invigorating fresh perspective, at $24.99 "Hogbin on Woodturning" is attractively bound to satisfy.Table of Contents-Introduction -Servers -Bowls -Walking Stick -Table -Stool -Sculpture -Chair -Cabinet

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Book SynopsisChainsaw carving is quickly becoming a popular hobby for woodworkers and a lucrative way to earn money selling carvings. Learn the secrets of transforming an ordinary piece of wood into a striking work of art with easy-to-follow instructions for beginners from world champion chainsaw carver Jamie Doeren. InsideChainsaw Carving a Bearyou'll find 3 step-by-step projects for carving both realistic and caricature bears with a chainsaw that progress in difficulty. Also included is a complete overview on tools, safety, layout, reference materials, basic chainsaw cuts, and tips for designing your own chainsaw bear project.

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Book SynopsisCarving the Native American takes you step-by-step through the creation of an expressive American Indian bust. From starting with a clay model to detailing the tiniest curves of the face, it guides you through the entire process of sculpting a large lifelike bust. Both beginning and veteran carvers will discover practical techniques and strategies to apply to any large sculptural carving.

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Book SynopsisThis book features projects that range in complexity, including a section to help beginners with the basics. It includes patterns suitable for scroll sawing, woodcarving, wood burning, glass etching and many other crafts. Woodworkers can pick from more than 300 unique seasonal patterns to create decorative and inexpensive Christmas ornaments in this beautiful handbook. Arranged by theme, the wide variety of original designs includes angels and nativity figures, wildlife and holiday classics. These clear, easy-to-copy patterns make wonderful subjects for scroll sawing, woodcarving, wood burning, glass etching and many other crafts.

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Book SynopsisBuild charming doll furniture that any little girl will cherish for a lifetime. These easy-to-follow plans and projects allow you to make heirloom-quality pieces perfectly scaled to proportion for the ever-popular American Girl(R) and other 18" dolls. Inside you'll find everything you need to get started, from carefully drawn patterns and full color photos of finished pieces, to step-by-step assembly tips, materials lists, and finishing techniques.

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Book SynopsisThis is a handy DIY reference guide packed with tips and answers to all of your woodworking questions. It includes charts, formulas, conversion tables and geometry pointers. It offers at-a-glance access to everything the woodworking professional or hobbyist needs to know. Conveniently sized to fit a workshop apron, this handy DIY reference is packed with tips and answers to all of your woodworking questions in an easy to read and quick to find format. Woodworker's & DIY Pocket Guide, 2nd Edition offers at-a-glance access to everything the woodworking professional or hobbyist needs to know regarding wood, fasteners, joints, workshop maths, finishing, hand tools, power tools, workshop set up, sharpening, safety and much more. Details on the availability and use of various kinds of wood, hand and motorised tools, glues, wood fillers and adhesives are provided along with pointers on sharpening edges, concocting effective solvents and creating an efficient workspace. Charts, formulas, conversion tables and geometry pointers are available to refresh the forgetful craftsman, and a comprehensive glossary offers rapid access to a wealth of information. Winner of the Golden Hammer Book Award.

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Book SynopsisThe best ornaments on the Christmas tree are always those that are handmade! Use your scroll saw to create memorable three-dimensional Christmas ornaments to hang on your tree, use as holiday decorations, or give to family and friends. Inside you’ll find dozens of inventive ready-to-use patterns to use in creating inspirational ornaments, nativity scenes, tree toppers, holiday centerpieces, snowmen candlestick holders, and much, much more.Each festive design in this newly revised book features compound cutting, a simple technique that uses multiple cuts to produce amazingly complex-looking results. Follow the author's instructions to learn the secret of making compound cuts on your scroll saw. Her easy methods will give your ornaments height, width, and depth, providing impressive results at any skill level.

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Book SynopsisMake colorful wooden puzzles on the scroll saw with more than 75 shop-tested and ready-to-cut patterns. Each freestanding design features several interlocking cuts, and is made up of only a few pieces. Step-by-step instructions and expert tips on tools, materials, preparation, staining, and painting will have you making puzzles like a pro in just a few hours. Celebrate holidays around the year with snowmen, Santas, leprechauns, and jack-o-lanterns. Create a Noah s Ark, a farmer on his tractor, or a wishing well. Make grazing horses, soaring eagles, traveling elephants, and dozens more."

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Book SynopsisMaking Wooden Puzzle Playsets contains 11 imaginative projects that will provide woodworking fun for carvers, scroll sawers and wood burners. Nothing beats these colourful, chunky brainteasers that are sure to captivate and delight everyone who sees them.Carve or scroll farm animals in a barn, dragons in a cave, princesses in a castle, Santas at the North Pole, the Nativity in a manager and more. Each cute puzzle can be completed in just one weekend. Full-size, ready- to-transfer patterns include woodburning detail lines to enhance each finish.Detailed cutting and painting instructions include step-by-step photos, material / tool lists and painting guides. These self-contained puzzles are fun to assemble, but just as entertaining to play with. They are also perfect to display or give to friends and family.You'll burn a puzzle solution onto the back of each carrying case - but try to put the pieces back into place without peeking!

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Book SynopsisDiscover how to build rustic furniture from cut timber in this comprehensive guide for woodworkers. Award-winning outdoor writer and photographer Alan Garbers shows how to use raw logs to make stylish eco-friendly pieces. Alan provides detailed, practical information on procuring and processing logs, with sage troubleshooting advice based on years of experience. Learn which species look best with the bark on, and which work better with the bark off. Find out why wood may shrink, warp, or crack, and how to deal with rot, decay, and insects. Get expert guidance on all the woodworking techniques you need to know, from steam bending and joinery to sanding, gluing, and finishing. From Tree to Table offers instructions for making charming cabin-style beds, tables, benches, lamps, coat racks, kiva ladders, and more.

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Book SynopsisUse this ready-to-cut scroll saw pattern library of artistic alphabets to customize any woodworking project with your own unique messages. Alphicons features 28 complete scroll-friendly alphabets that put a delightful spin on the traditional ABCs. Each monogram combines the shape of the letter within a clever presentation of a theme. From pumpkins and football helmets to trophies, hearts and Christmas trees, use these patterns to craft messages that are as engaging as they are informative. Personalize your world with signs, nameplates, mobiles, centerpieces, picture frames, refrigerator magnets and so much more. Or take your inventiveness to a new level with the bonus DIY alphabets at the back of the bookletsimply place one of these versatile letters inside your favorite shape and cut accordingly. Never be at a loss for words again!

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Book SynopsisMaking beautiful jewelry boxes on the scroll saw is surprisingly easy... and fun! Carole Rothman, author of the best-selling book Creative Wooden Boxes from the Scroll Saw, shows how to use the versatility of the scroll saw to make extraordinary boxes in this exciting new project book. Carole provides five unique designs for boxes you'll love to make and love to use. Each stand-alone project is useful, simple to create, and makes a great gift. With expert step-by-step instructions and clear how-to photos, each project features complete materials & tools lists, detailed patterns, and all the tips and techniques you need to guarantee box-making success.

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Book SynopsisWhen world champion waterfowl carvers talk about early influences on their careers, they usually mention Bruce Burk. Now duck carvers of all levels can improve the quality of their work with guidance from this legendary artist. Decorative Decoy Carver’s Ultimate Painting & Pattern Portfolio, Revised Edition offers a classic portfolio of Burk’s detailed colour patterns and finishing tips and techniques. For carvers who have difficulty in making their own drawings—or those with limited access to live or mounted birds—this book will become a priceless tool in creating award-winning decoys. Inside you’ll find an introduction that includes practical advice on photography, colour, competitions and working with patterns. This is followed by page after page of full colour patterns and detailed paint mixing instructions for 16 of the most popular and beautiful species, including both drakes and hens.

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