1 comments about Multi-Use Collapsible Basket Patterns: Over 100 Designs for the Scroll Saw.

1. Looking for something different to make on your scroll saw? Then this is your book. Take a flat piece of 3/4" hardwood, using a bevel cut and these patterns, you create a fold out basket. Quite unique designs.

   This book contains 8 pages of instuctions. The basic techique for creating a basket is the same for all basket designs, just different bevel angles and shapes. Also included are some helpful hints on making mirrors, picture frames, clocks and weather stations, all with the same design. There is also a section on how to customize the basket project with dates/names for anniversaries or birthdays.

   The 8 pages of color photos shows examples of different project techniques and is a great aid in what a final project looks like. A great book for unique designs and projects.

No comments about Making Construction Vehicles for Kids: Complete Plans and Assembly Drawings for Eight Toys that Really Move.

3 comments about Making Mechanical Marvels In Wood.

1. This is a book filled with projects for machines that are fun to play with. Over the years I have built more than half of them. (And given them all away as Christmas presents.) The machines are unique and really fun to watch work. A relatively high level of woodworking skill is required.



2. I ordered this book for my dad last Christmas, and he has used all of the patterns at least once. He is constantly telling me how well-planned the book is. I'm not a woodworker, but my dad is, and he rates this book top notch!



3. This is a great book and delivers whats promised pity its out of print !

1 comments about Scroll Saw Toys and Vehicles: A Complete Technique and Project Pattern Manual.

1. This book does indeed contain patterns for vehicles than can be made on a scroll saw- although a router and disk sander are also helpful to have. However, I would not characterize the patterns or instructions as "complete." There are no exploded full-size views of the patterns; all parts are superimposed. In many cases, there are no noticeable lines to delineate overlapped parts. For example, the dirt bike is shown with bungee cables over it, on its trailer. The bungee cables are solid black and obscure the outlines of several parts of the seat assembly. There was no need to show these on a cutting diagram!

5 comments about American Folk Toys: Easy-to-Build Toys for Kids of All Ages.

1. Nelson has done a splendid job of integrating the readability of a coffee table book and the ruggedness of a functional shop-guide. His smooth writing style and clever wit led me to read the book cover to cover in the first night it was in my possesion. The illustrations are of the utmost quality. Truly a first rate book. Thank you John, for a book that will hopefully lead to homemade toys for my grandchildren this christmas!



2. Tired of buying your kid another mindless, souless piece of useless plastic? Then try John Nelson's book about American folk toys. Not only does Nelson delve into the history of toys in America, he also provides blueprints and step-by-step instructions on how to build them. The book should appeal to anyone interested in toys, anyone looking for gift ideas, anyone who is handy with tools, and anyone who wants to learn!



3. This book is excellent. In addition to Rodney Frost's books, I'm adding this to my library of books which inspire me to create other projects. There are new (old, really, but new to most readers) twists on familiar toys - as other reviewers have commented, the background stories are really fun, too. Cool book!



4. My grandfather finished making the rocking horse from this book last week - he had checked the book out from the library. My 15 month old son loves his white horse! I looked through the book and saw many other toys that I know my son will like, so I'm going to order it and ask my husband to get started!



5. If you are a grandpa or ever plan to be one, this is a great book. My grand daughter loves these sort of geegaws, and I love her. It's a win-win for everyone!

5 comments about 30 Toy Vehicles of Wood.

1. 30 Toy Vehicles of Wood is an EXCELLENT book. I have been making wooden toys for many years and I find this book a MUST for any toymakers library. The book is written for the novice woodworker, but even an expert craftsman can find some good techniques in this book. The drawing are clear and the instructions are easy to follow. The materials list for each toy is handy so just the right amount of wood can be bought. Ronald Tarjany has chosen a good cross section of toys for this book. With this book you will be making a wonderful wooden toy vehicle in no time. Buy this book. You will be well rewarded and enjoy hours of constructive entertainment during your leisure time.



2. I bought the book "30 Toy Vehicles of Wood" several months ago, and it is well worth owning. I have built five of the wooden toys from this book and they all turned out great. The illustrations and instructions are complete and easy to understand. I will be building more of them and plan to give them away as Christmas presents to my nieces and nephews. A GREAT book from cover to cover.



3. I bought this book for my father in-law a year ago. He is a retired carpenter and I thought he would enjoy building some of those cute wooden toy vehicles. I was right he has build several of the toys and he really enjoyed building them. I enjoy taking them with me to the school where I teach, so the children can enjoy them too. My father in-law thinks this book is the GREATEST.



4. The designs, plans and instructions in each of the sections of this book are great. I had no trouble at all in starting on several of the toys shown here. But beware to the craftsman who doesn't own a drill press! The author seems to assume that anyone building these toys will have a drill press, a belt sander, and other large floor-model power tools. Since I do everything with hand tools (plus a power sander), some of these designs became a lot trickier. I had to resurrect my old doweling tools to mount wheels, for example. Still a great book!



5. Several really nice things about building the types of wooden toys outlined in this book are that once you have the necessary tools to do the job it is a relatively inexpensive hobby, it can be done within a fairly small work space so no large woodworking shop is needed, and there is enough variety in the projects to keep you interested and enthusiastic for a long while.

   As for the required tools, the author suggests a work shop equipped with a bench drill press for accuracy, a band saw, a hand held orbiting sander, a circular saw, a scroll saw, a belt sander, and a router. Most of these projects can, however, be built without all the above. Tarjany does, however, suggest a minimum wood toy shop be equipped with a band saw, a bench drill press, and a bench disc sander.

   As the title suggests, the book contains 30 toy vehicles in a wide variety of shapes. Included are a toy sports car, a low wing plane, a helicopter, several types of work vehicles, and a small diesel freight train among other projects. For each project there are detailed instructions, line drawings, photographs, and a list of required materials. Helpful hints are provided along the way, but the budding toy maker will need to know the basics of measuring, cutting, glueing, finishing, etc.

   This is a well done book. If you believe you would like to get involved in the fascinating and rewarding hobby of making toy vehicles of wood, this is a good book to buy in addition to a basic primer in woodworking techniques.

4 comments about Easy-to-Make Whirligigs (Woodworking Whirligigs).

1. Anders S. Lunde is the man who resurrected the whirligig from the ashheap of historical American culture. In the 1970's, Lunde first investigated old whirligigs in New England, researched in the Library of Congress, and just plain hit the woodworking bench to figure out what makes a good whirligig work. Others have tried to copy him, but his whirligigs spin and turn and twist with a freedom and naturalness few can match. His political whirligig creations are snapped up immediately these days, because at 86 years old, there is no telling when he will stop. Simple, straightforward, and detailed, these designs and instructions will put you in the drivers seat for making any design you desire. It is the creative side of these wind machines that intrigues Lunde a lot. His other books continue his approach and offer many other interesting designs. Buy them all!



2. This was bought as a birthday gift for my son-in-law who wants to build whirligigs. He seems quite pleased with the instruction book.



3. I ordered this book due to the excellent reviews it had, but i was very disappointed. The book is very outdated and for a newbie, I thought the instructions weren't very clear.



4. The book has pictures and diagrams and suggestions. I got it to get someone interested in and fascinated by whirligigs. It hasn't yet ignited him, but we'll see.

1 comments about Scroll Saw Pattern Book.

1. I bought this book to develope the projects it includes.Besides it was important to me because i improve myu scroll saw abilities

1 comments about Making Wood Trucks & Construction Vehicles.

1. This text is a clasic study of well-drawn plans. Originally publiished in 1987, this edition does little to correct the criticism that the text is heavy with detailed measured drawings and photos, but light on steo-by-step building instructions.
   I would like to see a chapter on wheel and tire making and a chapter on painting. (There is a good reason why Mr. Martin coats his toys in non-toxic clear finish while I prefer the more traditional Catipillar yellow with decals).
   The paucity of details rule out the beginner, but the plethora of drawings and plans mandate its place on the bookshelf of every aspiring Gepetto.

No comments about The Art And Craft of Whirligig Construction.