5 comments about Small Woodworking Shops (New Best of Fine Woodworking).

1. At first when I started reading the book I thought I was in store for a long treatise on how to build a professional workshop. If you are in the market for that information, I am sure this book will get you started. Where I found the book most useful was in seeing how each person used the space available. In one instance, the shop design was a professional spread with a specific location for each step of the woodworking process. In another instance, the shop design was for a professional who had limited space. Both extremes helped me visualize how my home workshop (my garage) might be better used. I gained a lot from reading the book. Reading it is not a necessity, however. You may gain the same information the authors did by making the same mistakes as they did or you can learn vicariously from them and the examples.
   
   Now, one thing I recommend for most hobbyists; while reading the book, do not get discouraged or dismissive. Read the book for ideas about how to make your workspace more usable and more efficient. If you do, you will not be disappointed.



2. When the first couple reviews for a book are all 5 stars, I tend to wonder whether the author's friends and relatives are doing their part to pump up sales. I'm writing this review in case you're like me in that regard. Fear not, I've got no connection whatsoever with anyone involved with this book.
   
   As a new woodworking hobbyist, I found this book informative and helpful. The writing was clear and readable, the photos and graphics well-done. More importantly, for me the breadth and depth of information was just right. Example: there was a simple, informative piece on the best power tools to start off with -- and then there was another to offer a different perspective. Some goes with coverage of dust control, with several different angles presented.
   
   This book doesn't try to be all things to all people. I doubt anyone with serious woodworking experience would find this book worth buying. On the other hand, if finances or space limit your tool choices to a circular saw and a drill, look elsewhere -- this book really is for folks setting up a shop with the tools to go with it. Its also more oriented towards power tools than hand tools.
   
   I think the ideal reader would be someone with a garage to fill and a $5000 budget to spend. That's not me on either count, and I do wish the book had focused more on small hobbyist starter shops and less on professional, two-car garage shops with every tool.
   
   But I still got a lot out of it, and I'd buy it again without hesitating. However, I don't own any of the other books on setting up a shop, so can't compare their relative merits.
   
   
   --- Coming back to this review a month later, I think I was wrong to give it only 4 stars. This has been the one book I've turned to the most as I continue setting up my shop, and I get something useful out of it every time. Amazon doesn't seem to let you change your star rating after the fact, but now I'd give it 5 stars without hesitation.
   



3. This is a 'second-stage' book suitable for those with potential for plenty of space, time and machinery. It has minimal coverage of basic workbench and hand tools practice, and simple handyman projects, although storage and space-saving ideas are well covered. The book is ideal for those aspiring to make the big jump to a larger, machinery equipped, productive work place, with better and safer work practices (and will certainly guide my future and hopeful aspirations).



4. This book has its positive points, but encouraging someone who wants to create a small workshop is not one of them. Instead it tends to make you feel bad about not having 1000+ sq. ft. of space to allocate to a wood shop. They've reprinted six articles that describe wood shops, but only one fits my definition of "small." The rest describe spaces 600, 720, 1296, and two at 2400 sq. ft. I guess if you are making a "small" commercial shop, 2400 sq. ft. is not out of the question, but if woodworking is just a hobby, 200-400 sq. ft. is a more common limitation.
   
   It also has two (related, overlapping in content) articles on dust collection; one of the articles is useful, but another seems redundant. Seems like the editors were looking for filler articles.
   
   I would have given this book more stars--3 or 4--if it hadn't claimed to be about "small" shops. However I wouldn't have purchased it in that case, because I already have general woodshop design books--and in fact almost all the information in this one I've seen in my other books. And it really is just a collection of articles rather than a coherent whole.
   
   In particular, I find How to Design and Build Your Ideal Woodshop (Popular Woodworking) to be much more appropriate. It talks about how to design a small workshop in much greater detail. I also have an earlier edition of Setting Up Shop, Completely Revised and Updated: A Practical Guide to Designing and Building Your Dream Shop, which is quite good.



5. Like many of Taunton's books in the woodworking arena, this one consists mostly of reprints of Fine Woodworking magazine (FWW) articles. That's not bad in itself, of course, as FWW is a fine magazine, and one to which I subscribe. It does mean that even though the articles are all small shop themed, there isn't a logical flow from beginning to end or article to article. Each stands on its own merits, is written by a different author, and has its own emphasis and style.
   
   Approach this book and these titles as idea and tips generators. This book is most appropriate to those who are not already FWW subscribers. If you are a long-term subscriber, you will have already read the articles. You can also get at most or all of this content by subscribing to FWW's online site.

3 comments about Step-by-Step Guitar Making.

1. It's actually fairly easy to make an acoustic guitar, and any with some woodworking skills can master the rudiments with these basics plus Alex Willis' Step-by-Step Guitar Making in hand. Any collection strong in woodworking, music or crafts titles will welcome this guide, which shows how to make a steel-stringed OM cutaway model guitar with 14 frets. Full-size plans of the instrument plus discussions of both parts and how to tune and adjust them assure that musicians receive the most from a homemade effort.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. It turns out that guitar making is a complex art and there are many different ways for a beginner to approach it. The most complete book is William Cumpiano's "Guitar Making, Tradition and Technology". However, I found Willis "Step by Step Guitar Making" useful and valuable. It is shorter and clearer than Cumpiano and interestingly, a lot of the steps, sequence of operations, and jigs are different. For me, the differences between the two books help in understanding which steps are the most critical and which steps can be altered to best accomodate your particular skills, experience, and available tools. If you are serious about learning guitar building, I would recommend getting both books.



3. I have made one guitar and one ukulele, guided by Cumpiano and Natelson, so this book was the perfect follow on from that point. The photos and text are well set out and as a slightly experienced luthier, I gained much. The spanish foot approach is unusual in steel stringed guitars and Mr Willis explained it in detail, including how to construct the cutaway. I am now keen to try it. The only mild criticism I have is that I thought the section on truss rods was a little light, but apart from that, a great book, I am glad I bought it.

2 comments about Make Your Own Walking Sticks: How to Craft Canes and Staffs from Rustic to Fancy.

1. I would give this a six star rating if possible. Beautiful examples of what can be attained. Extensive review of woods, their appearence and workability properties, grains, etc. Wide array of styles and methods, superb sourcebook.



2. An excellent discusion and illustrations of techniques for shaping, bending, and finishing walking sticks. Also includess good text and illustrations of techniques for making handles for canes. Covers various woods that make good walking sticks. Recommended for the curious or serios stickmaker.

5 comments about Tom Wolfe Carves Wood Spirits and Walking Sticks (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers).

1. I used this book as a basis for all my carvings, This book actually started me in the buisness of woodcarving and I created my first Walking stick from the instructions therein.



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



3. The book is good for very young carvers. The pictures are great and the author does show everything. As a matter for discussion the author provides too much detail and if you need lots of detail then this book is what young starters can use effectively.



4. Tom Wolfe is an old school master with gift of putting out great and informative books, this is one of them.



5. Loved the beauty in this full color, highly instructive book. I bought 4 books to get me into carving the wood spirits of my German ancestors, and this was the most instructive by far. I feel I can really make a carving on my own now.

5 comments about Woodcraft and Camping.

1. In this book, "Nessmuk" (a pseudonym for George W. Sears) provides a moderately entertaining read. He writes during, and was an active participant in, the "back to nature movement" during the Victorian period. He writes about the glory and romance of camping, woodcraft, woods travel, and flyfishing using minimalist methods. The info on reflector fire-building, hatchets, fishing with worms/grubs is good, basic lore that everyone needs to learn; however, the book lacks detail on many other basic aspects of woodcraft and Northwoods style camping and outdoor survival, especially collecting and storing food and winter living. If the reader follows the author's recommendations during a lengthy outing in the Northwoods or boreal forest, they'd likely get into major trouble. More info is needed than presented here by Nessmuk if one plans their own 10-day adventure crossing a big stretch of woods. In summary, yes, it's a quaint and entertaining read, but if you want less romanticizing/glorification and more detail, check out "Camp and Trail Methods" by E. Kreps and "Northern Bushcraft" by Mors Kochanski. (Note: This review written by a primitive survival expert and former fur trapper. I gave this book 2 stars to make a point regarding safety. Many a person has died or nearly died in the outdoors by following the ways of romantics/mystics rather than seeking knowledge from and following the ways of realists -- the practitioners. Although Nessmuk teaches solid methods, he leaves too many important things unsaid for students of the outdoors. If you just want to be entertained, then buy the book.



2. Talk about a look back in time; this little book makes you appreciate the times Sears was living. It's amazing how much some things have changed, yet so much has remained the same. Nothing really profound here, just a great expression of the ways things were in that period of time. The writing style of that period is refreshing, as well.



3. "Nessmuk" wrote for an era when much of the lower 48 was still wilderness, and his writings are an entertaining time machine trip to a long-gone era. Myself, I enjoyed reading the book very, very much. But you can no longer start a campsite by cutting down a half-dozen trees!



4. Great old school camping/survival book. However, it may not be for everyone. If you want a hard core survival book, or something to help you choose gear, this isn't the right book. This book is around 100 years old, so its not exactly up-to-date on gear and supplies. It is a great book that covers the basics and philosophy of hiking and camping. This isn't the only book I would buy, but it is a must for a collection.



5. This book is a classic Adirondack outdoor skills book that really puts you into the mood to be out in the woods! In fact, I carry it with me into the woods on a regular basis. My copy is in tatters and I had to buy a new one. The information on what to carry, how to's and so on are as true today as they were when the book was written. Proof positive you dont need high tech gadgets to have a safe and enjoyable time in the outdoors! I use very similar equipment to this day on my trips to the woods~!~ Oh...dont be fooled, the price of a canoe has gone up! LOL
   Shawn A. Merritt
   http://www.woodlandsurvival.com

5 comments about Jim Tolpin's Table Saw Magic, Second Edition.

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



2. Several good reviews on this book, all are correct IMO. This book is very thorough.... I thought I knew a LOT about TS's, but this book taught me even more. Some very useful jigs, safe work methods (very critical when cutting small strips), great set up instructions, and, great charts on type of blades to use. If you use a TS, there is something extra you will learn if you buy this book...



3. Tolpin has put together a grand book on the table saw. A little bit of tricks, some jigs, when it's good and possible to use it and things to build for safety. Some things he wrote about I would not use. I believe that it's safe to use, but... I don't think I'll be cutting any circles with my saw, but if anyone asked me if you can, I'll say "Yes", you can do it safely. I'll keep this publication close to my saw for the future.



4. As a new owner of a quality table saw and following the suggestions of a woodshop instructor friend, I purchased this "manual" to better understand the proper and safe use of a powerful table saw.
   Most of my woodworking education has been, "self-taught" and as I age I appreciate the benefits of following safe practises and still having ten fingers.



5. I do now. Tolpin writes as if he's having a conversation with you - and that he really wants you to learn. Even an expert in table saw use can find something of interest here. I never knew how much I didn't know about my table saw. Thanks to Tolpin, my saw now works better and I do better work with it.
   
   This isn't a book that includes everything about the tool and every jig ever designed for it. It is, however, much more than an introduction and someone new to woodworking would benefit tremendously from reading it.

5 comments about Celebrating Birch: The Lore, Art, and Craft of an Ancient Tree.

1. Living in the northwoods & being a wood artist, I love Birch and have used it for many years with my pyrography. I have experimented with the bark and tried to understand how to use it best, which this book explains clearly. Unfortunately for all of us who love this tree/wood, many of our birch are dying off from drought/fires/etc. If you are a person in search of a light colored, strong, easy to work with wood, this book will tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful and completely practical tree.



2. For those who live in birch country, this is a book to cherish. It is artistically presented, photographically superb, and factually very accurate. I've worked with birch for years, both botanically, ecologically, and as a craftsperson, but I learned alot in this book. The joy and passion for their work these teachers at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN share with us is outstanding.



3. The North House Folk School was created to encourage lifelong learning through teaching traditional crafts, and here they celebrate one of the oldest trees used in woodcrafting, the birch. Biology, ecology, and some twenty projects using birch, from a carved box to a wooden bowl, are presented in a woodworker's guide which holds wider appeal than your usual woodworking book, and thus is recommended for any library catering to either crafters or home owners. CELEBRATING BIRCH: THE LORE, ART, AND CRAFT OF AN ANCIENT TREE packs in color photos and step-by-step instructions on every page, making it an exceptional presentation.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. Being from a Birch growing state and having used birch in various craft and projects, I absolutely loved the subject matter and information. Being knowledgeable in woodcraft and carving, I would not recommend for the person looking to pick it up and start crafting for the first time. Just not enough room or photos to make that happen. Not that it is short on photos, but some of the more intricate crafts need greater detail. If you are a crafter already, you may be able to perform more. I likened my experience with the book to watching a demonstration and getting a good explanation of whats going on. The historical information and importance of this tree, is a pleasant read. A great book by Fox and the good folks at the North House School.



5. This is a great book; people with a "reverence for wood"(Eric Sloane)will really enjoy this. Most of the projects are done with hand tools alone. There is a quiet contemplative spirit to the kind of woodworking demonstrated in this book. Good book for winter reading. Buy it and make a mess of shavings on your floor!

5 comments about The Woodburner's Companion: Practical Ways of Heating with Wood.

1. In an age of rapidly rising energy costs for the homeowner, fresh attention is being given to heating alternatives to electricity and natural gas. Foremost among them is the woodburning stove and/or fireplace. Dirk Thomas is a Vermont chimney sweep how drew upon his many years of experience and expertise to write The Woodburner's Companion, a definitive "how to" manual and guide on the proper ways to utilize wood and fireplace stoves, boilers, furnaces, masonry heaters, and more. Thomas comprehensively covers such pertinent issues as the fuel value of various woods, how to purchase firewood, getting the most heat from what you buy, the environmental impact of woodburning, and a variety of chimney and flue arrangements for best efficiency. Curry provides specific emphasis on the safety issues involved with burning wood for fuel and heat. "Must" reading for the novice wood burner, The Woodburner's Companion will also offer considerable value for experienced woodburners with detailed discussions of woodstove installation, and American and Canadian building and fire codes.



2. If you operate a woodstove, you should have this book. It covers every topic the woodburner should read prior to purchasing, for installation and operation. The information on safety, cleaning and chimney problems is vital. The advice on buying wood will prevent a rip-off (very easily done in the cord wood biz). Woodstove manufacturers should ship this book with their stoves. Highly recommended.



3. In his earlier, complementary book "The Harrowsmith Country Life Guide to Wood Heat" Dirk Thomas lays out burning wood for heat from A to Z. Everything is covered from felling and limbing trees, using block and tackle to move them on any kind of surface, rigging up trucks to remove trees on hillsides, bucking wood, to installing stoves and chimneys. "The Woodburner's Companion" is more for the less adventurous homeowner who gets his wood ready-to-go or who is building a new house with woodburning in mind.
   As such the book is very useful. Heating values of wood, fuel, coal and the like are compared, stove installation and chimney maintenance are covered in some depth, and enlightening facts about clean burning and types of creosote are discussed. I especially value Thomas's remarks on the best way to keep a proper fire in a wood stove going, which is to neither frequently feed it all the time nor starve it down to embers.
   He covers types of chimneys, pros and cons of various materials, chimney cleaning techniques, and how best to handle fireplaces and fireplace inserts, as well as wood stoves and wood furnaces.
   This is a capable book whose information will get the novice off to a flying start and hone the woodburning skills of the veteran. It will enhance efficiency and safety in the home.



4. I found this book to have answered every question that can come to mind involving burning wood either as a primary source of heat or esthetic enjoyment. It is enjoyable reading as well as informative. I particularly enjoyed the pros and cons revealed about different methods of wood heat and also Dirk's subtle sense of humor in defending the burning of wood as an institution---as he so aptly states, it is defensible politically since no wars have been fought over wood (unlike oil), and if you have a wood spill, you're not looking at a major ecological catastrophe. It's not hard to see that Mr. Thomas likes his trade (chimney sweeping)and is the best choice to write a book of this nature. To all prospective readers: Enjoy!



5. I have burned wood in a woodstove for years, but there was a lot that I didn't know, especially regarding chimney safety. I will be having my chimney inspected for cracked flue tiles, since I know that there was once a chimney fire (before my time). I don't want to endanger my family to save a few bucks. Thank you, Dirk, for writing such a clear and sensible guide. I expect that more people will be using wood to heat their homes as fuel and electricity costs continue to rise. This book is well worth buying as a reference and guide to safely useing a woodstove or fireplace.

5 comments about The Violin Maker: Finding a Centuries-Old Tradition in a Brooklyn Workshop.

1. Sam Zygmontowicz is one of the great contemporary violinmakers, and John Marchese has more than done him justice in describing the process of his making a violin (for the Emerson String Quartet's first violinist, Gene Drucker). In the process, Marchese takes us not only into Zyg's studio, but also to Cremona, the birthplace of the violin in its modern form (in the 1560s) and the home of the three greatest families of violinmakers--Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri. In addition, Marchese reports on his meetings with Drucker, who commissioned the violin, and on Drucker's reaction to his new instrument--which complements the Strad on which he had been playing but cannot, in his opinion, fully replace it.



2. Very well written- get's the heart of what it takes to be one of the best at your craft. I especially like the fact Sam (like all artists and craftsmen) needs to be inspired to "create." It's nice to know those special people are not much different than you and I. We all have self-doubts, we all need to be reassured...yet well need to press forth and create.



3. This is a gift for our grandson who is an accomplished violinist and at one point in his life (11 yrs. old) attempted to construct a violin. We know that he will enjoy reading this book.



4. My son, now 17 has been playing his Great-Great Grandfather's violin for 8 years. Though I love how he plays, he feels he needs a replacement. I didn't know much about violins, so... my first step was to read about it. I picked up John Marchese's book for many reasons, one of which was to get a feel for what we should be looking for with the replacement. I was thrilled at how the book was written, the information it contained and the "easy read" of it. It gives great credit to Sam Zygmuntowicz along with all of those who work to create the magical boxes. I enjoyed it and it definitely had influence on how we will proceed with my son's next violin. Thank You.



5. It's very hard to write a book about someone else carving a violin and make it interesting reading for the general public, but John Marchese has done it. His book pulls the reader in by weaving three stories together in a compellingly artful way: the story of his own unfolding understanding of violins and violinists; a restrained description of the making of a violin; an exploration of a violinist and his desire for ideal tone. This is the tale of a master carver, Sam Zygmuntowicz, and a concert violinist, Eugene Drucker (of the Emerson String Quartet), in their collaborative efforts to create a perfect violin. Marchese's style of writing is fun to read, and propels the reader from chapter to chapter effortlessly and satisfyingly--he manages to balance the three stories evenly. (Is it my imagination, or is this unusually narrow book itself based on the proportions of a violin? Just one more thing to add to the physical enjoyment of reading the book!) Rather than focusing too much on technical details of violin making (he kindly refers interested readers to several books that cover this territory), he merely opens a window into the quirky world of a single violin maker's studio, describing the most interesting aspects of the work (the selection of wood, the `secrets' of varnishing) with verve and wit. Likewise, in describing the professional violinist's relationship with sound and with instruments, he has deftly painted a portrait of a single artist, but one whose search for the `right' instrument surely represents the experiences of other instrumentalists. This book is a perfect companion to Toby Faber's "Stradivari's Genius." Without much mental strain, readers will come away from this book with a pretty clear understanding of the complexities of making and playing what he calls at one point "the magical box."

5 comments about Woodshop for Kids.

1. As the director of a hands-on museum in Bellingham, Washington, and being the one responsible for selecting books to put on the shelves of our library area, I was immediately attracted to this offering by Jack McKee. I'm always on the lookout for this sort of material, since I like to include information in our library that's in keeping with one of our missions, fostering closer relationships between youngsters and adults. Not only does this book fit well with that aim, but it's a highly useful guide to getting started on building entertaining and useful things out of wood and other common household materials.
   
   *Woodshop for Kids* contains information that any parent who understands the importance of teaching manual skills to youngsters will find essential, especially if unaccustomed to teaching. As an adult, it's easy to assume that certain aspects of building things out of wood are intuitively obvious. For example, if you've done a little woodworking yourself, you probably believe that using a saw or pounding a nail is such an obvious act that a child, or even an uninitiated adult, should be able to do it without instruction. Such is rarely the case, especially nowadays when kids start their lives immersed in television and computers, and schools have eliminated such "unnecessary" subjects as "shop" from their curriculums. In America, the old "do-it-yourself" days have vanished in the mists of time. We buy everything, including toys for our children, and we are much the poorer for it.
   
   Whether you're an experienced craftsman who wants to teach youngsters how to use tools, or a rank beginner desiring to learn something useful yourself while having some fun with your kids, this is a great book. I've actually recommended that my own staff members read it as a guide to mentoring youngsters or non mechanically-handy adults in workshop practices. The initial four chapters provide an unusually clear discussion of simple woodworking tools, materials, and skills. Simultaneously, it sets a fine example regarding how to present this sort of material to a student, whether child or inexperienced adult.
   
   The long fifth chapter of McKee's book devotes itself to a whole list of projects that kids can build or you can build with (or without!) them. They include puzzles, musical instruments, toys, simple scientific demonstrations, and many other interesting things. An appendix includes a tool list, possible sources for them, and how to build a couple useful tools yourself.
   
   Instead of buying plastic gadgets that run on batteries for your kids, consider using this book as a guide for working with them to help them learn how they can delight themselves with what they can create with their own two hands. McKee has taught woodworking to youngsters, including his own, for many years. His book is a compilation of his own long experience in the field, and you won't find a better guide to the subject than this one.



2. Written by Jack McKee and illustrated by Rusty Keeler, Woodshop For Kids: 52 Woodworking Projects Kids Can Build is a thoroughly "user friendly" guidebook of creative and entertaining woodworking projects that young people can create, given age-appropriate adult supervision and guidance. Individual chapters include detailed instructions for 52 different projects, from a marble roll to a sailboat letter holder to a step stool; tips on how to find free wood and use woodworking tools safely; advice on acquiring and woodworking tools appropriate for kids; and much more. 179 black-and-white photos and illustrations round out this helpful and constructive guide to a stimulating, family-friendly activity.



3. This book has laid out a plan of activities to make it fun to work/play with your kids in the workshop. Great book. My 8 and 9 year olds really liked it.



4. I would highly recommend Woodshop for Kids. It not only gives projects that children can do, some with the help of an adult, but it covers what the tools are, what they do and how to care for them. Important information for all budding woodworkers to know.



5. Jack McKee has written two nonfiction books about ways to teach manual skills to children through building projects: Woodshop for Kids and Builderboards. I proofread his second book and I was stunned by the importance of the book because what he's really offering (along with woodworking projects) is a model for offering respect to children and a way to give them power through safety rules and permission to play. It's a wonderful book. I sent a copy to my grandson, who sleeps with it under his pillow.
   
   Janey Bennett,
   author, The Pale Surface of Things