5 comments about Wood Spirits and Green Men: A Design Sourcebook for Woodcarvers and Other Artists.

1. I wanted to carve some wood spirits for walking sticks. I had some 1.25 inch dowels to practice with. I checked this book out of the local library, and was able to carve a decent wood spirit on my first try. The "practice" wood spirits ended up looking good enough to finsish and keep for display, even though I had never carved anything before. So if you are a new carver, or even an experienced one, this book will give you plenty of patterns, illustrations, and descriptive text to make wood spirits. I will be buying a copy soon so that I can keep it on hand.



2. Awesome, three great carvers: Chris Pye, Shawn Cipa, and the queen of design Lora S. Irish get together to make this very informative book. Well worth twice the full price.



3. I wish I could give this book a 5 star rating. I have now purchased 6 wood carving books, and this one actually gives readers many adorable patterns in large sizes and the permission to reproduce them. It then takes the novice through the steps from drafting on paper, roughing out, and then finalizing and sanding. The high quality of the color plates and the size and detail of the patterns makes this a must have for carvers. The designs are those that will appeal to young and old. Loved the dwarf faces!



4. It is an excellant book with lots of detail on carving one face. Could use a more detailed description on the tools that are needed for the other faces in the book and more detail on carving some of the other faces. NOT for the beginer. I repeat. NOT for the beginer.



5. The book illustrates in excruciating detail the steps necessary to carve the Greenman shown on the cover. I had hoped that it would have had, instead, patterns for more greenmen rather than so much detial on the one.

5 comments about Furniture Repair & Refinishing (Ultimate Guide).

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



2. Along with the other book I purchased I should now be able to restore some old pieces that I find or already have. I will be quite busy doing these repair.



3. After my grandmother went into a nursing home 3 years ago, I aquired the old kitchen furniture she had. Consisting of a square table (complete with a green Formica top!), 4 matching chairs and a hutch. Dating back to the late 1950's or early 60's, every piece needed some refinishing. And 2 of the 4 chairs were rather wobbly. This book addressed all of the issues I was concerned with, including clean-up, stripping the old finish, applying the new finish and repairs. When you balance the value, monetary or sentimental, of your furniture against the price of this book, it's as much of a good investment as the furniture itself.
   
   My only gripe, and it's a minor one: A lot of items like aniline stains and upholstery items for chairs are things you're not going to find at your local Home Depot or corner hardware store. It would have been nice if the author had provided a list of reliable internet and mail order suppliers.



4. Another fantastic book on how to repair wood furniture. I was able to correctly, and easily repair several old furniture items. Highly recommend this book for those who are involved in furniture repair, as I am.



5. I thought this would be a step by step instruction book on how to fix and/or refinish furniture, but I'm having difficulties following it. I guess if you have a question in mind, you could find the answer when it comes to repairing something or refinishing something. This book is not what I expected.

5 comments about Scroll Saw Workbook: Learn to Use Your Scroll Saw in 25 Skill-Building Chapters.

1. i am still waiting for the book to arrive. where is it?



2. Good book for the money. If you are new to the scroll saw this book is just what you will need to get started.



3. I've wanted to learn how to use a scroll saw and I wasn't sure what to look for or how hard it would be to use. I don't have one yet but wanted to find out all that I could before I puchase one. I actually checked this book out at the library first to see if it would be worth while to buy it, and I haven't been able to set it down. My dad is pretty good in woodworking and I showed him this book and he agreed that it is a really good instructional book. The author makes you feel confident in doing the exercises. He also explains about the different scroll saws and what to look for in a scroll saw. It also explains the different types of blades, wood, and material that can be used. Then it gives different exercises to do, starting with the beginner and if you make a mistake the different ways to fix it. I will definately buy this book, it will be an excellent reference.



4. The book contained good example patterns to explain what I should be doing. The book's intended audience is the novice.



5. I just got my first scroll saw and then a few days later I got this book. It is SO much better than the instructions that came with the saw!!
   I highly recommend this to any one new or considering purchasing a scroll saw...Even better if you don't have one as they describe what to look for in a scroll saw when shopping. Good lessons in here too !!

4 comments about Building Stairs (For Pros by Pros).

1. This book covers every aspect of stair building very thoroughly. Some of the topics covered are both open & housed stair construction, winders, handrailing, & exterior stairs. Much attention is paid to detail. There are literally hundreds of excellent photos & clear, concise drawings. The text is easy to follow & along the way the author shares plenty of tips & techniques for building beautiful, durable stairs. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned carpenter, you'll find plenty of good information here. A great addition to my library!



2. A nicely organized and well laid-out manual that covers everything from stairbuilding basics up to complex railing and finishing details. Written in an easy-to-read casual tone with clear photos and drawings, helpful sidebars and useful appendices. Definitely recommended.



3. This is truly a well-written book on how to build stairs! Mr. Engel explores every aspect of stairbuilding and describes each step in the process in great detail. I highly recommend this book for the novice and the expert, alike. There's always something new to be learned by any of us and this book is chock full of new and interesting methods and tips on how one can build a stair the right way and without error! Well worth the price to purchase!



4. I am a serious DIYer, and when I decided to tackle a stair construction project in a two-story addition, I looked through my collection of books, downloaded stair building codes, and found whatever else I could on the internet. I also had back issues of Fine Homebuilding Magazine, where I found various articles, including the March 1998 issue which has an article by Mr. Engel, "Bulding Finish Stairs." Despite having these resources, I still lacked the confidence to tackle the project, and I wanted a better book. I bought this book based on the excellent reviews, and I haven't been disappointed. If you need to build some stairs, indoor or outdoor, this book has everything you need to start the job, provided you already own a shop full of tools and know how to use them. The book fully explains the trade-offs between various types of construction and details how to accomplish the job with illustrated clearly-written text. As an example, I located a local source for engineered stringer lumber after going to a URL listed in the book. I had some initial confusion as to whether I should buy this book since there is another book by almost the same name, "Building Stairs (For Pros by Pros) by Fine Homebuilding Editors", that received horrible reviews. That book appears to be a loose collection of former Fine Homebuilding articles, including the previously mentioned March 1998 article. I have a collection of similar books from Fine Homebuilding, and they are of somewhat limited value.

5 comments about How to Carve Wood: A Book of Projects and Techniques (Fine Woodworking Book).

1. A good general book on woodcarving. This book could be better if it didn't try to be all things for all people. There are better books for beginners out there for the money and more advanced carvers probably need to buy a book concentrating on their type of carving. I found it to be a little on the technical side and would have preferred a few more patterns for each type of carving.

   My favorite sections were on finishes, sharpening, and the tool section. There are numerous photographs of some beautiful examples of the various types of carving. The author does show some very useful carving techniques in most of the carving styles.

   Sections include tools, sharpening, woods and finishes, design, whittling, chip carving, relief carving, wildlife carving, lettering, archatectural carving, and a bibliography.




2. To an experienced woodcarver this book may seem unfocused and thinly spread, but for the beginner it does exactly what it should do. The book begins with a good grounding in the tools of the craft and how to care for and sharpen each type. After that it gives you a sampler of carving styles with at least one project for each. It's guaranteed there is at least one or two chapters the reader will not care for. Even this is useful since the reader avoids launching into the craft with a project they really have little enthusiasm for, and then lose interest in wood carving all together. This book should be required reading before the beginner spends a single dime on tools, equipment, or wood. If it's not 'the' best beginner's book, it's in the top five.



3. This is an excellent book that covers the fundamentals of carving plus adds great advice on what tools to purchase. Asked if I would buy this book again, my answer would be yes! I messed up on the rating of this book and I give it five (5) stars. Sorry!
   
   David Self, New Boston, Texas



4. As a beginner, I appreciated the breadth of topics covered in the book, particularly the various styles of carving. This was my introduction to chip carving, and I think he covered it quite well. Sharpening is also covered, but I'd already bought "The Complete Guide to Sharpening" by Leonard Lee (of Lee Valley & Veritas) and found that to be a most comprehensive source of information on that topic.



5. still not worth the money, go on line, alot better info on the web, its free and save the money for your tools. tim

No comments about Ellsworth on Woodturning: How a Master Creates Bowls, Pots, and Vessels.

4 comments about New Masters of Woodturning: Expanding the Boundaries of Wood Art.

1. While the choice of what artists to include in this book might be somewhat arbitrary, the authors have done an excellent job of presenting examples of the cutting edge of woodturning and sculpting. Excellent photos of the artist's work and frequent examples of how they work serve to make this book of great interest to turners and non-turners alike.
   
   An excellent coffee table book at a very attractive price.



2. Fabulous photography of work by new masters pointing out the direction wood turning is going as an art form. It was great seeing some of the artists that I know and would have picked if I was the author.



3. This is another great book from Kevin Wallace and associates. The book highlights multiple existing woodturning masters. Whether you are looking for inspiring art or just want to see how it's done this book overachieves in many areas. You'll be happy you bought it.



4. This book is a truly inspiring and well-rounded review of woodturning work created by turners who are well-known for their efforts and accomplishments in the field. Descriptions of how these artists got started, their studios, their inspirations and their thoughts on turning provide the reader with a familiarity that adds depth to the beauty of each piece. The photography is excellent.

5 comments about Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Working with Wood (Complete Illustrated Guide).

1. Andy Rae's Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide To Working With Wood is a 'must' for any who regularly tackle woodworking projects. A step-by-step reference covers different techniques for working with the wood, packing in nearly a thousand photos and drawings to show how to buy lumber, dry it, store it, join it, and machine it. Andy Rae has his own woodworking business and designs his own furniture; his extensive background making furniture and teaching woodworking lends to a splendidly simple presentation outlining different wood qualities and how to work with them.



2. This book is an expanded and comprehensive update of the (out of print) classic "Working with Wood: The Basics of Craftsmanship" by Peter Korn. It also includes some of the wood structural information from "Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology" by Dr. R. Bruce Hoadley.
   
   "Working with Wood" examines not only how to fell a tree, cut it up, sticker the wood, build a kiln, and when to use the lumber, but also how to construct furniture so it doesn't crack, or buckle due to changes in seasonal humidity. This book is well on its way to becoming a new classic.



3. Everything you need to know to work with wood illustrated by numerous beautifull pictures.
   You will find informtation on how to cut, dry, and use wood to build furniture.



4. This book is extremely comprehensive and full of great detailed pictures. Even better than the original. This would make a great companion to "The Encyclopedia of Wood" from the U.S. Department of Agriculture!



5. Between the covers of this impressive tome. lie an incredible depth, breath and detail relative to the topic of wood and wood working. Beautifully written. explained and photographed, this is the gold standard on this topic!
   
   Ken Manuelian

5 comments about The No-Salt Cookbook: Reduce or Eliminate Salt Without Sacrificing Flavor.

1. Your service was superb. Never have had such attentive help, ordering an item. The CD is super. Thank you for caring enough to send an inquiry. francespatterson@Bellsouth.net Yes, I am w-a-a-y over 13. How about 70 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. I have only tried a few of the recipes but they have been very good. I am looking forward to the rest of them



3. So many great recipes for everyday items. Lots of bread recipes, and sauces, it helps so much.



4. This book is extraordinary. It is so unique, complete and really a great help in many ways in your everyday menus. I firmly recommend it to the ones that have high-blood pressure problems or simply if you are on a diet. Salt is the basic problem of why people don't reduce weight today. Think it firmly, start with this book and see marvelous results in your life. The tool is available to you, so no more excuses. Start NOW!



5. This cookbook provides recipes for everyday food that doesn't rely on hard to find products. We are eating good meals and not missing salt like we thought we would. We even feel comfortable inviting guests to share dinner.

5 comments about Great Book of Celtic Patterns: The Ultimate Design Sourcebook for Artists and Crafters.

1. Superbly written. Stunning array of patterns and descriptions. A must have for your craft source library.



2. Interesting and informative book from the beginnings of the creation of the Celtic knot, to applying in artistic venues. Only thing that could have been offered, more ideas on uses for the patterns, not just pencil renditions. Beading, embroidery, stained glass, tole painting.



3. Not a book for artist beginners. This was really helpful in learning the history of many Celtic designs and if you're interested finding a wonderful tattoo.



4. I gave this book as a gift to an artist-friend, who loves it so much, he takes it and a sketchpad everywhere. I wish all my gifts were as well-received!



5. This book is a great book of celtic design. It not only gives the history of design but it also includes a wonderful section on drawing knot work and celtic design. This is the best book I have seen thus far on celtic design and knot work.