5 comments about Fine Woodworking Design Book Seven: 360 photographs of the best work in wood (Design Book Woodworking).

1. Great photo quality of all the designs categorized by type. Almost 100 more photos than Design Book 6. Each design listed with creator, dimensions and wood type used. I was trying to get some ideas from the book, but only less than 30% the designs fall in my interests. Most of them are way difficult to make for someone like me who has only a little shop at home or require fancy tools (extreme skills). And some of the designs are just unpractical, they are not even good taste, only for showing off the skills in making them, I guess. I was able to get an idea on how different wood were used in the design to have certain artistic effect or looks to enhance the piece. But you have to guess what kind of finish was used on it.



2. This book contains a compilation of photos of great masterpieces. This book really shows the diversity of design with an wide variety of beautiful hardwoods. This is one of the books I use for inspiration when designing a piece of my own. I recommend it to anyone with an eye for the arts and the confidence to push his/her own limits.



3. Another fantastic collection of woodworking masterpieces. Anyone can appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of these pieces. To have this many excellent works in one book is awesome. One of the best woodworking books I have ever seen.



4. There is a considerable difference between the following plans part of woodworking and the artistic design part. Like anyone else who enjoys the thrumming sounds of a happy workshop, following plans is a soothing process with a satisfying result. But getting an idea into my head (and then trying to make it real) is more frustrating - my life lacks the spare 'dream time' needed. As a substitute, I like to look at the work of others. And Taunton Press's series of design books is a fine place to start.
   
   Each book is like a juried shop with some 10,000 original entries. There are sections on cabinets, chairs and benches, tables, boxes & chests, desks, beds & furnishings, sculpture & carvings, turnings, and accessories & musical instruments. Some 266 individual pieces are presented. While the pieces will appeal differently to different individuals, they all remarkable in some fashion and invited serious thought on possibilities and techniques.
   
   The range of style and approach presented is wide. There is everything from the ultra-modern to the ultra-traditional, from traditional furniture to sculpture and toy. One of my favorites is the clean lines of Jay Bonaventura's dining chair, that seem echo Arts & Crafts without ever becoming that style. Another is a deceptively simple sideboard by Michael Hoffer. And then there is the jaunty enthusiasm of a Randy Morris clock. I hope one day that a piece of my work merits appearance in a publication like this. Not likely, but with such good sources of inspiration, you never know.



5. As a woodworker it is always good to see what some of the leading edge furniture designers and builders make. Some are conservative, to see how the profession has reached it's height throughout furniture building history, others are way out there trying out the new possibilities, all awesome work! It truly is fascinating what these books inspire in furniture designer/builders and interior designers. The photography, in most cases is truly spectacular and very detailed there where it is supposed to be detailed. The only, slightly negative, comment I have is that information is cheap at best. Don't expect any information of why a piece was designed / built the way it was, or some of the woodworking difficulties that were overcome in building a particular piece. I am sure that there would be some very interesting captions and explanations to be written about the furniture and other items displayed in this, otherwise, wonderful coffee table book.

1 comments about McGraw-Hill's HVAC Licensing Study Guide.

1. First, the book comes with an Errata Sheet for all of the answers that are incorrect in the book. Second, I'm going through this book and second guessing myself on answers, having to go pull resources, because there are even more incorrect answers. They should have gotten it together on the first pass or at least made sure the second pass was correct. You will not master anything by reading this book. Each section is totally lacking in information about the subject matter. The only way that this book can be used as a study guide is by using the questions that are in it and looking up the answers on your own because you can't trust the book. It was a waste of money. I would have rather paid $100 for a good book than the $30 I wasted on this one.

5 comments about Confessions of a Happily Organized Family.

1. I liked the book Confessions of an organized home maker but I am very interested in the home manager note book mentioned in the book, Does anyone know where I can find the note book, where or how I go about buying the note book that is mentioned in the book.

   Help please J.Griffin




2. To j griffin:

   organizedhome.com has a free household notebook you can print out. They also give information on how to set one up and how to tailor it to YOUR family's needs. This site also has lots of great home management information. Check it out!




3. I really enjoyed Confession of an Organized Homemaker, but was tired of trying to do it all by myself, so I bought Confession of an Organized Family. There were some great tips on how to motivate others (husband and children) by setting an example, hold family meetings to discuss chores etc, and how to organize a playroom/familyroom. But the rest was mostly summary of the other book and suggestions to read the other book. PS. Don't let the book's titles fool you... I am a full time working mother not SAHM. And really did eventually get my stay at home husband to take on the 4-bucket strategy. It just took TIME.



4. I would put forth that Confessions of a Happily Organized Family is more about the how to of organizing. She provides a wealth of suggestions for storage and organizing solutions that are not very expensive and easy to make and/or buy. I rate it five stars for the usefulness. My only thought about this is that much of this you can do yourself without buying the book.

   However, if you are not sure where to begin or need ideas on storage, this is an excellent book. However, if you are interested in organizing your home and want a starter book, I would suggest you consider her other book Confessions of a Happily Organized Homemaker. In this book she discusses the whys, how tos, and what fors of organizing every aspect of your life. Also, it seems to me that much of what is in this the Family book is also in the Housewife book. Either way, both are good.




5. Deniece Schofield is absolutely wonderful. She led a seminar at a university near our home several years ago and was one of the most entertaining speakers I've ever heard. Though her topic of home organization does not normally lend itself to being humorous -- just let Deniece get started on how much clutter corn on the cob creates -- she made the prospect of deep cleaning seem like fun.
   
   I'm sure I've saved our family thousands of dollars just from attending that one seminar. She gave us her philosphy of living on less -- we don't need all the gadgets and gizmos people try to sell us. Those items you think you can't live without are going to have to be stored somewhere, eventually.
   
   Her long-term advice: keep life as simple as possible.
   
   The great thing about her book is she REALLY is an expert. She uses all these fancy terms that make homemakers feel like we're really CEOs of small corporations. (And we are!) But now I can recite exactly which technique I'm using when I clean house. Her six work simplification techniques are priceless:
   
   1. Think before you act.
   2. Discard and sort.
   3. Group.
   4. Be motion-minded.
   5. Accrue your benefits.
   6. Preventive maintenance.
   
   Read the book to find out what each means. All I can say is that "preventive maintenance" is a lovely term to have in your mind as you get your kids to keep their STUFF out of the family room.
   
   The first couple of chapters build a foundation upon which her philosphy of family organization rests. Basically, she gives you reasons why you're not doing anybody favors by doing all the work yourself.
   
   Her mantra of planning and scheduling make this book a must-read. She commiserates with overwhelmed homemakers by saying, "One of the big problems with housework is that it's never done. You can work for hours and hours and never feel like you've accomplished anything. But a schedule eliminates those feelings of frustration by giving you a stopping point. The work may not be finished, but YOU are."
   
   The book is full of drawings, detailing her ideas, and would be a great gift for a new bride, new mom, or someone you know who is moving. In fact, she has a whole chapter on the art of moving peacefully -- yes, it can be done.
   
   I can't say it better than a quote she borrowed from Winnie the Pooh's pal, Christopher Robin: "Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it's not all mixed up."
   
   --Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester

3 comments about Popular Mechanics Workshop: Scroll Saw Fundamentals: The Complete Guide (Popular Mechanics Workshop).

1. This book takes you thru the basics of using a scroll saw. It has a great section of blade anatomy, types of saws. Good reference book for people who are new to the scroll saw. Written in plain english so everybody can understand.



2. This book is one of the best for beginners. It goes into detail on choosing a saw, accessories, and teaching you some basic and advanced techniques, maintaining and troubleshooting. The last 30 pages are seven projects you can work on. Almost 90% of the book goes into the major topics, and the most information is regarding saw techniques and making jigs and fixtures.
   
   But keep in mind this is a beginner's book, nothing too fancy. There are other books for that. I also like Jim Toplin's Table Saw Magic too.



3. I bought this book for my husband because he checked it out from the library & couldn't stop raving about it. He is so thrilled that I bought it for him. He really loves this book!

No comments about Tiling: Planning, Layout and Installation (Best of Fine Homebuilding).

No comments about Heather Luke's Complete Curtain-Making Course.

No comments about The Art and Craft of Stonescaping: Setting and Stacking Stone.

4 comments about How to Restore Your Wooden Runabout.

1. This book is well written and is something you can read just for reading sake! Been doing boat repair for a long time and learned a lot from Don. Both Volumes 5 stars.



2. The Danenberg books, Volumes 1&2, have an amazing amount of information that is well explained and clearly supported with illustrations and photographs.
   A must have set for the classic wooden boat enthusiast. Know what you are getting yourself into before you begin the project and you will find the going much easier.



3. I just purchased an Antique Chris Craft and I wish I had bought this book first. The book has great tips about the different types of boats, what to look for when buying a boat, and discussion on Marine Surveyors. By the end of the book you will have a much better idea if you have the skills, time, tools, and shop to restore a wooden boat. I really appreciated that the author has strong opinions about various boat restoration processses and is not afraid to make them known. He explains in depth why he likes some techniques and doesn't like others. I found the book easy to read although I would recommend the reader spend a little extra time in the section on terms so you can follow directions. Definitely plan on also purchasing Vol 2.



4. An excellent source of info and opinions. Carries on from vol 1 with very little repetition.

2 comments about Build Your Own Ar-15.

1. This book gives some good basic information but leaves a little to be desired for detailed info. Like sources for kits.



2. Book is of no use to the novice builder the way it is laid out. Information on one page pertains to information or picture on another. Can not follow instruction with any continuity. A waste of money, would not recomend to anyone.

5 comments about The New Router Handbook.

1. i have had the pleasure of reading his work before, this book covers alot and it will keep me busy a good long while , i like the way it is writen, and he takes time to explain what is writen, and the photos go a long way in enhancing the subject if you can only buy one book about using a router get this one,



2. Bought this book yesterday and have already read 1/2 way through. It is great,,, starts off with the basics the router, bits, whats avaliable pros and cons. You name it this book has it. I am just starting out and I learned more in a day of reading this book than I thought was possible. A MUST for the beginner like myself.



3. I'd give this book five stars if only some of the best tips weren't scattered a bit across the many excellent chapters. To get the full value of this great book, you really have to read, or at least skim, all of it. But, if you do, you'll know enough to start building all kinds of things that would be hard or impossible without a router. And, unlike many of the how-to woodworking books I've read, Spielman doesn't seem to have any quirky personal interests that dominate the text. This book is written well, covers the right ground, has good illustrations, and goes just a bit beyond basics to let you know what's waiting when you've mastered the first set of skills you'll need.



4. Though this book covers a lot of the same ground as "Router Basics" its worth the cost for the additional information and jigs included. With these two books I feel I can accomplish almost any task with my router safely. I would reccommend this book to everyone who uses a router.



5. This might be the least useful book I have ever purchased on any subject. While there is a heavy emphasis on router hardware, the book has a 1993 copywright and most of the referenced hardware is no longer in production; and of course, current hardware is not mentioned. For information on jigs, there are far better sources which include plans and specs for actually building the jig--see the Nov. 2004 issue of Wood magazine, for example. And the author stops short of providing sufficient information to actually accomplish a task, such as making dovetail joints. I've gone through the book from front to back, and back to the front again, and have yet to find anything of value beyond a few insignificant tidbits. A more useful and up to date book is "Router Joinery Woorkshop" by Carol Reed.