5 comments about The Bandsaw Book.

1. Every chapter is filled with knowledgeable experience gained from using many different types of bandsaws. Lonnie Bird has taught woodworking and the use of power tools such as the band saw for many years. Having used a bandsaw in the past and getting ready to do so again after a 15 year hiatus, I thought I should bone up on the facts. Lonnie had information I never even considered before. His treatment of bandsaw blades and their use is invaluable and complete. This book will be readily available in my shop for quick reference whenever I need it on bandsaw tuning or blade selection.



2. I bought the bandsaw and figured I better have a book to help me along. I bought this book with the hopes it would help. It has and will some more in the future.
   
   I did find some of the information redundant as to what was written in the owners manual. But, there are great sections on how to tune up your saw, jigs, projects and a whole lot more. This book is in my shop with me and I find myself referring to it.
   
   I would recommend for both novice and seasoned woodworkers. There is just a lot of good useful information.



3. I bought this book because I've been in the market for my first bandsaw for a few months. I've been researching the topic a lot and came across a recommendation for this book in a forum somewhere. Given Amazon's great price I thought what they heck. I found this book to be very informative and pointed out a lot of things I should be looking at when determining which saw to buy that I had not though of. It did this without knocking any brands or given slanted praise to any brand either which I really liked. I don't really like taking a recommendation from an author who recommends a brands that sponsors him. Definitely worth the money and the time.



4. If you are thinking about buying a bandsaw or are new to them, get this book! This book is packed with information that is helpful for buying new or used saws. It explains the differences in blades and what you need for different uses.
   
   This book will save you money and guide you to the right saw for your needs. Well worth the price!



5. I knew I wanted to buy a 14" bandsaw, but knew nothing about bandsaws and wanted a good overview. It accomplished that.
   
   I get the impression that the author expected the reader to select the topics of interest and just read those. As a novice, I read the entire book straight through and as a result, got a bit tired of the repetition I went through.
   
   It is an easy read and I learned effectively. I still have a couple questions, but was able to narrow my saw selection to two.

5 comments about Dream Sewing Spaces: Design & Organization for Spaces Large & Small.

1. I ordered this book to help get some ideas to set up my new sewing room. I found a lot of useful ideas inside this book to help me create my own space to work in. It also gives you ideas to use items that you currently own in your house.



2. A sewing instructor recommended this book, and she was right. It has everything you need to know to set up a sewing space complete with measurements and layouts and recommendations for low-end and high-end materials. This will be in my library waiting until I have the money to build a really good studio in future. In the meantime, when I am ready to make a purchase, I can refer to this to make sure I am buying the right thing for my size and space.



3. This is an excellent book which I highly recommend. It is full of color pictures, diagrams and various chapters on how to set up your dream sewing space. It is very easy to read and understand, and I am so glad I was able to get my hands on a copy!



4. This book is one to dream over. I like the example rooms listed with floor plans for sewing spaces. Even if you only have a closet, it shows you how to utilize the features of a closet space for sewing! I have a storage/guest room I want to turn into a sewing area, so this gives me and my hubby lots of ideas on how to do it in the future. I am sure I will use this book to look over and over again. Happy Sewing Room Planning!
   
   This book also includes serger/sewing machine configurations. I also have a knitting machine that I plan to put in mine--just adding that table to the room is easy enough for planning--I may just need a little more space. Also, you can use this book's ideas for a quilting area/center as well.



5. I'm in the planning stage for turning a small home office into a sewing room. This book contains both layout ideas and guidelines for determining appropriate heights for sewing, cutting, and pressing areas based on personal measurements. After looking for some time, I don't believe there's a better resource available to get you dreaming and designing!

5 comments about The Beverly Hills Organizer's Home Organizing Bible: A Pro's Answers to Your Organizing Prayers.

1. This book was what I was looking for; it gave me ideas on how to create storage areas. I knew how to declutter etc. I just needed ideas on how to make the most of the storage areas that I already have. (Closets etc) Excellent Book



2. I first checked out the library copy of this book to make sure it would fill my needs, and now I'm going to buy it. This book is filled with helpful pictures and clear instructions on what containers/drawer organizers/wire-coated shelving, etc., to buy. Linda Coopersmith explains how to measure each storage space to buy the correct size containers. She even has a chapter on how to set up a home-filing system, and exactly what you can eliminate if your paper trail is too long! She also references several inexpensive sources (i.e. Lowe's, Wal Mart, K-Mart, Linens & Things, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.) in order to make the most of your storage space. I love the clear, concise numbered format she uses to show us how to organize our homes. This is one book I will reference over and over! However, I have to admit that Linda does not talk about decluttering for those people who consider themselves packrats. Decluttering is a necessary first step for packrats. A good beginning book for this stage of organization would be "Flylady" by Marla Cilley.



3. THIS IS REALLY A BOOK THAT ANYBODY CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM. Linda Koopersmith knows what she is taliking about, and I love how she shows a normal person with a normal wardrobe how to fold and organize anything! Her tips about creating space in your home can be used and understood by normal people, in other words, she does not make you feel like an idiot. She impressed me on Clean House, but I am even more impressed now that I have her book! This book is a super buy for anybody who hates clutter, and who loves to know where everything in their home is!



4. 
   Thank you Linda: I have looked at organization in a whole new way. Thanks for the pictures and the step-by-step guides.
   
   I hope you plan on doing another book soon.



5. This book is a veritable goldmine of clear, practical, and actually doable suggestions for getting things organized just about everywhere in your home and office. As we plan to move into a smaller home, Linda's common sense suggestions and helpful photos have made us think of things that we had never considered before. Her listings of resources are a real asset. With Linda's help, I believe our dream of having an organized yet comfortable smaller space will become a reality.

5 comments about Handyman In-Your-Pocket.

1. This book and it's companions are packed full of useful information and are great references for almost any project you may take on.



2. This book is not what I expected. I saw it advertised in a newspaper for a good gift idea for a new homeowner. I thought it was a "how to" book for things around the house. I got two for my grandsons. But it is a very technical book; some of the topics it covers in the index are, Anchors, Belts, Pulleys and Gears; drafting symbols etc. and etc. I think it is for an engineer.



3. The "handyman" must be an engineer and you need to be one too! I was really disappointed as I was hoping for a "how to" manual. The are literally hundreds and hundreds of tables of, for me, totally useless numbers and specs. I don't even have any friends who might find this level of technical detail useful that I could give the book to. This is NOT the resource for your everyday handyman/woman.



4. This book provides the many little used or remembered variables to get projects completed correctly. Going to provide irrigation for your green house 118 feet out in your back yard? This book lets you know the friction losses of various types of water pipe you might use so that you end up with a stream instead of a trickle.
   Got 6/12 roof meeting a 10/12 and need to know how to use that combination square to get the right cut? This book has it. As Chuck Yeager says, don't wait for trouble; look it up and get it right the first time. A few bucks for this helpful little book can save you big in the long run.



5. We own a professional handyman service in Scottsdale, AZ and thought this might be handy to keep in the trucks. However, the information in this book is so technical, it is of no real use on a day-to-day basis. If you need to know (and even know that you need to know) the distance across squares and hexagons OR Maximum Horizontal Roof Rafter Spans, then this is the book for you. Otherwise stick to the practical books you can get at Home Depot or Lowes.

5 comments about Pyrography Workbook: A Complete Guide to the Art of Woodburning.

1. This is great. Wonderful step by step illustrations. I bought it for my 14 year old and he loves it.



2. A wonderful book that teaches a beginner so many things! I cannot wait to start working with it!!!



3. I only did some pyrography when I was very young, and the patterns were already on the boards.
   
   I found the beginner patterns to be more advanced, in my opinion. (However, I haven't burned the copied one on my board, as yet. If I find time, it's ready to go!)
   
   I think I need something even more beginner oriented, as far as patterns go.
   
   Overall, there is a LOT of GREAT information in this book that's helped me decide on a burner, wood types to use, etc.
   
   I'm happy with the book.



4. Great book for beginners and experts with many ideas and tips Highly recommend it to others



5. A complete and detailed book, with a lot of necessary technical info and tutoring for beginners and advanced. Nice touch are the beautifull step by step examples you can make at the end of the book. If you plan to buy only one book on pyrography, this is it!

5 comments about Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide to Alternative Building Methods Earth Plaster * Straw Bale * Cordwood * Cob * Living Roofs.

1. recieved product within one week great book thinking about building using all natural products



2. Myself, being in the building industry, really appreciated that there was a believer and a skeptic to write this book and build the house using the thoughts they had. I like the honesty of the authors and how they worked thru to a common goal, and shared each step along the way. I even found it to be a great book on general engineering, helpful in reminding me of things I already know, and reinforcing them in less conventional ways.
   This is a very hand's on book with loads of pictures and illustrations and for all of us with "pie in the sky" ideals, there is the balance of reality in time, costs, and functionality of green building.



3. This book is an excellent reference on how to build while taking the environment into consideration. I was really impressed with how they integrated traditional building techniques with Green Building techniques. The book covers what to think about before you even break ground, site work, foundation work, non chemical termite prevention, walls, windows, doors, roofing, flooring, and landscaping considerations. Where Green products make the most sense, they are used. In places where the authors chose a more traditional method (concrete in the foundation, small amounts of rebar, a mass produced new door, and timber roof trusses) they go into detail about why they chose that method (long term energy efficiency outweighing the initial energy cost of the raw materials). While grey water systems, rain catchment systems, composting toilets, and solar power systems are encouraged, they are not covered in any detail in this book. The demo house being built throughout the book is a tiny one room guest cottage, instead of a home that a family could live in (composting toilet outside) so that's why I only gave 4 stars. I would have loved to have seen a whole family home built, but maybe that would be several books.
   Not everyone can move to an ecovillage and live in a 200 sq ft cob home (even if they dream about it). This book brings green building into the reach of many more people and shows how to build a home that is much more likely to pass code and be a real possibility in today's society. I plan to use it as a guide when I build my own home in the future.



4. What a wonderful book! I love the way it is set out in two sections... the theory and the practical. The conversational style of writing means that I feel like I have a friend on hand, ready to talk me through the whole process, explaining terms, concepts and methods in a clear, concise way.
   I'd say if you are only planning to buy one book on alternative building methods, this should be the one.



5. My daughter and I purchased this wonderfully complete volume for a granddaughter who with her husband is moving to Oregon to build an eco-friendly home on a plot of land. This well-illustrated handbook should help a lot.

5 comments about Home Recording Studio: Build it Like the Pros.

1. I have just about all the other books out there on DIY studio construction. This is really the only one I use. The information is solid and the construction techniques are well laid out and easy to follow. It has saved my butt time and time again. Good work Rod!



2. I've read a number of "build your own home studio" books, and this one has impressed me the most by far. It contains tons of useful and very practical information about how to build a good home studio. The info covers everything - acoustic theory, design of the space, material choices, construction techniques, HVAC, lighting and electrical, safety, etc. etc. He goes in-depth into each of these topics too. Some of the content *is* targeted for big studios on big budgets, but most of it also applies to the do-it-yourselfer, so I don't count that as a minus. For example, I will not be cutting existing concrete slabs and excavating and installing footers under the edges, nor will I be floating a new slab over an existing one...but I like knowing how these things are done for a professional studio. He does reference a number of brand names, but I don't count this as a minus either - brand recommendations (from someone with experience) are useful to someone new to studio construction.
   
   Bottom line, the guy is a former contractor, and it's obvious from reading the book that he knows how these things are not just designed, but actually *built*. He covers everything in more depth than most of the other books put together. This book is money well-spent.



3. This book is a must have for anyone considering building a studio in their house. The focus of the book is most certainly *building* a studio, and not so much quick and easy ways to make the spare bedroom a pro studio. If you are serious about building get this book!



4. Generally this is an informative book, I've found it very valuable and am glad I purchased it...but it does deserve a few dings. Rod assumes at least some familiarity with construction jargon. For construction illiterates like me, some of his explanations leave me wondering what he is saying and it is at least in part due to terminology I'm not familiar with. A glossary would help. I also wish he'd deal a little more with how to work around, or options for improving, existing construction, like an existing window or door you might want to keep.
   
   Overall, this book is well worth the price for the wealth of detail about materials and construction techniques alone. It will be a great reference book.



5. I'm building a basement studio. My starting point was bare concrete walls and open ceiling with joists from the floor above. In my case this book was invaluable. Even though there is a wealth of information (and much of it very good) on-line in regard to studio construction, understanding the general concepts, and judging whether the information is from a truly knowledgeable source can be quite overwhelming. Rod is highly respected in every aspect of studio construction and his advice is sought after by the big boys. In my project, the high priority items have been 1) Sound isolation - How do I keep sound from entering and leaving the space and 2) Once isolation is achieved, how do I treat the space acoustically so it is conducive to recording and mixing music? The book addresses these issues and others very nicely. It gave me a solid understanding of the principle of these issues, then building on those principles, went into specifics regarding construction and product options for achieving these goals. In my opinion it's important to note that many times Rod would offer multiple options varying from least expensive and reasonably effective, to most expensive and extremely effective. It is written in plain, clear language and includes excellent illustrations, and examples of how particular techniques are used in large studios. In most cases, it provides more information than you need to achieve these goals. I also find myself well educated enough from this information to more easily determine whether information I find on-line may be credible or not. This book is an easy and interesting read, and a wonderful reference applicable for any project similar to mine, or more involved. My copy is becoming worn out from being referred to so often!

5 comments about Making Concrete Garden Ornaments.

1. Explicitly exhibits (photographic) the process of concrete ornament construction - even suggests creative alternatives to Ms. Warner-Hunter's designs. You don't have to be an "official" artist to follow these instructions or to create beautiful garden scultpures/containers! Is written for the average-intelligence adult and is not at all "art-speak"!



2. This is an excellent resource for learning concrete sculpture! Start with this one, then get her other book, "Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making pots, birdbaths..." for more advanced projects that reinforce your skill leves.



3. This is a good book for learning how to make your own hypertufa and concrete ornaments, including how to make the molds or reinforcements. Some of the projects are of overwhelming size for a person who is interested in small things for their garden. I like the planters, but some of the other things in this book are way too modern and gaudy for me.
   
   If you want to learn to do concrete ornaments for your yard, there is an incredible book still in print since 1904 called Concrete Pottery and Garden Furniture by Ralph C. Davison, which shows how to make garden ornaments such as columns, table, benches, planters in the Victorian and Greek styles--more my taste. This little book is packed with valuable photos and diagrams of how it's done.
   
   I would recommend Davison's book over this one, but Warner's book still has some great recipes for hypertufa and unique ways to construct molds for concrete statuary.



4. As soon as this book came, I had to go through it cover to cover. I love the projects, and the way everything is explained step by step. You are also given advice on using different mixes and techniques. I feel that the author not only teaches you how to do the projects in her book, but gives you the knowledge, skills, and encouragement to go beyond that. And that is exciting!



5. I've already made about 10 projects from this book. If you are a gardener, or like to 'ornament' your yard with tasteful items, this may be your book.

5 comments about Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style.

1. My review says 5 stars. It should say 1 star. I couldn't edit it for some reason.
   
   Boy you can't fool Stylemaven (yours truly). I have every design mag and book written (no brag, just fact). I had to buy this one just to be able to say I have every design mag and book ever written. . . . Anyway, this chick should stop having her assistants buy all the old House & Garden mags from the 1960's and 1970's and then regurgitating it in different colors. She's hit on a trend (dying trend? hopefully) doing the 70's stuff (and it wasn't that great then), but it's gonna date really fast. Part of her appeal is the model-thinness and being semi-photogenic I think. But overall, a design lightweight. All the graphic stuff photographs great. But see it in person? It looks really, really cheap.



2. She has the most amazing style. If you appreciate great design, you need this book!



3. I purchased this book for my sister, who is a design student about to graduate in 05/08, because Kelly Wearstler is her favorite designer. My sister already had one of Ms Wearstler's books and loved it so much that when she asked for her newest book I thought it would be a great Christmas gift. However, I didn't realize that the book she already had was Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style. When I gave her the book and she said that it was the one she already had I was very let down, but she did not want to return it. She said the copy she had was so worn out from use that she could never put it on her coffee table and that she loved it so much that she was more than pleased to have a brand new copy. Both my sister and I love Ms Wearstler's bold colorful design style and I was disappointed that her more resent books did not get better customer reviews, which is why I did not order one of them. I have since ordered Domicilium Decoratus anyway, since I was able to get such a good deal thru [...], and I'm looking forward to giving it to my sister for valentines' day.



4. Not only are her featured interiors stunning (as always) but the fab Ms. Wearstler goes the distance with great photography and writing to highlight it to its fullest. Honestly, a real gem and a must-have for any book collection on interiors.



5. The book is really great when it comes to interior decoration. Ms Wearstler definitely has a knack for colour, and I like the creative way she used fresh colours and chic furniture to create new looks.
   
   Beware though. Ms Wearstler seemed to like Asian religious icons in her decoration. I do not think that this gives due respect to our religion. As this is common amongst western interior decorators, this use of objects sacred to others as mere decorative items, Ms Wearstler could be forgiven for this.

5 comments about The Pipe Fitter's and Pipe Welder's Handbook Revised Edition.

1. I have had this book before and gave it away to someone. So I wanted another one for myself, it is good for me in my trade. I am a plumber and pipefitter. Very good book!



2. It was sent quickly. I like no hassles or delays. Great Job



3. excellent book for pipefitting. this is a new copy for me. my other copy is 29 years old



4. This book was to replace my old book that had been borowed and not returned. This book is a "must have" for anyone actively involved in the pipelining industry. While some of the homemade fittings cannot be used in code piping it can and has solved many problems during my 30+years of cross-country pipline cnstruction.



5. If you are a professional pipe fitter or plumber, home owner or handy person you must get this book. It saves the time you would take figuring out angles, pipe length, tank capacities, fittings and pretty much all the time consuming math associated with plumbing. this book helps me at work as well at home. I strongly recommend investing in this book!!