5 comments about Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Box Making (Complete Illustrated Guide).

1. This book provides great information for box making whether you are a veteran woodworker or a novice. Illustrations and pictures are very useful for conveying information described in written format. Highly recommended!



2. This book is very informative , easy to read & understand.If you know nothing about turning, it might be a little much. I've played with my lathe about 3 months now & wanted to get serious about the hobby.This book hit the nail on the head!



3. Like all the Taunton's Guides, this one is well written with lots of color illustrations. It has sections on all the phases of box making (wood preparation, joinery, finishing, lids, joinery, linings, etc., and it covers multiple ways to accomplish each of these steps. More comprehensive discussion of joinery and finishing, if you want it, can be found in other books from Taunton's dedicated to those topics. This book does not have plans for specific projects, but rather explains the concepts so that you can invent your own box designs. Some of the methods are quite complex and can't be fully understood with a single reading, but the information is all there and if this kind of work appeals to you, this book can teach you to make nice boxes, simple or elaborate.



4. The book gave me several new ideas for design as well as new techniques for creating beautiful boxes. It was well illustrated but could have included some specific plans.



5. I have to agree with some of the other reviewers here. This is a nicely organized book covering a multitude of relevant subjects, but there's very little useful detail in here. I think Taunton made a mistake by trying to stuff too much into too little space. I'm a decent intermediate woodworker and thought this book would help me with some of the things I struggle with in making decorative boxes. But I already knew about 75% of what's in this book. Besides too little detail, the photos, although plentiful, are too small to be of value. Sorry Taunton, a nice effort, but this one misses the mark for me.

5 comments about A Splintered History of Wood: Belt Sander Races, Blind Woodworkers, and Baseball Bats.

1. I noticed this book in the new release section of my local bookstore and picked it up to take a look-see and I am glad that I did! This book truly was a fun and enjoyable read. It is broken down into chapters that talk about different types of wood, it's uses and qualities which turn out to be infinitely varied and really interesting. And just as interesting are the stories of the people, the cultures and even the author who we get to learn about in this book. I really enjoyed picking this book up learning about table sander races, maple bats, how Venice was built, bow and arrows, mysteries and miracles.
   
   I am not a wood worker and before I read this book I would never have thought to have listed "wood" as a hobby or interest but after reading this I realize we all are. And I already caught myself looking at the wood of my cello which I don't think I had ever done before and thought about the chopsticks I used last night. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys "characters" because this book is full of them- the people and the wood kind. The book is conversational and you read it that way; you also learn a few things along the way. Whether you are wood worker or just a curious kind of person.



2. 
   This is a book about wood that will amaze you, inform you, make you wise and make you laugh. Where else, between two covers could you hope to learn about the history of the catapult, the worlds largest wooden airplane, a model city built of 2 million toothpicks, how a grand piano is made, the world championship belt sander races, and much, much more. On top of that you will get more solid, well-informed information about wood and trees than you ever thought you'd want to know. And you'll keep reading right to the end because it's beautifully and smoothly written and great fun throughout.



3. Because this book is as much about people as it is about wood it's incredibly readable -- and funny. The author got out from behind the desk and got into the stories as much as possible and shares self-effacing tales along the way.
   
   The book is set-up as individual essays so readers can pick and choose where to start. I was drawn to the one on Jimmy Carter and how wood forensics helps to solve crimes.
   
   It's good for the Cliffy Claven in your life as well as the public radio essay listener looking for a human lesson behind the facts.



4. This is a book on a huge topic, and thus not easy to review. It is sparingly illustrated, mostly with B&W photographs, which come across moderately well as they are printed at an adequate size.
   
   It covers an admirable breadth of material, and it reads very well, moving right along, in a chatty tone (it is a very American book). Not sure about the depth, in a few cases it was very noticeable that the writer had missed out on the best half of the story he was telling.
   
   I see no reason why this should not be very popular with the American woodworker, or person with an interest in wood.



5. Spike Carlsen took a topic that could have been as exciting as, well watching wood grow, carved it into a well written story, with lots of humor and tales of how us humans---our very society itself---would not, could not be the same as it is today without this precious resource. This book, and the folks in it (and their unique personalities), and the woods themselves (each exotic specimen having its own incomparable story) is written with the same reverence an author would bring to a well researched and documented historical novel. He explains in exquisite, easy to read detail why certain woods are used for specific applications and how highly skilled craftsmen produce one of a kind pieces, which because they are made from material that were once alive, have taken on a life of their own. Great book I know will enjoy as much as I have!

5 comments about The Bandsaw Book.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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!



4. 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. In my humble opinion,,The Bandsaw Book is a great book for woodworkers at all stages of woodworking. It had what I knew and what I had forgotten PLUS!
   If you have a problem getting that woodworker a gift,The Bandsaw Book would be a great idea for a gift. I'm glad I thought well enough of myself to give me one!

5 comments about The Treehouse Book.

1. This book is just as good as the front cover picture suggests: pie-in-the-sky treehouses. The kind that you dreamed about as a kid? Its obvious from this book that some adults still think about and make their dreams become beautiful structures in reality. If you ever wanted a pictoral book of treehouses representing your wildest imaginations, this is the book for you!



2. This book along with Treehouses of the World are inspirational page after page. If you are a fan of treehouses, this book is a must in your collection.



3. This book has the best pictures and if your looking for ideas
   and inspiration, this is the book to buy.



4. This is the third book from Peter Nelson of Treehouse Workshop. His previous two delved in depth into treehouse construction. This work is more a survey of the many wonderful treehouses to be found throughout the world. It is crammed with quality color photographs and, unlike a previously reviewed work, has a unifying narrative throughout.
   
   Peter starts you off with a very useful section entitled "Choice of Tree". There he briefly touches upon suitability of various tree species to treehouse construction and provides a mini sketch of each tree species with a treehouse. Immediately after comes some very accurate arboriculture advice from Jonathan Fairoaks. It's nice to find a treehouse book that gets this part right for a change.
   
   For me, the real value of this book is in the tour it takes you on of many notable treehouse. I bring this book to meetings with clients so they can see the many incredible things possible. And for those who've never considered it possible that a treehouse could be any more than a small, roughly built box, this book will blow their minds.
   
   What this book lacks is building advice. It's not a "how-to" book. There really is no great "how-to" book out there. Even so, highly recommended.



5. I really liked the whole book, but I especially liked the part about kids treehouses. Some of them were homemade, and some of them were built by an artist. Before I read the book, I was wondering what different treehouses look like. I thought the treehouses with a loft and a ladder would be lots of fun to explore. Some of the treehouses were hotels. One of the treehouses was built by a robber! He had used it as a place to store his disguises. I thought it was a very good book.

5 comments about Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology.

1. good service, could have been a bit faster and there was a small tear in the dust cover. otherwise nothing to complain, can and will recommend this!



2. This book had a lot of information that I personally didn't need, but lacked some that I wanted. Most noteably wood identification. It presents an entire section on this topic, but only shows microscopic views of different species, which is pretty useless to me. The author assumes that if you're reading this book, you can look at almost any piece of wood an identify it, thus making a pictorial directory of wood almost beneath the sofistication of this text.
   
   It is a well written book if you want to understand the science of wood. Think of it as an anatomy & physiology for wood. I would have given it a 5, but ommitting normal pictures of wood types seems to easy to have been left out.



3. If you want to get to the "next level" in woodworking, this book will help you get there. Good all around read on the properties of the various species , but written from a woodworkers perspective. Covers species identification, kiln drying, steam bending as well as adhesives and finishing. Practical knowlege and a very good resource. If you want to move from building birdhouses to fine furniture, you'll want to buy a copy of this book.



4. I would consider myself new to woodworking, but not a complete novice. I have read a few books about the principles of woodworking, and all of them contained very little information about the nature of wood. These books left me with many questions about why certain methods are used or when to use one method over another. Understanding Wood answered a lot of my questions. Most importantly I now understand how to take into consideration the nature of wood when I am planning a project. The most important thing that I learned in this book was about the importance of moisture content. Sure I knew that wood expands or contracts with humidity levels, but now I know how to plan for it and work with it and I also know how detrimental it can be if you don't consider the relationship between water and wood.
   
   What I really liked about the book is that the author did not pull any punches in his exposition meaning that this is not written for someone who prefers a "for dummies" book. This is the real deal, it contains some equations, it has many tables and graphs. Don't be too intimidated though, because it is not as dense or dry as a standard textbook. I think for anyone who enjoys woodworking this would be a great read.
   
   My only complaint is that I wish the author could've gone into more detail on a lot of the subjects. He often wrote that a detailed discussion would fill a whole other book or even volumes. The problem is he's right, so the trade off is that some information is left out since the book can't be thousands of pages long.



5. I'm 66 years old and have been a carpenter (structural and finish) all my life. Being semi retired I'm now doing a lot of rustic furniture and antique reproductions. I wish I had this book about 40 years ago. I could have eliminated "OOP's" from my vocabulary. The book is explicit in explaining how to read wood so that you choose the proper pieces for your project. It's required reading if you don't want your finshed piece to warp, crack, shrink or generally go south.

5 comments about Workbenches: From Design And Theory To Construction And Use (Popular Woodworking).

1. This is an excellent book and probably the best book on building a workbench that's ever been written. If you're searching for an idea book that has hundreds of pictures of different workbenches in it, then this book may not be for you. However, if you want to design and build a workbench for your specific woodwoking needs, then this book is a must have. It details not only the "how to" but more importantly, the "why to" build one bench design over another. An excellent, quick, enjoyable read.



2. This is a must read for anyone building a worbench for hand tool work. The section on materials is worth it alone. This book is great because it explains why things are done and what the goal of the design is.



3. I bought this book the day it was released, knowing it would be good, and now am convinced that it's one of the finest woodworking books I have ever read! I built the English bench that's in the book, and it is by far the best bench I have used in my 30+ years of woodworking. The author tells you step-by-step what to do, and why, and the bench works exactly as it's supposed to. I do woodworking with hand tools only, and this book has taken me to another whole level of woodworking. Even my wife thinks this bench is cool. If I ever meet Chris I will shake his hand and buy him a beer or two!



4. Yes, I really do rate this as the best woodworking book of all time. That said, as a matter of disclosure, I must admit I have not read EVERY woodworking book ever written, so it is admittedly possible there is another one out there that I would rate even higher, but I doubt it. I have read hundreds of these things and like this one the best of all.
   
   Now obviously my claim that this is the best woodworking book of all time is a darned strong claim, and strong claims require pretty strong evidence to back them up. This is what has slowed me up on writing this review. First, I'm not as good a writer has Chris is, so however I try, I'm afraid my review won't do his book justice. Second, I got this book when it first came out, and just loved it immediately, but I wasn't sure exactly why. Since then, I have re-read the book several times and I think I now have it figured out.
   
   This really isn't a book about workbenches, but rather a book about workholding. Now workholding might seem like a rather pedestrian subject, certainly not as exciting as the latest golly gee whilikers gadget or jig, but it is fundamental. Like sharpening, good workholding makes learning new skills or learning to use new tools far, far easier than it otherwise would be. I would go further and say that the truly fundamental skills are those that make good work even possible. And, after having been a hobbyist woodworker for over 25 years, I have slowly come to realize that workholding is indeed one of those fundamental skills.
   
   Now the fact that this book is well-written and addresses what I consider an issue of fundamental importance in woodworking may explain why I rate it highly. Indeed, when I mentally review my list of favorite woodworking books, the ones I keep returning to, they are nearly all concerned with developing fundamental skills in such things as tool preparation, sharpening, etc. But this fact alone does not explain why I rate this book to be at the very top of a select list of extremely good books. What brings this book to the very very top of the list is the fact that the author is, so far as I am aware, the first to present a systematic, deeply thought-out, and well-researched treatise on this subject. Thus, Chris gets extra points for having the genius to recognize how fundamentally important this topic is.
   
   The book is virtually encyclopedic in its treatment of workholding for hand-tool woodworking. The author does not, however, address the needs of either the luthier or the patternmaker. And I suppose Chris really should master these two vocations in his spare time so he will have additional material for the second edition. Neither does Chris address workholding and set-ups for machine woodworking (or for machinists on milling machines for that matter). But he does do an absolutely superb job of presenting workholding methods and the equipment necessary (workbenches and their accessories) to implement them that are useful for hand tool work in cabinetmaking.
   
   The first time I read this book, I kept exclaiming to myself: "Yes, yes! that's exactly it!" My reason for this reaction is that I've been working for years on a modern commercially available workbench. I've made all kinds of stuff with this bench including entry doors, interior doors, and a full set of kitchen cabinets. But I've found the workbench somewhat awkward to use and inadequate for much of my work, and I've gradually been becoming more and more dissatisfied with it. I've considered replacing it numerous times, but I never could quite get motivated enough to do the hard thinking and research necessary to figure out what features would make a workbench work for me and why.
   
   Chris has done all that hard work for us. The book is almost scholarly in nature (as a Professor in my day job, I appreciate that!), and is clearly deeply and thoroughly thought out. It is indeed impressive. One conjecture I have since reading this book is that Chris must be largely a self-taught woodworker who did not learn "the one best way" at his master's knee. Only someone who had to figure out things for himself could possibly have had the idea for this book. Only someone who was deeply committed and quite intelligent could possibly have written it.
   
   The book is profusely illustrated with photographs, and that is the source of my only minor complaint. Sometimes photographs obscure relevant details rather than bring them out as do well executed line drawings. (To see an example of the sort of line drawings to which I refer, please take a look at any of David Charlesworth's books.) And I am afraid that this book could have benefited from having a few more line drawings in place of some of the photographs.



5. Starting from the basic elements of how a woodworker performs his craft to a review of several of the most popular design styles, Mr. Schwarz provides the history and the information for you to make your own decisions regarding the most personal of woodworking tools, the workbench.

5 comments about The Workbench: A Complete Guide to Creating Your Perfect Bench.

1. I built a new shop & needed a workbench. This book had several options from VW to Rolls-Royce. Size, heigth, thickness, type of wood, tool tray, Many vise options, round or square dogs etc. It helped me decide on the bench to build. If you are looking to build one of the benches in the book, there's not allot of detail to the plans & you may need to order plans (depending on your woodworking skill level). Good references to find parts & plans. Also good history of work bench evolution.
   I'm building a bench close to one in the book.



2. Lots of pictures, ideas, descriptions and this book serves its purpose of giving me ideas on current and future projects.
   
   Recommended



3. Book was as described and delivered on time. As I live in Australia this was a bonus as ofter delivery is delayed. Excelent service.



4. This is a great book for you if that's the case. Or a great gift for someone who is a woodworker. Great info and the book is put together well. Good book to have if you are a woodworker.



5. What a great book. Fascinating to read about the history and variety of workbenches.
   
   Problem: I have spent far too much money rebuilding the benches in my shop due to the insiration from this book.

4 comments about The Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker: Shop Drawings and Professional Methods for Designing and Constructing Every Kind of Kitchen and Built-In Cabinet.

1. I have years of experience in residential carpentry and furnituremaking, and I've installed dozens of kitchens, but I had never actually made a set of kitchen cabinets. We are renovating our house, and replacing our cheap cabinets is one of the items on the list. I spent hours at my local Barnes and Noble and Borders stores looking for a comprehensive book that focuses exclusively on kitchen cabinetmaking, and couldn't find one out of the dozens of books on cabinemaking that thoroughly covered both the cabinet design and production processes. Then I took a chance and ordered The Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker, and found exactly what I was looking for.
   Lang writes well and, just as important, is a good teacher and explainer. The book is well organized, and the abundant illustrations, both photographs and drawings, are clear and detailed. Measured drawings abound. He describes both general types of cabinet, frameless and face-framed, and lays out efficient production processes for both, indicating where potential problems lurk and the consequences of inaccuracies at crucial points.
   This is head and shoulders the best book I have seen on the subject. If you are even considering building your own kitchen cabinets, or starting a small cabinet shop, this book should be your first purchase. It will be the best money you spend on the project.



2. I used this book along with _The Complete Cabinet Maker's Reference_ by Jeffrey Piontkowski to build a set of nice garage cabinets. The two books are very different, and, I think, compliment each other well. This book contained information that allowed me to refine the basic cabinets in the other book. I was very pleased with the results! The project would have been much more trouble for me if I hadn't read this book first.



3. I'm researching the possibility of making the cabinets for our new home and have found this book to be an excellent resource of information and tips by someone who has "been there and done that". Mr. Lang uses easy to understand language and examples on drawer construction, door construction, case construction and installation. Lots of time-saving tips, too!
   
   A very practical guide that will help anyone with just a little experience making cabinets.



4. I purchased this book based on recommendations from Amazon reviews, and because I have the interest to learn more about furniture design and building techniques, basically focused in frameless type of cabinets, and this book covers both face-frame & frameless.
   It provides a lot of pictures and drawings of how to layout, design, build, finish, and install face-frame or frameless cabinets.
   Bob Lang made this book very easy to understand and I think is a great resource to beginners because of the structure of the book.
   The book includes techniques and jigs that are great for cabinet construction. Several aspects of cabinet construction are covered with multiple options for joints, fasteners, materials, attaching doors (hinges), building drawers, etc.

5 comments about New Built-Ins Idea Book: Media Centers Nooks & Crannies Window Seats Kitchen & Dining Areas Work Centers (Idea Books).

1. To make the most of our new home, I was looking for ideas for custom made cabinetry and other storage options.
   Although the style of quite a few examples are not to my taste, I still got enough ideas and inspiration. Also a plus; the book gives you tips for matching built-ins to the rest of the room, to get a coordinated look.
   My favourite chapters: Passages (great storage options to be found there!!) Window seats (you will see small window seats as well as really large ones) Workspaces (they show you practical workspaces even in tiny closets) and Utility Areas. In the kitchen chapter I liked the small details, like the pantry and appliance garage.
   
   Petra (from the Netherlands)



2. I felt the sample of this book was not a good indication of it's contents. Most of the built-ins shown in the book are from a Room-View with the built in partially obstructed and with little detail shown. I wasn't looking for plans to build, but I would have expected more. If you like the details level shown on the cover of the book, then this will be right up your alley, other wise, the book will probably fall short of your expectations.



3. Taunton has a very good reputation for their publications so I thought this would be a great book to help me with several projects I will be undertaking. It was a disappointment. There was nothing innovative or unique about the ideas presented. The cabinet styles were either very basic or so custom they did not provide realistic options. If you are looking for innovative or creative ideas for a realistic cabinet project ... look elsewhere.



4. The description of this book is misleading. This is not a step-by-step guide to constructing built-ins, it's just a show-case of things built by master craftsmen. The so-called step-by-step part consists of the super-obvious, such as: 1st choose your design, 2nd choose your materials, 3rd choose your hardware. There is no how-to. Don't buy this book unless you already know wood-working or you'll just end up with glossy photos of spectacular built-ins you can't build yourself.



5. I own a collection of home design books and it is not easy to find a book with many great design ideas. This book is filled with great ideas and some beautiful designs. I find myself grabbing this book repeatedly. If you're thinking of creating some built ins this is a great book to own. I wish it was twice as thick!

5 comments about Mid-Century Modern: Interiors, Furniture, Design Details (Conran Octopus Interiors).

1. this book is very good if you are interested in retro, modern design. I highly recommend this book.



2. An absolutely stunning book & a must for any mid ce
   ntury enthusiast. Fabulous photographs & narration.
   Very inspiring.



3. This book is filled with spectacular color photos of mid-century modern home interiors. Lots of ideas here for color schemes, furniture layout and incorporating mid-century aspects into any room of your home.



4. A beautiful book, I see something new each time I flip through it. It may not be the perfect encyclopedia for specialists, but for people like me who just love beautiful things, it is great fun to have and contains a lot of interesting facts about mid-century design.



5. I wanted to learn more about my newest interest and this book has been great. A good overview balanced with enough details without being overwhelming - so happy I bought it!