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 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

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 !!

5 comments about The Boy Mechanic: 200 Classic Things to Build.

1. My hubby requested this book for his 55th birthday and really enjoys it.As soon as he's done with his current remodeling project,he'll probably start on a project from this book.



2. I found a lot of interesting things in this book. I think it is a great reference for any parent that has boys and enjoys spending time with them with projects that capture their attention and curiosity.



3. This is an interesting read if you enjoy old books and are a do-it-yourself type person, but it's not good if you are hoping for some old type projects to do. The articles don't seem to be quite detailed enough to actually build most of the items and a lot of the projects are simply lame. No "boy mechanic" would be interested in doing a lot of these today. I guess some people were more easily entertained back then.



4. As a kid my dad gave am Popular Mechanics compilation from the 30's. They had projects that were amazing and challenging. My dad and I a ball building stuff out of this old book. This is the same sort of book.



5. If you are looking for a book of small projects to do with kids, find something else!!! The copyright says 2006, but maybe it should be 1906. It is certainly not what I expected. While most projects have a diagram to help you out, the instructions are a little sketchy. We were looking more for small projects a kid and his dad could build together, not "safety chopping block", "self-closing gate","attachment for glasses aids marksman", or "webfoot attachment for swimmers". I'm NOT joking...it's in the book! I do recomment "101 Activities for kids in tight spaces". It's a little less crafty, but quite creative.

5 comments about Setting Up Shop: The Practical Guide to Designing and Building Your Dream Shop.

1. Don't know if anyone else has addresed this. I have been building my barn shop for 7 years now. The book covers many of my thoughts and concerns. Would have wanted this sooner than later. Points raised for consideration. Noise and sound. I put in some wood walls, painted white and sealed against moisture, but I fussed with that or drywall. I considered my own sound issues and went with wood. But after reading some of the author's comments I will be spending extra time for fire protection and sound absorption when I do other parts of the shop. Not for me alone, but for my nieghbors as well. Good book to read before, during or contemplating a shop. Hey, we get to find out about how the masters of wood roughed it as well.



2. I was very disappointed in this book. I have found shop set up for effecient layout and dust collection to be the most important aspects of my woodworking. I am always looking for new and innovative ways to be as effecient and effective in these areas. I could find no difference in this book and the earlier version it replaces. Even the photos are same outdated photos that appear to be taken in the late 70's used in the 2001 release. Please, Taunton, don't insult your readers by continuing to regurgitate the same information with a shiny new label in an attempt to sell more books. Please strive to produce new and relevant photos and information. Your books and magazines are already some of the most expensive, it would be nice if the quality matched.



3. Good book for anyone who is contemplating establishing a woodworking shop. After years of dabbling in woodworking, I recently took the plunge and started buying more equipment, and am using the book to guide the sequence of purchases and setup of my basement shop. The book also covers stand-alone shops in garages or polebarns, and discusses the very basics as electrical power needs, lighting, security, heating, dust collection, layout, workstations, and a few other topics. All-in-all, pretty comprehensive treatment of the subject.



4. This book has many practical ideas, is very well illustrated and detailed.
   Effeciency, safety, and comfort are addressed well. Dust collection, electrical supply and shop layout are covered completely. I would recommend it highly.



5. This is a very clear, thorough, well-written book. It details many aspects of setting up a small wood shop, from layout to electrical work to insulation and soundproofing. The author also talks about what tools to select and suggests a priority order for people who cannot get all they want at once. It is an excellent source of information for anyone from hobbyists to beginning professionals.

5 comments about Building Beautiful Boxes with Your Band Saw.

1. As a beginner with the bandsaw, I loved the approach Ventura took with this book. From the beginning she presents the building of these boxes in a logical and well described manner. I have made several of the boxes in the last month and have learned a bunch. I will continue to make these boxes since everyone loves them and have asked for them as gifts.
   The only drawback I would like to point out is the chapter on finishing. Ventura is a little locked into the finishing products she uses. There is little in the way of recommendations on finishing with other than those particular products. I don't use those so was left a little to search on my own.
   Aside from that one minor issue with the finishing I found this a great book to help the beginner jump in and make some very successful designs.



2. I enjoyed this book. It has interesting designs and careful plans on how to execute the designs.



3. I purchased this book to try something different for gifts. The boxes that I have made came out great! I have only made five so far, but will make more. I used walnut oil on four of the boxes, rather than the products that she mentions, and tried spray lacquer on one. I followed her suggestion for flocking the inside of the drawers. They require quite a bit of sanding, but are lots of fun to make. You'll really want a spindle sander or 6" X 48" belt sander or similar for the curved surfaces. You won't be disapointed with this book.



4. I got this book along with several other box books. I love this book. It is simple, and easy to make these boxes. I have made seven boxes and everyone wants to buy them. I have to make a lot more for Christmas. You will be suprised how nice these boxes come out and how easy they are to make.



5. The contents of the book are very good, but the designs are all of one type... just variations on a theme. It would have been good to have other ideas for designs.

No comments about Fine Art of Carving Lovespoons: Understanding, Designing, and Carving Romantic Heirlooms ("Woodcarving Illustrated" Book).

5 comments about Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors: Cabinets, Moldings & Built-Ins for Every Room in the Home (Shop Drawings series).

1. This book contains very good drawings of various craftsman details. Everything from front doors to various builtins. The author shows the historic details and how to recreate them with modern construction methods and materials. There are no color photos, but none are need for the type of book it is. I would love to have this author release a book on Craftsman Exteriors!!!!



2. This is a great book for the craftsman wanting to actually build Mission style furniture. While designs for many pieces are not included, the concepts of design and construction can be used to make pretty much any item you can dream up. A craftsman style entertainment center? Stickley would never have dreamed of it. You can combine a few designs and he would be proud of what you conceived.



3. The built-ins shown in this book are just what my old house needs to make it rustically "modern". I've hired a team of Amish carpenters to build them, as I don't trust my skill in that area just yet. Great book!



4. We own a home built in the Craftsman era, and are currently remodeling / restoring it. I have bought several books about home rehab, Craftsman furniture, etc., and was disappointed with every one of them. Then I purchased this book. The level of detail regarding moldings, for example, is incredible. The complete set of dimensions including radius data for the cove are included. Not only are all the major variants of Craftsman design illustrated and specified, the original drawings for cabinets are shown and then separate, updated drawings that conform to modern kitchen design standards are presented. Anyone who is interested in the architectural details of the Craftsman era should own this book. It is a MUST HAVE!



5. If you're looking forward to doing the interior trim of a craftsman or Roycroft style home this is the only book you need. It has page after page of clear shop drawings of all the trim that will need to go in every room of the house, and covers every interior trim eventuality throughout the entire house.
   
   Crown, base, casing, chair and picture rail moldings are shown in detail. Cabinet work for kitchen, bath, dining and living rooms, beams, columns, paneling, and doors are all shown in detail with full construction and assembly drawings.
   
   This book, a few power tools, and access to a lot of oak is all it will take to create comfortable, inviting interiors that look like they're a hundred years old. Even if you aren't finishing off a craftsman house the book is great reading to fully understand the style, and could easily be the impetus for a lot of shop projects.

5 comments about The Big Book of Weekend Woodworking: 150 Easy Projects (Big Book of ... Series).

1. I just got started in serious woodworking, and was looking for a good book to get me started with small projects to cut my teeth on. This was it. I've already completed a couple of the items and have more on my to-do list. The drawings are excellent, the instructions are, for the most part, helpful and accurate, and the materials lists are simple and low cost. The bulk of my Christmas gifts this year are going to come from making projects found in this book.
   
   If you or someone you know is just getting started, this is the book to give them for a bunch of great project ideas that will build skills without incurring a bunch of costs.



2. This book has so many projects in it that some are bound to interest you. The problem with books that feature, say 25 projects, is that if you find 10% of them interesting you get 2-3 projects out of the book. This has 150 projects. If you find 10% of them interesting then you walk away with clear instructions and pretty detailed plans for 15 projects. This book is well written and includes sections on finishing and material selection. I own many "project" books. This book outshines them all by a wide margin. Joinery is pretty basic and the projects run from beginner to intermediate, with most of them being the former. One point that I feel compelled to mention, however, is that most projects in this book require a machine (or hand tool) that will cut curves. Just buy it!



3. With 150 projects in the book, you are bound to find at least a couple that you find interesting enough to build. Such is the case with this book. Most of the projects are so-so and are worth a glance or two. I have a list of about 5 projects that I will actually try.
   The designs are clear and the instructions mostly thorough. The one error I did find was easily recovered from (a flip-flop in order of steps in the fanning candleholder).
   I was hoping for about 20-30 projects that would actually be attempted so for that reason I drop the rating to 4 stars. Overall this is a good book that should give the weekend handyman several ideas.



4. i have yet to receive 2 products that i ordered over 2 months ago. i will NEVER use amazon again!!! it deserves 0 stars.



5. I have leafed through a number of project books only to be disappointed with the types of projects that would be offered. Many would be cheesey and not anything you really would find useful or feel comfortable making for another. This book is quite different.
   
   If you have friends and family members that enjoy items of a "Michaels" craft variety, you will definitely find something worth making and giving to them for holidays and other special occasions. If you are a father/grandfather/mother/grandmother who would like to see a young child experience a toy or piece of furniture that is not molded in an asian factory, this book would also be for you.
   
   Joinery for the projects is somewhat varied. Unlike other project books I have looked through, these are not all butt-joints and overly simple (though there are some projects that are very simple for those getting started). The book will not teach you how to paint, cut, or join. It is what it says it is, a book of projects that has ideas, plans, and diagrams. If you are very new to woodworking, I would suggest buying this with another book that teaches the basic woodworking skills necessary to build the projects listed safely.

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.