Black & Decker the Complete Guide to Carpentry for Homeowners: Basic Carpentry Skills & Everyday Home Repairs

This is a neat little book, despite the name 'Black & Decker', which I stay away from like the plague. When I picked this up, I had very little information on carpentry in general. This isn't a bad book to have to give you a starting point and some little projects to put together to gauge yourself. I always liked the idea of fixing up the house--but liking the idea, and being able to ACTUALLY DO IT are totally different things. So, my first project I started with was the workbench plan, and modified it a bit to suit my needs, just to see if I had a knack for this kind of thing. I can't even begin to say how much I like the plan for the workbench. It ends up making a very sturdy table. (I added locking wheels to the bottom of mine, and used 2 sheets of 3/4" MDF board as the top instead of plywood.) This book obviously isn't meant for someone who already knows it all. As the title says, 'Carpentry for Homeowners', not 'Carpentry for Carpenters'. So, if you've got some projects you want to try out, this is certainly a nice addition to your library--even if you're just a tad bit interested. The first 100 pages are just telling you what certain tools are, what they're used for, and how to use them. Kind of basic stuff, but for me, it was a good start. One thing I don't like about the book is that it's glue-bound. What I mean by that is that it's glued to the cover and all that, and so it has a tendency to flop closed on you. Hardly functional if you're trying to learn WHAT to do WHILE doing it. The easiest way to fix this is to take it to your local Kinko's, or somewhere else that binds books, and have them chop the spine off, laminate the covers, and coil bind it for you. (Be ready to pay ~$12 for this, though) Now, you have a functional book you can leave open without having to weigh it down! Here's a list of the things covered inside the book, just to let you know if it's worth it for you. Basic Carpentry: - Anatomy of a House - Preparing the Work Area - Building Walls - Soundproofing - Installing Wallboard - Installing Interior Doors - Mounting Bifold Doors - Installing a Storm Door - Installing Door & Window Casings - Installing Window Trim - Installing Base Molding - Paneling an Attic Ceiling - Installing Wainscoting - Covering Foundation Walls - Framing Basement Foundation Walls - Trimming Basement Windows Advanced Carpentry - Enlarging Openings & Removing Walls - Removing Wallboard - Removing Plaster - Removing Exterior Surfaces - Removing Doors & Windows - Removing a Non-loadbearing Wall - Installing an Attic Access Ladder - Framing & Installing Doors - Framing & Installing Windows - Installing New Window Sashes - Installing a Standard Skylight - Installing a Bay Window - Patching Wood Siding & Stucco - Patching Flooring Cabinets & Countertops - Removing Trim & Old Cabinets - Preparing for New Cabinets - Installing Cabinets - Installing Countertops - Building a Custom Laminate Countertop

This is the second carpentry book from Black and Decker I have purchased. The first was 10 years ago and the information is still pertinent. The 2008 edition provides more projects and the latest products available in the market, in addition to their excellent instructions and illustrations. This book is perfect for the beginner as well as the experience carpenter or homeowner. I recommend this book and any other complete book by Black and Decker.

I bought this book for a garage project of mine and the decent reviews it had. I must say the reviews are well deserved. This book offers plenty of photos and well explained "how-to" guide lines. Detailed explanation with photos of all the tools you'll need for your project. I can now do my projects with confidence considering I am a novice at carpentry. Excellent choice for the novist.

I give this book high marks for clear, concise, step-by-step explanations and LOTS of pictures. Even if you know nothing about carpentry, this book will give you the confidence you need to accomplish anything from small projects right up to major tasks.

If you are already a tradesperson, this book might STILL be good for review. But, if like me, you are a homeowner interested in repairs and maintenance, and perhaps some light carpentry to plane a door, build some storage or the like, this is THE book. Easy to follow, step-by-step comprehensive instructions with clear photos for each important step, lists of tools and fixin's to do the job, it's all there. Lots of projects, easy to use- a reference I won't do without.