The Complete Guide to Easy Woodworking Projects: 50 Projects You Can Build with Hand Power Tools

I made the drafting table from this book and sold it. Do not let the snobby reader reviews of the pieces discourage you- for goodness sake, the book does not pretend to make anyone an expert. Be confident in your abilities and go for it.

I was quite surprised to see the reviews on this book are more unfavorable. This is not the kind of book you buy if you have a shop full of stationary tools including a jointer & planer and many years' worth of woodworking experience. This book is for those folks who would like to get into woodworking, but with only portable power tools. You don't need a lot of room either. Many projects can be made in half of a one car garage. They can all be made with lumber from your local home center, especially finish grade plywood. You'll need some basic hand tools and some basic portable power tools. At the bare minimum, you'll need a jigsaw and a drill. Some projects claim that you need a circular saw, belt sander, and finish sander, but the circ. saw can be replaced with a jigsaw, and the finish sander can be replaced with a good old fashioned sanding block. Bottom line is that if you spend a couple hundred dollars to get a top quality jigsaw and drill, and another hundred on hardware and basic hand tools, you're all set to go. The projects don't use much traditional woodworking joinery, mostly they're screwed & glued together. We live in an age of modern fastners, so why should we avoid them? The screw holes are then plugged and sanded flush. There's one particularly neat project, a 2 shelf book rack that is held together with pegged tenons and doesn't use ANY glue or screws. Just pound the wedges in or out and you're all set. The illustrations are well done, as are the walk-through instructions. Of course only Black & Decker tools are shown, but that's fine with me. After my talent "outgrew" this book, I still like this book. The projects are quick, useful, and easy. You will find yourself coming back to this book over the years when you need to make something quick & functional. The power tools this book recommends purchasing are, circular saw, jigsaw, drill, router, belt sander, and a finish sander. When you've "outgrown" these simple screw together projects, these hand tools are useful around the house. It is a win-win, as long as you know what to expect. If you're a seasoned woodworker who likes classical joinery, such as dovetails, mortise & tenon etc. don't waste your time with this book. For those of us who don't mind modern techniques & hardware, and who don't have $5000 + in stationary machines, this book is a great way to get into woodworking.

Hey. I just finished the mitten chest in this book. My first project on my own since I took the class at Woodcraft. This book is a pretty good introduction to woodworking projects, I think. The above description is on the right track when it describes how this book is for the beginner who doesn't have a dedicated shop, doesn't have the big stationary table saw and jointer. This book is for those of us who use circular saws and power drills, but not table saws and drill presses. Who use jig saws but not band saws. Who have maybe a router but no room for a router table. Who use WorkMates instead of a big stationary bench. Buy this book and make something.