Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have a LOT of books and magazines full of plans for all sorts of things, but this one really stands out. So many quick easy projects you run across out there are for things that are outdated or are just plain dumb. This book is different - - the plans are for things that are actually useful and good-looking, things you'll want to make, and be proud of. As soon as I got the book I proceeded to make a bunch of the photo stands as Christmas gifts. There are some really simple items that can be made with a minimum of tools, and others that will be of interest to those with a shop full of power tools. These projects are especially great for those times when you don't want to spend several weeks building something. They're just fun projects that only require a day or two to complete, with a minimum amount of wood and expense. I highly recommend this book!

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!

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.

It's hard to give this book just three stars because it is so big, so well-organized, well printed and generally easy to understand. For people who have lots of power tools, a good workspace, and good skills, think of this as a four-star book at least.

As noted above, most descriptions are easy to *understand*, but I think most of them aren't easy to actually make. Even the simpler projects often require competent use of a scrolling saw, for instance. For those whose skill (or toolbox) is limited to cutting on straight lines, there are only a few things here for you. That's just for starters.

For many projects the author uses a band saw, and/or drill press, and/or router. Some of the joints require dado cuts. If you are lucky enough to have a well-equipped home workshop, then you can probably handle these projects. I was not expecting to need so much equipment when I got the book.

Many projects are based on specific antique pieces that, while simple, would indeed be charming to be able to recreate and use around the house. In that respect the book is fun just for browsing, because the photos are generally well printed and the pieces well described.

Still, I wish there were more simple projects that one might make with hand tools, not table tools. And I wish that more of them were more functional, rather than decorative. If you need lots of baskets, wall hangings, doll furniture, antique toys, and other knick-knacks, you may be happy with the offerings here. I was frustrated.

For people with a good selection of tools, especially some floor-standing power tools; who have the skill and the patience; who like to work with wood and want to spend the time; and whose houses are empty and need to be filled with some home-made artifacts -- this is a great book.

For the rest of us, it's just an okay book -- nice to browse or borrow from a friend, but probably not useful enough to own.

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.

This book has a LOT of projects because this is a thick book. I'm very impressed with the projects. Many of them are larger projects than what I need since I am a middle school woods teacher and I am looking for smaller projects than many of these are, but that is not the fault of the book so I did not lower the score because it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. This has a few furniture projects as well as toys and other items. I recommend this book for anyone looking to make a variety of projects of various sizes.

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.

Greetings,

It is one of the best woodworking projects book.

Advantages:
1. Products are Classified in purpose and area od use.
2. The side is colored for each classification
3. Each project provided with material list(wood pcs)
4. Plan is Detailed with dimensions (hole rad, distances .... Etc)
5. Cutting and installation steps are numbered for each project.
6. Some project hookup is provided in the plan

Drawback:
1. There is no much steps in finishing.

I highly recommend this book for small projects.

Some vaguely interesting projects. Nothing here to extend woodworking skills beyond cutting and nailing boards though... A couple of nice clock projects. Some toys projects that might make good gifts or projects to get the kids off the video game consoles and doing something...

You might just want to check this book out from your local library before deciding if you want to spend your hard earned cash on it...

I purchased this book as a birthday gift for my 18 year old niece who is "into" woodworking. I thought she might get some ideas from it, even if she didn't like the specific projects presented. She was thrilled with it!!!