Customer Reviews

Building for the lawn and garden

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Buying high-quality outdoor furniture a little out of your current budget? Then buy this book, and make it all yourself.

This book has great projects, the designs are easy to follow, and the descriptions take you through the build step by step.

Aside from general home mainenance -- installing a new doorknob, putting up a wall shelf, etc. -- I had never actually built anything until getting this book. In three separate weekends in January I was able to make an Adirondack chair and ottoman, and a arts & crafts looking outdoor endtable to go with it. Plus, by making just those three things, I've already recouped my costs for the tools I needed to buy to build them.

This book has been great for me (a woodworking BEGINNER), and has inspired me to build and learn more about making furniture.

I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is either interested in getting into woodworking, or just wants some good, easy plans for outdoor furniture.

This is a terrific book for weekend projects-my husband and I built the glider swing in a weekend and it was very easy. We do have lots of previous woodworking experience but could tell that someone with less or no experience would be able to follow the instructions. Since we do have some experience there were a few things we noticed-check your shopping list against your cut list and see what the cheapest way of buying your wood will be. We found that we didn't need a few of the boards we bought (but if you plan on building more of the projects, this is not really a problem!). Also, look at the picture of the finished project and check it against your hardware list. We found that we were missing 4 spring loaded snap rings (the book calls for 4-you will need 8). All things considered, the book is great and has projects that anyone can build! If you were to buy many of these items they would cost you three to four times as much as it does to build them.

I really love this book. It shows you step by step with easy to follow instructions how to build each project. However, when I built the rectangular picnic table I found that the measurements given in the book for the legs were wrong. The book says to cut the legs 29". Unless you are Asian and plan and sitting on the ground or floor to eat, these are way to short. I found that 39" was too tall. So I think the correct measurement should be around 35". Anyway, check the measurements for feasibility before you cut your lumber.

Good book overall.