Creating Beautiful Boxes With Inlay Techniques [Paperback]

Doug Stowe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1997

Featuring step-by-step projects Creating Bea utiful Boxes with Inlay Techniques is the definitive guide t hat makes building elegant boxes easy. '

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Stowe is a woodworker with 20 years' experience and an eye for boxes and box-making. In a well-presented, concise format, he outlines 15 projects, illustrated in full color. The designs are open-ended, allowing the available wood to dictate a given project. Materials and tools lists are included, and line drawings highlight what details the photographs cannot. Most of these projects are geared toward the experienced woodworker, but less-skilled hobbyists and other general "enjoyers of wood" will also find pleasure in these pages. Gentle in tone but strong in presentation, this book is solidly grounded in practice. In the end, the author offers solid advice on woodworking and, by extension, life. Recommended for large crafts and woodworking collections.?Alexander Hartmann, INFOPHILE, Williamsport, Pa.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Betterway Books (October 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558704434
• ISBN-13: 978-1558704435
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Doug Stowe began his career as a woodworker in 1976, making custom furniture and small boxes. He lives on a wooded hillside at the edge of Eureka Springs, Arkansas and specializes in the use of Arkansas hardwoods. In 1995, he began writing how-to articles for a variety of woodworking magazines. In 1997 his first woodworking book was published and his sixth in the fall of 2009. He is also the author of two Taunton DVDs, Basic Box Making and Rustic Furniture Basics.

In 2001, he began a woodworking program at the Clear Spring School, designed to integrate woodworking activities to stimulate and reinforce academic curriculum, restoring the rationale for the use of crafts in general education and demonstrating its effectiveness. In 2009 he was named an "Arkansas Living Treasure" by the Arkansas Department of Heritage and Arkansas Arts Council for his contributions to traditional crafts and craft education.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The one box book to get, February 28, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Troy, Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Beautiful Boxes With Inlay Techniques (Paperback)

Doug Stowe's beautifully photographed book clearly stands heads and shoulders other woodworking box books. Stowe's designs range from the simple to the complex, in a variety of styles, with an emphasis on contemporary and Arts-and-Crafts. I am usually suspicious of books with step-by-step instructions, as I am a relatively advanced woodworker. However, I found Stowe's construction hints helpful and decidedly not tedious. Stowe also breaks the book up with personal essays, which make it a big step up from an arm-chair picture book. The book is fun to read, as well as look at.

Stowe appeared to also write the book to give confidence to the novice. The photography is excellent. One thing I found especially good is one can get a feel for tolerances required for given operations by looking at the photos. One can tell that the finished product is going to be a success, even if a splinter is off here and there, which gives confidence to the novice-- reason being that too often those lacking experience put off trying harder techniques because they have feel for how "perfect" work must be in order to achieve success.

Another strength of the book is that the boxes made are all significantly different, embodying different techniques. This is a good step in the right direction from previous box books, which give umpteen variations on a single theme.

If you're going to buy one book about making wood boxes, this is the one to pick.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woodwork as art, October 16, 2000

By 

Ben Hamlin (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Beautiful Boxes With Inlay Techniques (Paperback)

A woodworker with little experience with inlay technique often thinks these beautiful projects are beyond their capabilities. This book takes the mystery out of inlay design with its copious photos and descriptions of work in progress. As a modestly experienced woodworker, I found the projects somewhat challenging, while the end result was truely magnificent. The book is a course in appreciating wood for its natural beauty. The boxes are relatively plain, however the projects represent nature's most beautiful art form. A definite must for any wood library.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, January 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Creating Beautiful Boxes With Inlay Techniques (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only for the techniques and beautiful boxes, but also for the sidebars on the philosophy and observations on woodworking.

It stirred my soul, and I want to go out and build some more boxes now.

I'm glad the publisher convinced the author to write this book.