Furniture You Can Build: Projects That Hone Your Skills (Getting Started in Woodworking) [Paperback]

Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk (Author), Del Brown (Photographer)

Book Description

Series: Getting Started in Woodworking | Publication Date: March 21, 2006

The first volume in this series "Getting Started in Woodworking: Skill Building Projects that Teach the Basics" proved that a book specifically designed to address the needs of beginning woodworkers has broad appeal. The second and third books in the series focus on shop development, while this fourth book continues the use of projects as a means to learn and practice skills. Studies have shown that beginners need two things to continue their interest in woodworking: early success and increasing confidence. This book, like its predecessors is designed to do exactly that: give the reader projects they'll be proud to own and the means to accomplish them successfully. The projects range from a computer cart (to store a CPU) to small trestle table and a bed. All of them have been chosen for maximum impact and doability for a novice. Making the simple desk which might retail at $1600 for less than 1/8 of the cost provides strong incentive to attempt construction. And this book provides all the instruction, support, and tips to help any serious beginner achieve their goal.
Projects Included
Desk Organizer
Blanket Box
Storage Bench
Breakfast Table
Sofa table
Bookcase
Simple bed
Desk

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (March 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561587966
• ISBN-13: 978-1561587964
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Furniture

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basics plus some nice obscure items, April 29, 2006

By 

The Reader (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Furniture You Can Build: Projects That Hone Your Skills (Getting Started in Woodworking) (Paperback)

Excellent projects and good basic skills. Each skill is taught as needed--when you need a router table for one of the projects, he shows you how to build a router table. Also so good insights to less beginnery items--sharpening and using a scraper, for example.

My one star off is for the fact that measurements shown in the diagram for the first project (desk organizer) do not match the measurements given in the text! Very disconcerting for the beginner this book is aimed at.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice Projects; Some Omitted/Incorrect Details, July 30, 2009

By 

Lawrence of PA - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Furniture You Can Build: Projects That Hone Your Skills (Getting Started in Woodworking) (Paperback)

I bought this book for the quartersawn white oak blanket chest, since that is what my daughter asked for. The piece is beautiful. The milling instructions are ambiguous and confusing. On at least two occasions, the book text tells me to place the parts one way for machining grooves, and in the accompanying photo it says to turn them the opposite way. There's a lot to figure out in this project, and I had to remake the legs because the biscuit slots turned out to be in the wrong place -- about 20 hours of wasted effort. I am now struggling to make sense of the frame and panel assemblies.

I will get it done correctly, but the book could have been more helpful.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and Practical, April 3, 2009

By 

R. Rylander "rwr" (WI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Furniture You Can Build: Projects That Hone Your Skills (Getting Started in Woodworking) (Paperback)

This is a great practical book. Covers the basics and moderately advanced projects and techniques. Doesn't just tell you to get the ABC Jig; it shows you how to build the ABC Jig. Maybe just a little simple for the really serious, advanced woodworker, but perfect for a small home shop weekend guy that doesn't want to spend a year on one project.