Customer Reviews

Sculpted Band Saw Boxes: Design, Inspiration & Construction (Popular Woodworking)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first two reviews of this book seemed kind of unhelpful to me so I thought I would try to be a little clearer.
Having read and used her earlier book on bandsaw boxes, I looked forward to more designs and insight. Ms. Ventura, it is mentioned in the book, appears to have had a recent medical setback that has kept her out of the shop as much as she would like. It looks like two other very accomplished box makers consulted with her and completed the book as a kind of team effort. At least that's the impression I got. Don't we all wish we had friends and colleagues like that!
If you need step by step details and the reasons behind certain approaches, I would highly recommend the first book, "Building Beautiful Boxes with your Bandsaw." If you are familiar with the general ideas of bandsaw box building, are an experienced woodworker, or have read the earlier book, this book will pick you up and move you forward.
The directions for the boxes are abbreviated in comparison with the first book but there are several new designs to try. That's what I was looking for so I took it and ran.
I still have several that I plan to try out and getting a good handful of useful designs is how I value a book in this genre.
The book doesn't have the "mystique" of the first one where you feel like you are truly being let in on a secret as well as her committment to her craft. Since other authors are contributing, I don't think that could be avoided.
Also, in the world of woodcraft there is a fine line on copyright protection. Ms. Ventura said in the first and again in the second that these designs are intended for personal use and gifting but not for use for profit. In this one area I kind of got the idea that she might have been publishing some designs to get them out there where she can say, "Look, see that one was mine!" I guess in today's business world it is an essential thing to do.
I hope that the alluded to medical concerns are in the past and that woodworkers all over will use this book to further enjoy boxmaking!

This book is nice...but not near as nice as the first one. It has some updated patterns and photos and a few new techniques but it is not the same quality as the first. The author (Lois) really didn't write the book...two guys from FWW did. They are not near as good at explaination and think many pictures and attempts at humor will make you a better woodworker. Get the first book and if you like it and are searching for more patterns then get this one.

After going through this book it does not appear to provide much more information on the construction of these boxes than what the first book did. If you didn't read the first one, the second one will stand alone without any problem.
There are many more beatiful boxes with lots of new ideas on shapes and the use of wood laminates to dress them up. Good ideas inspire other good ideas and that is part of the charm of the book. It will make you want to get to the shop and start work on your next project.

I have been a Wood Shop Teacher for 30 years. I bought this book to use with my 8th grade students. I am sure glad I did. The designs are spectacular and visually appealing.
The students, at first, don't think they are capable of making such a wonderful project but there are no disappointment and all of the designs have been achieved over the many years I have been using this book. I have had a number of them make the one on the front of the cover. I even had the chance to make one for myself.
I am so pleased that I decided to get this book and her first one too. Good designs and lovely to look at. Great gift or craft show ideas. Plus, in my case, I have received many hugs from moms who are thrilled they got the box as a gift from their child. Dads. flat out, drop their jaw, and are speechless. That says it all doesn't it?

As a woodworker and craftsman i've been wanting to try my luck at one of these and when i saw this magazine i had to have it. It is clearly written and all images are clear also. Patterns are just as good also, clear and informative magazine, anyone wanting to try a bandsaw box, this is a must have for the begginer, or the advanced.

Jim

Got this book for father's day. Great book, details are good. comes with templates for many of the boxes inside.

es un libro bastante espectecular viendo lo que se puede realizar con la sierra de banda

The book was divided into two parts. First part consists of tools, application and took you step by step through the application to make a bandsaw box. The tools needs were described very professionally and again indicated very clearly what tools were needed and what tools you could use to make the job simpler and/or better. The description on how to build the bandsaw box was very thorough and simple and instructions very easy to follow. Left nothing to your imagination to wonder what to do next. The second part of the book consists of pictures of the boxes that you can make from this book along with the corresponding patterns used to make the boxes. Most of the patterns were not full size, the one inch grid system provided on the patterns was very easy to check when you enlarged the pattern size. The other excellent part of the pattern was the percent of enlargement needed to produce a full size drawing.

This book is very well written with excellent step by step directions. No assuming you know things as too many woodworking books are written that way. This book also inspires. I have just completed my 20th custom designed box and I have sold every one of the boxes I have made.

I love doing bandsaw boxes and this has a good variety. Patrick Spielman gives great directions (will miss him) and they're easy to understand . I have many of his books in my collection.