Customer Reviews

Simply Beautiful Boxes

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

 

 

I was disappointed that the entire book was specific to jewelry boxes. The title said "making jewelry, art & heirloom boxes."

On the other hand, the boxes were pretty great. Stowe is obviously an artisan, always creating new ways to open the boxes and hide hinges. The patterns were detailed, giving a complete bill of materials for each project.

Not for a beginner, though. Plus, you have to have a router table for just about every project.

I am an experienced woodworker. I own both of Doug Stowes books. Some of the woodworking techniques described in the books are questionable at best. And others are just plain unsafe. An example is upcutting a small piece on router table with the piece between the bit and the fence. The 2 biggest problems here are (1) upcutting and (2) small work pieces. Upcutting pulls the piece into the bit. The obvious danger here is having your fingers unexpectedly pulled into the bit and/or having the work piece becoming a projectile. Sure he talks about safety blocking and working safe, but in my opinion not enough. A technique like this combined with an inexperienced woodworker is asking for trouble. Most of the illustrations in the book do not show safety blocking.

The book also is fairly incomplete regarding dimensions of the boxes and the steps required to make them. Therefore the books are just glorified picture books of his work.

So if you're concerned about saftey or want a book that's more descriptive, I suggest looking for another source.

In his second book, Simply Beautiful Boxes, Doug Stowe clearly illustrates his love for wood and woodworking by providing insight into his design process and clear illustrations of technique to aid and teach other aspiring box makers. Mr. Stowe's book provides inspiration and step-by-step illustrations for creating fifteen distinctly different boxes that range from utilitarian to functional art. His method of teaching and emphasis on safety will aid craftsmen of all skill levels.

This is another of Doug Stowes box books. It borrows and has similarities to some of his other books, but it is a keeper. Interesting ideas, good photos, nice technique tips. I found both easy and challenging projects, and inspiration. As a long time lover and maker of boxes, from my perspective, this book is one of the better ones.

In "Simply Beautiful Boxes" Doug Stowe continues to make the process of building boxes easy to understand. The text and photos are like being there in his shop watching him work.

There are enough different projects so that woodworkers of all skills levels can find something to try, and I've found myself trying techniques I didn't think I could do.

Rate it very highly.

Not only is there many pictures of unsafe craftsmanship, the author seems to leave out many of the important steps. The steps offered in the book seem to leave out important info to encourage you to purchase another book to answer your questions. I find this typical of many authors today who seem to leave out key elements so the average or hobbyist cannot learn from just one book.

I was expecting a detailed book with informative plans to build the projects in this book.The "step by step" instructions are not.All the projects have a bill of materials but not detailed info to build any of them.In the book the writter refers to "see fig 9 but there is no pics labeled at all.I was hoping for a book with detailed instructions to build the projects.Not so.All info is vague at best.I wish I had bought the book instead of digital download.Maybe I could re-coupe some of my investment.If your looking for a book with plans to follow this is NOT it.I would not reccomend this book if you want a book to follow the plans to re-create the projects in this book.Impossible!

For those of us used to pristine "how-to" photos, its great to see an author with a few nicks and cuts on his hands, and I do beleive I saw a thumb nail (real) with a bruise caused by a hammer blow.
This is a "no-nonsense" bible for those of us interested in box making.
Excellent.

Nowhere on this page did I see that this book was ALL jewelry boxes. And somewhat ugly ones at that. There are a few decent designs and good techniques in here, but a triangle jewelry box? C'mon...