Customer Reviews

Wood Magazine: Arts and Crafts Furniture

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

 

 

Although many of the plans in this book are largely derived from Wood Magazine articles (I compared the Morris chair plans), I really appreciate two things they've done to enhance the original articles:

1. The book includes jigs such as a table saw tenon jig that makes it much easier to make Arts and Crafts furniture (with so many mortise and tenon joints). I built this jig before starting the Morris chair and it works well.

2. The combination of the multi-issue plans such as the Morris chair and its companion ottoman and coffee table. While the words are the same, they've reformatted them along with the pictures so it looks like a book rather than a reprint of old articles.

My only quibble is that they didn't use a lay-flat binding, so I have to put something on top of the open page or use a book holder to keep it open. With lay-flat bindings being readily available (e.g., O'Reilly books are a good example), I don't see why they don't use them for project books like this one.

I'm very pleased with this book. The projects look good: challenging but not impossible. Illustrations are plentiful and appropriate. Finally, the book is well assembled with high quality paper. It should hold up well to the possible abuses it will encounter in the shop.

I have a collection of Arts and Craft furniture books. Most of them good and some not. This one belongs to the latter category. Good.
The plans are straightforward, there is no BS or waste of time /'filler' pages.

I specially liked the cutting tables which are precise and very time saving. So far I have build the lantern and the clock. The projects were challenging because you have to cut some pieces to quarter of an inch.

The tenoning jig mentioned in this chapter is detailed and cumbersome. I decided not to build it.I find that a simple router tenoning jig does a better job.
This should be a must have book in your collection.

MK

It was actually my adult daughter who bought this magazine for her father for his birthday. She mentioned that she loved it very much and that she saw many projects she would like to undertake with her father. He is supposed to receive the magazine today for his birthday, so we'll see how he is looking at it.
Sorry, I can't add any link to this review, as my husband doens't have his present yet, nor has he had a chance to make a project. Though we are convinced, that he too will enjoy it very much.
Anyway, my daughter and I found it to be quite educational, well presented, and are looking forward to seeing some created results. The descriptions on how to make the furniture is so clear that anybody could follow them. Great job in putting this magazine together. Thanks!

I was skeptical about buying used books, but this was an attractive price. The book was shipped promptly and was in excellent condition.