5 comments about Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship.

1. I found this to be the best wood workin book that I have come accross. The book would be a good choice for those who have not done a lot of woodworking but would like to get more serious, as well as for those of us who have been away from it for many years. In the world of a power tool for everything under the sun and instant quality Korn's book does a masterful job of explaining when and how to use the proper tool for the correct job. As a mid-level hobbyist, this book was perfect for my need, explaining how to use both power and hand tools, when to use them and why. The safety tips were excellent as well. I especially like the project progression as a method to teach and learn the basic techniques of working with wood. The book reignited a desire for high quality work with a personal touch.



2. This book is fantastic, particularly for the beginner or someone who wants a solid foundation in hand-cut joinery. It is certainly not encyclopedic, nor is it a "project book". It does, however, offer concise and insightful instructions on "the essentials". The "projects" on cutting mortise and tenon, and dovetails, contain a wealth of information about how to mark accurately and cut square and true with hand tools. By focusing on these details, skills develop and better joints happen naturally.
   
   As a side note, the book contains lots of bits of good tool advice. The author often mentions, "If I had to have only one of tool X, it would be " which I think would be useful to anyone just getting started. Also, I notice that the tools used by the author in the illustrations are the type that get "best value" in tool reviews. Among tools used in the illustrations are what appear to be Marples blue chip chisels, Starrett squares, Shinwa protractor and bevel, xacto utility knife, etc.



3. The author does a great job of walking through the basics of woodworking. If you read and follow the book I believe your woodworking skills will improve.



4. In the world of a power tool for everything under the sun and instant "craftsmanship," Peter Korn's book does a masterful job of explaining when and how to use the proper tool for the correct job. As a mid-level hobbyist, this book was perfect for my need, explaining how to use both power and hand tools, when to use them and why. The safety tips were excellent as well. I especially like the project progression as a method to teach and learn the basic techniques of working with wood. The book reignited a desire for high quality work with a personal touch.
   
   The book would be a good choice for those who have never done woodworking but would like to get started, as well as for those of us who have been away from it for many years.



5. I took a beginning woodworking course a long time ago, but have decided to refresh my interest. Korn's book is almost identical to the structure and pacing of instruction from my course. His project based instruction and step by step approach is exactly what newcomer's need. I also like Korn's lack of pretense when presenting tools or techniques. Many books these days wax the "poetic" of woodworking with seductive images and effusive text, being little more than a showcase of very expensive premium hand tools. Korn appears to take a more modest (and affordable) approach with essential hand tools. Although much of the machinery shown in the book may be beyond a beginner's pocket book, the alternative hand tool approach is well within reach and will drive home the fundamentals of woodworking more than machine milling will.
   
   The first 70 pages introduce the reader to wood, joinery and (power and hand) tools. The reader learns a great deal without being intimidated by too much detail. The sections are a bit terse (particularly sharpening), but the simpler introductions are appropriate to the scope of the book. There are other books that specialize in the topics of advanced machine use, hand planes and sharpening. Korn's book has just enough to get you going without making you feel it is too complicated to proceed.
   
   The first project, milling a board four square, is a fundamental task of woodworking that deserves the attention it gets in this book. Korn does a superb job of providing step-by-step instruction using hand tools or power tools. For me, Sharpening was the first "project" in the WW class I took since it is also a fundamental.
   
   The second and third project is to take the boards you dimensioned and do some basic joinery (before working on any furniture). First, the basic mortise and tenon and then the through-dovetail joint. Joinery is also a fundamental, and these particular joints are the most widely used. Korn takes us step-by-step through the process with plenty of clear photographs showing the technique. The milled boards are long enough that the reader can practice the joints several times. Each time your joints will get better, and you will gain valuable experience and confidence.
   
   The last 80 pages include two small projects, a handsome stool and a side table. These projects are big enough to introduce several more fundamentals without being too complex that the reader will never finish. The stool introduces half-blind dovetails, pinned tenons, glue-up procedure, and basic finishing. The side table introduces basic carcase and drawer/panel door construction. Again, all steps are well documented with plenty of photographs.

5 comments about The Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker: Shop Drawings and Professional Methods for Designing and Constructing Every Kind of Kitchen and Built-In Cabinet.

1. The majority of books on cabinet making on the market are at best sub par. They usually cover the basics, and one will leave out what the other puts in and vice versa. You need an arsenal of books to get everything essential for beginners to start cabinet projects. I can safely say after reading and completing a set of cabinets from plans in this book, that it's all right here in one book. The descriptions, black and white photos from tools to materials to plans are very good. If this is a first book for you on cabinetry covering all the basics, I'd definitely start here. In fact, I've sold all the other books on this subject here on Amazon. This book is that definitive.



2. Like the previous reviews stated, it's a great book that provides notes and hints on all the minor details that other books takes for granted. The book provide the reasons why the author recommends doing something a certain way. Then you can decide if that is the best way for what you are doing it verses another way some other book is telling you.
   
   
   Bob provides suggestions down to what size screws, type, etc to use in every part of the construction or installation. The advantage of pan head vs. countersink heads. It's these finer details that make the book an excellent book for reference.



3. If you have any interest in building cabinets this is a must have book. Well written, organized and detailed. It includes everything you need to know from layout to installation. An easy to follow explanation of how it's done from A. to Z. Bob tells you what works and what won't. If I could only afford one book,,,, this would be it.



4. Bob Lang is an expert cabinetmaker and general woodworker with a great deal of experience in both. He is a Senior Editor at Popular Woodworking Magazine, which is, in my opinion, the best woodworking magazine available. His projects are featured regularly in that magazine. This book is not only instrumental to anyone who wants to build kitchen cabinets, it also teaches and illustrates a lot of basic woodworking techniques. The principles contained here apply to all casework construction, not just kitchen cabinets, so this book is valuable for all woodworkers.



5. The Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker is not a book on the details of joining or operating woodworking equipment. But it does do a very complete job of providing an overview of how to design and construct cabinets. It is comprehensive and economical in its explanation of how to construct both face frame and frame less cabinets. The author provides you with his viewpoint. Others would have a different perspective. Nonetheless, I would highly recommend the book for those new to cabinet making and as a reference for more experienced woodworkers. It has many insights that are only gained through the experience of building lots of cabinets and I found those insights to be very helpful.

5 comments about The Complete Manual of Woodworking.

1. Being new to woodworking, I needed a book like this. This book is intended for someone who wants to learn the concepts, tools, techniques, and materials used in woodworking. The explanations are thorough, but not project specific. The photos in the book are detailed and make it easy to understand.
   
   This book explains the craft from how trees grow and what part of them the best wood comes from to complex topics like bending and joinery. After reading it, you will have a far more in-depth knowledge of woodworking in general. I found it quite easy to apply the theories and tips from this book when I started my first project.



2. This book was recommended to me by our campus wood artist. It is a good reference for beginning woodworkers, with ideas about wood and projects, tips on power tools, and some good plans for chairs, tables, and other projects. good reference to have, although may be a bit too general for advanced woodworkers.



3. Book covers the basics of most every aspect of woodworking. Its not a manual for the advanced woodworker, but a greatreference for the DIYr/novice. Never used a particular tool before? This book gives you enough information to use said tool with some confidence. Good section on joinery.



4. It might not be a new book in market but it is a very good book for the new woodworker to start from the 0.
   
   Reader can get the most of information for the new comer to know that includes of wood material, machines and skill.



5. I recommend this book for everybody that wants to, has or is acqainted to woodworking. Gives guidance on identifyiing wood; buying, using and maintaining hand- and powertools and all this on a high quality glossy paper. Good value for small money.

5 comments about The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction.

1. This book helped remove some of the obstacles I have struggled with for a few years when making furniture. I have made all the wooden furniture in my house except the diningroom hutch and table. I am still working up the nerve to do that. If all you do is build from plans from which you never deviate, you really have no need of this book. But if you design your own furniture, this book shows you how everything is built and put together. All furniture is simply case construction or sides and wall construction. You will not find a single project or plan in this book, but what you will find is the knowledge necessary to create your own. I wish that I had found this book earlier when I started woodworking All of the Taunton Complete Illustrated Guides stood out as exceptionally informative, but this book, in particular, is incredible. As a matter of fact, well into my woodworking journey, I have found that I need to refer back often to the information in this text to solve some design problem. For example, I needed to know how to build a base for and attach spanish doogles onto the bottom of a cupboard, as well as where and what types of mouldings go around the top, middle, and bottom. I highly recommend this book.



2. I have several woodworking "how to" books and have done woodworking for years. I decided to do some serious furniture making so I bought this book and a few others to learn all the right techniques for various steps in the process. This book is by far the best I have acquired on the subject. This is a book you keep with you in the shop as the author says in the "How to use this book" section of the introduction. Rae gives you several choices on how to do various steps in the furniture making process for different kinds of furniture. He covers a lot of ground in this book and all the instruction is clear and to the point. The author and editors have done and excellent job. The other books will gather dust on the shelf while I wear this one out! Thank you Taunton Press.



3. What a beast of a book. This truly is a complete guide. Read it and then keep it next to your tools for reference and you won't go wrong.



4. I agree with a few earlier reviewers that this is an attractive book with opaque explanations and confusing illustrations. For me, it brought to mind Stephen Hawkin's "Universe in a Nutshell", a fascinating book of impenetrable text, beautifully illustrated with incomprehensible drawings.
   
   Probably experienced cabinetmakers would read this book and nod their heads that old Andy knew what he was talking about. But I'm NOT experienced and I could not find (or maybe, understand) the answer to any questions I've had about projects I have in preliminary stages. In my quest to develop a new hobby to go with my new retirement, I have found "The Complete Manual of Woodworking" by Jackson, Day and Jennings to be way more helpful - much more clearly written with illustrations that are much easier for me to figure out.



5. When I started woodworking, I checked this book out, along with about forty others, from the local library. All of the Taunton Complete Illustrated Guides stood out as exceptionally informative, but this book, in particular, is incredible. As a matter of fact, well into my woodworking journey, I have found that I need to refer back often to the information in this text to solve some design problem. For example, I needed to know how to build a base for and attach French bun feet onto the bottom of a cupboard, as well as where and what types of mouldings go around the top, middle, and bottom. It has proved itself so useful that I am buying my own copy.
   
   If all you do is build from plans from which you never deviate, you really have no need of this book. But if you design your own furniture, this book shows you how everything is built and put together. And I do mean everything since ALL furniture is simply case construction or frame-and-panel construction. You will not find a single project or plan in this book, but what you will find is the knowledge necessary to create your own.

1 comments about 500 Cabinets: A Showcase of Design & Craftsmanship (500 Series).

1. From time to time a series of books creates a cult following, like those of Carlos Castenada, and this book 500 Cabinets will certainly excite those of us fortunate enough to be selected to show off their best new work. Its a juried selection, thats to say that not everyone that submitted work got in. Now that I like. Its not vanity press publishing, but genuine effort has been made to select only the best examples by a jury of our peers. As the eagerly awaited follow-on to 500 Chairs and 500 Tables, this tome shows us the best of designer makers not only in the USA but further afield - UK, Finland, Israel, Holland, Australia and Ireland, making this book much more interesting to dedicated followers of fine furniture fashions. It is a marker of time, showing the state of the art of designing and making mainly wooden furntire as we see it today in 2010. Now there's a thing - one can repeat this book title in, say, 10 years time. What will we see then? It will stimulate debate, it will thrill interior designers, it will provoke arguments, and make our parents very proud indeed.

5 comments about Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath.

1. A friend and I have complete our first small project using concrete for furniture.
   This book helped provide some insights to issues we had not thought of.
   
   Some of the details of the technology may be improved on but the emphasis of design
   and quality form building is dead nuts on!
   
   Updating using a bit more of the current 'green' additives might be nice (ground slag,
   flyash ... both help reduce the amount of portland cement needed), possibly using more
   monofilimant nylon rather than so much steel ... but those are just my opinion.
   
   The book is a good reference in helping my friend and I learn more and expand our use
   of concrete. I would purchase this book again.



2. Gives me everything I need for my pour-in-place concrete countertop system - new kitchen. Also provides valuable product resources/references - where to procure the needed components.
   
   A must purchase for anyone who is considering a concrete countertop project.



3. Gives you enough information and ideas to create a great concrete countertop. I have not started the pour process yet, but I have made my form for a fireplace hearth. Once I try that, I'll decide if I'm up to making the countertops!!



4. This book has an overview of ideas, styles and designs of what you can do with concrete countertops. It also has how-to instructions in making your own countertop, more of extra finishes you can do. If you are just starting off, I found the book "Concrete countertops made simple" is great for beginners, with a more detailed step-by-step guide in the making of your first project.



5. Never used the info in the book but it does cover everything you'll need to do the job. Good Luck

5 comments about Building Kitchen Cabinets.

1. Too many projects and not enough information. I felt like it was written for more experienced woodworkers. A little brushup then off to the projects. Next time I'll use the "look inside" feature before buying.



2. This book is a great resource, and I recommend it for anyone wanting to build cabinets that already has some basic woodworking skills. No single book is going to provide all the answers, or replace years of apprenticing, such as what the author did, but this book provides a lot of very useful information. I found the information to be complete enough to either 1)enable me to complete the tasks, or 2) provided enough info to clue me in and extend my research.



3. This book reads like a text book, it is laid out with tips and side bars to give the reader good no
   nonsense information to help one in every aspect of making kitchen cabinets. I bought it red it
   and keep it on hand for reference. One of the best books on woodworking I have in my library



4. I am an experienced cabinet builder, and this book taught me a few things and gave me some great ideas for new cabinet designs. Probably one of the best how to build cabinet books I have seen. This is for faceframe style cabinet building.



5. Others have commented on the measurement errors. I'm posting in hopes of saving someone some grief. I built two of his customized 45 degree corners for end panels. I was in the glueing stage when I discovered the dimension error on page 95. The outer dimension of the 45 piece should be 4 1/16" not 5 1/8". I was able to re-cut the pieces but obviously this was a major frustration. This is careless and inexcusable on the part of the author and publisher.
   
   With these errors this book does NOT deserve the 4+ star rating it has. I gave it 3 stars because apart from this glaring problem, I found the book very useful. After viewing a few books of this type I settled on this one for my first cabinet building project. There are many ways to build cabinets. Udo uses pocket screws and plywood boxes. I find this to be a nice compromise to simplify design, speed construction with satisfactory strength. I built a full wall of cabinets in oak for a media room, and another large wall of cabinets for a mudroom using this book as a reference.

5 comments about Spray Finishing Made Simple: A Book and Step-by-Step Companion DVD.

1. Great book and excellent video. I'm just beginning in spray finishing and this book has me getting good results quick. I highly recommend this book if you are new to spray finishing and want to learn the basics correctly.



2. Key to homeowner shelves is Jeff Jewitt's SPRAY FINISHING MADE SIMPLE, which comes with a fine DVD featuring pro demonstrations of the basics. From choosing the right equipment and spray systems to the spray properties of different kinds of finishes, this is an outstanding, clear reference packed with color visual insights throughout.



3. Very good introductory level, but I would appreciate more in depth information is a brief quick guide information book.



4. I'm new to spray finishing and this book is exactly what I needed. Just the Video is worth the price. Highly recommended.



5. 
   The book is clear and well written. The information is current. Amazon order and delivery flawless.
   What's not to like?

5 comments about Illustrated Cabinetmaking: How to Design and Construct Furniture That Works.

1. This book would be a great textbook for Introduction to Cabinetmaking. It explores history, basic joinery, and presents several different examples of end products for the basic styles of cabinetry and furniture.
   
   Although the book has very recent publication dates (2003, 2008, 2010), the end products illustrated in the book were popular several years ago. In other words, don't expect to see plans for any of the end products in the next edition of Wood or Fine Woodworking magazine which I subscribe to.
   
   If you're looking to recreate furniture that was popular 30-50 years ago, you've got to have this book in your library. If you're looking for examples of modern cabinetry incorporating drawer slides, casters, and soft-closing concealed hinges, look elsewhere.
   
   Again, the book presents a great overview of cabinetmaking techniques, but falls short in showing `How to Design..." furniture for today's homes.



2. As a beginning woodworker, I was looking for information that would minimize mistakes that can ruin a project. The "little" things that most of us have to learn by experience.(i.e. the cause and results of expansion) I was looking for the techniques, that I may not realize went building furniture, that will avoid starting out to be a masterpiece only to turn into junk when the weather changes. This book was excellent. I began learning practical tips right from the first pages. It is not a book of projects with dimensions and patterns but a primer of cabinet making, the characteristics of wood and wood products, and how to cope with them.
   
   I would highly recommend this book for anyone who would like to begin building furniture especially if you do not want to use available patterns and plans exactly.



3. I have a friend who didn't care for this book due to the lack of actual plans. However, the vast majority of my woodworking doesn't use them, which is why this book is valuable to me. The first part goes over every joint or method I can imagine. It is broken down into carcasses, drawers, runners, wall hung cabinets, tables, etc. There are great drawings that clearly show how such things are assembled.
   
   The second part of the book has several examples of each type of furniture construction. If you don't find the furniture piece you want, you can certainly adapt what is there to a different style. If you are one for plans, there are alternative ideas complete with information as to where the plans are available.
   
   I suspect that this is one of the few books I have that will be well worn and tattered in a short while.



4. Okay, I had doubts about this book, but the reviews convinced me that it must be okay. Okay is an understatement. Exploded diagram views of each furniture type with drawing of some of the varients that exist. This book shows how to build different types of furniture, it is not just a collection of blueprints. This book showed me how I could have avoided a lot of mistakes and built better, cheaper, lighter and stronger furniture.



5. As most reviewers have remarked, this book is not a "how-to" technique book. It is also not a book for beginners as there is little instruction for how to actually cut, route, or otherwise shape any wood. Rather, this is a catalog of different techniques. It contains an illustrated collection of all different furniture pieces (casework, tables, and desks). It gives the user measured and exploded views. As such, it should be used to spark ideas when thinking about your next project.
   
   If you are looking for a how-to book to create all the different joinery techniques or assemblies, I would recommend Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guides. This book is especially good when paired with Taunton's Illustrated Furniture and Cabinet Construction.

5 comments about Tree Houses You Can Actually Build: A Weekend Project Book (Stiles, David R. Weekend Project Book Series.).

1. Both my husband and I are thrilled with this book. We will purchase other books by the authors.



2. I was pleased with the information and illustrations found in the book...it was very informative.



3. my husband loved this book. answers lots of questions about how to anchor to the tree and various ladders. the tree house is awesome and looks great too.



4. I grew up watching my father renovate the houses we lived in, but I've never build anything myself. This year, I really wanted to build a treehouse with my two daughters, ages 7 and 9, and I really wanted it to be a mom-and-daughter driven project (with help with the heavy lifting from dad and older brother). I did a lot of research and bought this book based on the totality of the reviews. It is FANTASTIC. Even if you've never held a tool, you can use this book to build a safe, sturdy treehouse. With the book in hand, I had confidence going to the lumber store, the hardware store, and anywhere else I needed to buy supplies. We got the foundation up in two hours and it was SOLID. After that, we were able to combine different parts of the designs in the book to easily make adjustments based on our tree and our personal preferences. And we did it all with a hammer, a hand saw, a level, and a t-square -- we didn't even have to buy any new tools! Our treehouse is a gathering place for the neighborhood kids, and it was easy and quick to do. The illustrations and intructions are absolutely impeccable. I highly recommend this book.



5. This is an amazing book for building your kids a tree house. We bought this book a full year before we knew we were going to be able to build our kids a tree house. We have spent many hours drooling over all the great ideas and using it as inspiration for our project. I love the drawings and explanations in this book...they are very detailed and use basic terminology. They even include graph paper you can copy over and over. Most of the examples they use are basic and highly adaptable.I love the fact that they included using elements of nature and ways to reuse everyday objects found around the house. Safety seems to be paramount for the authors as well as explaining why to do and not to do certain things. The back of the book includes many pictures of actual tree houses, which are great for inspiraton, as well as many extra ideas and signs that can be reproduced. Our project is just around the corner and this is our "bible" for it. I highly recommend this book and believe you will not be disappointed with the purchase.