The Complete Book of Woodworking: Detailed Plans for More Than 40 Fabulous Projects

Rating:
Summary: A Very Complete Book About Woodworking
Review: As the title says, this is a very complete book about woodworking. In it, they tell you about wood, how to design projects, the different tools and how to use them, and finishes. The second part of the book shows 40 projects with step by step instructions on how to put build them. And the color photographs and drawings are beautiful and show a lot of detail. If you're only going to buy one book about woodworking, this is the book you should get. What more can you ask for in a woodworking book?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I just got this book a few days ago, and I've had a hard time putting it down. There are lots of full-color pictures, with thorough descriptions of almost every aspect of woodworking. I've already learned a lot about different types of wood, how to make several kinds of cuts with several kinds of tools (including suggestions for what to do even though I don't have a large selection of power tools), and have some projects picked out to start as soon as I can get the lumber! It is a very thorough book, unlike several others I looked through at my local bookstore. I would highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in woodworking! It is both fun and informative. Almost half of this substantial book is general background information and instruction, including a detailed glossary, and the rest is a good selection of detailed, well-illustrated plans.
Enjoy! Go make sawdust.

Rating:
Summary: The Not Quite Complete Book of...
Review: I've been hesitant to review this book because, despite its title it is by no means a 'complete' book, and yet it is well written, and what it does it does well. It is well written, and covers many of the important subjects - Setting Up Shop, Designing Projects, Introduction to Wood, Joints, Finishes, etc. And it provides a host of projects suitable to the beginner. It's hard to fault what it does do, but there are several problems with what it doesn't do.

First and foremost of these gaps is that the book is entirely power tool oriented. Given that a woodworker rapidly gets surrounded by a host of machines, it never hurts to spend time on saws, planes, and the other hand tools that are part of good woodworking. Good hand tools are berely cheaper than machine tools, and selecting the right ones is one key to achieving top-grade results.

The book flies too high to provide important detail on the tools that it does cover. Power saws, planers, drill presses and anything else require knowledge in order to be used safely and successfully. And to make the right choices when purchasing. This book would serve best the beginner who has access to a full shop, not one who is in the process of putting a shop together.

The projects are very straightforward - too simple in some cases to keep the attention of someone who wants to attain levels of artistry. There is no effort to rank the projects by complexity, or connect the skills required to section of the book. This can trap a beginner into a task that takes experience to complete. I'm also informed that some of the shopping lists are incorrect, so make a point of checking before buying. Nothing is more irritating than having something become scrap because you followed the directions.

So be warned that this book is of the greatest value t someone who is both a complete beginner and has access to a full shop. Access to a competent woodsmith wouldn't hurt either. If you fit in that niche the this could be a satisfactory purchase. If not look about you. Several of Taunton Press's efforts may be more useful to you.

Rating:
Summary: Best in my collection
Review: Of all the woodworking books I have bought, this is the best book I have. In saying this, I think it's an excellent book for woodworker beginners, there is general information (but not in-depth) on all facets of woodworking. On top there are may plans for interesting, not too hard, projects easily accessible to beginners.
It's nicely layed out, good printing (colors), lots of images for inspiration, and good plans.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best!
Review: One of my favorite in my collection. Very good pictures and and projects in the book. I got it for less than $20 at Lowes which is well worth it. Just get it!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best!
Review: Overall the book is very good. It gives you many alternatives to achieving a goal without resorting to buying the latest most expensive tools. My only complaint is that I don't think the writer actually built the projects listed in the book. (at least not the saw horses) If you look at the shopping list for the saw horses it calls for 1 piece of 3/4 x 2 x 4 foot plywood. From that you need to cut (2) 29in x 16in shelves and (4) 8 5/8 x 6in gussets. I challenge anyone to get the two shelves from this one piece of plywood. So check the plans BEFORE you shop and you'll be a lot happier with this book.

Rating:
Summary: Beware of inaccurate shopping lists....
Review: Overall the book is very good. It gives you many alternatives to achieving a goal without resorting to buying the latest most expensive tools. My only complaint is that I don't think the writer actually built the projects listed in the book. (at least not the saw horses) If you look at the shopping list for the saw horses it calls for 1 piece of 3/4 x 2 x 4 foot plywood. From that you need to cut (2) 29in x 16in shelves and (4) 8 5/8 x 6in gussets. I challenge anyone to get the two shelves from this one piece of plywood. So check the plans BEFORE you shop and you'll be a lot happier with this book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: The book is divided in 2, the first 1/3 talks about tools, wood, joinery, etc. It's a great reference, and I find myself going back to it for reference.
The last 2/3 of the book are projects. There are many varied projects in the book. Some are too hard for a beginner, some are too easy. You're liable to find something you can do, and you'll learn a lot in the build.

Rating:
Summary: No way would I try the tennoning jig in this book
Review: This book is good in the descriptions about wood selection and wood types. It has a wide variety of woodworking techniques and operations. However, the overall techniques used range from good, to absurd, to dangerous. The problem is, a beginner may not be able to know the difference between a good technique and a dangerous or poor technique. Also, some of the projects are good, and some are poor. The main problem with this book is lack of consistency. The positive is that there is good stuff in it and a wide breadth of subject matter.