The New Yankee Workshop

Rating:
Summary: Errors in Blanket Chest Plan
Review: After reading some of the other reviews posted about this book, I felt as if they were misinterpreting the original purpose of this book and rating it based on their expectations.

First, this is not a "do-it-your-self" step by step book in the traditional sense, nor does it pretend to be. Anyone who has watched the television series knows this. During each episode, Norm mentions a materials list and measured drawing is available for purchase. By calling a telephone number or visiting the website, you can purchase the half hour episode that shows Norm working on a project and a measured drawing, or just the measured drawing. This book was meant to be a companion to the first year's episodes. Essentially, if you watch the episode, look at the materials list and still need help, this book will hopefully help you get the project done.

Many other reviewers have stated this book is not for the amatuer woodworker and they are right. Unless you already have a working knowledge of woodworking or have studied the episode in which Norm builds the project, it would be difficult to take the information in this book and complete the work. Again, this is reiterating my earlier point that this a companion book to the television series.

Norm does rely heavily on power tools, so if you are a traditionalist, this is probably not the book for you. Additionally, I agree with some of the other reviewers that the chapter on staining (all two or three pages of it) is very limited in scope. The information is not detailed and should only be read as an introduction or summary.

With that in mind, if you choose to purchase the book and have either seen the episodes where these particular projects are built or have some woodworking experience, you will enjoy this. I have used this to build the woodworker's bench and am very happy with the results.

Rating:
Summary: Thorough guidance for making useful furniture and projects
Review: I purchased this book when it came out in the late 80's and just read it last night. The introduction gives great background on how Norm, This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop got started. Norm's introduction is great for a person wanting to get started into woodworking. He explains the various power tools and terminology. The plans contained in the book are easy to follow and can make a project REAL fun.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Norm fans & novice & beginning woodworkers
Review: I purchased this book when it came out in the late 80's and just read it last night. The introduction gives great background on how Norm, This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop got started. Norm's introduction is great for a person wanting to get started into woodworking. He explains the various power tools and terminology. The plans contained in the book are easy to follow and can make a project REAL fun.

Rating:
Summary: A good book, but with a few problems
Review: I think others have gone over this before. A few of the projects have some errors in the lay out. Kind of bad IMO, but is made up for in the very pleasing aesthetic of these items. I have made a few of them and all I can say is they look very nice when done. They have a clean Shaker style that works well in most homes and IMO is fun to make. Most items are not difficult to build and while they have some fun design elements that can make you work a bit, are not hard for the average woodworker to finish. As others have noted, Norm like the power tools. That is not a big deal, in that just because he uses them does not mean that you have to. I approached this book is like most "how to books". You look at the pictures, take what you like and discard the rest. How you put it together depends on the type of tools you have and what techniques you like to use in the shop. I do not think the average woodworker will have much problem with these projects and the beginner will have lots of fun building very respectable things that will look nice in the house.

Rating:
Summary: A good book, but with a few problems
Review: I think others have gone over this before. A few of the projects have some errors in the lay out. Kind of bad IMO, but is made up for in the very pleasing aesthetic of these items. I have made a few of them and all I can say is they look very nice when done. They have a clean Shaker style that works well in most homes and IMO is fun to make. Most items are not difficult to build and while they have some fun design elements that can make you work a bit, are not hard for the average woodworker to finish. As others have noted, Norm like the power tools. That is not a big deal, in that just because he uses them does not mean that you have to. I approached this book is like most "how to books". You look at the pictures, take what you like and discard the rest. How you put it together depends on the type of tools you have and what techniques you like to use in the shop. I do not think the average woodworker will have much problem with these projects and the beginner will have lots of fun building very respectable things that will look nice in the house.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good
Review: I've built the blanket chest, bookshelf and chest of drawers. The only problem I had was with the chest of drawers. The dimensions allow for only an eigth inch overhang on each side of the drawer front. By adding one eigth to each side of the drawer width, you only get the width of the opening, not an overhang, and a lot of side-to-side play in the drawer. You need to make the drawer about 1/2" wider than the plan. Other than that (which should of been caught by Norm's general caveat of measure twice, cut once), I really like the book and the narratives that go along with the project. Compared to the measured drawings that you can buy directly, you are better off buying the book and interpolating a few measurements.

Rating:
Summary: This is an informative, creative book
Review: This book is not for the beginner. It is a fantastic step by step guide to building classic furniture, but, many of the projects require specialized tools and knowledge. I have built 4 of the projects in his book and all have turned out beautiful due to Norm's instructions. I recommend this book to any woodworker that has mid to above average skill and is comfortable and knowledgeable with the use of many power tools.

Rating:
Summary: Book intended for serious amateur
Review: This book should not be viewed as a how-to book despite its billing. There are several places where Norm is either wrong or unsafe in how he performs particular woodworking operations. For instance, on the blanket chest he glues breadboard ends on the top and in several places he puts a piece of wood between blade and fence on end making a dangerous kickback quite possible. Also, his chapter on finishing is almost useless. Norm loves to build stuff and not finish so ignore that advice as well and look to other books.

His other books I feel are much better as how-to books. It is obvious that he grew and learned as a woodworker which is evident in his later books.

I have made 4 of the projects from this book and feel that all of the projects are well described and laid out. He relies heavily on power equipment which only very few well heeled hobbyists and/or serious woodworkers are going to have. There have been many times when I didn't have the particular power tool Norm used and had to do research to figure out a way to do it with the equipment I have.

If you love Shaker pieces and view the book instead as a project book with cut lists, then the book is a great investment. There isn't a single project in his book I wouldn't love to build and have in my home.