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Rating: 
Summary: Review of "Fine Art of Small-Scale Woodturning"
Review: The Fine Art of small-scale Wooodturning is a pleasant journey both visually and intellectually. Many fine "small" turned works are illustrated with superb photography. I found it difficult to learn very much about "small-turning" because the author discussed turning in great breadth with little depth. A nice coffee table book with minimal value as a serious reference.
Rating: 
Summary: Another book on turning
Review: This book adds to the proliferation of publications on turning. That is its sole contribution. The text is dull, naive, uninformative and repetitive. Many illustrations appear twice and some three times. I could find nothing new in it at all. Timbers are called "exotics" simply because they come from outside the USA, and then the names are misspelt - is that indicative of the global village, or is it simply parochial? Perhaps the author should stick to turning, although I find the results he shows of that activity not particularly inspiring either.
Rating: 
Summary: Unique ideas, focused on small turning not minatures
Review: What sets this book apart from others I have seen is the excellent work, every item in projects or example pictures is a work of art. Not that the pieces are complex, but that they are all well done. I was inspired to spend the time to make my turning "art" not "craft". Part I: 70 pages on small turning, tools, shop, wood, finishing. Part II: 60 pages on projects. Gallery: 10 pages. Full color pictures on every page. Part I was interesting reading, with a focus on small turning, but not much new over other books, but very well done, and kept my attention the whole time (I often skip this part and go straight to projects, not this time). Part II: Projects (and pictures in Part I) included some unique items I had never seen before (and I have >20 wood turning books). Projects include: Tool handles, cribbage counters, lace bobbins, needle cases, costers, spinning tops, bowls, toothpick holders, candleholders, ring boxes, closed vessels, chessmen. This list may not sound unique, but one ring box shown includes a center post that the ring fits around, the spinning top is the traditional but with a solid base and contrasting handle, in the gallery a Bonnie Klein top with a screw-on lid. The Gallery consists of recent work from famous small scale turners: Kip Christensen, David Ellsworth, AW Jones, Bonnie Klein (my hero), Michael Lee, Craig Lossing, Michael D. Mode, David Sengel, Hans J. Weissflog, Mohamed Zakariya (all one per page).
Rating:
Summary: Unique ideas, focused on small turning not minatures
Review: What sets this book apart from others I have seen is the excellent work, every item in projects or example pictures is a work of art. Not that the pieces are complex, but that they are all well done. I was inspired to spend the time to make my turning "art" not "craft". Part I: 70 pages on small turning, tools, shop, wood, finishing. Part II: 60 pages on projects. Gallery: 10 pages. Full color pictures on every page. Part I was interesting reading, with a focus on small turning, but not much new over other books, but very well done, and kept my attention the whole time (I often skip this part and go straight to projects, not this time). Part II: Projects (and pictures in Part I) included some unique items I had never seen before (and I have >20 wood turning books). Projects include: Tool handles, cribbage counters, lace bobbins, needle cases, costers, spinning tops, bowls, toothpick holders, candleholders, ring boxes, closed vessels, chessmen. This list may not sound unique, but one ring box shown includes a center post that the ring fits around, the spinning top is the traditional but with a solid base and contrasting handle, in the gallery a Bonnie Klein top with a screw-on lid. The Gallery consists of recent work from famous small scale turners: Kip Christensen, David Ellsworth, AW Jones, Bonnie Klein (my hero), Michael Lee, Craig Lossing, Michael D. Mode, David Sengel, Hans J. Weissflog, Mohamed Zakariya (all one per page).
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