Which magizine would you suggest?

[Mogo]

I am finally about 2 weeks from having my shop completed. How the shop came to be what it is, is a story in itself. I am about as green a rookie as you can be so I am looking for the best Woodworking magazine to subscribe to for someone at my level.

I plan to build all the benches and tables myself to try and save some money (the shop went way over budget).

I am still very limited on tools:

Ryobi BT3 series table saw

Ryobi BD4600 Belt & Disc Sander

Hand drill

Craftsman hand router

Hand circular saw



I would appreciate suggestions for a magazine that targets someone at my level and includes articles about work benches, woodworking basics and tool mounting tables.

A suggestion for a book on routers would be nice also. I have the “The Complete Table Saw Book” which is great.

Thanks in advance.

[JTimmons]

My magazine suggestion would be Wood. In my opinion, I think the plans, they offer in their issues are very well laid out as well as the insturctions. There isn't alot of guess work left, they even figure out the amount of board feet for you.
The downloadable plans on their site also seem to follow the same standard. http://www.woodstore.net/dowwoodplan.html

The articles are also very helpful.

Couldn't help you on the router book though.

[Knottscott]

Hi Mogo - Most of the major mags try to reach a variety of skill levels, so from month to month that target can change a bit or include articles aimed at multiple levels. I like Popular WWing, American WWer, and Shop Notes...SN has lots of shop built projects for the shop, and no ads.

In addition to mags, you might try your library for wwing books. A good friend of mine gave me a the Complete Book of WWing by Landauer Publishing when I first got started.

p.s. I'd suggest putting together a simple router table for your router early on...it'll help the other projects alot, improve your accuracy, and is typically safer than hand routing.

[Ed]

I'm a newbie, too, and have searched and read different folks thoughts on magazines and router books. What I came up with was:

Wood Magazine
Woodworking With Router by Bill Hylton (router book)

Ed

[monte]

I also recommend Wood magazine.

[Wood_workur]

I have "Router Magic" and I think it is a great book. Even has plans for a router lathe!

[LCHIEN]

I recommend Wood magazine as others above have,
and also from www.augusthome.com
Shop Notes and Woodsmith -
shop notes deals with tools and jigs,
woodsmith with woodworking projects
they each come alternate months, really nice magazines.
No ads, heavy stock for keeping, detailed plans and techniques.

[JR]

I, too, would suggest two mags - Wood and ShopNotes. Wood for the variety of projects, reviews of tools and glue and whatnot. ShopNotes for loads of ideas on jigs, shop cabinets, tool holders and so on.

The latest ShopNotes has a great woodworker's workbench design.

JR

[RainShadow]

My top three are: ShopNotes, American Woodworker and Fine Woodworking. You get a flavor of all levels of woodworking.

I also like Woodworking Journal and Wood.

Good luck, be safe and have fun, Randy from Oceanside, CA

[Mogo]

Thanks for all the great feedback folks. I will check out all the links and books.From what folks have suggested I should be busy for quite some time. I will post some pictures when the shop is done....you will see the result of "when a wife gets involved"

[DaveW]

Regardles of which magazine you subscribe to, you might want to consider calling their customer service line and asking what the current deal might be - a lot of people ended up getting Wood for 3 years for $24 or $28 (vs 2 years for the price of 1 through normal subscription routes). Even if they quote something less of a deal, you can ask about the 3-for-1 deal - they'll most likely give it to you.

Some people also recommend getting subscriptions off ebay - I haven't tried this yet myself though, so I can't say much else about it.

[lrogers]

Another vote for Wood. I also enjoy American Woodworker.

[John Hunter]

I also recommend Wood magazine.

[gimpy]

Mogo, might try a used bookstore if there is one in your town. I've bought several different magazines at pretty good prices. Just thumb through them to make sure all the pages/articles are there. I learned the hard way[:I]. My personal favorite magazine is Shop Notes. I also like American Router as well as the others that have been mentioned.

Frank

[djmcheme]

What do people think about Fine Woodworking? I think it is a nice magazine but a little pricey at the stand. I enjoy any of the woodworking magazines. If it has to do with woodworking then I enjoy reading it!