Where Do You Get Your Plans

[Navycraig]

Hello all--

I'm obviously new to this site and the forums and am having a lot of fun reading your posts and admiring your knowledge and viewing the pictures of some of the projects that have been posted.
We've just moved into a new house and I have my own little work shop (finally). My tools are all set up...limited as they may be, and I'll be addding more in the future as $$ allow. Now on to my question...
Is there a web site you can recommend for getting plans for building things like a bench, a bar, a gun cabinet, etc.? I'm also interested in any good books for beginners that will talk about basic wood working, types of joints, etc, etc. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Craig

[radhak]

You could start by googling for 'free woodworking plans'. Top of my head - www.freeww.com - gives a bunch of links for every category. I am sure you'd find enough to keep you busy for days of browsing. (Many of those links would lead you to various leading sites like Popular Mechanics, Black And Decker, etc, which you could directly link to, also). I am forever surprised how abundant - and good quality - these are.

I am new to WW myself, my leading sources for other 'paid for' plans are Woodsmith and WOOD. Very detailed, newbie-oriented. If you register at Woodsmith they hand you a small welcome package (PDF downloads) of nice plans.

Books - first, visit your local library, and raid their hobby section. Tons of great books. Pick up some magazines - Woodsmith, Wood, and many more like Fine WW, Popular WW, etc. Family Handyman has given me wonderful ideas many a time. Everybody to their own, so you'd find your own favorite.

I am guessing by the time you are done with all that, you'd be an 'expert' yourself (in reading up, if not actually doing it! ) and know what you want.

best of luck.

[Popeye]

One of the best sources you'll find without spending a nickel is the public library. I'm sure you'll get plenty of other good recommendations. Pat

[LarryG]

I can't help much on plans, as I tend to design most of my projects myself (although I'll often base them on something I've seen in a catalog, magazine, on TV, whatever). I do know, however, that most of the well-known woodworking magazines have free downloads available in PDF format on their web sites.

For books, I'll second the library suggestion. Or, hit a good bookstore and browse. Lowe's and Home Depot carry a few titles, too, in their magazine section. But I'll also give you a few specific recommendations:

"Classic Joints With Power Tools," by Yeung Chan

"Woodworking With The Router," by Bill Hylton (recently released in a new edition)

Virtually any of the "The New Best Of ..." article-reprint compilations from Fine Woodworking Magazine. There are maybe a dozen titles in this series; look them over, pick according to your interests.

None of the above are beginner's books, per se, but neither will they be over anyone's head, and they'll all give you something to grow into. The second one is obviously router-specific, but IMO it's a must-have title because it truly is THE bible for getting the most out of this vital and incredibly versatile tool.

One last tip, concerning beginner's books with titles like "The Complete Book ..." or "The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of ...": be sure to look these over VERY carefully before you buy, as many of them try to cover way too much ground, and/or waste too many pages on stuff like, "This is a hammer ..." I think every woodworker needs at least one good such book on his library shelf, but only one.

[niki]

Hi Craig

When I started the woodworking hobby, some 11 years ago, I bought 3 books that I would recommend to any beginner.

The first is:
“The complete manual of woodworking” by Albert Jackson, David day and Simon Jennings.
The book takes you into the woodworking “secrets” starting with most of the world woods, their properties and usage. Design (the correct height of a table chair etc), hand tools, power tool, machine tools (with examples of the correct usage), joinery, finish and more.

The second is:
“Table saw magic” by Jim Toplin
Excellent book with many jigs and fixtures.

And the third:
“Router Magic” by Bill Hylton, that was mentioned.

About plans, you can buy them over the Internet from “Plans now” or others.
You have also free planes here
http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/r...ex.php?cat=102
http://www.buildeazy.com/fp_start.html
http://plans.the3house.com/all_plan_alpha.htm.

niki

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I am going to have to get a copy of Table Saw Magic. I see it cited so often and the jigs look way cool.

I 3rd, 4th or whatever we're up to now on recommending the library. Don't forget that most allow you to seach their catalog online. They also will allow you to pick out books from other libraries in their systems. So if you local library doesn't have much don't give up. They can find most anything you are after. Our library deals with other libraries such as colleges and libraries in other states.

I specifically recommend :

"Great Wood Finishes" by Jeff Jewitt
"Understanding Wood Finishing" by Bob Flexner

If you can only get one I would get the Jewitt book. It covers more application related issues, where Flexner handles more technical questions. Together with these books you can answer practically any finishing question you will ever have.

[Black wallnut]

10 gun cabinet. If you would like I could sell you a copy of my rough sketches and cut list for a small fee.

In all my years of wwing I have only purchased and used one set of plans. All of my other projects have either been ones penciled out myself or copies of what I've seen. I start with a clean sheet of paper, lay out the overall look I want then start adding demensions.

[Doug Jones]

I'm also interested in any good books for beginners that will talk about basic wood working, types of joints, etc, etc. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Craig

I have a few books I'll let go cheap plus shipping. PM me

But must agree with the library advise. I get a lot of my stuff from magazine plans.

And one of my favorite sites is
http://members.cox.net/messman123/Links%20to%20Jigs.htm