The Complete Book of

       WOODWORKING

      Copyright © 2001 North American Affinity Clubs

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in an electronic retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

      Published by Landauer Publishing, LLC

      3100 100th Street, Suite A, Urbandale, IA 50322 1/800-557-2144

      Produced in cooperation with Publishing Solutions, LLC

      James L. Knapp, President

      Credits

      Tom Carpenter, Director of Book Development

      Mark Johanson, Book Products Development Manager, Editor

      Dan Cary, Photo Production Coordinator

      Chris Marshall, Editorial Coordinator

      Steve Anderson, Senior Editorial Assistant

      Bill Nelson, Series Design, Art Direction & Production

      Mark Macemon, Lead Photographer

      Ralph Karlen, Photography

      Kim Bailey, Tad Saddoris, Contributing Photographers

      Bruce Kieffer, Illustrator

      Craig Claeys, Contributing Illustrator

      Brad Classon, John Nadeau, Production Assistants

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      Print ISBN: 978-0-9800688-7-0

      eISBN: 978-1-6076575-9-0

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      Landauer Publishing, LLC

      3100 100th Street

      Urbandale, Iowa 50322

       www.landauerpub.com

      1-800-557-2144

       Introduction

      For anyone with creative instincts and a joy for working with your hands, woodworking can be a very rewarding hobby, perhaps even a lifelong passion. It’s more than just a way to turn wood products into furnishings and accessories for your home. It is exercise for your compulsion to be productive. It is a refuge from the stresses of life. It is an art form that yields beautiful objects to make life more pleasant for you and your loved ones. It is an opportunity to experience the pride and satisfaction that can only come from making something yourself.

      Once you’ve started down the woodworking path, you’ll find there are many directions you can take. You may enjoy making fine furniture, or perhaps toys and gifts that you can pass along to others. You may be attracted to the design process and spend most of your shop time at the drafting table, dreaming and sketching. Or you may succumb to the lure of the workshop—for many of us, the real pleasure of woodworking is in setting up our own private spot in the world and whiling away the hours simply puttering. The choices are virtually unlimited.

      The Complete Book of Woodworking is both an indispensible reference volume and a source of inspiration. In the first section, you’ll find fully photographed, step-by-step instructions that show you precisely how to accomplish all of the most essential woodworking skills. Whether you’re a beginner or an old hand in the shop, you’ll find a wealth of tips and techniques that will make you a better woodworker.

      The first chapter, Setting Up Shop, provides a useful glimpse into how seasoned woodworkers go about creating and furnishing their workshops. Designing Woodworking Projects walks you through the entire process of developing a raw idea into a complete woodworking project plan. Introduction to Wood explains the mysteries of wood and offers practical advice on selecting the species that’s right for your project, as well as some inside information that will help you find your way around the lumberyard. The fourth chapter, Squaring, Marking & Cutting Stock, is a comprehensive guide that shows you how to prepare your rough wood, make layout lines and cut your project parts to size and shape. It also provides a solid introduction to the basic woodworking tools you’ll use to machine wood stock.

      Making Joints & Assembling Projects discusses the best wood joinery options and techniques, as well as essential clamping and gluing skills. Finally, in Applying Finishes, you’ll receive a crash course in prepping, staining and topcoating wood.

      But The Complete Book of Woodworking is more than just a comprehensive reference book for woodworkers. After all, what fun is it to learn new skills if you have nothing to do with them?

      Toward that end, we have included plans, measured drawings, cutting lists, instructions and photographs for 40 original woodworking projects you can build to put your new skills to the test. Covering a range of skill levels, from beginner to advanced, the projects create an irresistible menu of furnishings and accessories. No matter what your tastes or needs, you’re sure to find just the item you’ve always wanted to make.

      Home Accessories includes plans for a wide variety of clever projects that will make your home more attractive, more functional and truly your own. Included are a beautiful mission-style coat tree, a country-style wall-hung cupboard, benches, boxes, picture frames and more. Home Furnishings features plans for bookcases, bigger benches, a dresser, a gorgeous rocking chair, and a couple of tables. All the projects are unique, buildable and beautiful.

      Outdoor Projects takes you into perhaps the most popular woodworking area these days. A stunning array of projects for outdoor seating, dining and leisure will dress up any yard or deck. Most are built with dimension lumber and simple joints, making them perfect for the beginner. But you’ll find a few eye-poppers that will challenge your skills, as well! Finally, Workshop Projects provides plans for a half-dozen helpful furnishing and accessories to make your workshop more functional and pleasant, including a pair of clever workbenches.

      Because it is both a thorough guide to woodworking skills and a treasure-trove of terrific woodworking project plans, we think you’ll understand why we say The Complete Book of Woodworking is truly complete.

       IMPORTANT NOTICE

      For your safety, caution and good judgement should be used when following instructions described in this book. Take into consideration your level of skill and the safety pre-cautions related to the tools and materials shown. Neither the publisher nor any of its affiliates can assume responsibility for any damage to property or persons as a result of the misuse of the information provided. Consult your local building department for infor-mation on permits, codes, regulations and laws which may apply to your project.

       Table of Contents

       Setting Up Shop

       Choosing