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UPDATE: Book Giveaway: Traditional Projects from the New Best of Fine Woodworking

comments (58) September 26th, 2010 in blogs

BetsyE Betsy Engel, contributor
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Traditional Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)  
Taunton Press, 2005.
$17.95; 154 pp.


Traditional Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking) is a collection of past articles from Fine Woodworking focusing on furniture projects that withstand the test of time. Some of the projects included in the book are a Shaker Blanket chest, a Harvest Table, a Cherry Chest of Drawers, and a Tilt-Top Table. These projects will provide the maker with building and finishing skills as well as classic heirlooms to be passed on throughout the years.

Lucky cahudson42 is the winner. His comment was chosen at random.

Check back often for more giveaways.


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33 Furniture Projects
From the editors of Fine Woodworking The very best projects from 34 years of Fine Woodworking $9.99 more info...

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Comments (58)

cahudson42 cahudson42 writes: Review: Traditional Projects

This anthology reminds me of one of my favorite cookbooks and video series: ‘In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs’. In that series, Julia had a different chef each week do one of their signature dishes. ‘Traditional Projects’ is like that. Some of today’s best woodworking ‘chefs’ describe the featured projects, including Garrett Hack, Phil Lowe, Chris Becksvort, Mike Pekovich, Mario Rodriguez, and Chris Gouchnour – to name some. Before reading further, I suggest you visit:

http://store.taunton.com/onlinestore/item/traditional-projects-070839.html

Read About the Book, The Table of Contents, and Anatole’s Introduction. The only problem I have with ‘About’ and the ‘Intro’ is the use of the word ‘culled’. The projects are not ‘culled’ – they have been carefully selected for quality and variety.

While the projects previously appeared in the magazine, this book presents the material in a new, consistent layout and re-edit. Its not just a series of reprints of the magazine pages. However, unlike some other magazine article anthologies, all of the original material has been retained. None were ‘shortened’ to fit a space allocation.

If you are a FWW ‘on-line member’, you might be asking yourself ‘Why buy the book? I can see all this on-line’. Well, yes – you can view the original article on-line. But if you are like me, you print out the PDF anyway so you can study and mark it up before starting. Black and white in my case. With the book, you have the consistent new layout, re-edit, and everything in color. And in a book you can take with you to read in the Dentist’s waiting room..

As an ‘on-line member’ one thing I found myself doing was going to the Video section to look for video projects by the same authors. As an example, Garrett Hack has two projects in this book, ‘Building a Strong, Light Carcase’ and ‘Corner Cupboard’.

Now look on-line at Garrett’s video ‘Build a Small Tool Cabinet’. You will see Garrett hand plane the raised panels, and also use a very clever non-mitered front face frame to side rabbet joint with the edge chamfered so the end grain ‘disappears’ – techniques which can also be applied to the book project.

You can also get ideas by looking at similar project videos by different ‘chefs’, as well as articles by the same authors – such as Garrett’s ‘Huntboard’ project.

I would categorize all the projects as suitable for an ‘Intermediate’ woodworker like myself (three years experience). Nothing is overwhelming – like a Queen Ann sculpted Highboy. If you can make a table, a bookcase, or a blanket chest – you should be able to accomplish any of the projects.

Well worth the $17.95 cost.

Chris

cahudson42
Posted: 12:02 pm on October 8th

jimmacgregor jimmacgregor writes: Count me in
Posted: 2:40 pm on October 4th

handtoolgrampa handtoolgrampa writes: I can always use inspiration to use up my pile of rough lumber.
Posted: 10:45 am on October 2nd

Richardsdesignco Richardsdesignco writes: I am also moving to a new shop and can always use more ideas for things to build. The last book was so great I just had to try again.
Posted: 8:37 pm on September 30th

savage1 savage1 writes: Looks like a great book. I'd love to have a copy.
Posted: 12:25 pm on September 29th

FFournier FFournier writes: I would love to add this book to my growing collection!
Posted: 12:00 pm on September 29th

Woodsmithy Woodsmithy writes: Please count me in too.
Posted: 3:07 pm on September 28th

just wanted to know just wanted to know writes: Come on it's my birthday soon.

Posted: 2:30 pm on September 28th

josleroux josleroux writes: it would be very nice in my bookcase
Posted: 2:26 pm on September 28th

mjonkman mjonkman writes: I'd like a copy
Posted: 12:59 pm on September 28th

DRow DRow writes: I have the book, Building Small projects, and would like to add the Traditional Projects book to my collection.
Posted: 11:06 am on September 28th

Fromey Fromey writes: I just feel sorry for the elephant.
Posted: 8:49 am on September 28th

MrHudon MrHudon writes: Traditional is what I like!
Posted: 7:35 am on September 28th

Triumph1 Triumph1 writes: My bookcase is screaming for it!
Posted: 7:20 am on September 28th

dag2000 dag2000 writes: Give the book to meeeeeeeee.....
Posted: 1:03 am on September 28th

hodgie73 hodgie73 writes: count me in.
Posted: 10:44 pm on September 27th

deeg deeg writes: Sawdust for brains needs a traditional heart.
Posted: 8:19 pm on September 27th

rroades rroades writes: Newbie needing noodle nutrient.
Posted: 6:56 pm on September 27th

Moli Moli writes: count me in
Posted: 6:40 pm on September 27th

wayne12 wayne12 writes: I would really love to add this book to my collection of woodworking books so when I retire I can really "get into it" of the things I really want to do. Thanks for the offer!
Posted: 5:11 pm on September 27th

manu31 manu31 writes: for me formidable
Posted: 4:50 pm on September 27th

strglingbeginr strglingbeginr writes: I would love to have this book!
Posted: 4:49 pm on September 27th

RalphBarker RalphBarker writes: Just tossing my name in the hat.
Posted: 4:38 pm on September 27th

sharonlev sharonlev writes: looks like some nice projects book
Posted: 4:01 pm on September 27th

DANDEDESIGNER DANDEDESIGNER writes: I THINK THIS WEBSITE IS THE BEST ONE I HAVE COME ACROSS IN YEARS ON THE NET. I AM JUST GETTING BACK INTO WOODWORKING OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND I CAN SEE THIS SITE WILL HELP ME IMMENSLY FOR THE FUTURE IN ANY AND ALL PROJECTS I CHOSE TO TACKLE. GREAT JOB TO HOWEVER CAME UP WITH THIS SITE.

THANKS
DENNIS TROXEL
Posted: 3:54 pm on September 27th

Burlyman Burlyman writes: Yes! Please I want one of those!
Posted: 3:20 pm on September 27th

mgalipeau mgalipeau writes: yes, please!
Posted: 2:49 pm on September 27th

pitbon pitbon writes: Please do count me in.
Posted: 12:38 pm on September 27th

jollypond jollypond writes: Oh,Oh,Oh.....Me, Me, Me,...Pick Meee!!
Posted: 12:27 pm on September 27th

TedFurlong TedFurlong writes: Looks like a great book for a traditionalist like me. Count me in!

(T)ed
Posted: 12:01 pm on September 27th

JLYoung JLYoung writes: Count me in please
Posted: 11:28 am on September 27th

Sixty_Vette Sixty_Vette writes: Count me in also
Posted: 10:38 am on September 27th

sk2tobin sk2tobin writes: count me in
Posted: 10:02 am on September 27th

Water_Doc Water_Doc writes: Taunton Publishing book are the best! Please include me. Thank you.
Posted: 9:49 am on September 27th

tlpmap tlpmap writes: Would be a great collection to my woodworking library.
Posted: 9:46 am on September 27th

Rhysling Rhysling writes: Congratulations Derrick on the opening of your shop.
Posted: 9:39 am on September 27th

LBF LBF writes: I would love to have this book.
Posted: 8:51 am on September 27th

ndreyer ndreyer writes: I'm in.
Posted: 8:50 am on September 27th

Erich Erich writes: Looks like it will give me a chance to do more dovetail practice, I'm in!
Posted: 8:44 am on September 27th

frank T frank T writes: Just the book I am looking for, count me in!
Posted: 8:35 am on September 27th

chucktown chucktown writes: This looks like a great book, I'm in.
Thanks
Posted: 7:56 am on September 27th

cahudson42 cahudson42 writes: Looks like an intereting group of projects!
Chris
Posted: 4:24 am on September 27th

ckm ckm writes: I like turtles.
Posted: 3:17 am on September 27th

Lori K Lori K writes: This looks like a really neat book to have.
Posted: 1:59 am on September 27th

JaredEgg JaredEgg writes: Would love an excuse to build some of these projects. Thanks!
Posted: 12:26 am on September 27th

sledge sledge writes: This looks like a very good book to have.
Posted: 12:23 am on September 27th

dcupp dcupp writes: Looks intersting. Who knows, I might actually get around to building one of the projects.
dcupp
Posted: 11:06 pm on September 26th

UkuleleCrazy UkuleleCrazy writes: Free book on how to make something I need? Hmmm...Gee, let me think about it. Oh, all right. What's that? You might give it to someone else!?! OH NO! Pick me! Oh please, please, PLEASE PICK ME!!!....Maybe I should switch to decaf.
Posted: 10:44 pm on September 26th

arubin arubin writes: I think could learn a lot from this book.
Posted: 10:39 pm on September 26th

johnrezz johnrezz writes: thanks
Posted: 7:38 pm on September 26th

Larrythewoodguy Larrythewoodguy writes: thanks for the chance to win.
Posted: 7:16 pm on September 26th

GoRedsUS GoRedsUS writes: Looks like a great book to add to my library.
Posted: 4:55 pm on September 26th

casaheil casaheil writes: Looks like a nice book. I'd like to add it to my library.
Posted: 4:18 pm on September 26th

thelawnranger thelawnranger writes: I would love to have this book. Fingers crossed !
Posted: 2:27 pm on September 26th

DustyAl DustyAl writes: I'm a beginner woodworker... I need all of the the reference materials I can find... I have been very happy with the Taunton Press books that I do have.
Posted: 12:05 pm on September 26th

grin grin writes: This book will look great in my library.
Posted: 11:55 am on September 26th

BillAnton BillAnton writes: Just like on Cash Cab, I'm in!
Posted: 11:37 am on September 26th

DerrickBurke DerrickBurke writes: I have just leased a space and am now doing the improvements to open a custom woodworking shop in the historic district of downtown Snohomish, Washington. I will also do doing some classes out of there. This book would come in handy and match the historic flavor of downtown Snohomish.
The name of the company is Puget Sound Woodworking. Been telling myself for almost 20 years that this just couldn't be done.

Goodbye, garage.

Hello, brick walls, CVG floors, ultra efflicent fluorescent lights, cozy warmth and 3-phase power!
Posted: 11:23 am on September 26th

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