Finishing is one of the most popular and challenging woodworking topics. This new book by finishing pro Michael Dresdner uses a Q&A format to address the most commonly asked finishing questions in a logical way. It's long on solutions, not theory, and it doesn't require hours to digest. This is an essential guide to keep on hand throughout the finishing process--from sanding to final polish.

A practical and essential guide to organizing and setting up a kitchen of any size-from gear and pantry essentials to easy cooking techniques and recipes. Do you want to become proficient in the kitchen but have no idea where to start? Are you overwhelmed by the amount of options for utensils and gear? Your Starter Kitchen is a highly practical, introductory guide for beginners that shows how to equip, stock, and cook in your kitchen-without breaking the bank. Learn how to: -Use all the essential utensils everyone should have in their kitchen -Determine which gadgets and high-end items you should splurge on-and which ones you shouldn't -Effectively split the cost of kitchen necessities when living with roommates -Buy budget-friendly and healthy ingredients that have a long shelf life for the pantry -Get creative with your kitchen storage and organization if you have limited space -Host a food-centered gathering without breaking a sweat -And so much more! So, whether you have a college dorm kitchen, small house, or are moving into your forever home and want to pick up any cookbook with confidence, Your Starter Kitchen is the perfect book for you.

What more appealing scene can you conjure up on a wintry day than a pair of comfortable armchairs pulled up to a crackling fire while wisps of smoke curl from the chimney top? All your senses are in use--the sight of the flickering flames, the sound of the crackling logs, the warmth on your face, and the fragrance and taste of wood smoke. The hearth truly is the essential core of every home, whether it is an actual fireplace or merely a mantel displaying the treasures and trophies of intertwined lives. Long past the days of strictly utilitarian purpose, fireplaces and stoves are a design feature in their own right. They are available in an array of styles, sizes, and colors; offer a variety of fuel choices; and feature benefits beyond mere aesthetics, including heat and cooking. Fireplaces and heat sources are also widely found in many rooms throughout the house, including the family or living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, as well as outdoors. And the latest innovations in fireplace and stove technologies make having one no longer an expensive proposition.
While the building market is seeing growth in the fireplace market, so too is the remodeling marketplace. In fact, many homeowners are refacing their existing fireplace, upgrading their wood fireplace to gas, or simply installing a new faux fireplace where there wasn't one before. In this book readers will find hundreds of examples of all types of indoor fireplaces--from wood to gas, freestanding, and ventless--and stoves, both wood and pellet. In addition to gorgeous photos of a full range of fireplace styles, materials, and decor for indoor and outdoor fireplaces and stoves, solid information on practical designconsiderations--maintaining a fireplace or stove, remodeling an existing fireplace, safety, converting a wood-burning fireplace to gas, and the like--are explained in detail, making this the only book on the market to offer the breadth of content on both the design and practical components of all types of the latest indoor and outdoor fireplaces and stoves. Aesthetic and practical design considerations for hearths and mantels, built-ins and storage, lighting, and accessories like screen, brooms, and bellows are also covered. A thorough glossary, resources, and index provide reference-like information.

These beautiful, well-designed furniture projects are specially selected from six Taunton woodworking books: "Tables", "Chest of Drawers", "Bookcases", "Beds", "Desks", and "Dining Tables". They will appeal to woodworkers with a broad range of style preferences, including Shaker, Arts & Crafts and Contemporary. The projects, designed by some of America's best woodworkers, will help build skills while resulting in furniture worthy of passing down generations. Highly detailed step-by-step instructions, complete working drawings and cut lists are included.

This remarkable book brings together the collective wisdom
of the most inventive group of woodworkers you could possibly hope to find: the readers of the Guild of Master Craftsman's woodworking magazines, who regularly send in their favorite tips for publication. Carpenters, cabinetmakers, router users, turners, carvers, do-it-yourself enthusiasts-- everyone who works with wood is guaranteed to find a wealth of invaluable ideas in this huge and extremely practical compendium. Areas of interest, organized by subject matter and illustrated in color, cover every possibility: hand and power tools, machines, marking and measuring, materials, joints and fixings, abrasives, finishing, storage, and safety. There are even tips for the physically handicapped craftsman-- a topic rarely discussed. This is the complete solution for inspired woodworking.

In this book, Taunton present 21 articles from past issues of "Fine Homebuilding" magazine, - all of which deal with windows and doors-choosing them, building them, installing them, fixing them. Written by builders, these articles represent hard-won knowledge and years of experience. Because they're often called on to remodel homes, builders see first-hand what has and hasn't worked. You'd be hard pressed to find better advice than what's collected here. You'll learn techniques that yield weather-tight installation, how to choose energy-efficient units, how to install specialty doors, how to make stock windows a custom look, and more.

Joint-making a top priority for woodworkers Woodworkers have plenty to cheer about with The Complete Guide to Joint-Making. This comprehensive and practical book demystifies the all-important subject of choosing, designing, and cutting woodworking joints. It s packed with insightful information and tricks of the trade that will advance the work of novices and seasoned craftsmen alike.

The litmus test for woodworkers. Strong, appropriate, and well-fitting joints are one of the hallmarks of the skilled woodworker. Making them properly requires intelligent planning, accurate layout, and a sufficient degree of care in cutting, fitting, and final assembly.

A methodical approach that pays off. That's the approach author John Bullar pursues in this essential guide. He walks readers through choosing the appropriate joint for its intended purpose and continues methodically through constructing and finally assembling the finished pieces. He also covers lumber selection, tools, and adhesives, and offers recommendations for the working methods and habits that are needed to achieve consistently good results.

Techniques for hand tools and machines.The Complete Guide to Joint-Making explains in detail the traditional hand techniques that are the foundation of woodworking. Plus, the section on machine-made joints covers every power tool needed for joints, including how to get the best results from a biscuit jointer, a router, and other power tools."

A valuable manual for all woodworkers, you will learn how to sharpen and maintain all types of blades -- handsaws, bow saws, dado acts, bandsaws, and more.

A woodworking shop is always a "work-in-progress," often rearranged dozens of times to make improvements or to accommodate specific tasks. Woodworkers are always looking for ways to make the shop better, more efficient, and friendlier to use. Not being part of the living space of the house, a shop is often in an area with physical challenges, such as low head room in a basement shop or the need to work around a difficult floor plan. Specialized woodworking tasks require different shop configurations and different tooling and a different strategy for layout or accessories. This book uses the popular idea book format to address these many challenges, showing a wide variety of clever ideas and solutions for basics such as tool storage, lumber storage, accessorizing workbenches for special tasks, dedicated workstations.

One of the most useful functions of a modern lathe is its ability to cut any form of external or internal thread of any thread form, pitch or diameter within the overall capacity of the machine. Detailed information of a practical nature is, however, not easy to find - a situation that this book does much to rectify. The author was a very experienced engineer with the capability of converting factual analyses into easily understood forms. His own expertise and the standards to which he worked are evident in his writing, and in addition he is also quite at home with both imperial and metric measures having considerable experience in the conversions required when working in partially metricated areas. This book is not only an invaluable treatise on lathe screwcutting but is also a useful demonstration of working in both imperial and metric standards.

"Porches and Sunrooms" is the perfect reference tool for homeowners who are considering adding or renovating a porch, sunroom, or conservatory. Topics include planning and designing the "outdoor room" to bridge the indoors and outdoors, basic information on the room's structure, and details on what a homeowner should know to add it to the house. Readers will see real-life examples in hundreds of beautiful, full-colour photographs, discovering what a difference a porch can make to the outside of their home, or a sunroom to their indoor lifestyle. With over 400 colour photographs and 60 full-colour illustrations, this book covers porches, plus popular sunrooms and conservatories. It provides construction basics and important remodelling information and features a section on maintenance and repair.

In this stirring memoir, discover the timely story of a couple who takes in a homeless man and the life-altering effect the experience has on all three of them. For years, "Fisher King Mike" wandered L.A., preaching to his people. On occasion he'd share an open mic night with Michael Konik, who offered a curious and sympathetic ear, particularly when the Fisher King lamented his separation from his wife (who he claimed was Selena Gomez). As the pair began to trust one another, confusion and distance gave way to something that astounded them both. The Unexpected Guest gives love profound new dimensions with its story of family, friendship, and the meaning of home. Konik offered food and a pair of pants when his new friend came by, and wondered how much he owed the troubled Fisher King-a question all of America faces with the nation's ongoing homelessness crisis. When Konik and his wife gave Fisher King Mike a place in their home, handy as he turned out to be with household projects, they witnessed a guest become a caretaker. Gone was the man who gave sermons about his supposed estate next door to Kanye West. Gone was the man drifting through life. What each never saw coming was their own transformation and the lessons they'd learn about what it means not only to be good people, but simply to be human.

If you like the natural, rustic look in your home and want to make furniture and home accessories to suit, then look no further: this comprehensive, step-by-step guide tells you all you need to know to make a range of stunning pieces for inside and out using wood sourced from pallets. 20 step-by-step projects for both indoor and outdoor projects suitable for DIY novices, using simple tools and techniques environmentally friendly, inexpensive and trendy! projects include corner sofa, boot rack, coffee table, headboard, mirror, dog bed and more! Pallet Craft contains concise step-by-step instructions and clear photographs to guide you from start to finish. There's advice on sourcing pallet wood, instructions on how to dismantle pallets safely and easily, plus a tools and other materials section to make sure you have everything you need.

One of the most popular and affordable tools - the router - is capturing the interest of woodworkers, builders and DIY-ers. It contains 350 photos make for easy instructions for creating elegant curves and furniture parts, mortises, slots and holes, fixtures and more. The router is the most versatile and resourceful power tool in the woodworking shop. In this all-new collection of 20 great articles, "Routers & Router Tables" gathers the most up-to-date information on routers and router tables, bits and jigs, tips and techniques for router joinery, and much more. Whether your focus is precision, space savers, versatility, or all of the above, this guide will show woodworkers the smartest route to routers for accomplishing their best work.

This book reinvents the countertop with a single material: concrete. Concrete Countertops is an essential book for architects, homeowners and contractors who want to learn how to design, form, mix, pour, color, trowel, inlay and finish decorative concrete countertops. Homeowners will be inspired by the 350 color photographs that bring this exciting medium to life.

The bestselling alternative energy reference book in North America--now in an updated edition

Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you're looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, "Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition" takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you

This new edition gives you hands-on tips and techniques for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power--and helping the planet at the same time. Plus, you'll get all the latest information on changes to federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and tax incentives that seek to make solar-power adoption more feasible.Expanded coverage of the technology that underpins full-scale solar-power systems for the homeNew small- and mid-sized solar products, projects, and applicationsRik DeGunther is a design engineer who started his own energy consulting firm

Featuring ten of the easiest and cheapest DIY solar projects, "Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition" is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source

A celebration of good craftsmanship by a Norwegian master carpenter - the anatomy of a job well done.

"An enriching and poetic tribute to manual labour" Karl Ove Knausgård

"In Thorstensen's skilled hands, the everyday story of a suburban loft conversion is turned into an urgent study on the value of doing good work. It should be widely read." Robert Penn - author of The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees

This is, quite simply, the story of a loft conversion. It is also a book about work and identity, about collaboration and pride in skilled craftsmanship, and about what it means to make things with your hands in a consumerism-driven world.

A master carpenter and builder with thirty years' experience, Thorstensen gives a matter-of-fact, reflective voice to the workers who construct our living spaces and our urban environment. He looks upon his tools as an important part of himself and as a reflection of his respect for his trade, and he addresses the gulf in understanding and communication between skilled craftsmen and "academic" workers.

From the moment of a client's phone call to their occupation of a newly constructed living space, Making Things Right tracks the project as it takes shape: the delicate negotiation to establish an optimum plan; the collaboration with a trusted team of specialist painters, plasterers, plumbers, electricians; the handling of materials; the blood, sweat and frustration involved in doing a job well.

Why is it that manual skills are underestimated? After all, working with your hands gives you time to think. With all its practical detail, Making Things Right is the simple philosophy of a working life.

Will interest readers of The Craftsman by Richard Sennett: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain; The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees by Robert Penn; Do No Harm by James Marsh and A Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks

Translated from the Norwegian by Sean Kinsella

This title features 15 inspirational projects accompanied by fully illustrated step-by-step instructions and detailed photography and illustrations. It covers topics such as selecting and sharpening tools and how to use additional equipment. This UK author teaches woodturning and decorative techniques, how to sand and finish pieces. "Contemporary Woodturning" is a clearly illustrated practical guide to woodturning aimed at woodworkers at all levels of skills: a one-stop solution for experienced turners and novices alike. This book will guide you through the various health and safety issues, the tools and equipment needed to get the best out of your woodturning, mastering the basic techniques and how to add decorative features. He also illustrates how to use highly original decorative methods and artistic skills to complete the finished projects. Each project includes easy-to-follow instructions and detailed photography to inspire you to take what you have learnt and apply these skills to your own work.

This is a comprehensive guide to the setting-up, maintenance and repair of all the major machines found in a woodworker's workshop:- tablesaws, jointers, planers, bandsaws, drill presses, routers and chopsaws. Owner's manuals are next to useless for this purpose, and woodworking machine mechanics are very hard to find! The book provides a complete manual so that a woodworker can set up his or her machines for accurate work, do basic repair and maintenance, and get top performances from the tools. * Full of low-tech solutions to common problems, clear concise troubleshooting information and alternatives to expensive set-ups. * An essential reference book for everyone who owns a woodshop - amateur woodworker, professional carpenter, school or college. * Full promotion to the core market via The Guild of Master Craftsmen.

This completely revised and updated edition of the bestselling Bathroom Idea Book features inspirational and practical design solutions for the number one choice for a remodel indoors. A virtual designer's notebook of ideas, inspiration and information, without the high designer price tag, this will be a homeowner's first step in turning a dream bath into a real one, whether it's new construction or a remodel.

Further full colour design ideas to appeal to homeowners, interior designers, DIY enthusiasts and self-builders who are eager to use the Not So Big House House concepts to build or remodel a home which avoids wasted space and material and which works for them. Sarah Susanka's first book The Not So Big House created a movement which has redefined the way we think about the space we live in, It spoke to millions of disenchanted homeowners who wanted to downsize their dream home ideas without diminishing the dream or the style. The secret lies in a better use of space: let your activities and lifestyle define your rooms.

Living with Wood provides inspiration for anyone who appreciates the beauty of this wonderful natural material. A superb compilation of the most beautiful projects with wood - both indoor and outdoor.