Tom Wolfe goes back to basics. With easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, Tom helps the novice carver bring life to a block of wood. With a single knife Tom carves a relining country figure and teaches the basic methods of woodcarving. Each cut is illustrated with a full-color photograph, an important visual aid to learning this fun craft. These projects are simple and fun. The new carver will find that the mysteries of this art quickly disappear and that they can quickly learn the skills they need to create a nice piece of art.

Accomplished carver and teacher Mary Finn shows how to create all kinds of charming animals, each "born" from a commercially available wooden egg. Egg animals can come out of the egg in any direction and can be made standing, sitting, or lying down. Here, step by step instructions and color photography illustrate carving techniques for a crouching rabbit, sitting bear, chubby pig, and fire-breathing dragon. Readers will learn how to orient the egg, establish the basic outline, complete eyes, ears, feet, and other details, and paint the finished animal. These projects require only minimal working space and are great for those with limited access to saws or other large equipment. Each egg has the potential to become a favorite pet, a wild animal, or an imaginative character, and all provide lots of fun and enjoyment for the carver.

Vic Tesolin's Projects from the Minimailist Woodworker teaches the basics of furniture making using step-by-step photos detailing the process of building handsome projects any woodworker will be proud to create. A follow-up to Vic's much-lauded first book, The Minimalist Woodworker, this book is a celebration of the small tool set needed to create beautiful work and and expansion of the techniques and skills learned in that first book. Like a seasoned woodworker lending a helping hand in the workshop, Vic Tesolin, aka "The Minimalist Woodworker," is a master at demystifying the craft of woodworking so that anyone with any skill level can dive in and do good work. With Projects from the Minimalist Woodworker and even a modest toolset, anyone can develop their skill and enjoy unlimited hours in their shop. You'll learn to build a variely to pieces including a handsome dovetailed box, a wall cabinet, a storage chest, and handy shop projects like a handplane and a marking knife.

Wood for Woodturners (revised edition) is the updated edition of the successful book by Mark Baker catering specifically for the turner. The book describes 50 of the world's most important woods for turning and goes into great detail with regard to physical characteristics, working qualities and availability. Colour photographs throughout illustrate different qualities of grain and figure. An additional 100 woods are considered more briefly. This revised edition is fully updated throughout with new images and a resources section, and it also includes new material on green wood and sustainability.

Beginner carvers are presented with jargon-free instructions for eight skill-building projects in this copiously illustrated guide to carving in the round without a bandsaw. An introductory section acquaints novices with the art of carving and includes information on tool selection and sewing a carving tool kit and apron while shaded patterns help identify which areas of the wood block need to be cut. Since terms are clearly defined, no previous carving knowledge is needed to complete the introductory candlestick-making project and the basic carving skills learned while crafting the candlestick are built upon in the remaining seven tasks, making the projects a rewarding experience.

Tom Wolfe brings together two of his great loves in this new book: the love of wood carving and the love of a good cigar. While there is much ado about cigars today, Tom has been an aficionado for many years. Now he brings his carving skill to that all important piece of equipment for the serious cigar smoker, the humidor. From a caricature Texas Troubadour Humidor to a simply elegant decoy humidor, Tom opens a new range of carving for both novice and experienced carvers. The results are useful objects that catch the eye and the imagination. They will look good on the mantel, and even better on the carver's table at the local carving show. An amply illustrated gallery and many patterns make this book a vital addition to your carving book collection.

Patterns are so much a part of our lives that we often take them for granted. There are times when an artist working in any medium needs to create a pattern with specific complexity or form. This book takes you step-by-step through the process of drawing twenty-five patterns for wood burning and gourd decoration with different variations and shading techniques and applying and adapting the patterns with an easy drawing method. Learn how to improve your drawing skills while applying interest to the patterns as you use them in abstract compositions, create your own variations, and confidently enter your work in gourd or wood burning competitions. Also included are tips and suggestions for wood burning artists who are looking for something not found in typical woodcraft books. Beginning and master gourd artists will find inspiration for designs here, beyond the limited selection offered by clip art and transfers."

Some years ago the author, Jim Forrest, a professional engineer and model engineer of many years' experience, needed a purpose-built and relatively inexpensive workshop for his hobby. After discussing this need with Peter Jennings, a professional architect familiar with system build construction, a three-metre wide design was developed which proved to be very easy to build and easily the match for far more expensive types of building. This book was written as a complete work on the construction methods used. It not only contains the details required to build the floor assembly, walls and roof, but also covers all of the peripheral areas including layout, planning regulations, tools, materials, fitting out, security and insurance. The design is easily adaptable and most variants are covered including several floor types, lean-to construction etc., and illustrative drawings are used extensively to show precisely how the building is detailed.

Step-by-step instructions show woodturners how to make small decorative magnets, bolo tie slides with matching earrings, switch knobs that attach to lamps, and handy little brushes. Dick illustrates techniques for holding your work piece, the use of concentric and offset inlays, and how to add embellishments like beads, contours, chatterwork, and captive rings. These are small projects that are big on fun and flair.

What carver's Christmas is complete without a nicely carved Santa? In this new book Tom Wolfe leads the carver through the process of creating a beautiful Santa ornament for the tree or to be displayed on a stand. A basic understanding of carving techniques is all that is needed to follow this fully-illustrated step-by-step instructions. As always Tom is happy to offer the tips and wisdom of many years of professional carving. The project covered in the book is a traditional Santa's head along with a sculpted stand from which to hang it. In the back are many other examples, from the saintly Nicholas to a fanciful "Banana Santa." All in all this is book will bring delight to carvers and those who see their work.

In this wonderful new book an old tradition is shared with today's carvers. Helen Gibson, a new author at Schiffer Publishing, teaches woodcarving at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. The patterns for the creche she carves have been part of the tradition of the school for so long that no one is quite sure of their origins. Carving them is a community effort, with different carvers having different specialties. Helen takes the reader step-by-step through the delicate carving process of one of the figures, with clear color photography illustrating each technique. Patterns and complete views for the Mary, Joseph, three Wisemen, three Shepherds, and the baby in the manager are included. Helen started carving when she was in about the fifth grade. She now lives and works at the school in Brasstown, North Carolina.

This title presents professional techniques to bring your furniture back to life. It offers complete instructions for dismantling and rebuilding chests, polishing, waxing and staining, how to repair tops and feet, and how to rebuild drawers and doors. It includes a fascinating history describing how chests and cabinets have evolved over time, as well as advice on buying and using tools, equipment and materials. Projects include repairing a split top, replacing a bracket foot, repairing a glazed door, correcting a minor twist, restoring desk drawers, and repairing a grandfather clock. Chests and cabinets often endure a hard life, and over the years the working parts can be damaged through wear and tear. This book provides complete instructions for repairing chests, drawers, doors and desks, all photographed at a leading antique restoration workshop. Projects include replacing drawer runners, cutting a dovetail joint, repairing a sliding tambour, refitting a door, and polishing a 19th-century desk. Detailed information is given on how each piece of furniture is constructed, and how it can be dismantled and reassembled. Illustrated with over 400 beautiful photographs, the book will enable any restorer to learn how to mend antique furniture.

Ron Hampton takes the reader through all the steps necessary to apply beautiful veneer inlays to handsome turned wooden objects, including the lid of a box, the bottom of a bowl or platter, the top of a bowl, and even into the edge band around a tall round glass vase. Over 300 detailed color photographs illustrate the succinct, step-by-step instructions. Also included are vital safety instructions, a complete list of tools, and a listing of both turned wooden shapes and veneer inlays required. With this book in hand, woodturners, ranging from novice to expert, will have all the information they need to add the vital finishing touches to transform their turned objects into turned art.

Seven great projects for the 12- to 36-inch lathe, designed for beginning to intermediate turners, presented in a fully illustrated step-by-step fashion. Included are instructions for turning two scoops, a covered cylinder box, a lidded bowl with a foil-leaf finish, a Christmas ornament turned from last year's tree, a beautiful carving set, and large salt and pepper mills. Each of these projects can be completed in the course of a weekend. A photo gallery offers the turner many variations on the themes shown in the book and entices them to try their own ideas. An experienced demonstrator and teacher, Bill Bowers covers the basics, including issues of safety and technique, and then shares the joy he finds in turning. He encourages the reader to always remember, exuberance experienced at the lathe is exceptional medicine for the soul.

With clear, concise instructions and 345 detailed photos, Ron Hampton takes the reader through every step required to turn and finish wooden works of art on the mini-lathe. Eight separate projects are turned and finished here, including a cherry goblet, several mushrooms, a turquoise bowl inlay, potpourri pot, leather Indian pot, stone bowl, Hawaiian bowl, and an ornamental bird house. A gallery of other designs is provided for inspiration. Every tool required is listed and explained along with a variety of tool rests. Tool sharpening techniques are discussed and valuable safety tips are provided. This book is perfect for the beginning and intermediate wood turner and will provide valuable ideas for those more advanced.

When Tom Wolfe published his first book on Woodspirits, Tom Wolfe Carves Woodspirits and Walking Sticks, we had no idea how popular it would become. Thousands of people saw it, bought it, and asked for more. So here it is, a new collection of Woodspirits, this time done in the traditional Bavarian way. Carved from a section of a tree, the branch forms the hat. Of course Tom brings his own inimitable style to the carving, making it lively and creative. As always he takes the carver step-by-step through the carving process. There can be no pattern, because each Woodspirit springs from a unique piece of wood. But the technique and the sequence of carving can be easily learned through the step-by-step color illustrations. A gallery of several Woodspirits will give the carver many ideas about the variety and variations they can obtain when they release the Spirits from the Wood.

Outdoor Carpentry is the first tool you need to fulfill all your dreams for a large terrace, a flowerbox, an outdoor kitchen, a fence, a shed, a small bench, an entire carport, or a whole array of other projects for the yard. The projects are presented with over 300 inspiring and illustrative color photographs as well as clear, close-up drawings and construction details. In the basic information section of the book, the home woodworker will learn all about materials, rules and regulations, joining and finishing, and tips and tricks for laying foundations. The 65 projects outlined here have varying levels of difficulty, so it doesn't matter if you are a beginner or a practiced hobby woodworker: this book is perfectly suited for those who enjoy working with their hands, creative and practical projects, and the satisfaction of beautifying their surroundings themselves.

If you got that new scroll saw last Christmas, this Christmas you can use it to celebrate the holiday. Frank Pozsgai brings his unique knowledge and artistic ability to create 3-D scroll patterns that will delight the craftsperson. The main project is Santa's sleigh and nine reindeer, complete with instructions for giving Rudolph a flashing red nose and installing a music box that plays "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer." The step-by-step guide is illustrated in full color. It is accompanied by 30 other Christmas patterns.

This inspiring compendium of beautifully designed and crafted fences and gates will inspire homeowners and handymen to get right to work. This is a rich resource of dozens of beautifully crafted fences, any one of which could be the envy of your neighborhood. A how-to section helps you plan, plot, and execute a fence project. Included are ideas for privacy fences, fence/planter combinations, built-in seating, and arbor gates. Styles represented include fences influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement and Asian and traditional European designs. There are great ideas for providing privacy for a deck, patio, pool, or hot tub, and great gates to frame impressive entryways.

Joints: A Woodworker's Guide takes one of the most important and challenging aspects of woodworking and demystifies the all-important subject of choosing, designing and cutting woodworking joints. Strong, appropriate and well-fitting joints are one of the hallmarks of the skilled woodworker. Making them properly and accurately calls for good planning and marking out as well as a good degree of care in the cutting, fitting and final assembly. It is essential to approach making joints methodically, this book provides all the necessary information to ensure success. Aimed at both those new to woodworking as well as the experienced woodworker. Joints: A Woodworker's Guide is broken down into three main sections: planning and preparation, basic techniques of joint making and individual joints in detail. Areas covered include: planning the work and preparing the wood; measuring and marking; cutting and fitting, glues and assembly.

Most of us don't live in a dream home that was custom built to suit our tastes. We have to work with a house that brings its own style, quirks, and personality to the table. But imagine walking into this house, but it's perfectly designed and decorated with your style in mind-a home that fits you like a well-tailored outfit and yet is as comfy as your favorite pair of pajamas. What would that home look like exactly? How would it feel to live in a home styled specifically for you? The truth is, every home should feel like a custom home and not have to break the bank. In Feels Like Home, DIY makeover queen Marian Parsons (a.k.a. Miss Mustard Seed) teaches you what she's learned over the years, sharing budget-friendly practical tips that will inspire you to change your space from "blah" to beautiful, from a builder-grade to character-rich home. Each chapter will guide you through detailed, easy-to-implement tutorials for projects, makeovers, decorating ideas, and tips for handling common challenges. Special note-taking spaces are also included for recording your own design ideas. Room by room, you will be empowered to transform your house into the home of your dreams!

The saw is one of the most basic tools and tends to be taken very much for granted. Many hours and much effort can be saved, and more accurate work produced, if the user has the knowledge of how his saw works and how to keep it in good condition. In this book Ian Bradley provides detailed guidance on the use and maintenance of all types of saw, both hand and mechanical, from the humble junior hacksaw to circular and bandsaws, in the comprehensive and succinct manner that has made him such a respected writer on workshop matters.

The highly acclaimed Festool*R system includes a line of four router models, the OF 1010 EQ, the OF 1400 EQ, the OF 2200 EB, and the MFK 700 EQ. Each has unique qualities that suit it for a particular job. In the OF series the 1010 is a light-weight, precision router, the 1400 is the middle range with more power and cutting depth, and the 2000 is a 3-1/4 HP production grade router. The MFK 700 EQ is a modular trim router that can change configuration for optimal, precise work with laminates.All four routers and their uses are covered in detail. Clear color photographs and concise explanations of the tools and their applications will help woodworkers get the most out of their Festool router and its accessories. As with all Festool products, the routers are integrated with the multi-function table (MFT), guiderail and dust extraction system. An overview of all these elements is included.The Festool Essential series helps the craftsperson use these fine tools to their highest capacity.

One of the problems that confronts all woodturners is how to turn a spiral. In this new book, Bill Bowers provides the answer. Richly illustrated and explained in simple terms, the book gives the novice as well as the expert all necessary information to fashion gallery-quality spiral-turned works of art. Innovative applications of stains and shapes are demonstrated on plates, platters, and bowls. Multiple tips turning delicate spirals as well as hand-threaded chasing are included. Various combinations and permutations of techniques are applied to standard turnings to make unique artistic pieces. These exquisite, turned pieces are utilitarian, except for one, and extremely beautiful. The gallery provides ideas for the turner's own creative endeavors. This well-illustrated book truly offers the basics of turning spirals and should be on the bookshelf of every woodworker, carver, and turner.