There are countless ways to join two pieces of wood (nails, dowels, biscuits, mortise and tenon, dovetails, to name but a few), but in recent years pocket hole joinery has been growing in popularity mainly because it is a simple technique to master and the tooling available guarantees a strong joint every time.

Pocket screw joinery makes simple work of face frames, cabinets, and other applications where you want to hide the fasteners. The pocket hole jig, usually a stepped drill bit and guide bushing, drills an angled hole though the end of a piece of wood. A pocket screw, similar to a wide pan-head screw, is then driven through the hole into the mating piece of wood making a strong, tight joint. The advantage is that you are driving the screw through the end grain, similar to toe-nailing into the side grain.

The 8 projects in this book range from a simple picture frame, through a bathroom vanity, to furniture projects such as a bed, end table, and dresser. Furniture maker Mark Edmundson explains the basics of pocket hole joinery, helps you select the right jig for the job, shows how to use pocket screws with dowels and biscuits, and explains why clamping is the most important part of the assembly. It s a complete course in pocket hole joinery, with 8 great projects to show for it.

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More eggs, less work! And more enjoyment for both the chickens and their keeper! That's the promise of Frank Hyman's Hentopia. From the Vending Machine Feeder to the Refilling Rainwaterer, Hyman's innovative building projects are designed to save time and money, while keeping chickens safe, healthy, clean, and well-fed. All 21 of the projects for the chicken yard feature easy-to-follow instructions and colorful photos, including creative doorways, nest boxes, fencing, roosts, as well as a predator-proof pen and "Chunnel" chicken run. With a lively, humorous voice, Hyman generously shares his ingenious strategies and expert advice on all aspects of chicken keeping. Requiring no previous carpentry experience and using many salvaged or found materials, Hentopia is within reach of every aspiring chicken-keeper.

Beginning woodworkers are constantly stymied by the apparent need for thousands of dollars worth of tools to start their hobby. Once they have the tool they face a learning curve to understand how to use the tool. The next problem is finding wood to build the projects. Not everyone has a lumberyard nearby. This book will show them how to build quality furniture projects that can be completed by any woodworker with a modest (but decent) kit of tools in less than two days of shop time, and using raw materials that are available at any home center. The enclosed tool manual explains all the tools and shows them how to perform the basic operations in a step-by-step format.

Learn how to build premium cabinetry of superior quality in your own shop...from layout and design to installation and final adjustment. Jim Tolpin simplifies the process of building cabinets by using modern hardware and joinery systems that are fast and foolproof to execute. He shows how to construct easily handled cabinet modules and how to customize face frames, doors, and drawers in the style you choose. With the help of this book and basic shop tools, you can build a complete set of kitchen cabinets that will add beauty and value to any home.

Soar to new heights with this helpful how-to on power-carving a variety of wooden birds. Featuring internationally known woodcarver Frank Russell, this guide offers expert instruction on a wide range of carving techniques and ways to improve your skills. Original patterns for a number of different types of birds are provided, along with detailed sketches to offer guidance for woodcarvers of all skill levels. The patterns can even be used for other types of three-dimensional or flatwork art if wood isn't your preferred material of choice. Each bird design includes textural facts, sketched details, linear top-view patterns, and colored side-view patterns. Regardless of your experience in power carving, with this guide you too can make a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece all on your own!

A true magnum opus, Cecil A. Hewett's English Historic Carpentry appeals to every type of architectural historian, from the connoisseur of cathedrals to the vernacular 'barn and cottage' enthusiast. It also offers practical insight into the structure and age of the old homes and outbuildings of Britain, and will reveal that much timber-work is appreciably older than their owners might think. This book will be a source of pride and inspiration to all who work in timber today, showing that the master carpenters of the past achieved their highest levels of craftsmanship well before the master masons, and that they were their equals as medieval architects. Beginning as a young upstart with wild theories, Hewett grew to become the accepted authority on all matters of historic carpentry and a pioneer of a whole new technology in the dating of ancient buildings. In English Historic Carpentry, he provides the definite statement of his work, superbly illustrated by his own drawings. As Hewett maintained, 'the building is the document' and this book will teach you how to read the evidence that is written in wood.

The bandsaw is one of the most widely used woodworking tools, found in 3 out 4 home and professional workshops. Although deceptively simple -- a steel blade rotating around two rubber-clad wheels, the bandsaw does its best work when it's tuned properly. Unfortunately, most owner's manuals provided by tool manufacturers are difficult to understand, and the drawings and photos are unclear.

In this book, professional woodworker Lonnie Bird gives all the information bandsaw owners wished came in the owner's manual plus much more -- what to look for when buying a bandsaw and how to tune it up for optimal performance. The information is presented in an accessible, easy-to-understand way, making this a quick reference as well as comprehensive handbook. All the information is up-to-date and thoroughly researched. Excellent color photos by the author and a clean, friendly layout gives this book on a classic woodworking subject a fresh modern look. This clearly illustrated and photographed volume will quickly become the standard reference and is a must-have title for any woodworker.

A home can never have too much storage! In this collection of 25 articles from Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking magazines, America's most accomplished carpenters and woodworkers contribute their advice on building sturdy cabinets, built-ins, and shelves. build a breakfast nook, island, or pantry in your kitchen add storage to your bed construct the perfect vanity for your bathroom make a country hutch in your kitchen or just add shelves or cabinets to any other room Beginners and experts alike will love the basics section, which reviews must-know information about plywood, lumber, glue-ups, and safety while sawing.

A simple, straightforward shop manual for woodworkers of all skill levels, this reference dispenses with the lore and legend of planes and offers techniques for adding these tools into woodworking regimens. The step-by-step photography and instructions for using bench planes and scrapers comprehensively covers the usage and care of these two types of hand tools. Each chapter represents the practical, relevant facts about different types of planes and scrapers, showing woodworkers how to use these tools to create deep, rich surfaces.

A great finish can make even a simple project look terrific. A bad finish can ruin the most well-built, sophisticated piece of furniture. Finishing can be a daunting and mystifying task to many woodworkers and DIYers who fear wrecking their projects at this late stage in the process. This collection of articles from Fine Woodworking brings together the best information on a rich variety of finishing techniques. Nowadays, finishing wood doesn't just embrace fine clear finishes like shellac and French polishing, but also bright pigmented lacquers, dyes and stains, milk paint, and crackled paint. Finishing Wood features a whole section on the hot new trend of coloring wood. Also included is timeless information on preparing a surface before you apply a finish (a critical first step) as well as tried-and-true methods for applying all the traditional finishes, whether by brush or by spraying.

One of the most important tools in any woodworking shop, tablesaws are available in a tremendous variety of styles and prices. The latest addition to Tauntons invaluable "Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking" series is the sharpest reference available, covering all the essential tablesaw techniques from the most basic cut to the most advanced joint. Every process is illustrated with step-by-step full-colour photographs. This no-nonsense, comprehensive shop-companion examines everything from ripping and crosscutting to cutting coves and multi-sided shapes, always keeping safety at the forefront. Anthony also provides a wealth of ideas and designs for extremely useful jigs. Like a tablesaw itself, this wonderfully visual guide belongs in the shop of every woodworker. Paul Anthony is a woodworking writer, editor and photographer and is the author of "Smart Workshop Solutions", plus the editor of many woodworking books.

Walter Turpening has been designing and perfecting seating for crafters and artistic creators (particularly weavers, knitters, handspinners, and musicians) for 20-plus years. His signature cotton-cord, curved, woven seats on fine woodworked frames are sought after by crafters, and he operates on an average two-year waiting list. He has also been teaching his techniques for many years, and this book is a compilation of his design journal and instructions for his methods, including the wooden furniture designs and weaving designs, plus his methods for measuring the recipient and their intended end use of the furniture for perfect ergonomic comfort. At 73 years young, it is Walt's desire to share his treasury of knowledge for the benefit of woodworkers and crafters.

For most woodworkers, the router is an essential power tool because it can do so much. Add a router table and you can cut miles of moulding, machine fine joints, and do all these tasks with precision and ease. The chapters in this book cover all the different types of router and router tables and how to use them successfully, as well as in-depth coverage of a wide variety of router techniques Topics covered include: - Router safety and maintenance - Choosing bits - Joinery and Decoration - - Making and using router jigs - Router tables - Router template basics - - Creating a no-frills horizontal or bench-mounted router table - * First title in Taunton's new full colour series: THE NEW BEST OF FINE WOODWORKING, based on articles from the world's leading woodworking magazine.