Shelves, Cabinets & Bookcases

If & when I get round to making bookcases etc, I'm sure this book will be invaluable in me completing my task, to a good standard.

A well laid out book, with some good projects that help pass on basic design and build guidelines that should help on most constructions.The styles of the projects are a bit dated so be prepared to modernise.

Despite being originally written for the American market it contains a lot of great and original ideas for use here in the UK.

A1

I have this book and the one called Built-ins and storage. Some of the projects in it are very advanced (and amazing!) and you would need a wood working studio and a lot of experience to do them.That said you can still pick up lots of ideas and on the back of these two books (and no experience) I have built the carcass of two base units, two tall bookcases which sit on the base units and stretch up to the ceiling and a shoe cabinet. I still have to put the face frames on them but even with no experience I managed to build them. Yes I made some mistakes but nothing that can't be hidden and painted over! So you learn as you go along.People in other reviews were complaining that you needed to buy equipment - well of course you do! To do the above I needed a circular saw, jigsaw, a pair of saw horses, rasp, plane, G-cramp, countersinking bit, carpenter's square, metre rule, bradawl, larger spirit level and a few other bits. Plywood isn't cheap either and is very heavy but it is sturdy and good for what I wanted it for.So I would advise to look at pictures, read and learn, apply common sense and logic and have a go on a smallish project to start with so you can find your feet. It is variously maddeningly frustrating and very satisfying. If you can do it and make it look good and save yourself a fortune then what more can you ask?! I can't wait to make some other things.

Love it . So easy to follow the instructions.

Great book & quick delivery

delighted with this book should be useful in woodwork projects

Eine gesamt Bewertung fällt schwer, denn in diesem Buch schreiben viele Autoren. Jeweils ein Projekt wird von einem ausgeführt. Die Schreibweisen der Schreiner unterscheiden sich gewaltig. Alle sind sehr gut. Doch geht der Eine nur oberflächlich über die Grundarbeiten hinweg, beschreibt ein anderer jeden Schritt bis ins kleinste Detail.Egal welcher Autor, egal welches Projekt, alle sind gut erklärt, angenehm zu lesen und leicht verständlich.Ein GUTES Buch, das in jeder Hobbyschreinereibibliothek stehen (und gelesen) sein sollte

Well produced and clear pictures with excellent material. Still using face frame methods of cabinetry and not European style work. Dated material. Needs to be updated.

The author offers through various projects presented many ideas to be applied to the working with wood. Simple and direct with many images to understand the techniques.

The projects here are all doable by a determined beginner and use common equipment. I have two minor gripes though: first they mention shelf strength with and without a 2" edging; but never define what the 2" edging consists of. (BTW the sagulator that they refer to apparently no longer exists.) Second they seem to be rather fixated on table saws as tools and don't mention alternate techniques like router, bandsaw or panel saw. ( Everyone doesn't have room for a table saw nor necessarily want one.) The information presented is very useful and the pictures actually show what is going on. I much prefer loose tendons to biscuits as tendons are much stronger and much more useful.The strength of materials is useful in spite of them not saying what they mean by 2" edging. I didn't realize that magazines are heaver than hard cover books so that was good information.The most affordable book that really covers the subject and a good read.

My purpose in buying the book was to build a custom bookcase for my stepdaughter--a recent college grad. She has tons of books, and so constructing a bookcase that was as sturdy as it is attractive was tops on my list. I live in an apartment and also have a minimal amount of woodworking tools (no planer, no router) and so the simpler the better in my case. The work is still in progress, but I find the book to be well laid out, well illustrated/photographed, and great for inspiring ideas and best approaches. It has already been of help with my project, and will serve as a welcome addition to my home improvement library.