Woodshop Library

TOOL-MAKING PROJECTS FOR JOINERY AND WOODWORKING, by Steve A. Olesin, is a guide to making 20 hand toolsfor joinery and general woodworking applications. Olesin explains how his own journey in woodworking went from power-tool mania to hand-tool tranquility, then offers step-by-step instructions for making eight layout tools (marking gauges, squares, joinery gauges and a marking knife); four cutting tools (backsaw, bucksaw, bench plane and shoulder plane); three holding tools (cam clamp, bench hook and shooting board) and three striking tools. The instructions are specific and easy to understand, but Olesin also recommends that readers express their own tastes by using contrasting and figured wood, shiny brass, and careful finishing, and by embellishing their designs with inlays, carving, and beading. The bench plane is probably the most complex project and includes tips for buying plane irons. The book also offers instruction on hand-tool joinery techniques. The 184-page softcover sells for $24.95. Contact: Cambium Press, P.O. Box 909, Bethel, CT 06801. Tel: 203-778-2782. www.cambiumpress.com

TRADITIONAL PROJECTS, from the editors of Fine Woodworking magazine, presents 19 traditional furniture pieces, including tables, beds, clocks, chests and casework. Drawings and dimensions are provided, and highlights of the construction process are covered in the maker-written text. Project highlights include a Shaker drop-leaf table by Christian Becksvoort; tilt-top table by Mario Rodriguez; Sheraton bed and Shaker-style clock by Philip Lowe; 18th-century six-board chest by Mike Dunbar; Shaker blanket chest by Charles Durfee; cherry chest of drawers by Michael Pekovich; andShaker side table and hanging corner cabinet by Garrett Hack. There are also pieces by Robert Treanor, Jefferson Kolle, Cameron Russell, Chris Gochnour, Doug Mooberry and Steve Latta. The 154-page softcover sells for $17.95. Contact: Taunton Press, 63 S. Main St., P.O. Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506. Tel: 800-888-8286. www.taunton.com

BANDSAW TUNING, with professional woodworkers Alex and Howard Snodgrass, is a step-by-step tutorial DVD for updating and upgrading your band saw's performance. From blades to guides, tension accessories to tires, this DVD shows how individuals can get the most from their equipment and accessories. The hosts remind viewers that the band saw is one of the most versatile cutting tools in the shop, and that with proper setup and maintenance, it can assist in any woodworking task. They demonstrate proper methods of tuning an existing saw and ways to test a newly purchased saw. The 48-min. DVD sells for $14.95. Contact: Carter Products Company Inc., 2871 Northridge Drive N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49544. Tel: 888-622-7837. www.carterproducts.com

PORCHES, DECKS, & PATIOS, a Popular Mechanics Money Smart Makeover series, by Rick Peters, provides fun restoration ideas for home exteriors. Plan options are designed to suit budgets for both the professional and the layman. Readers can compare original examples of porches, decks, and patios to renovated examples including economy, midrange, and high-end price ranges. The back of the book offers special techniques for specific repairs. A new and improved deck, for example, could require cleaning, fixing or replacing boards and restaining the wood. It could even mean replacing entire railings or putting prefabricated overlays on surfaces, stairs, and fascias of existing decks. Learn how to use a power washer effectively, how to straighten boards using shims, and replace rails and balusters as well as add the finishing touches. Plans for details such as railing planters, planting shrubs, trellises and climbing plants are also given. The 192-page book sells for $19.95. Contact: Sterling Publishing Co., 387 Park Ave. S., New York, NY 10016-8810. Tel: 212-532-7160. www.sterlingpub.com

— Jennifer Hicks