I'm newer to woodworking and want to build some pieces for practice to build my skills and confidence. I remember using plans from Ana White in the past, but they didn't hold up well since her designs often overlook wood movement and other joinery types. I'm willing to pay for good plans as long as they're thorough and not just stolen or incomplete. Has anyone tried the plans on Woodstore.net? I think they're from Wood Magazine, but I'm unsure about their clarity. Any other suggestions or resources for reliable project plans?
3 Answers
I recommend steering clear of buying large collections of plans. There are some scammy sites promoting thousands of plans for a small fee, but they're mostly available for free elsewhere. Watch out for offers from fictional characters like 'Ted'—it’s usually too good to be true!
Check out finewoodworking.com, woodsmithplans.com, rockler.com, and woodcraft.com. They have a mix of plans at all skill levels, some free and some paid. If you dig deeper, many older woodworking books are available online through sites like the Internet Archive or you can check your local library for borrowing options. Specific styles like Shaker or Greene and Greene have books with detailed plans and measurements, which can be super helpful! As for Ana White, I had similar issues; her plans don’t really work with wood movement and can lead to warping. There's definitely better stuff out there for beginners!
Absolutely! For Wood Magazine plans, hit their site and check the free section. If you're looking for more detailed plans and videos, Lost Art Press and the Wood Whisperer Guild have great resources. The New Yankee Workshop also has episodes on YouTube with some plans available. Ana White is okay for beginners, but you're right—definitely not top-notch. Think about what kind of projects you want, and that’ll guide you to the right source.
Totally agree, a variety of options can help you find something that fits your needs. Just be careful with bundles; many times, those big collections are just scams with free content.
If you really want to kickstart your learning, consider a project from the Wood Whisperer Guild. They do charge a bit more, around $40-$80, but you get comprehensive plans along with detailed video instructions. You'll learn a ton that way!
Yep, that’s exactly the kind of scam I was worried about! Thanks for the heads up.