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Title: Chests of Drawers: Outstanding Projects from America's Best Craftsmen by William H. Hylton, Bill Hylton ISBN: 1-56158-422-3 Publisher: Taunton Press Pub. Date: 12 March, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.5 (4 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Disappointing compared to the rest of the series
Comment: I consider myself an "advanced beginner" as a woodworker. I own Desks, Bookcases, and Beds in this series (and have completed projects from the latter two). Chests of Drawers does not live up to the high standards of these titles for two reasons:
1. Intentional difficulty-It almost seems as though the author tried to come up with the most complex solution to any joinery problem. For example, is there not an easier way to do the joinery for the Contemporary Chest (a beautiful piece, by the way) besides making 180 loose tenons and 8 dozen mortises? The triple dresser is gorgeous but I am not sure that could be made to the same quality outside of the Thomasville factory.
2. Lack of variety-I am sure that many of these projects can be modified but if I wanted to substantially modify them, I would just design something myself (something I don't feel comfortable doing yet on a project of this magnitude) and wouldn't need the book. The Pennsylvania Dutch chest, though nice (I mean, I am Pennsylvania Dutch) probably isn't something that needs to take up space in a book called Chests of Drawers. Something in the Arts and Crafts style would have been nice as well as a true Shaker project. Beyond that, one or two variations of a simple, but well constructed chest would have been helpful.
I was disappointed in this book and cannot recommend it. I probably would have given it one star, but most of the projects are truly beautiful. I am sure someone can make 'em!
Rating: 1
Summary: This book has nothing the other Taunton books have
Comment: What's wrong with this book?
1. Most of the projects in the book are for the very experienced craftsman. The projects seemed complicated just to be complicated. I'm not saying they should be super simple either but I think Taunton missed the mark on these.
2. These projects are for the woodworker who has a full set of power tools in their workshop. I also purchased Tauton's "Tables" book and loved the fact that many of the projects where done with minimal power tools. In this book the concept of "hand cut dovetails" are dovetails done with a jigsaw and a router. Way too many expensive jigs, routers, biscuits and pocket joints.
Since my next project is a chest of drawers for my son, I was really hoping to find inspiration in this book based on my other purchases of Taunton's books. Unfortunately I found none in this book. The ultimate test for me is to show my wife projects from books to see which one(s) she likes. She also found nothing in this book that we would want to build. Hopefully further book's released by Taunton can avoid these mistakes and make a book which most woodworkers can enjoy.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent instruction with adaptable plans
Comment: I'm new to amazon, but do a column of book reviews on Wood Central.com for woodworkers. My reviews are a little different, because I take time to really read the volumes I select to write about. Reading Bill Hylton is like having him in the room beside you while you are learning. He has a down home, friendly writing style that anticipates the beginner's deficiencies and guards against errors that might become costly. I bought this book instead of waiting for a review copy to come my way, because I know Hylton's work from his router and cabinetry books.
'Chests of Drawers' is one of a series of 'Projects from America's Best Craftsmen' by Taunton Press. It includes seven projects, which doesn't sound like much, but in those seven projects, Hylton succeeds in getting across the basics of a variety of chest constructions, including bowfronts, triple dressers, blanket chests, tall chests, a Queen Anne chest on cabriole legs, and sheet-goods casework. It would be easy to take any of the seven projects presented, and adapt their construction to a wide variety of chests of drawers.
The discussions of built-up moldings and how they are made is a lesson in woodworking in general. These ideas would be usable on other types of furniture pieces, as would the instruction in bent laminations, string inlay and shop-made pulls. Hylton is an authority with the router, and in this book he gives many hints and tips on using it to complete drawer construction, mortises, base moldings, and dovetails.
Not all the projects are centered around expensive solid hardwoods. One double dresser, which could be adapted to a single chest, uses veneered sheet goods with biscuits, pocket-hole joinery and commercial drawer runners to keep down the cost, but you wouldn't know it to look at it. Simple, clean lines in an understated style lend it a spare elegance akin to Shaker furniture.
At the opposite end of the scale is the Qeen Anne chest on stand, with dovetailed case sides, dovetailed drawers resting on web frame infrastructure, and molding attached with sliding dovetails cut to allow for wood movement. The stand is an ogee profile, spline-mitered frame with pinnned tenons attaching rails to the bandsawn legs. When I'm ready to attempt that project, I'll be glad Bill Hylton is within reach. His step by step guidance through the complicated procedures is easily understandable, and well illustrated with clear color photos.
Of the many, many books I am offered to review, this one is definitely a 'keeper.' It is clear enough in its procedures to encourage a beginning woodworker, and has enough advanced pieces in it to serve as a skill-building exercise for the more experienced woodworker. I give it five stars. Written for the serious woodworker wanting to improve his or her skills, this book deserves every one of them.
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Title: Tables: Outstanding Projects from America's Best Craftsmen (Taunton Furniture Projects Series) by Anthony Guidice ISBN: 1561583421 Publisher: Taunton Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Beds and Bedroom Furniture: The Best of Fine Woodworking (The Best of Fine Woodworking) ISBN: 1561581917 Publisher: Taunton Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 1997 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Desks: Outstanding Projects from America's Best Craftsmen (Taunton Furniture Projects Series) by Andy Charron ISBN: 1561583480 Publisher: Taunton Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Beds by Jeff Miller ISBN: 1561582549 Publisher: Taunton Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Dining Tables: Outstanding Projects from America's Best Craftsmen by Kim Carleton Graves, Masha Zager ISBN: 1561584916 Publisher: Taunton Press Pub. Date: 12 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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