Woodworking in a Weekend: 20 Simple Projects for the Home

Griffiths, a designer, woodworker, and antiques restorer from England, may give the reader far too much woodworking credit when he suggests these projects can be completed in a weekend with a “minimum of tools” one probably already has on hand. There are more than a few households with an electric sander, cordless drill, jigsaw, hand drill or Surform plane (all included in the list of implements required for most of these projects. An emphasis is placed on reusing tossed-aside wood abandoned at construction sites, beat-up pieces from flea markets, and even old ladders (including the ladder plant stand suitable for beginners). Precise cuts are required in most cases— the barn-style dog house, the axe-handle table, the Bordeaux beehive (made from repurposed wine cases—though the bed-slat chair or the screen door privacy overlay may be easy enough for novices. Mercifully, using scrap wood, the financial damage from ill-fated attempts is minimized. More advanced hobbyists may find this just the spark for future projects or for taking skills to the next level; others might be headed off to Ikea. (Nov.)