Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Box Making
by Doug Stowe
Quote from Book: "MOST WOODWORKERS DON'T START out with ideal workshop situations..."
Topics Include: barbed hinges, flipping story, bandsawn box, quadrant hinges, integral feet, safety blocking, crosscut sled, inlay strips, barrel hinges, router table, stationary belt sander, bridle joint, splined miter, miter gauge, lock miter, tenoning jig, rabbet joint, sanding disk, assembled box, cut dovetails, cove cut, drum sander, hinge mortises, scrap stock, marking gauge
Book Description
Taunton's Complete Illustrated guide to Box Making presents both small
and large projects. This book covers how to create boxes in different
shapes, Japanese puzzle boxes, and band-sawn boxes. 500 color photos are
featured in this clear and comprehensive woodworking guide.
Amazon Customer Reviews:
A Well Written and Complete Guide
When Taunton bills this book as "The Complete Guide..." they are not kidding. As a huge fan of the Taunton Press and of this series, I was prepared for all of the great detail that this book offers. I especially appreciated the organization of the book. All of the major components of a box, the joinery, the lid, the base and feet, hinges & hardware, and the interior all get detailed treatment within their own chapters.
My only complaint is that as a moderately skilled woodworker, I wasn't prepared for the over-simplistic first two chapters. Maybe I am being too critical, but to me it doesn't seem likely that most who are interested in box building would need information like "Tools for box building" and "Box making materials." In other words, if a person doesn't already have a shop and a basic collection of tools, they should not be starting with this book and thus why include this woodworking beginner information?
That is a minor irritation though. Overall this book is an excellent resource on the subject and it is deserved of Taunton's reputation for excellence. Highly recommended to all woodworkers interested in box building.
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The Maker's Art
Box making is a microcosm of woodworking. Machining the wood, shaping, turning, joinery and every form of embellishment are involved, and the small size allows the use of precious woods that are beyond the means of most weekend furniture makers. As well as opening the craftsperson to an incredible diversity of design possibilities. Box making is a form of artistic expression that can bring out the best of the woodworker, and hone all the skills that create excellence in the macro world as well.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I have a yen to make boxes - small, prizewinning works of art that might be the comfort of my old age. But first, I have to learn how. How to jump the gap between a satisfactory maple kitchen table and these little containers with their high 'wow' factor. Hence my acquisition of Doug Stowe's tidy monograph on Box Making.
This is one of Taunton's 'Complete Illustrate Guides to...' As series of beautifully made books that are often a pleasure just to hold and look through. Once again Taunton sets a very high standard. As always, the discussion starts out with a discussion of tools and jigs, then materials, joinery, lids, bases, interiors, hardware, and decoration. A final section introduces shaped boxes.
While Stowe only occasionally takes you through the details of making a particular box, he delves deep into the hows and whys, in the tradition of this entire series. The result is that the reader comes to grasp box making conceptually rather than simply learning to mimic. I find this combination of practical advice and idea building the best way to get excited about a project. Even as I write I'm thinking about a small pile of rosewood that is sitting in my shop, beckoning.
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Well worth the price!!!!
I have been making box's for a few years now, but am always looking for
new ideas and techniques. Doug Stowe's book, although published in the
early 90's, is one of those gems that come along now and then. It is laid
out in a logical and informative manner, with a lot of pictures and side
notes. It is full of technique, design, and tool choices. On most projects
he gives several alternatives for accomplishing the desired effect.
If you can pick up just one new idea from this book it is well worth the
price, and I managed to glean a half dozen.
I would reccommend this book to everyone interested in improving their
box making endeavors. Really enjoyed this one.