Woodworking For Dummies

Introduction 1

Part 1: What's All the Buzz about Woodworking? 5

Chapter 1: Discovering the Basics of Woodworking 7

Chapter 2: Wood You Be Mine? Appreciating Wood for All It's Worth 11

Chapter 3: Putting Safety First in Your Workshop 35

Part 2: Tool Time: Selecting and Setting Up Your Equipment 45

Chapter 4: Gearing Up: Choosing Tools That Are Right for You 47

Chapter 5: Getting a Handle on Hand Tools 55

Chapter 6: Peeking at Portable Power Tools 81

Chapter 7: Introducing the Big Guns: Stationary Power Tools 99

Chapter 8: Setting Up Your Workshop and Maximizing Your Tools 117

Part 3: Together Forever: Basic Wood Joinery 137

Chapter 9: Stuck on You: Using Adhesives and Glues 139

Chapter 10: Working with Wood Joints Using Power Tools 147

Chapter 11: Cutting Common Wood Joints with Hand Tools 181

Chapter 12: Making the Most of Mechanical Fasteners 195

Part 4: Getting Your Hands (and Shop) Dirty: Turning Raw Wood into Furniture 203

Chapter 13: Understanding the Building Process 205

Chapter 14: Banging Out Bookcases 219

Chapter 15: Tackling Tables 245

Chapter 16: Creating Cabinets 277

Part 5: The Grand Finale: Sanding and Finishing Your Masterpiece 313

Chapter 17: Smoothin' It Out by Filling and Sanding 315

Chapter 18: Adding Color: Stains and Paints 323

Chapter 19: Protecting Your Work with Topcoats 331

Part 6: The Part of Tens 341

Chapter 20: Ten Great Habits to Get Into 343

Chapter 21: Ten Common Woodworking Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them 347

Index 353