I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of a website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to help me draw up my own plans?
There's tons of plans on the web Brian. Do a google search and you'll find enough to keep you busy for a long time.
No. No is such a harsh word isn't it. You might try plansnow.com if your new to woodworking. The plans take time to explain techniques. A real plus. Wood magazine has a great blanket chest, but only great because I think its great looking.
Since you are new, there are several resources of which you should become aware.
First, if you go to , you can search for topics of interest.
Secondly, if you use
Lee Valley
Canadian Woodworking...
Any of the magazines...
Sometimes the issue is finding the hardware to go with the project. I=20 suggest you look at several magazines and track down wood and hardware=20
-- sometimes they dictate what you can make easily and quickly...
Try my links page for a start.
look at his posts -- seem he just posted a blanket chest.
And of course there is google...
--=20 Will R. Jewel Boxes and Wood Art
Brian,
All the free plans and where they're located are kept by one person here, known as JT. Send him a nice long email explaining to him exactly what you're looking for - the more detailed the better. That way he can zero in on exactly what you want. He will search for hours and hours looking for free plans and will not rest until he fulfills your request. He's just that kinda guy - especially this time of the year he likes to help everyone he can and he does it for free.
Now if at first he doesn't answer your email - just be patient and send him a reminder and he'll soon send you a courteous reply telling you the status of his search - or not. Again, you may have to ping him several times since he gets so busy this time of the year but he loves getting email and he really is the best person I know of for finding free plans. That is evidenced by doing a DAGS on his signature " JT " and you'll see all the stuff he posts here. Some of it is absolutely astounding (really) some is mundane, run of the mill type plans but most of what he finds does make for some interesting and excellent reading.
Just mention in your emails that some of the fella's from the wRECk wish him a very Merry Christmas (ya old fart....;-)
Bob S.
(flame retardant britches on...now where's the damn suspenders?)
The public library is another excellent source.
Nothing against free or cheap plans, but is that what you really want? You invest $5000 for tools, you will spend $500 for materials, but yet you will compromise the design because you are too cheap to spend an extra few bucks for plans of the item you really want. How much is that $15 going to be when you look at what you made for the next 20 years?
Try a few places, such as
Dresser is is a pretty big chunk of project for someone "just getting into the woodworking fun". Better save that one until you have a few under your belt. You haven't even gotten started and you're already looking for help. There is something to be learned from that.
My first woodshop classes back in jr high did not have us building dressers... or even blanket chests to start. I think my first project was an oval hot plate made up of 3 pieces of poplar and some cork. Actually, I think that hotplate was EVERYONE'S first project.
Personally, I like drawing my own plans from pictures of pieces I like. I'd suggest finding a couple pictures in catalogs or online of simple blanket chests that you like and make an attempt to draw up your own plans based on them. You'll learn a bunch and it's very liberating. One or two BASIC woodworking books from a bookstore or the library would also prove quite useful.
As for plans, a few pieces of paper, a calculator, a mechanical pencil or two and an architect's scale will serve you well for now. Walk before you run and all that... plus something about a cart and a horse.
And why wait until the spring thaw? Hook up a heater and start now! Nothing more satisfying than stepping out of your woodshop into the snowy silence of winter.
-Joe Barta
LOL. Priceless!!
Go away??? Hell, if all the people who write silly stuff here went away, it would be one very quiet newsgroup.
Tue, Dec 13, 2005, 4:43am (EST+5) snipped-for-privacy@snet.net (Edwin=A0Pawlowski) doth wondereth: Nothing against free or cheap plans, but is that what you really want?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's always fun to find free plans. But, I prefer to figure out how I want to make something on my own, it's more fun that way. I do often get ideas from the free plans, even t ho I seldom use ready-made plans anymore.
But, even I buy the occassional plan - when I'm just totally in the dark about how whatever is done. However, it is rather amazing, how many time I've ran across a free plan, that is exactly the same plan that someone is out there trying to sell for $5, $10, or more. That means it's always worth while to doublecheck for a free version, when you find a pay plan you like.
JOAT A rolling stone gathers no moss...unless it's a hobby he does on the weekends.
Tue, Dec 13, 2005, 5:05am (EST+5) snipped-for-privacy@woh.rr.com (Brian) doth pontificate: thanks all for the advise...I will look into contacting JT and the other sites that were recommended. As for the people that write silly stuff here...go away.
Oh? So you'll look into contacting me? My advise? That's silly...go away.
JOAT A rolling stone gathers no moss...unless it's a hobby he does on the weekends.
Tue, Dec 13, 2005, 2:05am (EST+5) snipped-for-privacy@spam.com (Bob=A0S) doth reveal: All the free plans and where they're located are kept by one person here, known as JT.
And, they're all for sale.
As I am portraying Santa this year, I wanted to be sure you got your card early.
J T, do you have any rocking horse plans suitable for a small kid? I tried googling last night but found lots of noise and no signal...
You will also receive 5 times as many plans described as "found this while looking for something else".
Free plans are far and few between, regardless of what people say here. They will tell you to google "free plans", and you get a bunch of links that are pay-for plans.
The plansnow.com plans are good, clear, and pretty cheap. Most are $5 or $6, up to $10 for the more complicated ones.
Tue, Dec 13, 2005, 11:48am (EST-3) snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (Larry=A0Bud) did burble: Free plans are far and few between, regardless of what people say here.
You don't google much, do you?
JOAT A rolling stone gathers no moss...unless it's a hobby he does on the weekends.
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