Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good reference book
Comment: This book has a lot of maintenance type projects in addition to basic carpentry. Some projects seem more advanced to me.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Basic Carpentry
Comment: This book is exactly what is claims to be - Basic Carpentry.Mostly geared for the novice, it will clearly explain many basic improvement and repair tasks around the house and workshop. It does NOT go into more advanced techniques, just gives you the basics.
It's a must have, and an excellent starting place FOR THE UNINITIATED. Covering what tools to start with as well as what tools you will one day want to have - what they're used for and better still what to look for when you buy them (what do you look for in a router? They suggest no less than 1 hp...) Don't waste money on features you don't need - they give you an idea of what's important and what's not.
Other books in the series work well together with little duplicate info - giving the basic homeowner/apartment dweller the basic knowledge to improve their surroundings.
If you already have a firm grasp on this subject - stay away, a more advanced book will be more usefull!
Definatly makes a great gift for a first time homeowner (and we all know one of those)!
Customer Rating:
Summary: An essential book for every enthusiastic homeowner
Comment: I discovered this book when I visited the Better Homes and Garden's website; they have select items from the Step-By-Step Basic Carpentry that I found very useful. As a matter of fact, I found them better than my orange 1-2-3 home improvement "bible" that I also own. It contains detailed procedures for every task, including caveats, hints and gotchas. It is well illustrated and well written. I recommended to all my friends and everyone found it to be useful and easy to follow. Happy home improvement.
