Great Book of Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture: Authentic and Fully Detailed Plans for 61 Classic Pieces

by Robert W. Lang

This big book provides complete working shop drawings for 61 classic furniture pieces. The author, a master cabinetmaker, measured original Craftsman antiques to create these detailed plans. With full perspective views, elevations, sections, details, and cutting lists for each project, this revised collection gives today's woodworkers the heart of the Craftsman aesthetic, along with all the information needed for workshop success.

Genres: Woodwork

344 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2012

Reviews

[Mahafuz]

Five stars!

Great Book of Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture is an impressive resource for anyone who appreciates traditional woodworking and the beauty of Craftsman-style furniture. The detailed plans are the real highlight, providing a level of visual information that makes it much easier to understand how these classic pieces are designed and constructed.

I especially enjoyed the authenticity of the designs. The book feels like more than a collection of furniture projects; it is also a valuable look at the craftsmanship and design principles behind an enduring style. The detailed drawings give woodworkers plenty to study, whether they want to reproduce a classic piece or use the designs as inspiration for their own work.

The range of projects is another strength. Having plans for 61 different pieces provides a substantial amount of material to explore, and the variety makes this a reference I can imagine returning to repeatedly. The drawings encourage careful attention to proportion, joinery, dimensions, and construction details.

This book will appeal particularly to woodworkers who enjoy working from plans and want to deepen their understanding of traditional furniture construction. Even when I was simply studying the drawings, I found plenty of ideas worth taking into the workshop.

Overall, this is a beautifully detailed and useful woodworking reference. It combines historical character with practical shop information and offers an inspiring collection of classic furniture designs. A worthwhile addition to the library of anyone interested in Craftsman furniture and serious woodworking.

[James]

A decent collection of plans of traditional plans with some background and building advice, certainly better than my own sketchy efforts in this area. I especially like the Wright settles.



Too lazy to mortise!

[Christopher Hachet]

I have used this to build furniture, great basic drawings.

[Kevin]

I find the story and the creation of craftsman furniture very interesting and unique. The quality of the furniture built is so much better than today.