How to Design and Build Your Ideal Woodshop (Popular Woodworking)

This book had some great pictures and ideas, but little else. It kept saying that the "ideal" workshop was different for everybody. That was about the only REAL information it conveyed. I would have liked to see some concrete advice, some do's and don't, maybe even some plans for a really great workbench with notes on how to modify it for your situation. As a jumping-off place for brainstorming ideas, it was fine. As a real reference book, it was just not informative.

A rehash of old info - neither interesting nor compelling. Many other books on building your woodshop are considerably better.

I can not recommend this book to any qualified woodworker. It contains little useful information. The author devotes a lot of space to safety and tools and even spends an entire chapter on workbenches, but the title promises info on designing and building a woodshop. Is this his version of bait and switch? Also, few woodworkers need to be told that a table saw needs space in front and behind for materail handling. And fewer still need to know that a good shop requires adaquate lighting and electrical. Most prospective buyers should get some other book. If you are an absolute novice, then there may be enough ideas here to justify the purchase price.

I appreciate the Bill Stankus' personal narrative regarding having a workshop. The book was both informative and a pleasure to read. I highly recommend this book.

I found this revised version an invaluable reference book while planning my workshop. Bill Stankus writes in a style that is informative and entertaining - an important characteristic of any reference book. The floorplans of various shops, illustrations and photographs of professional shops were both useful and acted as a good tool to begin planning my shop. Information on shop safety, consideration of budgets and vairous tools and skills only increased my appreciation of this book. I have read other books on this subject and found THIS book to be the best read, with valuable and TIME-SAVING (very important!) advice. I would recommend this to any woodworker interested in maximing their workshop potential!