Woodworking is one of the oldest and best-respected trades a person can learn. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the harder ones. Learning how to measure, treat, and cut wood the right way takes a lot of talent and experience that most of us in other lines of work simply don’t have, and don’t have the time to develop. That’s not to say woodworking can’t be fun, and that’s certainly not to say it can’t be manageable. There are lots of schematics, plans, and tutorials out there. One such set of plans is Ted’s Woodworking, a kit that claims to contain some of the best diagrams on the market, and some of the best in terms of selection, as well. Let’s take a look to see what it’s like.
Where Did Ted’s Woodworking Come From?
It seems kind of fishy at first. Why would someone sit down and produce over 16,000 diagrams and blueprints, even if they’re dedicated to their art? Well, the answer is probably one you can relate to, if you’re interested in products like Ted’s Woodworking kit. Since most diagrams and schematics you’ll find on the Internet or in woodworking magazines aren’t useful guides for your carpentry, Ted sat down and redid all the schematics for common projects, filled in holes in plans that were almost complete, and clarified every diagram that needed clarifying. This way, he developed a powerful set of plans in which just about everyone can find his or her project.
What People Say
“Of all the woodwork kits I have bought over the years, this is the best collection I have. It includes tons of blueprints (over 16,000!) for different furniture designs and outdoor woodwork projects. Although I don’t plan on making any of these, it gives a great insight into how to build different things.”
Melvin Jones
AWFS Association
Lake Ariel, PA
“I’ve been looking for something like this for the longest time. There are 16,000 blueprints and projects in this kit. In it, they tell you about wood, how to design projects, the detailed photographs, patterns, blueprints, materials list and step by step instructions on how to put build them.”
Kevin Roane
San Mateo, CA
Ted’s Woodworking sounds like a grand idea, but is it working? Customers all agree that the kit actually is a wonderful set, and that the schematics are all among the highest quality they’ve ever seen. Some users were even editors of woodworking magazines, so their high praise is not to be taken lightly.
Many reviews came from hobbyists, who spend most of their time creating projects that will never be sold or put to use in any significant practical sense, but nevertheless build for the sake of building. Most such people said that Ted’s Woodworking was a brilliant addition to their libraries, making available thousands of new projects with stunningly clear directions after just a single purchase.
On the other hand, people involved in more commercial building have seen most of the projects in Ted’s Woodworking. Most people who worked in this arena still bought a copy, however, as the plans they’d seen weren’t always as well-written and diagrammed. Ted’s are geared towards those with a non-technical education, making it an altogether better book for those seeking to learn to build.
The only problems people note with Ted’s Woodworking are the facts that it’s a little bit old-fashioned (there’s no visual interface you use to explore the set of schematics and diagrams – you just have to find the right folder on the disk) and its price. Overall, people agree that Ted’s Woodworking is a great deal with only these minor issues.
Things to Keep In Mind
Ted’s Woodworking is a CD kit. This means you won’t receive an anthology of books, but rather, a set of disks. This way, you can bring it with you more easily, and even print the blueprints, not something you can easily do with paper sets that are distributed more traditionally. Another thing to keep in mind with Ted’s Woodworking is the fact that it’s a little bit of a hassle to keep on-hand all the time, since you probably won’t want to have your computer in your work room. Again, you can print material, so this isn’t so much a problem, but it is something to think about.
How to Buy
Ted’s Woodworking kit is currently being offered at a special launch price of $67. That’s absolutely a steal for something that includes, as freebies, extras valued at well over $150. This launch price won’t last for very long, though – as Ted receives more testimonials from satisfied customers, he will raise the price accordingly, so try to get it as soon as you possibly can.
Every once in awhile, there will be promo codes or coupon codes available for Ted’s Woodworking. These are very hard to top, and are typically valued at around 10%. If you happen to receive one in your email or find one online, use it – but do not waste time trying to find one.
Verdict
Ultimately, Ted’s Woodworking seems to be a completely legitimate, well put-together kit that will undoubtedly deliver on its promise to make you a better woodworker by providing you with the highest quality schematics and diagrams available. If you’re interested in woodworking as a hobby, line of work, or even as just a curiosity, you have nothing to lose investing in Ted’s Woodworking, but a whole lot to gain.
