Popular Woodworking Editors' Blog

Sharing knowledge and inspiration is an integral part of woodworking. On most forums, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge on tools, techniques and projects. 

And, if you’re looking for inspiration, to me there’s no better source than viewing pieces by other woodworkers (Rob Millard's Shelf Clock, featured in "Federal Furniture" in our August 2008 issue (on newsstands July 1, is an excellent case in point). We all enjoy seeing other’s completed projects, how the maker has tweaked a design to best fit his or her needs, and the great craftsmanship that’s out there in the woodworking world.

So, we're going to share at least one project from you, our readers, each month on the blog. You send in your submissions, and we'll select an entry for online publication. Any design is welcomed, from period reproductions to studio furniture designs, from country to Arts & Crafts, to Greene & Greene – and anything in between. The woodworker whose project is selected receives either a 12-month subscription to Popular Woodworking magazine or an extension on a current subscription – so, please include your contact information.

If you have a project you would like to submit, send me (glen.huey@fwpubs.com) one or two photos (no more than 3 megabytes in size, please) of your completed project along with a brief description (250 words or fewer) including woods used, design ideas and techniques you’ve used while building the piece. If you keep track of the time spent building your project, include that as well.

But we want to do more than just show you pictures. One of my favorite woodworking books is Albert Sack’s “Fine Points Of Furniture: Early American” (Crown Publisher’s Inc.). It's often referred to as the “Good, Better, Best” book, because inside, Sack describes why one piece of a same or similar design is better than others. Or, why a certain piece is considered a “Masterpiece.” This information helped shape my woodworking knowledge and ultimately improved my eye for design.

We plan to borrow Sack’s model. We’ll add a short critique about the project, listing the positives and a few negatives (if they exist). Then, as you read the critique, you’ll gain insight as to how we editors view furniture. As readers, you can agree or disagree with our findings by posting comments about the projects. Our hope is to build informative discussions about what makes furniture work or not work. We’re aiming to start this in June – so submit your work right away.

– Glen D. Huey