I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of a
website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to help
me draw up my own plans?

"Brian" wrote in message
. ..
I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of
a
website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to help
me draw up my own plans?



There's tons of plans on the web Brian. Do a google search and you'll find
enough to keep you busy for a long time.

--

-Mike-

No. No is such a harsh word isn't it. You might try plansnow.com if
your new to woodworking. The plans take time to explain techniques. A
real plus. Wood magazine has a great blanket chest, but only great
because I think its great looking.

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 23:39:46 GMT, "Brian" wrote:

I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of a
website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to help
me draw up my own plans?


Since you are new, there are several resources of which you should become
aware.

First, if you go to
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.woodworking, you can search for topics
of interest.

Secondly, if you use www.google.com and search for "free blanket
chest plans", you will get a hit of approximately 4.7 million candidate
sites (yes, google is pretty much becoming useless due to this overload and
the number of those hits that are irrelevant). If you look through those,
you might find some good candidates for what you have in mind.



+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Brian wrote:
I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hopingto
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone knowof a
website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to help
me draw up my own plans?



Lee Valley

Canadian Woodworking...

Any of the magazines...

Sometimes the issue is finding the hardware to go with the project. I
suggest you look at several magazines and track down wood and hardware
-- sometimes they dictate what you can make easily and quickly...

Try my links page for a start.

http://woodwork.pmccl.com/Business/linksbusiness.htm

Look for the posts by JOAT -- he always has a wealth of links... Look
for the poster "JT" -- if you have a newsreader you can sort by name and
look at his posts -- seem he just posted a blanket chest.


And of course there is google...
http://www.google.ca/search?client=f...=Google+Search


Welcome to the wreck...

--
Will R.
Jewel Boxes and Wood Art
http://woodwork.pmccl.com
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those
who have not got it.” George Bernard Shaw

"Brian" wrote in message
. ..
I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of
a website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to
help me draw up my own plans?

Brian,

All the free plans and where they're located are kept by one person here,
known as JT. Send him a nice long email explaining to him exactly what
you're looking for - the more detailed the better. That way he can zero in
on exactly what you want. He will search for hours and hours looking for
free plans and will not rest until he fulfills your request. He's just that
kinda guy - especially this time of the year he likes to help everyone he
can and he does it for free.

Now if at first he doesn't answer your email - just be patient and send him
a reminder and he'll soon send you a courteous reply telling you the status
of his search - or not. Again, you may have to ping him several times since
he gets so busy this time of the year but he loves getting email and he
really is the best person I know of for finding free plans. That is
evidenced by doing a DAGS on his signature " JT " and you'll see all the
stuff he posts here. Some of it is absolutely astounding (really) some is
mundane, run of the mill type plans but most of what he finds does make for
some interesting and excellent reading.

Just mention in your emails that some of the fella's from the wRECk wish him
a very Merry Christmas (ya old fart....;-)

Bob S.

(flame retardant britches on...now where's the damn suspenders?)

Brian wrote:
I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of a
website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to help
me draw up my own plans?



The public library is another excellent source.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

(Remove -SPAM- to send email)

"Brian" wrote in message
. ..
I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of
a website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to
help me draw up my own plans?


Nothing against free or cheap plans, but is that what you really want? You
invest $5000 for tools, you will spend $500 for materials, but yet you will
compromise the design because you are too cheap to spend an extra few bucks
for plans of the item you really want. How much is that $15 going to be
when you look at what you made for the next 20 years?

Try a few places, such as http://www.americanfurnituredsgn.com/
www.newyankee.com

thanks all for the advise...I will look into contacting JT and the other
sites that were recommended. As for the people that write silly stuff
here...go away.
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

"Brian" wrote in message
. ..
I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of
a website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to
help me draw up my own plans?


Nothing against free or cheap plans, but is that what you really want?
You invest $5000 for tools, you will spend $500 for materials, but yet you
will compromise the design because you are too cheap to spend an extra few
bucks for plans of the item you really want. How much is that $15 going
to be when you look at what you made for the next 20 years?

Try a few places, such as http://www.americanfurnituredsgn.com/
www.newyankee.com

Brian wrote:

I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am
hoping to get started after the spring thaw and there are a few
projects I have in mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a
dresser. Does anyone know of a website to get free or down right
cheap plans? Or is there a place to help me draw up my own plans?


Dresser is is a pretty big chunk of project for someone "just getting
into the woodworking fun". Better save that one until you have a few
under your belt. You haven't even gotten started and you're already
looking for help. There is something to be learned from that.

My first woodshop classes back in jr high did not have us building
dressers... or even blanket chests to start. I think my first project
was an oval hot plate made up of 3 pieces of poplar and some cork.
Actually, I think that hotplate was EVERYONE'S first project.

Personally, I like drawing my own plans from pictures of pieces I
like. I'd suggest finding a couple pictures in catalogs or online of
simple blanket chests that you like and make an attempt to draw up
your own plans based on them. You'll learn a bunch and it's very
liberating. One or two BASIC woodworking books from a bookstore or the
library would also prove quite useful.

As for plans, a few pieces of paper, a calculator, a mechanical pencil
or two and an architect's scale will serve you well for now. Walk
before you run and all that... plus something about a cart and a
horse.

And why wait until the spring thaw? Hook up a heater and start now!
Nothing more satisfying than stepping out of your woodshop into the
snowy silence of winter.

-Joe Barta

On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 02:05:46 GMT, "Bob S" wrote:

All the free plans and where they're located are kept by one person here,
known as JT.

LOL. Priceless!!

"Brian" wrote in message
. ..

thanks all for the advise...I will look into contacting JT and the other
sites that were recommended. As for the people that write silly stuff
here...go away.

Go away??? Hell, if all the people who write silly stuff here went away, it
would be one very quiet newsgroup.

--

-Mike-

I've used www.wwhardware.com for several items. BIG selection of
hardware.

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 20:41:42 -0500, WillR wrote:


Sometimes the issue is finding the hardware to go with the project. I
suggest you look at several magazines and track down wood and hardware
-- sometimes they dictate what you can make easily and quickly...

Tue, Dec 13, 2005, 2:05am (EST+5) (Bob*S) doth reveal:
All the free plans and where they're located are kept by one person
here, known as JT. snip

And, they're all for sale.

As I am portraying Santa this year, I wanted to be sure you got
your card early.
http://www.savhammar.net/bilder/santa%20bad.jpg



JOAT
A rolling stone gathers no moss...unless it's a hobby he does on the
weekends.

On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 12:08:12 -0500, J T wrote:

All the free plans and where they're located are kept by one person
here, known as JT. snip

J T, do you have any rocking horse plans suitable for a small kid?
I tried googling last night but found lots of noise and no signal...

"Bob S" wrote in message
...

"Brian" wrote in message
. ..
I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of
a website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to
help me draw up my own plans?

Brian,

All the free plans and where they're located are kept by one person here,
known as JT. Send him a nice long email explaining to him exactly what
you're looking for - the more detailed the better. That way he can zero in
on exactly what you want. He will search for hours and hours looking for
free plans and will not rest until he fulfills your request. ...

You will also receive 5 times as many plans described as "found this while
looking for something else".

Brian wrote:
I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hoping to
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone know of a
website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to help
me draw up my own plans?

www.plansnow.com

Free plans are far and few between, regardless of what people say here.
They will tell you to google "free plans", and you get a bunch of
links that are pay-for plans.

The plansnow.com plans are good, clear, and pretty cheap. Most are $5
or $6, up to $10 for the more complicated ones.

Tue, Dec 13, 2005, 11:48am (EST-3) (Larry*Bud)
did burble:
Free plans are far and few between, regardless of what people say here.
snip

You don't google much, do you?



JOAT
A rolling stone gathers no moss...unless it's a hobby he does on the
weekends.

Tue, Dec 13, 2005, 5:21pm (EST+5) (Dave*Hinz)
doth plead:
J T, do you have any rocking horse plans suitable for a small kid? I
tried googling last night but found lots of noise and no signal...

Gee Dave, no I don't. I don' need no steenkin' plans, so I don't
save 'em. I'll have to google, but don't know what luck I'll have,
because, supposedly, there's only a few free plans on google. But, you
might try this link. http://www.freewoodpuzzles.com/toybox.html



JOAT
A rolling stone gathers no moss...unless it's a hobby he does on the
weekends.

Well thanks all for the help. Some were good and others not. I guess I will
venture out there and see if the plans I can get are good or just wing it on
my own.


"J T" wrote in message
...
Tue, Dec 13, 2005, 11:48am (EST-3) (Larry Bud)
did burble:
Free plans are far and few between, regardless of what people say here.
snip

You don't google much, do you?



JOAT
A rolling stone gathers no moss...unless it's a hobby he does on the
weekends.

"Free" is relative. If you don't know what you are doing, $5 or $10 or
$15 is cheap for a well thought-out plan that is relatively
descriptive. If you want a relatively detailed dresser plan, buy the
measured drawing and video from the New Yankee Workshop; there you 'll
get some elementary technique and a well thought out plan. My $.02.

Mutt

"Brian" wrote in
:

I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am
hoping to get started after the spring thaw and there are a few
projects I have in mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a
dresser. Does anyone know of a website to get free or down right cheap
plans? Or is there a place to help me draw up my own plans?

You're probably better asking here for advice on a specific item
when you're ready to build it. There are some really crappy
plans out there, that will frustrate you more than help.

But if you ask here, say something like "I need a good plan
for a blanket chest that's pretty simple for a beginner", then
you'll get some good pointers (plus JOAT will either tell you
to Google it, or tell you you don't need plans - he's pretty
predictable).

Apropos of blanket chests, Mike Dunbar did an excellent article
on building one in Fine Woodworking, back around 1999. If your
library has back issues, it'd be worth looking for.

John

Brian wrote:
I am new here and am just getting into the woodworking fun. I am hopingto
get started after the spring thaw and there are a few projects I have in
mind. One is a blanket chest and another is a dresser. Does anyone knowof a
website to get free or down right cheap plans? Or is there a place to help
me draw up my own plans?




From Joat...
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/fe...ea.asp?id=1051

Nice. Don't recall that I've seen this one before. I'm thinking
the Shakers probably wouldn't have use wood like this, but nice either
way.



JOAT
The grass on the other side of the fence is seldom greener. It just
gets more media attention.


--
Will R.
Jewel Boxes and Wood Art
http://woodwork.pmccl.com
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those
who have not got it.” George Bernard Shaw

Joe Barta wrote:

And why wait until the spring thaw? Hook up a heater and start now!
Nothing more satisfying than stepping out of your woodshop into the
snowy silence of winter.

-Joe Barta


Especially if it is -20C -- like here... brrrrr

--
Will R.
Jewel Boxes and Wood Art
http://woodwork.pmccl.com
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those
who have not got it.” George Bernard Shaw

see.....I told ya all the old fart still had a sense of humor....;-)

Merry Christmas to you too JOAT,

Bob S.


"J T" wrote in message
...
Tue, Dec 13, 2005, 2:05am (EST+5) (Bob S) doth reveal:
All the free plans and where they're located are kept by one person
here, known as JT. snip

And, they're all for sale.

As I am portraying Santa this year, I wanted to be sure you got
your card early.
http://www.savhammar.net/bilder/santa%20bad.jpg



JOAT
A rolling stone gathers no moss...unless it's a hobby he does on the
weekends.

Well thanks all...I think the best plan is to get a set of plans for the
style I want to build and try to make it better with my own design. I really
appreciate the help.
"WillR" wrote in message
...
Joe Barta wrote:

And why wait until the spring thaw? Hook up a heater and start now!
Nothing more satisfying than stepping out of your woodshop into the snowy
silence of winter.

-Joe Barta


Especially if it is -20C -- like here... brrrrr

--
Will R.
Jewel Boxes and Wood Art
http://woodwork.pmccl.com
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those
who have not got it.” George Bernard Shaw