How to Build Anything

PLUS: Cut-out templates and tool guides for making your next wood project quick, easy, and fun

A Closer Look Inside:

Chapter 1: Start Building with 3 Tools
Of all the power tools you might be tempted to buy, only three are really necessary for building simple wood projects. Find out which tools to buy, and how to use the controls and adjustments that are often ignored.

Chapter 2: Start Building with 3 Boards
I'll uncover which boards are best suited for small projects, how to sort the good from the bad, and the best way to get boards off the shelf and home safely.

Chapter 3: Start Building in 3 Easy Steps
I've narrowed down the tricky process of building wood projects into three, bite-sized chunks of construction know-how: Measure & Mark, Clamp & Cut, and Assembly.

Chapter 4: How to Build a Box
Discover how the inner structure of nearly all wood projects is based on just three basic forms-a solid wood box, a carcass, and a frame.

Chapter 5: Drilling & Driving Fasteners
Stop fighting woodscrews In this section I'll explore the most common problems people have driving screws-and my favorite solutions.

Chapter 6: How to Finish Pine
Getting a nice finish on pine can be a challenge, but with the right preparation, pine can take on a beautiful, high-quality finish that will last for generations.

Chapter 7: How to Build a Circular Saw Cutting Guide
Most builders agree that the best way to cut plywood is with a circular saw. You can buy a commercial cutting guide for several hundred dollars-or build your own for less than 20 bucks.

Chapter 8: EZ Pilot Hole Guides
If a pilot hole is not in the right place, you can easily ruin a project by splitting the fragile edges of the boards you're trying to join. My EZ Pilot Hole Guides are the perfect solution.

Chapter 9: EZ-Match Shop Charts
No more guessing about which size drill bit and fastener to use My EZ-Match shop charts show you how to match bits and fasteners (shown actual size) to several sizes of boards. Includes charts for nails, woodscrews, and pocket holes.