Any “truly” free plans sites out there?
pjmcgarvey
| Posted in Project Plans/CAD Software on
Are there any good, free, woodworking plans sites out there? Googling gives alot of hits, but very few seem to be easy to navigate, are actually free, or have any interesting projects.
I’ve started a subscription to Woodsmith that I think will be rewarding, but looking for some other sites to browse to get ideas.
Thanks!
PJ
Replies
Check http://www.shopsmithhandson/archives They have a wide range of free plans.
excellent link, very good so far.
Thanks, PJ
"http://www.thenewwoodworker.com" has all sorts of plans and tips. My experience has told me the "freebies", most of em, r vague at best. I bought a set of a dozen "jig" plans from this site for a nominal amount and very pleased. Very detailed. Good Luck
Can't find the link. I would be interested.
Qara
No "the": http://www.newwoodworker.comBut the plans don't seem to be free.
Edited 2/4/2006 3:35 pm by AlanWS
I foud the link. Thank you!
Qara
Well, this may seem a bit "grouchy", so I appologize in advance if so, and assure y'all it's not intended to be, and is not addressed directly to this poster but to "Plan Requests" in general . . .
I'm am amazed by how many people are looking for plans to make, say, a cutting board, a breadbox, a bookshelf, a cue rack, you name it. If you want to build something like a harpsichord, or an exact reproduction of an antique, and you don't have access to the original, by all means get a plan. Otherwise, IMHO, you're way better off finding an example of a (name your project here), measure it if possible, look it over to see how it's joined, and go at it. Or just look at pictures of several examples of similar pieces and pick the things you like about each and design your own version of a "whatever". You will end up learning far more than you will by using a plan. You can (and probably should) make modifications to suit your own needs & you'll end up with a piece that is your own -- one of a kind! When I build furniture, I never draw a set of traditional plans. I use a straight 1X4 to mark out key dimensions (a story board) and take all my cuts off that board. (Frank Klaus' video on dovetailing drawers has a good example of this.) Consider the piece, figure out on your own how best to join it either from your own experience or by looking at examples. Over-reliance on plans is like doing paint by numbers. You may end up with a pretty nice picture, but it's exactly the same as thousands of other kits of the same scene, and you haven't learned one thing about how to be a "painter". (Except maybe how to clean your brushes. <G>)
If you are looking for ideas, look around in museums, antique shops and librarys. I used to teach in the cabinet shop of a museum. (Think Williamsburg on a LOW budget!) We had teenagers making really nice reproductions of antique furniture found in the museum with hand tools. Narry a plan in sight. Just a ruler and a notebook with some scribbled measurements, and maybe a sketch of a molding profile. You can build a "whatever" without plans and, if you don't give it a try, you are missing what I find to be one of the most rewarding aspects of woodworking -- creating your own works of art.
Rant mode off.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
(Yay "Stillers" -- Super Bowl 40 Champs!)
I'm using the plans for ideas and joinery techniques (I'm a beginner), but you're right, it *might* be the same as someone else who uses the plan, but then again, I can change hardware, stain, dimensions, joinery - all the while using the plans as a guide which is really what they are. Nobody said the plans have to followed word for word.
PJ
We all start somewhere - unfinished furniture, kits, plans, whatever.
Do what you need and find what you like and then make it your own. Combine plans, change dimensions, joinery, wood, hardware, finish, whatever.
I would only suggest that before changing dimensions you might want to read a book or two on design and look up the "golden ratio" - that can help you when changing dimensions to keep it still looking pleasing to the eye. Check out your local library for books on woodworking and design - if you find one you really llike, go find a copy to buy. Maybe look into the woodworkers book club when you want some.
Wood Magazine site has a free monthly plan and the Woodworkers Journal Ezine gives a free plan or 2 with each email issue.1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
I think "other people’s plans" have a place, but I have never used them (at least directly). Even as a rank beginner (which I still am), I find that design is the most challenging and rewarding part of woodworking. This doesn't mean you don't 'copy' other designs or construction; you just draw it up to your dimensions and tastes. <!----><!----><!---->
I hold no ill opinion of those that use published plans. I have just found that for me, design is an integral part of the experience. Will I use a published plan in the future? I don't know, but I would not be ashamed if I did. Do read everything I can get my hands on about construction and design methods? You bet. Have I 'reverse engineered' things (like Mike suggests)? Yes, while incorporating my own style into the object to make it reflect me.
In large part, I agree with you, and tend to do the very things you describe: look at other examples, take measurements if possible, look at pics, etc. I've never used an actual "plan" other than what I might have drawn up myself.
That being said, there are times when a plan might come in handy. For example, if you were building a structural piece (a loft bed, for instance) you might want to see exactly how others have done it in order to make it safe, stable, and solid.
Go Stillers!
I am just starting woodworking myself. Have spent a couple days looking at several sites, if nothing else, for ideas. Trying to work my way into "my groove". So far, I have found the following sites to be of help:
woodworkersworkshop.com has tons of free plans
freeww.com
absolutelyfreeplans.com has a lot of good ideas
sawdustmaking.com
freewoodplans.net
skwoodworks.com if you get into scroll saw works
Hope these links help you.
http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/ezine/freeplans.cfm
http://www.freeww.com/
http://www.benchnotes.com/
http://www.furnitureplans.com/
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=WW/WoodSplash.html&rn=none
http://www.rd.com/americanwoodworker/archive.do?siteId=2222&categoryId=7004
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/furniture/1302966.html
http://www.u-bild.com/affiliates/sawdustmaking-number.htm
http://absolutelyfreeplans.com/WORKSHOP%20PROJECTS/workshop_projects.htm
A number of magazine sites will email you plans bi weekly as well.
You can also sign up at Delta to access their free plans
http://www.deltamachinery.com/index.asp?e=119
I got this list from a post on another site - i have only checked out a few of them. Have fun!
http://absolutelyfreeplans.com/
http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/
http://www.am-wood.com/archive/archive.html
http://www.bconnex.net/~zirgo/lnk2zrgo.html
http://www.buildeazy.com/
http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~flip/plans.html
http://www.diydata.com/projects/plans/tool_plans.htm
http://www.freewoodworkingplan.com
http://www.freeww.com/workbenches.html
http://www.handymanwire.com/index.html
http://www.how-to-plans.com
http://www.knottyplans.com
http://www.magnetmart.com.au/how/you_can.htm
http://www.minwax.com/build/
http://plansnow.com/index.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/furniture
http://www.precision-images.com/
http://www.rona.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentSer...?assetId=5&langId=-1
http://www.ronhazelton.com/
http://www.sawhorseworkshop.com/howimadeit.html
http://www.scrollsaw.com/default.htm
http://www.southernpine.com/diyplans.shtml
http://plans.the3house.com/
http://www.u-bild.com/
http://www.woodcraftplans.com/
http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm
http://www.wood-worker.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scree...de=Woodworking_Plans
http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/dcd/Woodworking/Index_of_Links/Plans_Free/
Thanks,
TTF
Edited 2/18/2006 11:35 pm ET by TTF
cool!! thank you. newguy2
You are welcome.
... And don't listen to people who whine about you using plans - they likely still need their mamas. Use whatever method that makes you successful and allows to enjoy the craft.
Thanks, TTF
if you join the Wood Magazine site you can get one free plan (a PDF of one of their mag articles) a month.
Try the3house.com
i TRY IT AND IT WAS A PRON SIGHT GET YOUR INFO RIGHT MAN.
I went to http://www.the3house.com and there was no pron at all. Tons of plans, though.My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
I have never discouraged people from using plans. In fact, I've used a few myself and, as I've gotten more skilled at woodworking, I tend to modify them when I do use them; so I mostly use them as a starting point (even if I have to pay for them), depending on what I want to make and whether I just can't come up with a good starting place for the design.
I think plans are useful for beginners because they don't know a lot about joinery, design, and basically what works and what doesn't work as well. I think plans are also useful for experienced woodworkers, especially for people like me who aren't great at design. I see something I like and modify it to suit my needs and likes/dislikes.
No one should ever be afraid to use whatever resources are available to design and build what you're interested in. When I started woodworking in the 1970's it was mostly books and some videos. Now there is so much more available. Use it to help you learn and then build to learn about how you work best and to improve your actual hands-on skills.
I don't know if anyone mentioned this site, but w----.com has a couple of hundred plans available for free download.
I'm editing the site out of your comment SpartanSmoke since all of those plans are stolen. Mostly from us!
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