Errors in FWW Huntboard plan for sale
THIS MESSAGE ALSO POSTED IN THE MAGAZINE FEEDBACK SECTION
I’m hoping to hear from FWW or readers regarding corrections to errors in the plans I purchased from FWW for the Huntboard by Garrett Hack. I’ve had some difficulty getting info by calling. Durring one request I was sent a copy of the magazine article which I already have. Most of the problems seem to be in the drawings and less so in Mr Hack’s article. Another call confirmed there were some known error in the drawing but in addition to the ones I had found. There seems to be no easy way of getting access to know issues or correction with these plans
for which we have paid. It would be nice if there was a link to corrections on the site or if purchasers of the plan might get an email of new corrections as they are found.
I know the plans are not drawn by Mr. Hack and he probably doesn’t have time or get compensated for dealing with questions that arise from the articles and plans over the years following an aritcle, but I think FWW editors have some responsibility for selling a flawed product without offering a fix.
I won’t list all the errors right now unless I find that somebody responds to this message except to ask if anybody has build this project and had problems with the article and plans in regard to the drawers.
1. Show by the plans and the article there would seem to be an 1/8 in gap between the bottom of the drawer and the bottom of the case due to the 1/8″ offset of the bottom rail and the case bottom. No runner is shown here on the article or plan. I’m planning of adding an 1/8″ strip of wood along the bottom so the drawer doesn’t tip back.
2. The drawer are show with side that are 3/16″ lower than the drawer front. This would seem to allow the drawer to drop forward quite a bit as is is pulled out and put wear on the from drawer rail just under the drawer sides. Should there be some additional kicker below the 1/2″ runner? I’ve not seen a drawer constructed with such a large gap, though that may be how it is designed.
3. Other errors seem to be one dimension given in the article and different one in the plan, a digit left out of a two digit dimension and omitted dimensions, mortises and tenons laid out to the wrong dimensions or placement.
Feedback from the editors or other readers would be appreciated. I sew that at least one previous subscriber has posted his problems and frustrations with a different plan. I have found more minor error in another FWW plan but no worth commenting now.
Replies
I'm not really sure if you are asking a question.
These are the first plans that I have ever purchased, and will be VERY
disappointed with FWW if they knew there were errors in the plans
and did not inform the customers about any mistakes.
Now that I have cut all of my material according to the cut list, I think that the project will be placed on hold until i here that others have completed the Huntboard without problems.
I'm still in the process of building the huntboard and came across another error today. I've not gotten any help yet from FWW. An editor said they would look into it. That was Aug 29. I've made modifications I though were appropriate so far. I watched Garret Hacks video clip on the Huntboard on FWW recently. When he removed the drawer there was a runner under the bottom drawer which is not in the plans or the Article, also the drawer seems to have plenty of play so the gap between the drawer sides and the kicker may be intended.
The rest of the errors seem to be in the plans and not the article. The error I found today, at least if the drawers are supposed to stop at the back of the cabinet makes all the drawer sides too short. I had to cut my sides longer than on the cut list. I could try to recall and list the other errors if you like.
It would really be nice if there was a place on the Fww site where they would list the plan errors and corrections. I've wanted to purchase other plans also, but not sure if it is worth it now.
Cheers,
Mike
Well, I am glad I refused to spend what is, in my opinion, a ridiculous price for the huntboard plan. I've been working on a version of the huntboard since it was published in the magazine last spring. I've puzzled over several of the same issues you have questioned just from the FWW article itself. I am going to incorporate a 1/8" runner under the bottom drawer and I am not going to cut the drawer sides and back down the prescribed amount. While I am sure that Mr. Hack's construction far surpasses my attempts, there are some things I just don't agree with. My version is maple with padauk and ebony inlays and trim. I did not use pine for the interior and bottom because I have had poor success with pine as a secondary wood and just don't do it any more. I'm also leaving a few more unglued pieces where mortises will allow for expansion and contraction in our New England climate. Mr. Hack's design is great and the article in the magazine is generally well done but even though I rank myself as a intermediate amateur in woodworking skills, I figured I can make changes and find ways to do something without supporting the $25 price of the plan and especially if it contains errors. Sorry Taunton but I won't pay first class prices for third class quality.
Since I started this particular thread, I just wanted to add a few comments. I'm still hoping FWW will answer the questions that we have about probable errors in the plans.I want to make sure nobody thinks my complaint is against Mr. Hack. I wish we had more articles by him and the quality and beauty of the pieces he builds. There are far too few articles like his Huntboard article. It is authors like Garret Hack, Lonnie Bird, Christian Becksvoort, etc that make the magazine truly FINE Woodworking. Otherwise we are left with Adairondack (sp?) chair plans, and endless router and tablesaw reviews.Also, I am not complaining about the price of the plans if they are accurate or if FWW is willing to correct them when they are not. The authors like Hack are taking a business risk I imagine when they release their plans to a publisher like FWW. I presume they get much less than we would guess for their articles and plans. Similarly the draftsman deserves to be paid for his/her work. I would even be willing to pay a little more if I knew the plans were detailed and accurate.Anyway the Huntboard is coming along. I've finished the case, dovetailed the drawer front and sides, and am cutting the door parts for joinery now. I have a 5/4 20" wide cherry slab that waits to be turned into the top. The Maple and ebony banding on the taper legs is one of my favorite details of the piece. I think I'll use that decoration again some time.Thank you Mr. Hack, and FWW please address the issue with selling plans without a means of delivering corrections.Michael Baker
I read where the prototype for the article sold at auction for about $12,000.
I thought this was interesting.
You are absolutely correct that the authors are not the problem you are addressing. In fact, I had asked some questions in Knots when the article published and the forum monitor passed it on to Mr. Hack who replied within a short period of time. While I still think that FWW is the best of the woodworking magazines, they are somewhat arrogant about other issues. For example, the CD they published a few years ago at a price of about $125 provided a nice option for access to older articles. However, the indexing system for the CD is poorly done and, for the price, should have been better designed originally or updated and provided to purchasers of the original CD. I have no problem paying top dollar for high quality goods and services but to purchase something of less than excellent quality for a dear price doesn't make me come back for more from the same company. I am very cautious about purchasing anything from Taunton these days after being taken advantage of on the CD.
Here is an indirectly related update.
I've not had any further feedback from FWW yet about the errors in the plans for the huntboard. However, yesterday I did receive a post card from FWW with correction for the Tool Chest plans I had also purchased early this year. I had alread found errors in the plans since I had finished this piece.
I'm hoping they will eventually address the errors in this plan, even though I'll be finished with the huntboard soon. I'm holding off on buying more plans until I see that they are going to continue to correct the mistakes.
Perhaps interested customers might send a message to FWW to encourage them to send out corrections on this plan and to make a place on the web site for corrections and updates. Seems more efficient than sending out a post cards every time a new error is found. At least it may be a start.
Mike
FWW has always posted "corrections" on the Letters page at the front of the magazine. Maybe they are unaware, or the information of reported errors hasn't made its way up the food chain.
Me, I'll just sit on this project for now, but i doubt I will ever purchase another plan.On second thought, I'll just improvise and fit the parts together my own way.
Hello folks,
I just want to chime in about FWW plans and how we handle corrections. As soon as we know about an error, we contact those who purchased the plans directly. We point out the error, give the correct information, and sometimes send out revised, corrected plans if the errors are major. Corrections often are discovered by folks who purchase the plans, and we try to reconcile any problems as soon as we are aware of them. So please, if you see a problem or what you think might be an error, let us know, and we'll make it right.
Tom McKennaAssociate Editor
Thank you for responding to this issue Tom.
I have always designed and built my projects without using any detailed plans, and this was my first attempt at a build using them. I have been asked to make a couple of custom pieces of furniture and wanted to see how well I could follow someone else's plans exactly.
Not being acquainted with purchased plans, and just assuming that they would be 100 percent correct. I have now learn t that lesson. (If indeed
there are errors in the plans).
Now my question, Are there any changes, or revisions to the Hunt board
drawings that we should know of?MSG
The plans recently were updated and corrected. I am not sure of the particulars, but you should be receiving an email update soon about the corrections.
Tom
I began the post in August 2007 to try to get help in correcting errors in the plan. I've yet to receive any update to the plan or detailed list of correction via mail or on these forum posts. I've not purchased any further plans for that reason. I hope we will see some attempt before next year to correct the problems. I've finished the project so it won't help me but others should have access to information pointing out the mistakes and list the corrections. I suggest the editor make an area on the web site to view the corrections.
Thanks,
Mike
I purchased the Huntboard plans from Taunton in early October, '07. My plans have no date, other than copyright 2006. Having read all the posts about errors in the plans, I'm glad I haven't started work yet. Do I have a corrected version of the original plans, or should I expect emails from Taunton describing any design revisions that I should be aware of?
Robert Jensen, Dec. 14th, 2007
I for one have appreciated your posts. I did not buy this set of plans, but will be holding off buying any more plans until your problem is resolved. Good luck and let us know how it goes!Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Well. it's 2008, and NO updated plans.
Anyone receive them?
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