Thread: Best book for boxmaking

The Illustrated Guide to Box Making by Doug Stowe, publ by Taunton Press.

After borrowing this countless times from the library I have ordered a copy while Taunton were having a 30% off sale, don't whether that still applies. Paid about $US27 incl postage, but am still waiting for it, bugger!

Amazon also sell it and I have seen it here in bookshops at about double the price.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

The Illustrated Guide to Box Making by Doug Stowe, publ by Taunton Press.

After borrowing this countless times from the library I have ordered a copy while Taunton were having a 30% off sale, don't whether that still applies. Paid about $US27 incl postage, but am still waiting for it, bugger!

Amazon also sell it and I have seen it here in bookshops at about double the price.

yep, for a good start on boxmaking, that would be the one. His "Simply Beautiful boxes" has a few good illustrated techniques in it as well.

I guess I own just about all the boxmaking books that there are (to this century) Doug's are pretty good. David Feedmans' Box Making Basics is OK.

Beware though....This is what got me into spending huge amounts of flour, I mean dough, I mean cash..........

you get the idea....

ICN,

Bill

Hi MeerKat,
There are some very good box making books around. I picked up one for Xmas which is an absolute cracker.
It is Box By Box by Jim Stack published by Popular Woodworking Books 2006, ISBN 1558707743
This book shows the finished boxes, plans, and a step by step series of pix in the how-to section of each.
Got it at the local Book Wharehouse.
you can probably get a preview from
www.popularwoodworking.com
Good luck
SG

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

Hi MeerKat,
There are some very good box making books around. I picked up one for Xmas which is an absolute cracker.
It is Box By Box by Jim Stack published by Popular Woodworking Books 2006, ISBN 1558707743
This book shows the finished boxes, plans, and a step by step series of pix in the how-to section of each.
Got it at the local Book Wharehouse.
you can probably get a preview from
www.popularwoodworking.com
Good luck
SG

Nice one! Thanks for that. (You're costing me money though!)
How much were Book Warehouse selling it for?

Fred

For a nice overview of box making I would get both the Complete Illustrated Guide to Box Making by Doug Stowe and also Box Making Basics by Peter Freedman. Both of those will give a very nice guide to design and building. If you can get just one get the Stowe book first. Any of Stowe's books are good but the Complete guide has photos of many of the boxes in his other two books. Box by Box is a decent book, I got that a couple months ago. Doug Stowe is coming out with a video in the spring as well. I pick up about any book I can get on box making... Peter Crawford has some interesting boxes and things to say in his book.Tony Lygate(sp?) book is one I still want to pick up.

Corey

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Nice one! Thanks for that. (You're costing me money though!)
How much were Book Warehouse selling it for?

Fred

Hi Fred,
Can't remember exactly, but around $25-$30 I think
Is marked US $24.99 on the back cover.
Book Warehouse usually discount their sales, and have a reasonable woodwork section.
Incidentally, the book has 21 box projects of ascending complexity. The how-to guides are very comprehensive.
Happy Shopping
SG

I got a nice little book out of the library the other day. Called "The Book Of Boxes" by Andrew Crawford, published by Sally Milner Publishing. It is by no means the complete reference for box making, but it has a number of projects that start fairly simple and move towards quite complex boxes. It is well laid out and easy to follow - a good starting point I think. Seems to be available from Dymocks online site (may be cheaper elsewhere!) for $47.95.

I recommend the Doug Stowe book. However, I sat down to read it the other day and could not believe the info that i had already picked up on this Forum. The frustrating thing was putting a name to all of the examples in the book. One i did remember was the brass rods that act as a hinge on boxes and I think i read about that in one of derekcohen's boxmaking posts. (The box that holds the knives i think).

my recommendation- the D. Stowe book and this Forum for further expert advice and motivation/inspiration.

Carry Pine

When this question was asked before, this was my reply.

Originally Posted by DPB

... there are many good books on box making, and many great sites on the Net showing some incredible boxes. Here's my recommendation for books.

1. THE ART OF MAKING SMALL WOOD BOXES - Tony Lydgate, Sterling/Chappelle
2. MAKING BOXES FROM WOOD - John Bennett, Guild of Master Craftsmen Publication Ltd.
3. COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO BOX MAKING - Doug Stowe, Taunton Press

And here are just a few web sites that will inspire you.

• www.fine-boxes.com
• www.boxesbyboudreau.com
• www.andybuchanan.com
• www.biesanz.com

Don, some great links I haven't seen before, thanks for posting them!

Corey