Choosing woodworking furniture plans can feel like a toss-up between a single trendy project and a whole style library. If you're leaning toward American Craftsman designs, the question becomes: is one classic book with 62 projects worth the money and the shelf space? This review looks at Gustav Stickley's Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture, a trade paperback reprint at USD 5.19, to help you decide.
Quick verdict
Gustav Stickley's Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture collects instructions and plans for 62 projects in a single trade paperback. This Dover reprint is part of the Dover Crafts: Woodworking series and is priced at USD 5.19. The condition is Good, meaning you may see light writing, highlighting, or library markings, yet all pages are intact and the book is readable. If you can tolerate some used-book wear, this is a compact way to add a large set of classic furniture plans to your shop library.
Who it suits
This book suits woodworkers who want a broad collection of American Craftsman furniture designs without searching for individual plans online. With 62 projects, it offers a wide assortment in one volume, all tied to the style associated with Gustav Stickley. It also suits readers who prefer a printed reference over a screen, especially a reprint of a classic craft series.
What stands out
The biggest draw is the project count: 62 plans for furniture pieces, paired with instructions. The book includes illustrations, so it's not text-only. As a trade paperback reprint from Dover, it belongs to a well-known woodworking craft series. The price is another standout: at USD 5.19, it's an inexpensive way to bring home a substantial plan collection. The condition assures intact pages and readability, so the content should be usable.
Meaningful trade-offs
The most significant trade-off is physical wear. A Good condition paperback may show marks from prior readers. If you're looking for a pristine shelf copy, that could be disappointing. If you primarily want the plans and instructions, the marks are a minor issue. Another trade-off is the reprint format - this is not an original antique edition but a modern trade paperback. That means a lighter, flexible book rather than a hardcover workshop manual, so it may not lay flat on a bench without assistance. The used nature of the copy also means you might receive one with prior markings, but the assurance of intact, readable pages balances that concern.
Bottom line
If you want an affordable, single-volume source for dozens of Gustav Stickley-inspired furniture plans, Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture at USD 5.19 is worth considering. It provides 62 projects, instructions, and illustrations, and the Good condition includes the reassurance that pages are intact and the book is readable. Go in knowing the physical copy may show light use, and the trade paperback format is best treated as a reference you keep near your work area rather than a hardcover heirloom.
Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture: Instructions and Plans for 62 Projects
This is the book to pick if you want a single, low-priced volume with 62 plans and instructions. The trade paperback is light and portable, but the Good condition means you may encounter light writing or library marks. At USD 5.19, it's an easy yes for a reference you don't mind getting dust on.
