Similar to a college course, this jargon-free guide presents everything the beginner needs to start building beautiful furniture. Step-by-step instructions teach novice crafters the fundamentals of choosing timber, using hand and power tools, creating precision joints, and shaping work with laminate and veneers. Ten practice projects put learned skills to the test--beginning with a simple oak stool and progressing to more challenging work, like a set of dining room chairs. Color photos leave nothing to the imagination and clear writing makes even the most complex techniques easy to understand.