Finewood Working Website - Worth the cost?

[Lyndon Graham]

Tauton has a subscription for many things on their website. Is it worth the price?

Thanks

[David Keller NC]

Yes. For subscribers, it's $14.95 a year. I'm not sure what it is if you don't subscribe to FWW, so it's possible they want so much for non-subscribers that it wouldn't be worth it.

One of the reasons to get it, though, is not the recent content of the site or the magazine, it's for the older, out-of-print articles by masters of the trade and hobby. As an example, I needed to make a 6-board chest in miniature for a niece. I searched on those terms and presto - an instant article by Michael Dunbar on the subject. As a bonus, he provided details of how best to do it with hand tools.

[Mike Henderson]

I don't know if this has changed, but not all the old articles were available on the web site. I sent a note to FWW and got a response from the publisher that FWW did not have electronic rights to the old articles.

But I see they are selling a DVD of all the old issues (from 1 - 201) so maybe that's changed. While it's more money, you might consider the DVD. You only pay once, as opposed to $15 each year, and you can later sell the DVD.

Mike

[Justin Leiwig]

You could always try the free 14 day trial. That's what I did and just remember to cancel before your billed if your not happy with the service. I downloaded what I needed and cancelled the service.

[Rob Bodenschatz]

You could always try the free 14 day trial. That's what I did and just remember to cancel before your billed if your not happy with the service. I downloaded what I needed and cancelled the service.

So why weren't you happy with the service?

[Jerome Hanby]

I don't find enough that I can deal with to make the magazine subscription worth the money to me, but I do subscribe to the website, I find tons of stuff there.

[Justin Leiwig]

So why weren't you happy with the service?

Too expensive to keep. Especially since I wasn't a subscriber to their magazine. Plus it seemed more geared toward hand work, which I'm not fond of being that I'm lazy...and fat :D

[Douglas Brummett]

I think it is worth the price of admission. I am on the site a few times a week and have downloaded over 100 articles. I have paid more and gotten less on many occasions ;)

[Garth Keel]

Having the information is worth it to me (as a subscriber). I have used it often and usually about a subject I had not even thought I would need to know anything about.

[Danny Thompson]

I love my FWW website subscription! I do not subscribe to the mag. I think the annual fee is $30-35.

Why the site and not the mag. I get all the mag content online. Plus, I get almost every article ever published in the history of the mag. Most are downloadable in pdf format. and the content is fully searchable.

I travel a lot, so I love that I can access any available article anywhere in the world, even at the in-laws house when my mind is going numb.

I search for the articles I want, read them online. Then, I can print any of these articles and make notes as needed. If I spill coffee on the printout, if my toddler makes confetti of it, or I drop it in the toilet, all I have to do is print a fresh copy!

There is a bunch of web video content, as well.

I highly recommend it.

[Wilbur Pan]

Too expensive to keep. Especially since I wasn't a subscriber to their magazine. Plus it seemed more geared toward hand work, which I'm not fond of being that I'm lazy...and fat :D

That's interesting -- I bought membership to their website, and I get a little annoyed about all the table saw articles. I mean, how many times can you write about tapering jigs? ;)

[Matt Wilson]

Why the site and not the mag. I get all the mag content online.

I always wondered about that. When a new issue comes out, is every article immediately available on-line?

[Danny Thompson]

To the best of my knowledge, yes. There is a link on the home page that is a snapshot of the current mag cover. Click the link and see a table of contents with links to a page that either has the article or a summary with a link to a full pdf of the article. I guess I have never done a side-by-side comparison of a printed and online version, but, for example, the online TOC for the current issue (Jan/Feb 2009) follows (I think I caught them mid-update):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A CLASSIC STEP STOOL
by Tommy MacDonald
Improve your hand-tool skills as you build this versatile piece
30 Read this article online (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignPDF.aspx?id=31925)

ONLINE EXTRA
- Finish recipe
(http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=32036)
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/media/spacer.gifJOINERY SHOOTOUT
by Douglas Moore and Thomas McKenna
We push 18 popular frame joints to the breaking point
36 Read this article online (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuidePDF.aspx?id=31926)

ONLINE EXTRA
Video: Joinery Shootout (coming soon)

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/media/spacer.gifTUNE UP YOUR WORKBENCH
by Richard L. Humphreville
You can't do good work on a worn-out bench, so flatten the top, tighten the base, and adjust the vises
42 Read this article online (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuidePDF.aspx?id=31928)

DO MORE WITH YOUR DADO SET
by Steve Latta
Stay safe and get better results from this versatile saw accessory
48 Read this article online (coming soon)

HICKORY AND ASH BLANKET CHEST
by Peter Turner
Floating tenons and a consistent angle keep joinery manageable
54 Read this article online (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignPDF.aspx?id=31930)

ONLINE EXTRA
- Finish recipe
(http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=32035)
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/media/spacer.gifRE-CREATING A SHAKER FINISH
by Linda Coit
To match a 200-year-old finish, an expert uses common tools and techniques
62 Read this article online (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=31931)

TURN A PAD-FOOT LEG
by Jon Siegel
A graceful leg that's easy to make entirely on the lathe
68 Read this article online (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=31972)

TRUE GREENE & GREENE
by Gary Rogowski
Learn how the elements work together, and then use them in your furniture
72 Read this article online (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignPDF.aspx?id=32030)

ONLINE EXTRAS
Video: Tour The Gamble House with a Greene and Greene expert
(http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/projectsanddesign/projectsanddesignarticle.aspx?id=27096)Asa Christiana visits The Gamble House and The Huntington Library
(http://blogs.taunton.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?nav=main&webtag=fw-editorsblog&entry=245)http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/media/spacer.gif

DepartmentsPage
CONTRIBUTORS
8 View all contributors (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Community/WoodworkerProfiles.aspx)

LETTERS
10 View all letters (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Community/Letters.aspx)

METHODS OF WORK
14 Lighted storage cart for tools and lumber (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/workshop/workshoparticle.aspx?id=32043)
- Rip sandpaper to size with precision (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/workshop/workshoparticle.aspx?id=32044)
- Sawhorse folds up when you lift it (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/workshop/workshoparticle.aspx?id=32046)
- Quick tip: Use clear stretch wrap for quick wrapping and clamping (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/workshop/workshoparticle.aspx?id=32045)
- Adjustable jig makes big and small fingers (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/workshop/workshoparticle.aspx?id=32047)
- Quick tip: Use pumice to remove rust (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/workshop/workshoparticle.aspx?id=32048)

TOOLS & MATERIALS
20 - New 12-in. jointer/planers: Grizzly G0633 (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=32058) and Laguna MJP 0540-0175 (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=32059)
- Sturdy benchtop clamps have rapid action (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=32053)
- Rabbet plane cuts beautifully (coming soon)
- Digital protractor is accurate and easy to read (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=32057)
- Use your dust collector to clean the shop (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=32061)
- Bessey's new K Body parallel clamp (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=32062)
FUNDAMENTALS
24 7 habits of highly effective woodworkers (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=31924)
READERS GALLERY
78 Visit The Gallery, and share photos of your work (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Gallery/GalleryHome.aspx)

Q & A
82 - Plywood edging that matches perfectly (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=32049)
- Marking knife cuts wrong board (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=32050)
- Silence a whistling tablesaw blade (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/Materials/MaterialsArticle.aspx?id=32051)
- How do burn-in and wax sticks differ? (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/Materials/MaterialsArticle.aspx?id=32052)
MASTER CLASS
88 Boulle marquetry: two panels for the price of one (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=32031)
ONLINE EXTRA
Video Boulle Marquetry Basics (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/skillsandtechniques/skillsandtechniquesarticle.aspx?id=32076)

</SPAN>http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/media/spacer.gifFINISH LINE
94 Finishing oily woods (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=32032)
ADVERTISER INDEX
100 Online index to our advertisers (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/fw_adindex.asp)

HOW THEY DID IT
102 Shaped to perfection (coming soon)

BACK COVER
Vessels from the veranda

ONLINE EXTRA
Slideshow: Pro Portfolio: Subtropical Virtuoso (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignArticle.aspx?id=32038)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looks pretty complete to me.

[Bob Easton]

Doesn't work for me. I tried the 14 day trial and canceled.

It really depends on what kind of woodworking you do. If you're interested in furniture and cabinetry, and do most of your work with power tools, it's probably worthwhile. If you really really really enjoy power tools, then go for it.

My woodworking is boat building, and I do it almost exclusively with hand tools. I exhausted the supply of useful (teaching me something I haven't already seen) hand tool articles in only a couple of hours of the trial period.

[Andy Hsieh]

I think it is worth it - I had the online for one year and downloaded several hundred good articles - i still have not read through it all but the amount of information is vast.

I cancelled because of all the magazines and online information i found, Woodworking magazine and woodsmith best fit my current woodworking interests.

Give it a whirl for 14 days - but make sure you have plenty of time to search - and search more than just what you are currently interested in as you might find some good info that you never thought you needed.

andy

[Lyndon Graham]

I am on my 14 day trial membership. I like the site. But whoever organized it should be shot. Finding things can be a challenge.

[Ron Dunn]

One thing to watch is that their site subscription auto-renews, and I'm still trying to find a way to stop it.

Having access to the magazine content is good, but I found that my reading peaked in the first 2-3 months, and now I'm only visiting 2-3 times a month.

Their forum is bizarre in its software and membership. Really makes you appreciate the approach to moderation on this site.