Alan Bridgewater - Woodworking for the Garden: 16 Easy-to-Build Step-by-Step Projects

WOODWORKING

FOR THE GARDEN

Illustrations by Gill Bridgewater. All photos are by AG&G Books and Ian Parsons, except for the following, from (wood).

Woodworking for the Garden (ISBN 978-1-58011-830-9) is a revised edition of Woodwork for the Garden (ISBN 978-1-84773-166-1).

Copyright 2019 IMM Lifestyle Books

This book may not be reproduced, either in part or in its entirety, in any form, by any means, without written permission from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts for purposes of radio, television, or published review. All rights, including the right of translation, are reserved. Note: Be sure to familiarize yourself with manufacturers instructions for tools, equipment, and materials before beginning a project. Although all possible measures have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the material presented, neither the author nor the publisher is liable in case of misinterpretation of directions, misapplication, or typographical error.

Creative Homeowner is a registered trademark of New Design Originals Corporation.

Woodworking for the Garden

Vice President-Content: Christopher Reggio

Editor: Anthony Regolino

Designer: Christopher Morrison

Illustrator: Gill Bridgewater

Photography: AG&G Books and Ian Parsons

Indexer: Jay Kreider

Print ISBN 978-1-58011-830-9

eISBN 978-1-60765-659-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Bridgewater, Alan, author. | Bridgewater, Gill, author.

Title: Woodworking for the garden.

Description: Revised edition. | Mount Joy : Creative Homeowner, 2019. | By the husband-and-wife team of Alan and Gill Bridgewater. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018053743 (print) | LCCN 2018054273 (ebook) | ISBN 9781607656593 | ISBN 9781580118309 (softcover : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Woodwork. | Garden structures--Design and construction. | Garden ornaments and furniture--Design and construction. | Outdoor furniture. | Furniture making.

Classification: LCC TT197.5.O9 (ebook) | LCC TT197.5.O9 W76 2019 (print) | DDC 684.1/8--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018053743

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to .

Creative Homeowner, www.creativehomeowner.com, is an imprint of New Design Originals Corporation and distributed exclusively in North America by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., 800-457-9112, 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552, and in the United Kingdom by Grantham Book Service, Trent Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 7XQ.

One fine summers day, Gill and I were busy in the workshop enjoying our woodwork, but at the same time desperately wishing that we could be outside in the garden soaking up the sun. Then we realized that we could have the best of both worlds: We could actually be outside building really adventurous woodworking projects for the garden. We put down our tools and wandered around the garden, considering the possibilities. I immediately thought about constructing a picnic table I had been dreaming about, and Gill had a Victorian toolshed in her sights. Better still, garden woodwork would be able to make use of relatively low-cost, rough-sawn wood straight from the sawmill, and we would only require basic tools.

The ambition of this book is to share with you all the delights of working with wood to build beautiful creations for the garden. Each project follows the steps of gathering together tools and materials, considering the design, and building. We describe how the component parts are cut and fitted; colorwash illustrations show how the structures are built; and photographs demonstrate how best to achieve the step-by-step procedures. In fact, we take you through all the stages of designing, making, and finishing.

So, if you like the idea of spending time out in the garden doing woodwork, which will add to the interest and functionality of your garden, you will get a lot of enjoyment from this book. You may have ambitions to sit on your very own bench to have a coffee, to eat lunch on a picnic table, or to nestle under a romantic arch. You may long for an arbor where you can canoodle with your partner, or perhaps your children have always nagged you for a playhouse. Try one or two projects during the summer, then dream about all the garden woodwork that you are going to build next year!

Best of luck!

Many woodworking procedures are potentially dangerous, so before starting work on the projects, check through the following list:

Make sure that you are fit and strong enough for the task ahead. If you have doubts, ask your doctor for specific advice.

When you are building sheds, arbors, pergolas, and other large structures, you will need to ask others to help you assemble the components toward the end of the project.

When operating power tools, read the safety instructions supplied with the tool, and wear the appropriate protective gear. A dust mask and pair of goggles are usually adequate, and if the machine is noisy, wear ear defenders.

Never operate electric tools, such as a drill or saw, if you are overtired.

Use power saws extremely carefully. Keep your fingers well away from the blade, and use a stick or scrap wood for holding or pushing through short lengths of wood.

Whatever the size of your garden or its situation, a well-thought-out woodworking project will undoubtedly make it a more exciting and dynamic place. You dont have to have loads of experience as a woodworker in order to follow our projects successfully: If you have the correct tools, choose your wood with care, and spend time carefully designing and planning the whole exercise, you will be sure to get good results.