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EnglishHow to Find Woodworking Project Plans and Tutorials on Popular Woodworking
Updated
Popular Woodworking organizes its free project plans and technique tutorials into two main navigation menus: Projects (Furniture, Jigs and Fixtures, Shop Projects, SketchUp Models, Shop Storage, Workbenches) and Techniques (Basics, Finishing, Joinery, Marking and Measuring, Safety, Wood Encyclopedia, Woodturning, Woodworking Glossary, Workshop Tips). Start with the category that matches your task, then use the site's videos and e-learning courses when you want guided instruction. The site also offers a paid magazine subscription and a store, but the plan and technique sections are the fastest route to project content.
Where project plans live
The Projects menu is the entry point for build-ready material. Its categories map to common shop needs:
| Category | Use it when you need |
|---|---|
| Furniture Projects | Tables, casework, and other household pieces |
| Jigs and Fixtures | Shop aids for repeatable cuts and assembly |
| Shop Projects | Storage, organization, and shop infrastructure |
| SketchUp Models | A 3D reference before cutting stock |
| Shop Storage | Cabinets, racks, and bins |
| Workbenches | Bench builds and bench accessories |
There is also a Free Woodworking Downloads From Lee Valley link in the same menu, which is worth checking before buying plans elsewhere.
Where technique tutorials live
The Techniques menu covers the skills that make a plan buildable:
- Basics — foundational methods for newer woodworkers
- Finishing — surface prep and topcoats
- Joinery — how parts connect
- Marking and Measuring — layout accuracy
- Safety — machine and shop practice
- Wood Encyclopedia and Woodworking Glossary — species and terminology reference
- Woodturning and Workshop Tips — specialty and shop-floor advice
A useful pattern: read the technique article for the joint or finish your plan requires before you start cutting. For example, if a project calls for a glued-up panel, review the gluing and clamping guidance first so the assembly step doesn't stall the build.
Video and course options
The Videos section and Popular Woodworking e-Learning / PopWood+ Videos provide walkthroughs when text and photos aren't enough. Listed course topics include Guide to Gluing & Clamping Wood, Mastering Built-In Furniture, Simple Live-Edge Slab Table, CNC – Designed for Woodworkers, Milling Your Own Lumber, Advanced Bandsaw Techniques, and I Can Do That! – Simple Woodworking Projects. Use these when you want a sequenced demonstration rather than a single article.
Practical search path
- Pick your goal — a piece of furniture, a shop upgrade, or a skill.
- Open Projects for a build, or Techniques for the skill behind it.
- Check Free Woodworking Downloads and SketchUp Models for supporting files.
- If you're stuck on a step, move to Videos or the matching e-learning course.
- For ongoing content, the Newsletter, Shop Blog, and ShopNotes Podcast are listed under the blog and online extras sections.
One caution: the site promotes a subscription ("Save up to 64% and get a free gift") and a store alongside the free sections. Treat the plan and technique menus as the free browsing path, and check any individual download or course page for access terms before relying on it.