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Great resource
This magazine has something for woodworkers at every level, from raw beginner to professional. The mix of articles includes side by side product comparisons, how-to pieces at different levels, tool sharpening hints, finishing materials and techniques, and photo galleries of magnificent work.
Great for starting out, but now i'm bored
After 6 years I'm finally letting my subscription end. Its a great magazine for starting out, but after a while the articles begin seeming to be very alike. New ideas are now a rarity in Fine Woodworking, and that was the original reason that I subscribed.There are very few technique articles and too many tool reviews. And I've become skeptical of those review articles--primarily because many, but not all, are not rigorous scientific tests and are subject to the author's preferences, yet those articles are not presented that way.Furthermore, I believe that the magazine in general has dropped considerably in quality and definitely in content over the past few years. I'd have given it 5 stars in the begining, but now its just average.

Only subscription that lasted
I jumped into woodworking four years ago and have had 5 woodworking magazine subscriptions over the four years. I started with Fine Woodworking and now it's all that's left. Nothing else compares.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Handicrafts. Arts & Crafts    3. Hobbies    4. Hobbies & Games    5. Hobbies and Special Inter    6. Professional & Technical   

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Its definitely a must read
I have to admit I enjoy reading about woodworking almost as much as doing it - just remember I did say "almost"!
Popular Wood Reading
It's very easy to write off Popular Woodworking without even reading it.One tends to assume that it is going to be the Readers Digest of woodworking.One imagines countless overly simplified articles on how to build bookcases or select the right shop vacuum.Actually, this couldn't be further from the truth.
One of the Best
This magazine surprises me.It looks like just another mass media pulp magazine, but it's really solid on the inside.These guys actually go to the shop and do woodworking.They are enthusiastic, thorough, honest, and funny.The articles seem to aim toward the moderately experienced amateur, but there's plenty of stuff for beginners.And the price can't be beat.This and Fine Woodworking are my favorites - put them together and you have everything you need. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Handicrafts. Arts & Crafts    3. Hobbies and Special Inter    4. Professional & Technical   

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Make that 3 and a half stars
As a library administrator I get to see and read an awful lot of woodworking books and magazines. American Woodworker was one of the first two woodworking magazines I read as a beginner (Wood was the other).Its now 11 years later and I still subscribe to Wood but only read American Woodworker at the library or while browsing at Borders.I admit that this magazine has had some great projects in it, but just not as many per issue as Wood or Popular Woodworking.I also regularly read Fine Woodworking, Workbench, and Woodworkers Journal and I have to say that against all of those others I have mentioned, American Woodworker comes in last.
There are better ones
If you want a great all-purpose woodworking magazine go with Fine Woodworking or Popular Woodworking.If you want all sorts of project plans get Wood.
Great for ideas
I looked over most of the wood working magazines and this one seemed to have the most hands on information.If you get just one wood working magazine this is the one to get.Read more

Subjects:  1. Hobbies and Special Inter   

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OK, but not the best
A year ago I decided to tear out my old workshop and start all over with a new layout, new equipment and new storage. To get lots of ideas I subscribed to Fine Woodworking, Fine Homebuilding, Popular Woodworking, Wood, and Workbench. The one I'll be dropping is Workbench. I have found Workbench to be too light on content. My ranking is:
Making your Home Look Better
Workbench is a magazine aimed at do-it-yourself type people who like to work on their own home improvements and save money in the process. This publication presents dozens of woodworking ideas for home improvement and a few for hobby, with plenty of instructions and diagrams to make sure you get it right.
Making Things Better
There is no lack of woodworking magazines for the budding (or advanced) craftsman.Each has a particular audience for its contents.For someone looking for the right magazines to subscribe to this can be a confusing process. Especially when the potential reader isn't precisely sure what they want themselves. Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Hobbies & Games    3. Hobbies and Special Inter    4. Recreation. Leisure   

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A good all around choice
As a library administrator I get to see and read an awful lot of woodworking books and magazines.I have been a personal subscriber to Woodworker's Journal for a year now, and an off and on reader of the magazine for about 5 years.In that time I have grown to appreciate this as a very good woodworking magazine.Is it my favorite?No, but I still like it well enough to recommend it to others.I also regularly read Fine Woodworking, Workbench, Wood, Popular Woodworking, etc. and like all of those, this magazine has its strengths.I find that WJ is very into power tools, tool reviews (theirs are among my favorites), and shop projects.Having said all of that, I also must confess that the best piece of furniture I ever built came from a plan in WJ magazine (an arts & crafts style wine storage table), so don't pigeon-hole it too much.
Just the Right Approach
There are two good ways to tell what audience at which a woodworking magazine is aimed.The first is the type of advertising, and the second is how much skill do the projects expect you to have.It is pretty clear right away that Woodworker's journal server home woodworkers who are already of moderate skill.The advertised 'big toys' run in the 500 to 1500 dollar range, although there are a couple of high end combination machines in the adds as well.
A balanced approach to woodworking - tools, techniques, proj
Woodworkers Journal has attracted some of my favorite woodworking experts from the other magazines. Michael Dresdner, Ellis Wallentine, Shondor Nagaslaski are all great tool and woodworking experts and give me the information that I need to advance my skills and keep working in the shop interesting. I can hardly wait for the next issue to arrive. It will have shop tips, jigs, finishing tips and projects. No other magazine has this well rounded approach to woodworking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Handicrafts. Arts & Crafts    2. Hobbies    3. Hobbies & Games    4. Hobbies and Special Inter   

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Subjects:  1. Arts & Crafts    2. Handicrafts. Arts & Crafts    3. Hobbies & Games    4. Hobbies and Special Inter    5. Woodworking    6. Crafts (Craft)   

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Subjects:  1. Arts & Crafts    2. Handicrafts. Arts & Crafts    3. Hobbies & Games   

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An Amateur Boatbuilder's Humble Opinion
I love this magazine!!Written by boatbuilders, and filtered through their experiences, it was a better bargain thanI had anticipated. The articles are excellent for learning, and for just plain fun reading.
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Subjects:  1. Boating    2. Naval Architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine Engineering    3. Sports & Outdoors    4. Sports and Outdoors    5. Sports, Outdoors and Boat