After 35 Years as a Professional Carpenter, Here’s Why Most DIY Woodworking Plans Drive Me Crazy

For over three decades, I’ve made my living with a hammer, a saw, and a square in my hands. When you spend 35 years framing houses, building custom cabinetry, and working in a shop, you learn one simple truth: A build is only as good as the plan you start with.

Lately, I’ve noticed a frustrating trend online. A lot of guys pick up woodworking as a hobby—or want to build something solid for their home—only to get burned by bad plans.

They buy a magazine or download a "free" PDF, head to the hardware store, spend hundreds on lumber, and realize halfway through that:

• The dimensions don't actually add up.
• Crucial assembly steps were completely skipped.
• The cut list leaves out half the materials you actually need.

It pisses me off because it wastes your hard-earned money and ruins what should be a satisfying weekend project.

When guys ask me how to get past the endless frustration of bad blueprints, I usually tell them they have two choices: learn how to draft professional architectural blueprints from scratch, or get access to an archive of pre-tested plans created by actual woodworkers.

A while back, I came across Ted’s Woodworking—a collection of over 16,000 done-for-you woodworking plans created by Ted McGrath, a veteran craftsman and educator.

To be completely honest, as a pro carpenter, I was skeptical at first. Any time someone claims to have "16,000 plans," you expect a lot of filler. So I dug into the vault myself to see if it held up to professional standards.

Here’s what separated Ted's package from the generic plans floating around the web:

• Step-by-Step Instructions: They don't skip steps assuming you "already know" what to do. Every cut and joint is laid out logically.
• Exact Cut & Materials Lists: You know precisely what to buy at the lumber yard before you spend a dime—no wasted wood, no extra trips back.
• 3D Exploded Diagrams: Clear visual assembly guides so you can see exactly how pieces fit together before applying glue.
• Skill Level Flexibility: Covers everything from simple sawhorses and birdhouses to full outdoor sheds and custom furniture.

"You don't need a $10,000 commercial shop or 30 years of experience to build beautiful, rock-solid furniture. You just need a blueprint that doesn't lie to you."

If you want to stop guessing, stop wasting lumber, and finally start building projects you're proud to show off to your family and friends, take a look at Ted’s official presentation below.