Regardless of skill level, beginners and professionals sometimes find it challenging to develop new project ideas. There are many great resources to fuel your creativity, but without the right one, you could end up with flimsy projects and ones that don’t give the best advice.
But fear not, because our team listed the best woodworking magazines designed to provide project inspiration along with great woodworking tips that can make readers get back on track.
Reviews of the Top Woodworking Magazines
1. WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA)
Suppose you find instructional printed materials a bit overwhelming to read and follow. In that case, a digital membership subscription with advanced videos, project plans, and instructions like WWGOA is the best option we highly recommend for you.
With their affordable membership rate, woodworkers get exclusive access to all premium videos involving tool reviews, tips, and techniques from experts. You can also challenge your skills through WWGOA library of woodworking plans and projects that range from simple to complicated.
Their membership packages also include special woodworking classes in WWGOA Academy. And if you’re stuck amid a project, you can ask experts for any woodworking shop notes.
What We Like
- 24/7 access to tool review, tips, and techniques videos
- Has a premium library for woodworking plans and projects
- Includes woodworking classes in their gold membership package
- Implements ‘cancel anytime’ policy
- Has exclusive feature to ask experts through email
- Steep discounts on video downloads
- Has been creating tutorials for many years
- Practical subscription for woodworkers not fond of printed materials
What We Don't Like
- Limited shipping capability
- Access depends on the level of membership
2. Woodcraft Magazine
Inclusive of handy tool reviews and step by step instructions, Woodcraft became popularly known as the best woodworking magazine for beginners. All its issues showcased different tips and tricks to achieve a fine woodworking masterpiece.
With over ninety-nine magazine issues released, Woodcraft has introduced various woodworking projects that gave its readers a list of detailed information about every good material and tool available in the market.
Besides that, each issue contains articles with great expert advice from professional woodworkers with extensive woodwork experiences that will surely inspire readers.
What We Like
- Popular woodworking magazine for beginners
- Has over 99 issues released since 2007
- Publishes a minimum of six issues annually
- Contains many beginner-friendly and detailed woodworking projects
- Has articles from professional woodworkers
- Includes good tools and materials reviews
What We Don't Like
- Not eligible for international shipping
- Doesn’t ship on weekends
3. WOOD Magazine
For a woodworker who’s been honing his/her skills for years, going for magazine subscriptions with basic features is never a practical choice. So if unique and refreshing projects are what you seek, WOOD is one of the most informative magazines you can consider buying.
Aside from wood plans and templates, they offer detailed articles about joinery [1], cutting, carving, scrolling, and cabinetry.
One can also find well-written product reviews about the latest tools and materials that can make any woodwork activities easier and produce high-quality outputs in every issue of WOOD magazine.
What We Like
- Find unique and great wood projects in each issue
- Tips and techniques perfect for an experienced woodworker
- Information about the popular tools and materials every woodworker should have
- Detailed and well-written articles on different woodworking processes
- Prints six issues annually
What We Don't Like
- Frequency of magazine release can change without notice
- Sales tax applicable for US orders
4. Woodworker’s Journal
Woodworker’s Journal is one of the top woodworking magazines you can buy in the market, with a full-size pattern included in each issue.
New woodworkers and professionals alike will surely be delighted with its unique projects presented in a detailed step-by-step format. It is an ideal gift for woodworkers who wanted to hone their skills more. Woodworker’s Journal magazine also features information about popular and recommended tools to create a fine woodworking masterpiece.
Besides that, our team is genuinely impressed as this magazine is the only one on this list that has instructions and techniques about choosing the right lumber based on its price and quality.
What We Like
- Includes unique and new ideas for woodworking projects
- Suitable for woodworkers looking for specific recommendations
- Provides different full-size patterns in each magazine issue
- Well-written instructions
- Recommends popular and latest tools
- Features different woodcarving techniques
- Auto-renewal and cancel anytime subscriptions
What We Don't Like
- Item can only ship within the US
- First print issues arrive in 12-16 weeks
Woodworking Magazines Buyer’s Guide
Skill Level
More than anything else, the first thing one should consider when buying a woodworking magazine is their skill level.
If you’re a woodworker with ample experience, you wouldn’t want to go for magazines with common ideas and information. The same thing goes for new woodworkers, as some projects may still be challenging to accomplish.
What’s Covered
These magazines cover various topics related to wood, tools, and the construction process. If you have specific information or features in mind, reviewing the contents before subscribing is advisable. This way, you can ensure that the magazine aligns with your interests and provides the information you seek.
Projects and Plans
One of the most crucial pieces of content you should look out for is the projects and plans included in the magazine. Even if you’re enticed with projects included in the magazine, always consider the available tools and materials in your woodworking shop before deciding to work on it.
Pictures and Illustrations
Even if a magazine has a long list of fresh ideas, none of this matters if the instructions are not correctly laid out. This dilemma is especially true for beginners. If you’re new to woodworking, getting a magazine with clear pictures and illustrations will significantly help your construction process.
Price
These magazine subscriptions often come in an annual membership plan. Based on the given price, woodworkers can access specific premium offerings like video tutorials, email queries from professionals, and product discounts.
Our Top Pick For a Woodworking Magazine: WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA)
Backed up with long industry experience since 2008 and unique content curated by professionals, our experts decided to hail WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA) as the best woodworking magazine subscription out of the four viable contenders on this evaluation.
Their winning stake isn’t only because of their video contents; we also believe that their woodworking class inclusions will help a lot of woodworkers to build skills and acquire new knowledge.
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