A SMALL SHOP. A GOOD PLAN. A FINISHED PIECE.

Build real furniture in your garage.
One weekend
at a time.

A calm, step-by-step PDF course that takes you from a stack of boards to something worth keeping.

Complete measured plans for a shop stool, bookcase, outdoor bench and blanket chest. Plus four more plans for whatever comes next.

Get the Weekend Workshop — $37

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THE GUIDE FOR YOUR NEXT GOOD WEEKEND

Hearthwood: The Weekend Workshop course cover, with a wooden stool in a sunlit garage

8 MODULES
8 COMPLETE PLANSPRINT IT.
TAKE IT TO THE SHOP.

Real lumber sizesComplete cut listsSquare checksSimple, useful builds

01 / A FAMILIAR CORNER OF THE GARAGE

The corner of the garage nobody talks about

Illustrative story. The garage below is a composite we wrote to describe a common situation. It's not a real customer and not a testimonial.

There's a bookcase leaning against the back wall. It's been there since spring.

It started well. You found a free plan online, printed it, and bought the boards on a Saturday morning. The plan said to cut the shelves "to fit," so you did your best. Then the sides came out half an inch farther apart at the top than at the bottom. One shelf rocked. You stood back, looked at it, and knew something was wrong but not what.

So it leans in the corner, next to the birdhouse with no roof and the step stool that wobbles if you look at it sideways.

None of that means you can't build furniture. Most of the time it means the plan left out the parts that matter:

It never said that the "2x4" at the store is really about 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 in (38 × 89 mm).¹
It had no cut list, so you worked out the lengths yourself in the aisle.
It never said when to check for square, so you found out after the glue had set.

Half-finished projects are rarely about skill. Usually the information was incomplete. The fix is plans that tell you everything, in order, with the math shown.

02 / THE GAPS IN THE PLAN

Three things missing from the plans that let you down

1. No complete cut list. A cut list is the plan's parts inventory: every piece, how many, thickness × width × length, and which board it comes from. Without it, you're designing the project yourself while pretending to follow someone else's design. That's how a shelf ends up 3/4 in short.

2. No actual lumber sizes. Lumber is sold by its nominal name, not its size. Under the American Softwood Lumber Standard, a dry "1-by" board is typically 3/4 in (19 mm) thick, and a "2-by" is typically 1-1/2 in (38 mm).¹² The difference adds up fast. A box 24 in (610 mm) wide built from 3/4 in sides measures 24 − (2 × 3/4) = 22-1/2 in (572 mm) inside. A plan that ignores this leaves you to find out with a saw in your hand.

3. No square checks. "Assemble the frame" isn't an instruction. A good plan tells you when to check square (before the glue sets), how (compare the diagonals, or use a 3-4-5 triangle on big corners), and what to do if it's off. Skip that, and you get the rocking shelf in the story above.

There's a fourth problem that's easier to miss: too many choices. A collection of thousands of plans sounds generous, but you'll spend more evenings scrolling than sawing. Hearthwood goes the other way: eight plans, each one complete, in an order that builds your skills.

03 / A BETTER WAY TO BUILD

One useful piece. One weekend. Complete measured plans.

The Weekend Workshop rests on one simple idea: finish something you can use, then build the next thing.

Every project plan follows the same structure, so by the second one you know where to find everything:

Finished dimensions. What you're building, in inches with millimetres in parentheses.
A complete cut list. Every part, using actual lumber sizes, and the parts add up to the finished size. The arithmetic is printed so you can check it.
A hardware list. Screws, glue, hinges or brackets, with exterior-rated fasteners specified for the outdoor projects.
An exploded-view illustration. How the parts go together, before you cut anything.
Step-by-step instructions in build order.
Square checks at the moments they matter, plus a firm rule: dry-fit before you glue.
Finishing notes.

The joinery stays conservative: butt joints, glue and screws, with pocket holes as an option. You won't find unexplained compound angles, and the plans assume you don't own a jointer, a planer or a table saw.

And there's one rule we repeat throughout the course, because it saves more boards than any tool: measure the board in your hands. Printed sizes are typical sizes. Yours may differ, and the course shows you how to adjust before you cut, not after.

A note on the word "weekend": the projects are sized for weekend sessions, and the first one, the shop stool, is planned as a single weekend. Bigger pieces can run into a second weekend, especially once you allow drying time for glue and finish. Your pace depends on your experience, your tools and your lumber.

Start with the stool this weekend — $37

YOUR WORKSHOP, CHAPTER BY CHAPTER

Eight modules, in the order you'll use them

A Safe One-Car-Garage Shop

How to fit cutting, assembly, a workbench and storage into a typical 12 × 20 ft (3.66 × 6.10 m) garage, with the arithmetic showing it fits. (Measure yours first; the course tells you which four numbers to write down.)
Why long boards should run front-to-back in a one-car garage, and the simple math that shows it.
How much light you really need to cut to a pencil line, using the lighting ranges a national safety agency publishes, converted to foot-candles.
Three ways to check square, including how to test the square itself: a new square can be out of true.
A plain-language look at kickback: what causes it and how to reduce the risk, without pretending a book can teach saw technique.
The household item that can start a fire in a closed trash can. (Finish-soaked rags. Module 1 covers how to store them.)
When to put the tools down and go inside.

The Short Tool List

What you actually need, compared with a $10,000 magazine shop, and why ripping, jointing and complex joinery are left out on purpose.
Approximate 2025–2026 price bands in US$ and CA$ for every tool, so you can set a budget before you shop.
Why your everyday glasses probably aren't safety glasses, and the marking to look for.³
Why the noise level that matters for hearing is lower than most people expect, and why to put protection on before the tool starts.⁴
What a beard does to a dust mask's seal.
The table saw: why it's a "nice later" tool, and why it calls for a hands-on class first.

Measuring, Wood Selection, and Reading a Cut List

Why a 2x4 isn't 2 by 4, and the three rules that give you the real size of almost any board at the store.¹
Why the hook on the end of your tape measure wiggles on purpose, and the "burn an inch" trick for when it's bent.
Why two tape measures can disagree, and the one-tape rule that prevents it.
Hardwood's "quarter" system: why a 4/4 board isn't 1 in thick after surfacing.
How to pick straight boards at the rack, and why wood that's too wet can move after you build.
How to read a cut list the way the plan writer intended, plus a cutting diagram that lets one board do the work of two.
A practice worksheet with an answer key.

Project 1: A Simple Shop Stool

Your first finished piece. Every part comes from 2x4s, the cut list uses actual sizes, and there's no fancy joinery. (Details below.)

Project 2: A Small Three-Shelf Bookcase

Square case construction, plus a step to anchor it to the wall. (Details below.)

Project 3: An Outdoor Bench

Exterior fasteners, drainage and an outdoor finish. (Details below.)

Project 4: A Blanket Chest

The piece that looks like it took longer than it did, with a lid support so the lid doesn't slam. (Details below.)

Sanding, Finish, and What to Build Next

A grit sequence that saves sandpaper and time.
Wiping stain, paint or outdoor oil: which one suits which project.
Drying times given as ranges, because the can's number assumes conditions your garage may not have.
Your "what to build next" map, which leads into the four extra plans.

FOUR WEEKENDS TO BUILD ON

The four core projects

Dimensions are approximate. The final plans give exact numbers, worked out with actual lumber sizes.

PROJECT / 01

The Shop Stool (Weekend 1)

About 18 in (457 mm) to the seat, with a seat about 14 × 14 in (356 × 356 mm). Legs and stretchers come from ordinary 2x4s, at their actual 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 in (38 × 89 mm). It's sturdy and square, with nothing fancy. You'll use it in the shop for every project after this one.

PROJECT / 02

The Small Bookcase

About 36 in high × 24 in wide × 12 in deep (914 × 610 × 305 mm), with three shelves. This is where you learn to build a square case. The plan includes anchoring it to the wall, as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends for bookcases and other furniture that could tip.⁵⁶

PROJECT / 03

The Outdoor Bench

About 48 in (1220 mm) long, with a seat roughly 17–18 in high and about 16 in deep. It's built for a porch or garden, with exterior-rated screws, drainage so water doesn't sit in the joints, and an outdoor finish. It's simpler to build and dimension than an Adirondack chair.

PROJECT / 04

The Blanket Chest

About 36 × 18 × 18 in (914 × 457 × 457 mm), with a lid, a bottom and a simple base. It's the heirloom piece of the course, sanded to a finer finish. The plan specifies a lid support, because a heavy hinged lid shouldn't be able to fall freely. CPSC has long advised that lids on chests that children may use be held open in any position.⁷

Four extra plans: “What to build next”

Each one has measurements complete enough to build from.

A simple wall shelf. Quick to build, useful anywhere, and good practice at hanging something level.
A step stool. For the kitchen, the closet or the workbench.
A planter box. For the porch or patio, with notes on choosing lumber for outdoor and garden use.⁸
A porch side table. A companion for the outdoor bench.

Get all eight plans — $37

BEFORE YOU PICK UP A TOOL

This course is a good fit if you…

Have a one-car garage, a corner of a two-car garage, or a spare room, and want to make furniture for the house, the porch or someone in the family.
Are handy with a drill and a tape measure, and have used, or are ready to learn properly to use, a circular saw or miter saw.
Are tired of plans that skip the cut list, ignore real lumber sizes or say "cut to fit".
Like to see the math and check it yourself.
Would rather finish four solid pieces than browse four thousand plans.

It's not for you if you…

Have never used a power saw and plan to learn from this course alone. It isn't a substitute for a hands-on power-tool class. If you're new to circular saws or miter saws, take an in-person class first. Community colleges, adult-education programs, makerspaces and some woodworking retailers run them. Then come back to the plans.
Want fine hand-cut joinery such as dovetails or mortise-and-tenon. The joinery here is deliberately simple.
Want video lessons. This is a PDF course with measured drawings and illustrations.
Are looking for a business opportunity. This is a course about building furniture for your own use, not a plan to make money.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PAGES

Who made Hearthwood

Hearthwood: The Weekend Workshop is published by Magicka Games. A small research team wrote it with one goal: plans with no gaps.

Here is what we did and what we didn't:

We researched. Lumber sizing comes from the softwood lumber standard and the grading and inspection bodies.¹² Safety notes follow published guidance from organisations such as OSHA, NIOSH and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.³⁴⁵ Each module lists its sources, so you can check them.
We checked the math. Every cut list has to add up to the finished size, and the arithmetic is printed so you can check it.
We kept it conservative. If a dimension or joint was in doubt, we chose the simpler design.
We don't claim credentials we don't have. We're not presenting ourselves as master cabinetmakers, and the course is not a certified training program. It's a carefully researched, clearly written set of lessons and plans.

ROOM FOR REAL BUILDERS

What builders say

Hearthwood is new, and we won’t invent reviews. Real, verified reviews will appear here with permission.

Testimonial placeholder — replace with a real, verified customer review

A GOOD PLAN FOR YOUR NEXT WEEKEND

Everything you need.
A plan for every piece.

The course PDF (Modules 1–8)

A safe one-car-garage shop: layout, lighting, power, eye, hearing and dust protection, fire safety, and how to check square
The short tool list, with US$ and CA$ price bands
Measuring, choosing wood and reading a cut list, with a practice worksheet and answer key
Sanding and finishing, with drying times given as ranges

Four core project plans (printable)

Shop stool · Three-shelf bookcase · Outdoor bench · Blanket chest
Each with finished dimensions, a full cut list in actual lumber sizes, a hardware list, an exploded-view illustration, step-by-step instructions, square checks and finishing notes

Four extra "what to build next" plans

Wall shelf · Step stool · Planter box · Porch side table

Plus

An instant download after checkout, a copy of the link by email, and a "Log in / Re-download" link whenever you need the files again
The 60-day money-back guarantee

$37 USD · one time

No subscription and no upsell maze. That's eight complete plans and the course that teaches you to use them. Counted per plan, it works out to about $4.63 each ($37 ÷ 8), with the eight modules of instruction included.

For comparison, one mis-cut board or one wasted weekend with a plan that didn't add up can cost you more than that, and it costs you the satisfaction of finishing.

Prices are in US dollars. Canadian buyers pay in USD, and your card or PayPal converts at its own rate.

Get the Weekend Workshop — $37 Instant PDF download · Secure checkout with card or PayPal · 60-day money-back guarantee

TAKE IT TO THE LUMBER RACK

60 days. Build something, or get your money back.

Download the course. Read it, print the stool plan, and take it to the lumber rack. Build something.

If at any point in the next 60 days you decide it isn't for you, for any reason, email us at emaildevdude@gmail.com from the address you used at checkout, and we'll refund your $37. You don't need to send anything back, and we won't ask questions.

That's the whole policy. Full details are on the refund page.

Try it for 60 days — $37

A FEW THINGS YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING

Before your first weekend.

What tools do I need?

A short list, covered in Module 2 with US$ and CA$ price bands:

Safety first: safety glasses marked Z87+, hearing protection, a dust mask or respirator, and a shop vacuum
Measure and mark: a tape measure, a speed square, a combination square and a pencil
Cut: a circular saw or a miter saw, plus a hand saw for small trims
Drill and drive: a cordless drill/driver, drill bits and a countersink bit
Hold: a few bar clamps and a pair of sawhorses
Sand: a random orbit sander

A pocket-hole jig is optional. You don't need a table saw, jointer, planer or router. The plans avoid ripping boards to width, so you buy lumber that's already the width you need.

What does "actual vs nominal lumber" mean, and why does it matter?

Lumber is named by its nominal size, but the board you bring home is smaller. A "2x4" is typically 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 in (38 × 89 mm), and a "1x12" is typically 3/4 × 11-1/4 in (19 × 286 mm).¹² Plans that ignore this produce parts that don't fit. Hearthwood's cut lists use actual sizes and show the math. We also tell you to measure the board in your hands, because real boards vary.

Do I have to anchor the bookcase?

We strongly recommend it, and the bookcase plan includes the step. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges families to anchor bookcases, dressers and TVs to the wall. Use the anchoring hardware that suits your wall, follow its instructions, and anchor any tall or top-heavy piece you build later.

Is the blanket chest safe for children's toys?

It's designed as a blanket chest, not a toy box. The plan specifies a lid support so the lid can't fall freely. CPSC advises that chests children may use have a lid support that holds the lid open in any position.⁷ If small children will be around it, think carefully about where it goes and how it's used, and keep the lid support working.

I've never used a circular saw. Can I learn from this course?

Not from this course alone. It teaches planning, measuring, safety habits and assembly, but no book or PDF can watch your hands. Take a hands-on class first, at a community college, adult-education program, makerspace or a store that runs classes, and read your saw's manual. Then use these plans.

Is woodworking safe?

Every saw, drill and sander can hurt you, and we won't pretend otherwise. The course covers eye protection, hearing protection, dust control, workholding and kickback awareness at a general level.³⁴⁹¹⁰ It also tells you when to stop and when a step is beyond a beginner. Always follow your tool's manual. It's written for your exact model.

Will this work in a spare room instead of a garage?

Yes, with extra care. Module 1 covers the spare-room shop: do dusty cutting and sanding outdoors or in the garage when you can, choose water-based finishes, and ventilate.

Do I get metric measurements?

Yes. Every measurement is given in imperial first, with metric in parentheses. The course recommends choosing one system per project and sticking with it.

Can I sell the furniture I build?

The PDFs are licensed for your personal use, so please don't share or resell the files. For anything else, see the terms. To be clear, this is a course about building furniture, not a money-making program. We make no claims that you'll earn anything from it.

How do I get the files?

Right after checkout you go to a private download page. We also email you the link. If you lose it, use Log in / Re-download at the bottom of any page and we'll email you a sign-in link.

Can I print the plans?

Yes. Everything is a PDF, so you can print a plan and take it to the garage or the lumberyard. You'll only need to print the pages for the project you're working on.

What if I'm not happy with it?

Email emaildevdude@gmail.com within 60 days of purchase from your checkout address, and you'll get a full refund. There's nothing to return. See the refund policy.

FROM HALF-FINISHED TO DONE

The stool is a weekend away.

There are two ways this weekend can go.

The first is familiar: the leaning bookcase stays in the corner, and another plan without a cut list sits on your phone.

The second starts with a printed cut list. You take your tape to the lumber rack and measure the board in your hands. You cut four legs and check them against each other. You dry-fit, check the diagonals, glue and screw. By Sunday evening there's a sturdy, square stool standing on the garage floor. You built it, and you'll use it for every project after it.

Then the bookcase. Then the bench. Then the blanket chest.

Get the Weekend Workshop — $37 One-time payment · Instant PDF download · 60-day money-back guarantee

P.S. If you remember one thing from this page, make it this: a 2x4 is about 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 inches, so measure the board in your hands. Every plan in Hearthwood is built on that rule, with full cut lists, square checks and math that adds up. It costs $37 once, and you have 60 days to decide whether it's for you.

A REAL PERSON, AN EMAIL AWAY

Questions before you buy?

Email emaildevdude@gmail.com. A real person reads every message. We can't give advice on your specific tools or technique by email (see the safety notes above), but we're glad to help with the course, the plans, your download or a refund.

THE REFERENCES BEHIND THE LESSONS

Good plans have sources.

Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, "Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Sizes." Read source ↗
Southern Forest Products Association, "American Softwood Lumber Standard" (PS 20). Read source ↗
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), "Eye and Face Protection." Read source ↗
CDC / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), "Understand Noise Exposure." Read source ↗ See also National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, "Noise-Induced Hearing Loss." Read source ↗
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission / Anchor It!, "Ahead of Sunday's Game, CPSC Reminds Families to Tackle the Deadly Hazard of TV and Furniture Tip-Overs," 8 February 2024 (about 17,800 injuries a year). Read source ↗
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "CPSC Injury and Fatality Report Shows Despite Some Progress Need for TV and Furniture Tip Over Prevention Remains Strong," 2022. Read source ↗
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Toy Chest Safety" (Publication 5099; lid supports that hold the lid open in any position), archived copy. Read source ↗
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "CCA-Pressure Treated Wood: Guidance for Outdoor Wooden Structures." Read source ↗
OSHA, "Wood Dust." Read source ↗
OSHA, *Hand and Power Tools* (OSHA 3080). Read source ↗

Citing an organisation does not imply its endorsement.