Outdoor Furniture (The Stanley Works; 1989)

THE DISTINGUISHING characteristic of outdoor furniture may be rough-and-ready simplicity, but its construction tends not to be. Because the furniture (chairs, benches, tables and planters) has to be sturdy to survive active use and must be joined and finished to endure the elements, it should be built with particular care. That means selecting the right wood, cutting the varied and many pieces precisely, using the proper hardware correctly, and painting and staining carefully. To do this you also need the correct tools, including a chisel, bore bits, block plane, wood file, miter box, a hammer, a crosscut and coping saws, drill and screwdrivers, among other items. Building outdoor furniture, like building furniture, is a challenge, and one needs precise directions if hours of frustration and failure are to be avoided. The “Build-It-Yourself” brochure and video offer just that--easy-to-follow, step-by-step directions, well organized and adequately illustrated. It should help the do-it-yourself handy-person. Available at select hardware counters or order from The Stanley Works, P.O. Box 1800, Department PR89, New Britain, Conn. 06050. ($14.95)