What the 5 printable pages actually give you
Not a brochure. Each page is a worksheet you can take to the garage — check, cut, assemble.
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01
Tools checklist for under $150
Buy only what this build needs — hand tools + one circular saw. Skip the $600 starter kits.
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02
Materials list with current prices
Board feet, sheet goods, hardware — with price columns you can fill at Lowe’s / Home Depot.
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03
Cut diagrams you can print
Full-width diagrams with grain direction, blade kerf, and measurements — tape it to your saw.
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04
Step-by-step assembly photos
Photos in order — dry-fit, glue, clamp, screw. No guessing which face goes where.
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05
Common-mistakes checklist
The 9 mistakes every first build makes — wood movement, screw splits, finish blotches — and how to avoid them.
Why start with a planner, not plans?
Most beginners buy 50 plans and build nothing. This gives you one accountable build — tools checked, cuts marked, mistakes flagged — so you finish.
- One build end-to-end, not a library to browse
- Real prices so your budget survives the store
- Photos that show clamp placement, not renders
After the planner
If you want more, Ted’s library is 16,000+ plans with the same DNA — cut list, diagram, step photos. If not, keep the planner and build it anyway.
- Lifetime access if you choose it — no subscription
- 60-day guarantee on the full library
- Pre-sell — try the free build first
From Ted “Woody” McGrath — 25 years in the workshop
Used by 54,183 customers — 173,226 projects built. Ted’s been teaching first builds since before YouTube had woodworkers. This planner distills the first weekend he gives every apprentice — no upsell inside the PDF.
— “Measure twice, cut once, keep the checklist visible.”
Got the planner? See what’s beyond page 5.
Ted's Woodworking Plans (16,000+ plans) picks up where the free planner leaves off — same cut-diagram style for every project. Explore plans & pricing when you’re ready. No pressure to buy today.
Prefer to start free? Grab the 5-page planner above — side link: tedplansdiy.com/start.html
Quick questions before you print
Do I need to buy plans to use the free planner?
No. The 5 pages are a complete first build — tools, materials, cuts, assembly, mistakes. The link to Ted's Woodworking Plans (16,000+ plans) is there only if you want the full library afterward.
Why email if it’s “no opt-in required to keep it”?
You can keep the PDF after download with no further emails. We ask for email only to deliver the file via /submit.php to support@gordenwebdesign.com. Unsubscribe in one click and the PDF stays yours.
What tools do I actually need?
Page 01 lists a hand saw or circular saw, drill/driver, tape, square, and clamps — all under $150 new. No table saw, no jointer.
Is this the ClickBank offer?
Yes — Ted's Woodworking is sold via ClickBank and we link through a Rakuten Affiliate hoplink. Same price and 60-day guarantee as going direct.