Making Marble-Action Games, Gadgets, Mazes and Contraptions: Designs for 10 Outlandish, Ingenious and Intricate Woodworking Projects Paperback – 1 Aug. 1999

I bought this book before I retired as a Design and Technology teacher in a secondary school. I found the projects to be excellent for the more able students in a subject which is increasingly turning to CAD/CAM. While I understand that students should be familiar with the processes used in "real life" I think it is essential that they also understand how to use hand tools and basic materials. This is one of several books I bought which I believe further this ideal and highly recommend it, especially for after-school clubs.

This book has detailed plans for a few marble games and contraptions. Not all of them are easy to make, and some require a lathe or other specific tools, so not a book for a complete beginner.Some of the games seem to be quite intricate to make, but do not do much when they are made.To be fair the book does state, that some of the games are of limited use.Having said that, it is a terrific book if you want to make something that is a bit different, and lots fun can be had in the making of them.

Ok

Recently I retired and now have the time to pursue new hobbies, like wood working. For years I wish I had the skills, tools, and the time needed to be a good wood worker. I now want to build toys and things that will amaze my grandchildren. I took advantage of my prime membership to search for wood working plans. When I purchased this e-book I thought I would be getting a book of plans that included detailed drawings that have accurate measurements, a materials lists, and a set of easy to read instructions with plenty of pictures. This is not that Book.I believe that the Author Mr. Bridgewater intended to provide a set on instructions for a craftsmen. The book details the use of hand tools to produce the projects. Three different planes are used , a marking knife, hand drill, a hand scrapper and hand saws are used to produce these projects. Many of these hand tools are not the type of tools that most wood working hobbyist would even own. Most hobbyist own power tools and the only hand work is done with sand paper, The thought of taking several minutes to hand drill pilot holes instead using an air driven nail gun is foreign to most of us.No this book I believe not intended for hobbyist it was intended for a craftsmen making hairlooms by hand. I truely enjoyed reading it.

Very fun. Good instructions.

I was looking for a marble book, but one on marble runs, towers, shooters, musical trees, etc. This book is rather cool, just not what i was wanting. There are some neat things in this book, such as a marble maze and a labyrinth type maze, a box with gears that pop a marble up, but none of these are things i want to make...so, if you like that type of thing then this book will suit you.

great book

While depicting interesting marble-action games, the lack of dimensioned drawings and detailed construction instructions make the book pretty much useless for the casual woodworker interested in constructing the toys.