I get asked regularly for permission to use my plans and writings for the following things:
- The basis for a woodworking class.
- The foundation for a presentation to a woodworking club.
- To make a commercial product to sell – a Roorkee chair, workbench or campaign chest, for example.
My answer to these questions is always: absolutely. Everything I publish is free for you to use for classes, in your club or even to make a commercial piece of woodworking to sell.
In fact, the only thing I object to is when someone violates my copyright by reproducing an entire book or DVD then reselling it as their own work or giving it away on a torrent site. That’s just theft. (It’s uncommon in the woodworking business, but it happens.)
To be honest, little that I do (or any other woodworking author, for that matter) is original. My work is inspired by old books, new books, old work and new. If my work inspires you to teach others about it, I’m happy. If it makes you want to share it with your club, ditto. And if it helps you make something you can sell, that’s great, too.
So please, take these ideas. Use them to inspire others to pick up the tools and build.
— Christopher Schwarz