⚠️ Consumer Report: Read this objective analysis before purchasing Ted's Woodworking.
Updated: April 2026

Ted's Woodworking Review:
The Brutal Truth Behind The "16,000 Plans"

Ted's Woodworking Plans Review

If you are expecting a neatly organized, modern app filled with pristine 3D CAD drawings, do not buy this product. Here is exactly what you get for $67, what the sales page hides, and why it might still be the best investment for your shop.

Editorial Transparency: This is an independent review based on physical product testing. We may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page at no additional cost to you.
16,000+
Plans Included
$67
One-Time Lifetime Fee
60 Days
ClickBank Guarantee

The Reddit Consensus is Right:
The Reality of the Archive

If you’ve spent any time looking for woodworking projects online, you’ve undoubtedly been bombarded by ads for Ted’s Woodworking. The pitch is always the same: "16,000 flawless, step-by-step blueprints that will turn any beginner into a master craftsman."

Let’s cut the marketing hype right now. I bought the package, dug through the massive ZIP files, and spent weeks in my shop testing the plans. If you look up Ted's Woodworking on forums like r/woodworking, you'll see a barrage of criticism. Having gone through the files myself, I can validate their main complaints:

The Pivot: Why I Still Keep It On My Shop Laptop

So, if it’s a disorganized mess of vintage scans, why am I giving it a balanced review instead of calling it a scam? Because I stopped looking at it as a modern "step-by-step guide" and started treating it as an uncurated raw idea library.

"This database is not for absolute beginners who need their hands held. But if you have basic shop skills—if you know how to square a board, cut a mortise and tenon, and adapt dimensions—this archive is an absolute goldmine."

You are paying $67 to guarantee you will never run out of structural concepts, design inspiration, or weekend project ideas for the rest of your life. It's a rough, unpolished database, but for the "idea hunter" willing to dig, the value is undeniable.

Access The Raw Idea Library Now Includes Lifetime Access & 60-Day Guarantee

Inside the Archive:
My Hands-On Build Test

To test the actual viability of these blueprints, I decided to build a mid-century style cedar planter box using only the materials provided in the database. Here is exactly what that process looked like.

Screenshot of disorganized PDF folders and grainy magazine scans
The reality of the backend. Finding the right plan requires digging.

Navigating the Mess

It took me about 45 minutes of sifting through files named things like 'Planter_old_version' to find a design I liked. The original scan was clearly from a publication decades old, meaning the materials list called for lumber dimensions that are no longer standard at local big-box stores.

Work in progress photo of cedar planter box on workbench with printed plans
The physical build. Notice the manual recalculations written in pencil.

The Build & Workarounds

Because the original text was faded, I had to manually recalculate the side-panel bevels. I also opted to upgrade the joinery from the suggested butt joints to pocket holes. The blueprint provided an excellent core aesthetic, but I had to supply the modern execution.

Related: Technical Fundamentals Hub

Because Ted's Woodworking requires you to adapt older schematics, you need rock-solid foundational skills. Master these workshop concepts before you start cutting.

Orbital Action Mechanics of Jigsaws

When dealing with older, uncurated woodworking databases, having exact control over your cuts is essential for adapting vintage measurements.

Table Saw Fence Calibration

If you are utilizing a massive repository like our teds wood working review, ensuring your foundational cuts are perfectly square is mandatory.

Router Bit Speeds Demystified

Adapting older blueprint schematics often requires routing custom edge profiles that aren't explicitly detailed in the original text.

Wood Moisture & Seasonal Movement

Many vintage blueprints found in massive archives fail to account for modern central heating, making cross-grain expansion knowledge critical.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to the most common concerns regarding the 16,000 plans package.

Are Ted's Woodworking plans just old magazine scans? +
A significant portion of the 16,000 plans are indeed digitized scans from older, public-domain sources, vintage magazines, and out-of-print books. While there are newer plans included, expect varying image quality and older formatting rather than modern 3D CAD drawings.
Is Ted McGrath a real person? +
There is strong consensus in the online woodworking community that 'Ted McGrath' is a pen name and marketing persona created for the ClickBank product, rather than a single, verifiable master woodworker. The value lies in the massive aggregation of plans, not the mentorship of the author.
How does the ClickBank 60-day refund policy work? +
Because Ted's Woodworking is sold through the ClickBank retail platform, the 60-day money-back guarantee is processed by ClickBank itself, not the product creator. If you find the plans too disorganized, you can request a refund directly through ClickBank's customer service portal within 60 days, and it is generally processed without friction.

Ready To Dig Through The Archives?

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