Free Plans. Build Model Steam Engines

Model steam engines are every boys dream toy. Big boys like them also and those who are craftsmen can build model steam engines in the workshop.
There are a few engines which can be built without the use of a metal turning lathe. However the better more advanced engines require that you have lathe capabilities.

You can start by building a very simple model just for the experience. You will get a real thrill when you see it running. Then graduate to a more advanced model which will have more power and look more professional in design.

You can find plans for model steam engines at our website Model steam engine free plans

Free Plans Build Canoe. Cedar Strip Canoe Plan

A canoe is the perfect craft for having fun on the water. It is comparatively light and can be carried quite easily on a cartop carrier. A canoe is also the perfect craft for fishing on lakes or rivers and for doing some exploration or just paddling around for fun.

Our absolutely free plans show you how to construct a plywood canoe, a wood strip canoe or an aluminum canoe. You can build a really top quality classic cedar strip canoe using the woodstrip construction method.

The plywood canoe is quite easy to build and the cost is low. It is a very nice canoe really and performs well.
See the plans for these canoes and download them free:
Free Canoe Plans.

Vintage Plans For Doll Houses

Many little girls (and lets face it, big girls to) would love to get a doll house to furnish and to play with their dolls. They just have a lot of fun playing house with dolls and furniture they can move around to get different decor inn the house.

Building a doll house is really a fairly easy job,particularly if you start with a simple plan which is easy to follow. A doll house can be made from thin plywood, wall panelling, hardboard or even heavy cardboard.

I have seen really nice doll houses built from the heavy cardboard that TVs and stereo equipment come packed in. You can get any amount of this free from the dumpster at any electronics or furniture store.

It can be cut with a sharp utility knife so you don't even need much in the way of tools to do the job. with plywood or hardboard you will need a table saw or circular saw. Even a jig saw in fact will suffice.
You can find free plans for doll houses at our website. http://www.vintageplans.org

Like to see a video about building dollhouses? check this out:

Vintage Plans For Clocks

Building clocks is a wonderful hobby which has many peoples interest. It is fairly simple build a wooden clock case from good hardwood such as mahogany, cherry or walnut and then to install a windup chiming clock movement. This will be a top quality hand built clock suitable for family heirloom status. The less expensive way is to install an electronic battery powered movement. These low cost units work very well, keep good accurate time and can be used to make a nice clock. That being said, the real clock lover wants a spring or weight driven mechanical movement for the clocks he builds.

It is also completely possible to build an all wooden movement to power your clock (it will have a few small metal parts). This is really a great way to build a fine antique clock reproduction. Wooden movements were much used up until the middle of the nineteenth century and genuine old antique clocks with these hand made all wood movements are valuable antiques nowadays. You can build your own all wooden movement antique clock from free plans you can download in PDF format from our Vintage Plans website. With careful,quality workmanship you can build a clock which will be a family heirloom and you can pass it down to future generations.

Take a look at our Vintage Plans website now and see all the free plans we have there. We are adding to them daily and thay include many other things besides clocks.

Free Boat Plans. Build a Wooden Boat

Many people would like to have a boat to go fishing in their favorite lake. Others just want a boat to have some summer fun with at the lakeside. Of course you can buy a boat. There are plenty for sale both new and used.

However if you really want to cut costs the best way to go is to build a boat yourself. You don't really need to be a super woodworker to build a small boat. It is a fairly simple job. A rowing or sailing dinghy can be built from a couple of sheets of plywood, a few odds and ends of lumber and some miscellaneous hardware items.

The total cost can be well under $100 for a serviceable dinghy which you can row or power with a small outboard. Just the thing for fishing or having a little fun.

You will find free plans at our website where you can download the plans in PDF format. vintage plans

We will be adding many more plans in ther near future so keep checking back to see what is available. The price is right--FREE at http://www.vintageplans.org

Archery And Crossbow Plans

Archery plans are very popular. Many people would like to build their own bow. We have plans for a traditional English long bow. This was the bow which was used with great success by English archers to win many battles centuries ago before the invention of gunpowder and firearms.

We also have a plan for an easy to build flat bow which is on the same sheet as the long bow plan. The flat bow is considerably easier to build than a long bow and shoots very accurately.
Plans for archery equipment including targets and arrows are available from our website vintage plans

Crossbows are amazing weapons and none is more fascinating than the antique Chinese repeating crossbow. Chinese soldiers used this weapon for centuries and in fact still used it right into the 20th century. It had a magazine which held several bolts(arrows) and could be rapidly fired by working a lever to cock and fire them in rapid succession.

A hundred or so archers could send a hail of arrows (often with poisoned tips) at the advancing enemy which was very discouraging for them to say the least of it. Even a nick from a poisoned arrow could be fatal.

We also have plans for a really great modern repeating crossbow which works like a slide action rifle to fire shots in rapid succession. Then there is the hunters crossbow which is a really fine crossbow for hunting and general target shooting etc. Take a look at our website where tyou can download all these fine plans totally free: vintage plans

Vintage Plans

My interest in old plans goes back several decades. I was always looking for plans to build things that I wanted, and I found that many plans were available in old copies of magazines such as Mechanix Illustrated, Science And Mechanics and other magazines of this type. I amassed a collection of hundreds of old plans from these sources over the years.

Then I found that most of these plans and articles which were published before 1964 were copyright expired and in the public domain, since their copyright had not been renewed prior to expiry. All material published in the USA prior to 1923 is also in the public domain without exception. This simply means that they are no longer copyright, and can be used by anyone for any purpose. This includes not only printed material but audio and videos also. They can be copied and resold or republished in any form. They can not be copyrighted by anyone in their original form, but a new version can be copyrighted if significant changes are made to the original material.

In 1964 copyright laws changed in the USA and publications after that year remain copyright for much longer in most cases. There are some publications up to 1978 which are in the public domain however.

In order to avoid any copyright problems I only republish material which was originally copyrighted prior to 1964, and which is now definitely in the public domain as established by checking with the US copyright office which can be done online.

At my website Vintage Plans I am republishing and making available free copies of many of these plans. This will be an ongoing work which will take some time to complete. In fact it will probably never be complete as new material becomes available all the time from various sources.

I will also be republishing freely available copies of many plans, articles,and other material dating back into the 1800s and in some cases even further back. There are many really interesting old plans and instructive articles etc available from this period.

My website went online this week with a selection of plans, and more will be added on a daily basis, or at least several times weekly as time allows. Check back frequently and you will find new material there at http://www.vintageplans.org.If you have any comments or questions you can leave them in comments on this blog. I hope that many people will find these old plans and articles interesting and of use to them. The price is right anyway since they are all free. So help yourself to the PDF downloads which are on the site.

Go now to Vintage Plans and check out what is available totally free. Please leave your comments below or ask a question if you want to.