Composite Materials: Step-by-Step Projects (Wolfgang Publications)

In his three previously-published books, Composite Materials: Fabrication Handbooks, Volumes 1-3 Author and Professor John Wanberg, took pains to explain the why and how of building with composite materials. Each page was allocated equally between photos and text.

In this new book of step-by-step projects, John takes a different approach. Instead of explaining the theory and what each component is made of, John cuts to the chase. Nearly every page is allocated to photos.

The pictures lead the reader through a detailed how-to sequence. From making the mold, to cutting the fabric, and finishing the part, all the information is here. Projects include everything from fabricating speaker enclosures to hood scoops and cell-phone cases. Some require only simple molds, while others rely on more sophisticated vacuum bagging methods.

Each chapter starts with copy, just enough to explain the project and the goals. Next comes the material panel: a list of all the tools and materials needed to duplicate the project seen in that particular chapter. Finally, the vast majority of each chapter is filled with the how-to photos. Photos that literally show each step along the way, from the initial sketch to the finished part.