If you are weighing a membership to Ted's Woodworking, one fair question is what happens after you join: will new plans show up, and can you ask for something made to order? This page covers what is publicly documented, what is not, and how to plan around the gaps. We cannot see inside the member area on your behalf, so anything below about future content or custom work is framed as a question to confirm, not a promise.
The short answer
The library is the product you can verify. Ted's Woodworking is publicly described as a large collection of downloadable plans. We have not found a public, dependable commitment about how often new plans are added, and we have not found a documented custom plan or design request service. Treat both as unconfirmed until the official site or support says otherwise in writing.
What you can reasonably rely on
The existing library
Judge a membership by what is there today. Plans are organized by category and difficulty, and the library is searchable. For how that works in practice, see Inside the Ted's Woodworking Plan Library: Categories, Keyword Search and Difficulty Sorting. For a broader tour of contents, see What's Inside Ted's Woodworking Plans.
Format
Plans are delivered digitally. The details are in Are Ted's Woodworking plans a PDF download?. Video is a separate question, covered in Do Ted's Woodworking plans come with video instructions?.
What we cannot verify
- Update schedule. Any claim of "new plans every month" should be checked against the official site. If you cannot find it stated, assume nothing.
- Custom requests. No public documentation we can point to shows that members can commission a plan for a specific piece, dimensions, or space.
- Request voting or suggestion forms. Unknown. Some plan sites have them; we cannot say this one does.
- Support for plan modifications. Whether support will help you adapt a plan to different dimensions is unconfirmed.
How to check before you pay
- Read the official site's membership terms for any language on updates, additions or support. Screenshot or save what you find with the date.
- Ask support a direct question before buying: "Are new plans added, and is there a way to request a specific project?" A clear written reply is worth more than any marketing line.
- Confirm current price, access terms and refund policy on the official site. We do not list them here because they can change.
- Browse the library first if preview access exists, and look for the projects you actually want to build.
Recommended for youInside the Ted's Woodworking Plan Library: Categories, Keyword Search and Difficulty SortingIf you need something custom anyway
Many builds need small changes, such as a shelf an inch narrower or a bench sized for a particular nook. You can often adapt an existing plan yourself, with care.
A practical adaptation routine
- Pick the closest existing plan, not a loose match.
- Study the drawings and exploded joint views so you know which dimensions drive others.
- Redo the cut list and cutting diagram on paper with your new sizes, then recount materials.
- Build a rough mockup from cheap scrap or cardboard to test fit.
- Cut one part first and check it before cutting the rest.
The tradeoff: changing dimensions can affect strength, especially for shelving, seating, and anything that carries weight or children. If a modification changes spans, joints or load, consult an experienced builder or a qualified professional before relying on it.
Gaps happen: check any plan first
Whether or not new plans arrive, individual plans can be uneven. Our guide Incomplete or Uneven Woodworking Plans shows how to review one before you cut. Also see how detailed the step-by-step instructions really are.
Who this tradeoff suits
| Your situation | Fit with an existing-library membership |
|---|---|
| Want a wide pool of ready plans to choose from | Reasonable fit; judge the library as it stands |
| Beginner looking for a first project | See beginner projects |
| Outdoor or compact-space builds | See outdoor and small-shop plans |
| Need a one-off design to exact specs | Poor assumption; hire a designer or adapt a plan yourself |
| Count on a steady stream of new releases | Unverified; get written confirmation first |
Check your tools too
Adapting plans usually calls for more tool confidence than following them as written. See What tools do you need to follow Ted's Woodworking plans? before you commit to changes.
Bottom line
Buy for what is in the library now. If new plans or custom help turn out to exist, treat them as a bonus, not the reason to join. For a side-by-side look at how this membership stacks up, head to our review and comparison page, and confirm current details on the official site before you decide.
Keep reading
Cut Lists, Materials Lists and Cutting Diagrams in Ted's Plans: What They Cover and How to Use ThemBefore you buy lumber for any plan, you want to know three things: what to buy, how to cut it, and…
Detailed Drawings and Exploded Joint Views in Ted's Plans: How to Read ThemDrawings are where a woodworking plan either saves you a wasted weekend or sets one up. This guide…
Step-by-Step Instructions in Ted's Woodworking Plans: How Detailed Are They Really?Short answer: Ted's plans are commonly described as including step-by-step instructions, drawings,…