Projects Books

Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship

Peter Korn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Concise, compelling, the beginning of an addiction 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I had nothing but a curiosity about woodworking when Amazon brought this book to my attention as a highly rated book for beginners. This book does an absolutely fabulous job of boiling the craft down to the basics for readers unfamiliar with the subject.

This book will not make you a master in any technique, nor will it cover anything in particular detail. What it will do is give you an introduction to wood, common tools (both hand and powered), and basic techniques for making fine furniture. This book was the beginning of an addiction for me, and for that I am grateful!

Editorial Review:

Based on a two-week course in woodworking fundamentals offered at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Camden, Maine, this book takes a traditional approach to teaching, with the idea that learning basic skills is essential to craftsmanship. In the process, the book covers all the bases, from working with hand tools to cutting dovetails. Over 250 color photos and drawings and two complete projects — a bench and a small cabinet — are included.

The Woodwright's Guide: Working Wood with Wedge and Edge

Roy Underhill, Eleanor Underhill

Amazon Price: $16.20 List Price: $22.50 Usually ships in 24 hours By: The University of North Carolina Press Amazon Marketplace: 28 new & used starting at $13.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

For thirty years, Roy Underhill's PBS program, "The Woodwright's Shop," has brought classic hand-tool craftsmanship to viewers across America. Now, in his seventh book, Roy shows how to engage the mysteries of the splitting wedge and the cutting edge to shape wood from forest to furniture.

Beginning with the standing tree, each chapter of The Woodwright's Guide explores one of nine trades of woodcraft: faller, countryman and cleaver, hewer, log-builder, sawyer, carpenter, joiner, turner, and cabinetmaker. Each trade brings new tools and techniques; each trade uses a different character of material; but all are united by the grain in the wood and the enduring mastery of muscle and steel.

Hundreds of detailed drawings by Eleanor Underhill (Roy's daughter) illustrate the hand tools and processes for shaping and joining wood. A special concluding section contains detailed plans for making your own foot-powered lathes, workbenches, shaving horses, and taps and dies for wooden screws.

The Woodwright's Guide is informed by a lifetime of experience and study. A former master craftsman at Colonial Williamsburg, Roy has inspired millions to "just say no to power tools" through his continuing work as a historian, craftsman, activist, and teacher. In The Woodwright's Guide, he takes readers on a personal journey through a legacy of off-the-grid, self-reliant craftsmanship. It's a toolbox filled with insight and technique as well as wisdom and confidence for the artisan in all of us.

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction

Andy Rae

Amazon Price: $26.37 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $21.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 44 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

disappointed 2 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I found this book very disappointing. The pictures were very pretty but that is pretty much it. The illustrations were confusing and of little use. It gives too much of an overview and no real specifics. I found woodworking for dummies to be a much better book for the beginning woodworker.

A little too general 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Given the scope of this work, I'm not sure what I expected, but I feel like, after reading a book on furniture and cabinet making, I ought to have some idea of how to construct a basic cabinet. While this book covers a wide variety of general techniques and types of joints commonly used, at no point does it tie them together; it discusses possibilities, but never synthesizes them into anything tangible, leaving me, at least, wondering which of the book's assorted grab bag of clever tricks might be combined to actually produce a cabinet. I already knew what a sliding dovetail was before I bought this book; what I sought to learn was the architecture and structural elements needed to design a cabinet. Strangely, I feel like I'm no closer to that knowledge than I was before I read the book.

Editorial Review:

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction is the ultimate reference work -- a graphic, step-by-step presentation of basic furniture-construction techniques. Expert woodworker Andy Rae brings organization, enthusiasm, and more than 20 years' experience to this essential book. Readers will acquire a working knowledge of woodworking materials, a higher level of control over their work and tools, and an understanding of basic design principles.

Building Kitchen Cabinets

Udo Schmidt

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $9.32

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Build Like A Pro-just like says!! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is well written, and easy to understand. The author gives you a solid understanding of the basics and some of the more advanced "how-tos" of cabinet making. I would recommend this book to people who have some knowledge of power tools and want to learn how to build kitchen cabinets.

Excellent book if you actually want to build cabinets 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book and Danny Proulx's Build Your Own Kitchen Cabinets (Popular Woodworking). Proulx's book focused on particleboard construction and mostly 32mm cabinets. I was very dissapointed as I was anxious to start building cabinets and particleboard is not what I was looking for. This book however, was just what the Dr. ordered. I'm very comfortable with my tools and have been woodworking for years now, but I still found some usefull tips in the book. I skimmed the book without reading all of it and immediately bought the lumber I needed and began construction. I had a completed bathroom vanity cabinet in 1 afternoon (not including stain and finish). As others have mentioned, his dimensions are not perfect, but since my house doesn't perfectly match the book, I used my own tape measure.

Even with the dimension issues here and there, I highly recommend this book for anyone who actually wants to make cabinets. I have a few other books that discuss the "idea" of making cabinets. This one tells you the tools you need and how to do it. It focuses on pocket-hole joinery but it also shows how you can use other joinery techniques as well. I can't stress this point enough... if you are planning on building cabinets, you will love this book. If you just want to read about building cabinets, this book isn't what you want.

I'm off to buy more lumber for more cabinets!!!!

Editorial Review:

Building instead of buying cabinets means not only cost savings but also better materials and a truly custom kitchen. This book shows anyone how to build a complete set of kitchen cabinets. Professional cabinetmaker Udo Schmidt covers the entire process, from preparing materials and selecting the right tools to finishing and installing hardware.

The Big Book of Weekend Woodworking: 150 Easy Projects (Big Book of ... Series)

John Nelson, Joyce Nelson

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lark Books Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $11.63

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

This book rocks! 5 out of 5 stars.
18 of 19 people found this review helpful.

This book has so many projects in it that some are bound to interest you. The problem with books that feature, say 25 projects, is that if you find 10% of them interesting you get 2-3 projects out of the book. This has 150 projects. If you find 10% of them interesting then you walk away with clear instructions and pretty detailed plans for 15 projects. This book is well written and includes sections on finishing and material selection. I own many "project" books. This book outshines them all by a wide margin. Joinery is pretty basic and the projects run from beginner to intermediate, with most of them being the former. One point that I feel compelled to mention, however, is that most projects in this book require a machine (or hand tool) that will cut curves. Just buy it!

Editorial Review:

Every woodworker will want to own this colorful, information-packed, mammoth resource for weekend crafting. It's filled with 150 classic projects, and features an introductory section that walks readers through the various planning stages. It's all covered: selecting the right wood, working with patterns, gluing, and finishing. Novices can effortlessly make simple mirrors, shelves, clocks, and jewelry boxes, while those with slightly more advanced skills can try the small cupboard, blanket chest, or side table. For outdoors, there are whimsical weathervanes, whirligigs, plants stands, and trellises. Some of the sweetest items are just for kids, such as animal pull toys, wheeled cars, puzzles, a winged rocking chair, and vintage-style doll accessories. Every project include finishes or surface decoration options, plus drawings and patterns.

The Complete Guide to Sharpening

Leonard Lee

Amazon Price: $15.61 List Price: $22.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $12.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A toolworker's complete guide, but .... 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 6 people found this review helpful.

You have to admire the author. He packs a huge amount of detailled and easily read information in this book. The electron photomicrographs, showing various sharp (and not so sharp) edges using various abarasives are excellent. Leonard also seems to know everything there is to know about the history of steel making, and abrasives. There are excellent chapters on just about every kind of woodworking tool imaginable, with plenty of excellent photographs. If I were a woodworker I would regard this book as being the one and only complete reference text.

BUT... my personal interest is in sharpening kitchen knives. And the chapter on knife sharpening is the least informative in the book, and really tells the reader nothing new that is not already available on many web sites. In fact the Mr Lee actually says he only included this chapter because nobody would take his book seriously if it didn't have a chapter on knife sharpening. As a result, the chapter is not not very good. and in fact contains some wrong advice. eg using plastic book binders as edge guides: - Sorry Mr Lee, but they just do not work.

For a complete knife book, you would be far better off with Chad Ward's new book "An Edge in the Kitchen", far better than this book by Mr Lee.

I don't mean to disrespect the author, or this book. But it is really for woodworking tools, not kitchen knives.

Editorial Review:

Lee, a well-known tool manufacturer, covers the practical and technical information to sharpen tools quickly, efficiently and safely. Descriptive photos, clear line drawings and step-by-step instructions show exactly how to improve the performance and safety of any cutting tool. 255 photos.

Understanding Wood Finishing (American Woodworker)

Bob Flexner

List Price: $16.95 By: Readers Digest Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $9.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 80 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Buy the Hardcover Book 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I checked the hardcover version out from the library and enjoyed the detailed instructions for specific finishing techniques, as well as the general information on the types of wood finished and illustrative photos. A received the paperback version as a Christmas present only to be thoroughly disappointed that the beautiful photos had all been converted to sepia tones. That eliminated all of the detail! Save yourself the disappointment and go straight to hardcover.

Great book 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is not a list of grandma recipes, it explains wood finishes to enable you to create your recipes.

A Breath of Fresh Air 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I couldn't resist the pun for the title, but it expresses my feelings about this book. I can actually say, for the first time, having read this book, that I understand the basics of finish materials themselves, how they work chemically, how they may be combined (alternatively, when they should not be), what processes each finish type is best suited to, the roles of solvents (thinners) and cleaners as well as the differences between them, sheen, dyes vs. pigment-based coloration, sealing and washcoats, finish leveling and rubout, and a score of other topics this book covers. I can tell you - precisely - the differences between evaporative, reactive, and coalescing finishes, how each builds a film, the strengths and shortcomings of each, the differences in repairability and protection, and more.

This book removes the BS factor from the horribly muddled world of commercially-available finishes, explaining along the way WHY it's as muddled as it is - reducing to history, marketing, and the role of finish manufacturers as middlemen - the finish chemists being employed not by them, but by the ingredient manufacturers. The author demolishes a lot of myths along the way, literally by listing myths and the corresponding truth in sidebars throughout the book.

There are specific topics and bits of advice that are priceless. Among them I would list the process for dyeing figured maple, pre-finish cleaning of oily woods, food-safe finishes, and a dozen or more ways to use shellac to solve problems.

I don't agree with everything in the book. I think the author is too generous to the polish manufacturers, for example, particularly as regards silicone. While he discusses fisheye and silicone issues mostly as a refinishing issue, for example, I think it is actually destructive to existing finishes due to its propensity to migrate under finishes by way of cracks and other surface flaws. I also think he comes off as a bit harsh on oil finishes, though I don't know if that was intended.

I found the book very readable. You will want to read it from beginning to end, as succeeding text builds on earlier concepts. The exception to that would be the final section, on refinishing and strippers.

Understand this book and you will be able to select and apply finishes with complete confidence. Be aware, however, that despite the title, it is not a step-by-step finishing manual. The focus is on understanding the materials.

Editorial Review:

Now it's easier than ever for woodworkers to get a perfect finish on every project! This book dispels the myths about wood finishing and explains exactly how and why every finish behaves the way it does.

The Little Book of Whittling: Passing Time on the Trail, on the Porch, and Under the Stars

Chris Lubkemann

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Fox Chapel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $7.42

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Good beginners guide 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I went to a local wood hobby shop and looked at several carving/whittling books. This one looked good so I bought it on ebay and saved some $s.
I'm a total novice, so this book was perfect. Full of photographs that explain every step. No previous experience necessary. Tip: I've managed to cut myself a few times so I'm wearing gloves until my technique improves. A very relaxing pastime. Highly recommended. If you are wondering which beginners book to buy then buy this.

Editorial Review:

With a friendly, down-home style, this guide encourages readers to whittle away the hours. Great for beginners looking for an easy way to get started and more advanced carvers looking for a relaxing way to spend their time, this instructional manual provides 20 projects, including knives, forks, birds, animals, trees, and flowers. Chapters detail the proper whittling tools and materials, including what woods are best to carve, and how to start projects by selecting and safely sharpening the best knife for each project.

Pyrography Workbook: A Complete Guide to the Art of Woodburning

Sue Walters

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Fox Chapel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $12.25

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

THE must for woodburners! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

A complete and detailed book, with a lot of necessary technical info and tutoring for beginners and advanced. Nice touch are the beautifull step by step examples you can make at the end of the book. If you plan to buy only one book on pyrography, this is it!

Editorial Review:

Woodworkers interested in woodburning will build their skill level through these three step-by-step projects for beginner, intermediate, and advanced burners. They will learn how to prepare wood surfaces before burning, how to transfer a design or pattern, and how to select materials for burning, coloring, and finishing a project. Methods for burning onto wood, leather, paper, bark, and antlers are detailed alongside ample pictures of pyrography on the various materials that will inspire novice woodburners. Numerous techniques are also discussed, including solar, negative, relief, engraving, torch, and hot wire. The most difficult area for burners—how to realistically create animal fur, feathers, and eyes—is addressed.

Ellsworth on Woodturning: How a Master Creates Bowls, Pots, and Vessels

David Ellsworth

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Fox Chapel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $18.78

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A great read for anyone interested in woodturning, or in gaining insights into the mind of a master artist. 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

David Ellsworth's new book on Woodturning is, on one level, a concise introduction to his art. It covers everything that he teaches in his intensive three-day seminars taught at his home and in his week-long classes offered at leading schools of arts and crafts. He offers insights on wood selection and object design. He explains what tools he uses -- and how to make them -- and the techniques with which he applies those tools to the wood. With beautiful photographs and his own sketches, Ellsworth demonstrates how to create the three basic forms: open bowls, natural-edge bowls, and hollow vessels. He literally takes the reader from the sawing of a log to the sanding and finishing of a final product. On that level alone, his book would be a great success, one that anyone interested in woodturning should read.

But the book offers much more. Ellsworth is, after all, a master of his art. He invented many of the tools and developed many of the techniques that are used today by woodturners around the world. He as much as anyone has been responsible for the recognition that woodturning is more than a craft that produces useful objects. He has greatly contributed to the public appreciation that woodturning is an art and that its practitioners can produce works of beauty, revealing the special qualities of wood in shapes and forms with visual and tactile delight, often incorporating references to classic ceramic or glass forms. Along the way, he has challenged the conventional notions that woodturnings need to be functional, or that forms need to be monumental to be appreciated as art. In very personal ways, in this book, Ellsworth shares his sense of awe at the qualities of wood, and his appreciation for the work of other woodturners. For example, the sketches in the book are all by Ellsworth's own hand. They are very personal and, to this reader at least, each sketch says as much about the author as it does about the subject of the sketch.

So on a second level, the book reveals much about the mind of a gifted master of his art. He shares his deep appreciation of the qualities and varieties of wood, especially its ability to change as green wood dries and matures. He demonstrates the importance of using tools in their most efficient and effective manners. Ellsworth's appreciation for efficient use of tools also extends to the human body. For him it is important that the body be used in ways that minimize the wear and tear and maximize the opportunities for success in woodturning. For Ellsworth, the body of the artist should move in an almost dance-like way as the tools move through their arcs on the wood. It is only through such smooth and efficient movement that smooth and graceful lines can be created. On this level, the book reminds of George Nakashima's "The Soul of a Tree."

Finally, Ellsworth is not only a talented artist, he is also a caring and gifted teacher with a delightful sense of humor. In his brief concluding appendix, he sets forth his approach to teaching, revealing much about the artist as a person who takes joy in sharing his insights with others. And in his glossary we see his humor -- a buyer is someone with the means to purchase a turned wooden object; a collector is someone with the means to purchase a second object.

In summary, Ellsworth's book is a great read for anyone interested in woodturning, or in gaining insights into the mind of a master artist.

Editorial Review:

Using this first-ever book from an esteemed artist, woodworkers will learn how to replicate Ellsworth's turning techniques in their home workshops by following clear, easy-to-understand instructions from the "grandfather" of the contemporary wood-art movement. Featuring step-by-step directions for three projects—a hollow bowl, a natural-edge vessel, and a pot—this guide reveals how to correctly position the body so as to increase tool control and prevent back strain while working. For readers new to the lathe, Ellsworth provides tips for mounting objects and making different cuts, including techniques for the "Ellsworth Gouge" tool he created. Intermediate and advanced turners will appreciate the chapter on designing and sharpening their own tools. A gallery of Ellsworth's turnings and those in his personal collection will fuel the fire for artists looking to bring out the natural beauty in wood.