The Workbench Design Book: The Art & Philosophy of Building Better Benches


Christopher Schwarz - 2011
    The 9 workbench plans have a range suitable for all workshop needs, from handwork to power tools. A discussion of workbench design rules teach what's effective and why in a multitude of workshop situations. Additional workholding options—from shop-made jigs and commercial bench dogs to vise hardware—are also provided.

The Handplane Book


Garrett Hack - 1997
    In The Handplane Book, aficionado Garrett Hack reveals the rich heritage of this classic tool with a treasure trove of information and history, including detailed guidance on how to buy a plane, tune it up, and use it. Lavishly illustrated with 175 photos and 152 illustrations, Hack engagingly traces the tool's lineage from Roman times to the present, with emphasis on the golden age of handplanes from the late 19th and the early 20th centuries.

The Why & How of Woodworking: A Simple Approach to Making Meaningful Work


Michael Pekovich - 2018
    There is a growing understanding of the need to fill our lives with meaningful and useful objects. How can woodworkers answer that call? Instagram sensation Mike Pekovich explains how to make work that is worth the time and effort it takes to make it, work that makes a difference, and work that will add to the quality of our lives.Explains the basics of woodworking, from choosing lumber with care, cutting joinery accurately, and preparing and finishing the surfaces. A simple approach to building boxes and furniture that are built to last. Includes information on designing and building cabinets, boxes, chests, casework, and tables.

The Unplugged Woodshop: Hand-Crafted Projects for the Home & Workshop


Tom Fidgen - 2013
    In his second book, Fidgen presents more hand-tool woodworking projects for the home and workshop. The projects have a distinctive retro look, recycling designs from our not-so-distant past. He has reconceived the classic library card catalog (converted to use for kitchen storage); a clever medicine chest does double duty as a four-bottle wine tote; and his gentleman’s valet is an elegant clothing stand with a profile that harks back in time. In the opening chapters, Fidgen discusses the benefits of working in an unplugged woodshop, considers the sources of design inspiration, offers advice on the critical importance of sharpening, and even explains how to make hand tools using only hand tools.

Hybrid Woodworking


Marc Spagnuolo - 2013
    Working this way can produce beautiful results, but is it the best method for woodworking in the 21st century?In Hybrid Woodworking, author and Internet woodworking star Marc Spagnuolo offers a more efficient approach that combines the strength of power-tool and hand-tool techniques. The end result: You save time and effort while producing furniture that still has that stunning handmade look.The Hybrid SystemHybrid Woodworking will show you which machines and power tools are best for the grunt work of furniture making. It will explain which hand tools are essential for fine-tuning. And best of all, it will demonstrate techniques for working flawlessly and efficiently with every machine and tool in your shop.Making beautiful furniture can be immensely gratifying. By adopting the hybrid woodworking system you can get to that satisfying end result with less effort while enjoying every step along the way.

The Complete Guide to Sharpening


Leonard Lee - 1995
    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.

The Workbench Book: A Craftsman's Guide to Workbenches for Every Type of Woodworking


Scott Landis - 1987
    278 color photos. 185 drawings.

The Woodwright's Shop: A Practical Guide to Traditional Woodcraft


Roy Underhill - 1981
    Combining historical background, folklore, alternative technololgy, and humor, he provides both a source of general information and a detailed introduction to traditional woodworking. Beginning with a guide to trees and tools, The Woodwright's Shop includes chapters on gluts and mauls, shaving horses, rakes, chairs, weaving wood, hay forks, dough bowls, lathes, blacksmithing, dovetails, panel-frame construction, log houses, and timber-frame construction. More than 330 photographs illustrate the text.For more than twenty-five years, Roy Underhill has taught the techniques of traditional hand-tool woodworking. In five books and on his popular, long-running PBS series, The Woodwright's Shop, America's leading authority on old-time woodcraft has inspired millions to take up chisel and plane. Designed for both woodworking novices and for more seasoned woodworkers looking for enjoyable projects, the books feature step-by-step instructions, complete with easy-to-follow photographs and measured drawings. Roy Underhill is the former master housewright at Colonial Williamsburg. He created The Woodwright's Shop, one of the first television programs devoted to woodworking, in 1979. The series is produced by the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television and has aired nationally since 1981. Roy is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master's degree from Duke University. He lives in Williamsburg, Virginia.The Woodwright's ShopA Practical Guide to Traditional WoodcraftFeatures a guide to trees and tools as well as chapters on gluts and mauls, shaving horses, chairs, lathes, blacksmithing, log houses, and more.The Woodwright's CompanionExploring Traditional WoodcraftIncludes chapters on helves and handles, saws, the search for the whetstone quarry, hurdles, whimmy diddles, planes, window sashes, and pit sawing.The Woodwright's WorkbookFurther Explorations in Traditional WoodcraftWith step-by-step instructions for tool chests, workbenches, lathes, and historical reproductions of items for the home. Roy also explores building barns, boats, and even colonial fortresses.The Woodwright's Eclectic WorkshopPopular projects include the Adirondack chair, tavern table, folding ladder, rocking horse, lathe, and kayak, all illustrated with photographs and measured drawings. The Woodwright's ApprenticeTwenty Favorite Projects from The Woodwright's ShopBegins with directions for building a workbench, then builds new skills--from frame construction to dovetailing, turning, steam-bending, and carving--with each successive project.

The Essential Woodworker: Skills, Tools and Methods


Robert Wearing - 1988
    With all the answers to your fundamental woodworking questions, this is an indispensable guide to basic skills and techniques, and how to apply them.

The Perfect Edge: The Ultimate Guide to Sharpening for Woodworkers


Ron Hock - 2009
    In The Perfect Edge, the mystery of the elusive sharp edge is solved by long-time sharpening expert and tool maker Ron Hock. You'll soon find how easy and safe hand tools are to use.This book covers all the different sharpening methods so you can either improve your sharpening techniques using your existing set-up, or determine which one will best suit you needs and budget. Ron shows you the tricks and offers expert advice to sharpen all your woodworking tools, plus a few around-the-house tools that also deserve a perfect edge.

The Joint Book: The Complete Guide to Wood Joinery


Terrie Noll - 2003
    This hardcover book with internal spiral binding is 6.5” × 8”, the perfect size for carpenters and woodworkers to keep near their workbench or toolbox for quick access. The design of this book allows it to lay open flat for easy and frequent reference. The interior photographs, illustrations, and diagrams make the learning process simple and fun for beginners, while advanced readers will gain insight from the book’s useful tips. Within, you’ll find:Step-by-step illustrated instructions for making all the basic joints in every joint family—mortise and tenon, dovetails, miters, and more—and their variations.Both hand tool methods and power tool techniques, plus a variety of easy-to-build jigs.How the nature of wood and its properties affect joinery, glue, and furniture design.The Joint Book is the ultimate workshop reference, providing woodworkers with the knowledge to choose the right joint for the job.

Understanding Wood


R. Bruce Hoadley - 1980
    Bruce Hoadley explains everything from how trees grow to how best to cut, season, machine, join, bend, and finish wood. Why do miters open and glue joints loosen? How do you get a really sharp edge? Examples of problems and solutions help woodworkers puzzle through their own projects, while full-color photos and helpful tables illustrate key points.

Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish


Bob Flexner - 1993
    The most practical, comprehensive book on finishing ever published, this guide offers advice for troubleshooting, distinguishing different products, and suggestions for creating beautiful finishes.

The Impractical Cabinetmaker: Krenov on Composing, Making, and Detailing


James Krenov - 1979
    In this volume, first published in 1979, Krenov invites the reader into his workshop, where he shares his techniques and uncompromising approach to craftsmanship, along with thoughts about his work and its place in the world. Photo sequences show how Krenov composes a cabinet directly in the wood, without dimensioned drawings. He also discusses working with shop-sawn veneers, the technique of fitting curved doors, and the problems of accuracy and mistakes. The book concludes with a detailed exploration of three furniture projects: a curved showcase cabinet, a writing table with drawer, and a chess table.

Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking, and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way


Lars Mytting - 2011
    Norwegian Wood provides useful advice on the rustic hows and whys of taking care of your heating needs, but it’s also a thoughtful attempt to understand man’s age-old predilection for stacking wood and passion for open fires. An intriguing window into the exoticism of Scandinavian culture, the book also features enough inherently interesting facts and anecdotes and inspired prose to make it universally appealing. The U.S. edition is a fully updated version of the Norwegian original, and includes an appendix of U.S.-based resources and contacts.