Replies

1. 
   Napie | Mar 01, 2004 06:12pm | #1

   Tage Frid's three book series from Taunton.  Those are the bible for woodworkers.

2. 
   AlbionWood | Mar 01, 2004 09:18pm | #2

   Napie beat me to it, so I'll just second that one.  Frid's books are widely available in used bookstores at good prices, even though the information in them is priceless. 

    "Understanding Wood" by Hoadley, and "Understanding Wood Finishing" by Flexner are essential.  Flexner in particular is extremely valuable, as that subject is perhaps the greatest cause of confusion.  Make sure they get that one!

   "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler."  A. Einstein

   http://www.albionworks.net

3. 
   AlanWS | Mar 01, 2004 10:08pm | #3

   Most of this list probably originated in suggestions from others here, but these are the books I've found useful enough that I bought them after reading them from the library:

   Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking (A classic. Definitely get vols 1 & 2, available together as a single book. Vol 3 is good too, but not at the same level of necessity.)

   Woodworking Basics - Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship

   Peter Korn A very good intro. A smaller and more focussed subset of Frid's books, clearly written and with better pictures. (That was meant as a high compliment.)

   The Complete Guide to Sharpening

   by Leonard Lee

   The Bandsaw Handbook Mark Duginske (The Bandsaw Book by Lonnie Bird book is supposed to be good too.)

   The Tablesaw Book Kelly Mehler

   Care and Repair of Shop Machines by John White This is extremely helpful for getting the most out of your stationary power tools. It's similar to the also very good Mastering Woodworking Machines by Mark Duginske, for which there's also a video. (There might be one for the White book too. I don't know.)

   There are many books on making joints, starting with Frid, and showing no sign of stopping. I've found Classic Joints with Power Tools

   by Yeung Chan to be quite useful.

   Making & Mastering Wood Planes by David Finck This is a wonderful book that can serve as a good general introduction to woodworking, in the context of teaching you to make and use wooden planes. Unfortunately, it's not readily available any more. The Plane Book (I think that's the title) by Sam Allen is another excellent book that appears to be out of print.

   In general, Taunton Press is a good bet in woodworking books.

   Check out your library, but if there are some you decide you can't live without, you can join the woodworker's book club. http://www.woodworkersbookclub.com

4. 
   stephengaal | Mar 02, 2004 01:16am | #4

   Measure Twice, Cut Once by Jim Tolpin

   Stephen J. Gaal

1. 
   Ecbntmkr | Mar 02, 2004 04:46pm | #5

   Thanks for everyones input! I will add these to the list. However, what about some of the more specific books of the trade, such as turning, chair making, etc. What about books on the history of woodworking or books about an idividual woodworkers work? I have my own opinions but would appreciate some others. The more suggestions the better.

   Thanks, Eric

   Edited 3/2/2004 8:47:41 AM ET by ECBNTMKR

1. 
   RickL | Mar 02, 2004 06:23pm | #6

   Ernest Joyce's book Encyclopedia of Furniture Making is the standard many of us started using 30 years ago and it's still good and even updated.

   These two sites have a great selection.

   http://www.stobartdavies.com/system/index.html

   http://www.cambiumbooks.com

2. 
   Napie | Mar 02, 2004 06:32pm | #7

   Turning: Anything by Richard Raffen. Like Frid, he is very practical.

   Chairs: Anything by Mike Dunbar or Jim Rendi, (I like windsors). And Drew Lasingers chairmaking book.

   General stuff: "The Workbench Book", "The Handplane Book", "The Toolbox Book".  Also Queen Ann Furniture" by Norm Vandel.

   The original "Fine Woodworking On" series is full of great stuff too.

   Both of the biographies on Sam Malof and George Nakishima, great inspirations.

3. 
   10fingers | Mar 02, 2004 07:07pm | #8

   I would suggest:

   all the books by James Krenov

   Frank LLoyd Wright by Taschen

   Arts & Crafts Furniture by Kevin Rodel and Jonathan Binzen

   Greene & Greene The Passion and the Legacy  by Randell Makinson

   Greene & Greene Architecture as a Fine Art and Fruniture and Related Designs by

          Randell Makinson

1. 
   yotonyb | Mar 02, 2004 08:13pm | #10

   Start with a subscription to Fine Woodworking Magazine if your library isn't already getting it!  Any Taunton publication would be of value.  In particular, I liked Chairmaking and Design by Jeff Miller.  Flexner, Dresdner and Johnson's books on finishing have also been a valuable resource.  More titles when I get home to look on the shelf.

   This thread has inspired me to do something I've thought about for some time.  Has anyone ever offered to donate books to their neighborhood library?  I have a number of duplicates that have been received as gifts in years past.  Most are perfect or near-perfect having been placed on a shelf or in a bookcase.

   Presumably the library has a selection process for adding new titles.  My desire is to donate titles that would actually make it on the shelves...as opposed to ending up in the annual book sale to defray operating expenses.

   I love books...I'm loathe to give away any book that I have for fear of letting go of something truly valuable.  Much of what I've learned can be attributed to the written word...in print and on-line!  So I feel an obligation to "pay it forward" since I really don't have a way to pay it back!   

   tony b.

1. 
   yotonyb | Mar 03, 2004 09:27am | #11

   Woodworking by Albert Jackson, David Day and Simon Jennings is a thorough reference book for the beginner and intermediate woodworker.

   For the arts & crafts enthusiast, any of Robert Lange's plan books for craftsman furniture would be a good addition. Also, The Furniture of Gustav Stickley by Bavaro and Mossman.

   tony b.

4. 
   AlbionWood | Mar 02, 2004 08:01pm | #9

   The more suggestions the better.

   OK, you asked for it!  ;-)

   Carving:

   How to Carve Wood, by Rick Butz

   Essential Woodcarving Techniques, Dick Onians

   Chip Carving, Wayne Barton

   Manual of Traditional Wood Carving, Paul Hasluck (Dover)

   Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving, David Esterly

   History:

   The Woodwright's Shop, Roy Underhill (essential!  Get the whole series.)

   The History of Furniture, John Morley (Art-history viewpoint rather than woodworking, but still valuable; the most detailed of all similar books)

   Oak Furniture: The British Tradition, by Victor Chinnery (narrow focus on 16th and 17th century English furiture, but the best book of its kind; actually goes into detail about construction techniques)

   Old Ways of Working Wood, Alex Bealer

   Hand Tools, Aldren Watson

   Dictionary of Woodworking Tools, R. A. Salaman

   Wood:

   Know Your Woods: A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers, by Albert Constantine Jr.

   World Woods in Color, William Lincoln

   Even though I don't have many of them in my library (yet!), I recomend several of the Taunton Press books - they are doing a beautiful job.  I do have The Workbench Book (highly recommended) and Arts and Crafts Furniture (ditto).  The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery looks valuable.   If I was spending someone else's money I'd probably get the whole series."Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler."  A. Einstein

   http://www.albionworks.net

5. 
   ian | Mar 03, 2004 12:18pm | #12

   Eric, my 0.02 worth ...

   Ideally you should cover a range of experience and skill levels think beginners through to experienced craftspeople, book browsers through to project builders, furniture designers through to those who must have a plan to follow.

   In addition to those mentioned by others, books I've found useful:

   The project books published Taunton and publishers.  Examples from Taunton include: The Bed Book, Chests of Drawers, Box Making Basics, etc.  Not only are they useful for both project inspiration they also typically contain very useful or insiteful advice on the options available to complete a specific task, like joining bed rails to head and foot boards.

   Advice books again from Taunton and other publishers. Examples on my shelf include Great Wood Finishes (Jeff Jewitt), Setting up Shop (Sandor Nagyszalancy)

   the two books by David Charlesworth, Furniture-Making Techniques, Volume 1 and Volume 2.  I bought Vol 1 three weeks ago and found I couldn't put it down.

   My local library has a pretty good wood working section so you may want to browse the catalogue at http://203.111.117.216/uhtbin/cgisirsi/Pld0RfaJvI/306350015/60/1180/X to see what titles they carry.  as well as searcing by key word, you could also browse by categories such as "step-by-step" just remember that you will have to use english rather than US spelling for some terms.  Lastly, the catalogue is computerised so if you email the librarian they may be able to tell you which books are most popular ie how frequently each title has ben borrowed, typical length of loan, etc.

   Ian

6. 
   stephengaal | Mar 04, 2004 01:23am | #14

   Would you be willing to post the final list that you assemble? There is a library in every town that we all live in.  Thanks.Stephen J. Gaal

1. 
   Ecbntmkr | Mar 04, 2004 07:23am | #16

   Steve,

   I'll post the final listing when the thread dies. I have a few that I will add on such as;

   Woodshop Dust Control by Sandor Nagyszalanczy (I've always wondered how to pronounce the last name)

   The Woodworkers Guide to Pricing Your Work by Dan Ramsey (thanks to a post long ago by Forestgirl, sincerely thanks!)

   I have some others but they're not in front of me, however I will post the final list for others to take to their library.

   Eric

7. 
   robert1 | Mar 04, 2004 06:41am | #15

   Any woodworking book by Aldren Watson. My favorites are "Furniture Making-Plain and Simple" and "Country Furniture". I also like David Charlesworth's two volume series on "Furniture Making Techniques".

5. 
   JerBear | Mar 04, 2004 01:03am | #13

   The Soul Of A Tree by George Nakashima.  Big book, philosophical, very informative, written by one of the great woodworkers and innovators who would only think outside the box.