The Complete Book of Woodworking: An Illustrated Guide to Tools and Techniques

by Declan O'Donoghue

Whether you've mastered the mitered corner or don't know its definition, you'll find something useful in this book. Packed with practical information (step-by-step instructions illustrated in close-up photographs), THE COMPLETE BOOK OF WOODWORKING takes you from laying out the workshop to carving a scallop jewelry box.
Here you'll learn to tell the difference between such woods as bubinga and zebrano; how to lay veneer three different ways; why chairs are the ultimate challenge for furniture-makers; what is the proper way to use a chisel; how to apply lacquers, oils, and waxes; and lots more. The book also provides an introduction to design, including sketching and drawing techniques; a tool directory; and nine projects (among them, making a glass-topped table, a breakfast tray, and a parquetry shelf and mirror) to put what you've learned into practice. Including advice from eight experts, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF WOODWORKING tells you just about everything you want to know about this enjoyable hobby.

Genres: Woodwork

232 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Tech Nossomy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An encyclopedic overview which serves as a good reference for both the aspiring as well as the seasoned woodworker. The book is so full of images and photos that it sometimes makes for ambiguous or uneven flow of the surrounding text. On one occasion power tools are discussed, but hand tools are displayed alongside the text, by way of a remnant from the previous page. One of the best books I have seen on creating a through-dovetail joint start to end. Imperial system is annotated with metric system.