Measure Twice, Cut Once: Lessons from a Master Carpenter

by Norm Abram

Norm Abram is America's most famous master carpenter, appearing in The New Yankee Workshop and This Old House. In this book, Abram presents a series of sixty lessons for carpenters of all levels of expertise.

Genres: Woodwork, Nonfiction, Memoir, Reference, Biography

196 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Master carpenter of This Old House since the series’ 1979 premiere, and host of The New Yankee Workshop since its premiere a decade later, Norm Abram has inspired millions of homeowners to renovate and restore their homes. Seen across the country as the ultimate home improvement guru, everyone wishes Norm lived next door.

This carpenter-turned-celebrity was “discovered” by creator Russell Morash, who had commissioned him to build a barn on Russ’s suburban Boston property. Russ was so impressed with Norm’s work (he had the smallest scrap pile Russ had ever seen) that he invited the carpenter to help with the renovation of a rundown Victorian house in Boston’s historic Dorchester section—with a WGBH camera crew recording the process for a series. It was an instant success, and Norm has been master carpenter for This Old House ever since.

Admired for his easy-going manner and common-sense approach to renovation, Norm is an uncompromising old-world craftsman and a pioneer who searches out new construction products and approaches. His appearances at trade shows across the country and on Today, The Late Show With David Letterman, Oprah!, Entertainment Tonight, and Good Morning America are extremely popular. His likeness, complete with a trademark plaid shirt, has been featured on Home Improvement, Saturday Night Live, Steven Spielberg’s Freakazoid, and in nationally syndicated cartoons.

Norm has authored eight companion books, including Ask Norm, The New Yankee Workshop, Classics From The New Yankee Workshop, Mostly Shaker From The New Yankee Workshop, Outdoor Projects From The New Yankee Workshop, Norm Abram’s New House, Measure Twice, Cut Once, and, The New Yankee Workshop Kids’ Stuff, all published by Little, Brown and Company. He has also contributed to Complete Remodeling and Complete Landscaping, both published by This Old House Books in conjunction with Sunset Books in 2004. Norm serves on the editorial board of This Old House magazine, published by This Old House, LLC., also authoring the popular column, Norm’s Tricks of the Trade.

Born in Rhode Island, Norm was exposed to the carpentry trade by his carpenter father as a young child. Norm continued to refine his skills working by his father’s side remodeling and building custom homes through high school and college vacations. He attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he studied mechanical engineering and business administration. In 1976, after three years as a site supervisor for a New England-based, multimillion-dollar construction firm, he founded Integrated Structures, Inc., a general contracting company he operated until 1989. The main focus of the company was house renovations and additions, with the occasional new home or commercial project.

Norm is also on the board of trustees of Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and had the privilege of giving the 2001 commencement speech at The North Bennet Street School in Boston, which is renowned for its commitment to teaching craftsmanship.

Norm lives with his wife in a classic Colonial home that he built in Massachusetts. They enjoy cooking and entertaining, visiting art galleries and museums, as well as boating, fishing, and kayaking.

Reviews

[Kelly Sedinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a re-read, but I've never ranked this book on GR before. Anyway, this is a comfort read for me, one of those books I dip into once in a while because it's pleasant. I wasn't quite sure who Abram's intended audience was here; the book isn't really for beginners, and any carpenter of experience will know most of the things in here. The book is partly memoir, part remembrance of Abram's father, part "stories from the jobsite"...and then it hit me. If you've ever been a small-town hardware store--not Home Depot or Lowe's, but the joint on the corner in the town center with the wood floors that creak as you walk on them and the tight aisles, the place where you can hear music playing on the single-speaker radio that's behind the counter but you can't really listen to the music because there are three or four people talking hardware and tools and stories about what they're working on at home with the man or woman running the place, THAT is the tone here. Sometimes these folks are telling each other something new, sometimes they're learning, but lots of times they're just telling each other stories that they already know because they've all been around forever and they've all had the same things happen to them on jobs.

It's a good book and nice to read, if working with tools is any part of your life. (It is mine.) If you need help with the atmosphere, imagine the scent of sawdust and metal and machine oil in the air as you read it.

UPDATE: Read again in the waning days of 2024 and beginning of 2025. Times like that are made for comfort reads.

[Jake Murdock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this book based on a recommendation from a woodworking buddy. Wonderful book to be honest! This book is a streak of conscious thought of a man looking through his tool box and giving advice based on each tool. Norm talks a lot about general contracting in construction, but draws parallels to finish carpentry which I appreciated. All around, a foundational book for the woodworker. 4/5 because I wish the structure was more defined and that the parallels between finish carpentry were more drawn out.

[Martin Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have rediscovered the local library! And remember my first trip to one when I was super young. The other day I found this beautiful little book, could have read in one sitting. I absolutely enjoyed this from one of my woodworking heroes. True most of the "know how" would be known, but loved reading and hearing Norm's advice in Norm Abram's voice. I felt there should be more pictures, and in one paragraph it read "see below" as though there was a reference picture (but there wasn't)- so it isn't exactly a book for beginners. It does make me want to make a list of tools followed by an inventory of my toolbox. I recommend this for anyone who loves working with wood.

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice autobiographical window in to Norm's life and especially his life as a carpenter. Family recollections abound, all highlighted with basic practical information related to his life's vocation.
Having worked in the construction industry since age 10, and having watched the 'Master carpenter' of 'This Old House' series since its 1979 premiere, and adding 'The New Yankee Workshop' to my menu later on, this book was a relaxing joy to read.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never expect to use any of the tools or tips in this book, but I could hear Norm’s voice reading it to me and I had a great time. I was hoping this would be more memoir than tool tips, but I sailed through regardless.

He references both Ancient Greece and ancient Egypt as well as the Latin roots of words. The bar is high, people. Cos Norm built it way up there.

[Chris Wiegman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit basic, but a fun read for me!

[John Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected. A bit disappointed at the content. Not Recommended.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norm Abram shares some tips and reflections from his years of carpentry. I enjoyed it and learned some helpful things.

[David Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

a re-read, but I've never ranked this book on GR before.

[Shaun Deane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing new here if you are even a little bit beyond a complete beginning woodworker or home weekend warrior.

[Ron Houseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The New Yankee Workshop

[Jeffrey Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is less of a “How To” book and more of a combination of stories about growing up the son of a carpenter and a series of tips on how to get the most out of your tools.

I didn’t have any expectations for the book when I picked it up, but it was an enjoyable and easy read. Norm’s stories about his father made me think about the woodworkers I grew up watching and helping, my father and both grandfathers.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really important in this book,
but the writer has a nice style of writing and it was fun to read.

BUT HE IS WRONG!

He thinks Philips screwdrivers work better than slot drivers because they have 4 edges to fit into the screw head.

FACT
in 1932 an engineer at Phillips thought line workers were over tightening screws with the electric screwdrivers.
sooooo, he invented the Phillips screw which cannot be over tightened.

When a certain amount of torque is applied,
the screwdriver slips out of the screw head.

Any one who's tried screwing a Phillips into a hard piece of wood knows that.
It slips out, again, and again.

The last decade, people finally got wise
and now there are screws with a square hole or a star,
or some similar design that is slip resistant.

[Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply excellent.
I mean, I don't know how right he is with his carpentry advice, but I'm sure his folksy wisdom is worthwhile.
Besides, tool and skills are things that should be passed down from generation to generation--something we've lost in the past century.

[Alec O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Norm!

[Richard Mcdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty elememtry for people familar with tools. For Norm/New Yankie Workshop fans, a some insight to his personallity and family ties.

[Kamal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly unremarkable book for anyone familiar with woodworking.

[Mattpday · Rating 4 out of 5]

so simply stated you can't help but laugh

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little book about tools, their history, their use and stories from his life. Some practical insight into what some tools in my garage are and how to use them.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice from one carpenter's son to another. Makes you want to look over your toolbox.

[Kate]

So I only finished 80% of this and was done. I liked what I read though.