Wood Identification & Use: Identification & Use

by Terry Porter

Full-size, hardcover edition describes over 200 timber species in detail. Learn more about common and exotic wood from around the world in this lavishly illustrated, hardcover edition of Terry Porter’s bestseller, WOOD Identification & Use . This indispensable guide features handsome color photographs of each species and reliable data on working properties, seasoning requirements, typical uses, and safety considerations, along with inspiring examples of woodworking projects. Plus another 200 species are listed in brief. Designed for the individual or small-scale user, either professional or amateur, this must-have guide covers woods used in cabinetmaking, joinery, carpentry, turning, carving and a host of specialized applications. It includes most species in widespread use, and many less familiar ones that deserve to be better known. A comprehensive index is a handy extra you’ll appreciate. As beautiful as it is practical! This expanded version of WOOD Identification & Use includes 20 important species that did not appear in the original. You’ll rely on this guide for important information and love browsing through its beautiful pages. Specially commissioned drawings of living trees show details of their leaves, fruit and flowers, enhancing our appreciation of wood in its many forms.

Genres: Woodwork, Reference, Nonfiction, Design

288 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2007

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have zero interest in the art of woodworking, I admit, but I do have an interest both in nature and acquiring obscure knowledge that may or may not save me in some crucial as-yet-defined future life scenario. Or increase my chances of winning Trivial Pursuit. In any event, while I cannot comment on its usefulness in the woodworking field, I can say that for a layman, it is informative, colorful and easy to read. Lots of illustrations, photographs and diagrams.

I DO wish that the organization of each tree species (the bulk of the book) was more logical; the order and arrangements didn't seem to follow any kind of consistent structure. Meaning, for example, not all the pines are in one section of the book: some are grouped together, while others are placed singularly elsewhere. Though, maybe that's just down to user error and I'm missing it? In any case, it makes the presentation feel a bit more chaotic than a reference book should be (in my world).

Overall, great book. (I think this is the sort of book that people should write clever, ironic reviews about. But it IS really good in a non-ironical sense, too. :))

[Kevin Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gets used all the time helping Clients get a feel for and to Grok the wood parts of a project.

One on my favorite Reference books and the one that has been replaced many times because it just does not come back from a loan.

[Ralph Zoontjens · Rating 4 out of 5]

To get introduced to the world of woods, this is the best book. The 200+ species are all there, together with all the key information you need to make the right choice for a project. I was quite oblivious to the amount of species, the diversification across the globe, workshop health hazards, and scope of structural properties covered by all these woods. As a designer I am feeling compelled to start replacing some of the applications that we are usually inclined to cover with plastics or metals with woods instead - it is a much nicer material after all. Another gap in my dome of knowledge filled.

I would give it 5 stars only if it were absolutely perfect. A few small flaws are that little information is provided as to environmental sustainability efforts, the illustrations are quite small, hardly enough to be able to identify a tree on sight, plus a few illustrations and bits of information are missing where with a little bit of extra research I am sure it could have been completed. But that is all the complaining I have to do. It is a must-have compendium for all artists, designers, craftsmen, architects, and engineers.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This actually a very short read since most of it is a reference. Unless you're the kind who reads the dictionary. The first 30's pages or so introduce you to wood, its composition and biology, concepts of forestry, sawyering, seasoning, characteristics and precautions on working with woods. The remaining 250 pages are a comprehensive list of woods found in woodworking from around the world, organised by their biological names. (There is an index to help you find them by their common names.) Each page features a large, high quality color photograph and some drawings of the leaves, branches and overall shape of the tree. Sections describe the particulars of using the woods, seasoning and any toxic effects it can have. In most cases, it has pictures of furnishings and crafts made from the species being studied, which also serves as inspiration for working pieces.

If you're a hobby woodworker that wants to grow beyond the oak and maple from your local big box retailer, this book covers the obvious like cherry or beech, but also some of the more esoteric woods like purple heart and cocabola. More domestic species than you can shake a stick at.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting reference guide to various types of wood, and their characteristics and uses. It's surprisingly readable, for being a reference work of the type that it is. It includes an array of both very common and rather unusual woods, and to my limited knowledge, doesn't seem to have a particularly strong emphasis on the species common to any one part of the world.

[Jer Wilcoxen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference book. Appreciate the section on various woods' toxicity and toxicity notes in each wood's listing. A good option for any beginner woodworker to have on their shop's reference shelf.