I’m new to “fine” woodworking and trying to decide if this is a hobby I can afford and support at this point in my life (hectic job and young kids at home).
In trying to learn some of the finer points before I jump in headfirst and therefore I am always on the lookout for resources. I have seen Taunton’s series on woodworking:
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking – Three Volume Set: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Shaping Wood, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction, and The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery
Is this a good place to start or is their a better place for someone in my place?
Replies
Those books are good, but the real question is: what kinds of things would you like to make, or are you looking to make a variety of fine wood working projects? This will determine which books are most beneficial.
Also, what tools do you have? There are some fantastic books on routers and band saws and table saws out there that are also good starter books.
Scott
Slacker Extraordinaire
Specializing in nothing but knowledge in everything.
Edited 9/7/2005 3:51 pm ET by generalkael
You don't specify what type of stuff you're interested in, but if its basic casework, I always put in a plug for Paul Levine's MAKING KITCHEN CABINETS.
Below are comments I made sometime back on the Amazon web site:
"If you are new to cabinet making, this is the one book you should have to learn how to make frameless cabinets.
Levine has a system which may not be for everyone, but it is easy to understand, and he explains things with a clarity that is hard to find in the woodworking world. Here is what I like:
1) He explains basic dimensions and layouts for kitchen cabinets. There are no plans, but there are lots of photos and illustrations.
2) His coverage of European hinges (Grass) and Accuride drawer slides will be invaluable if are just learning how to install this hardware.
3) Ditto for plastic laminate.
4) In the field of woodworking, I think Levine is just about unparalleled at taking complex information and explaining it with great clarity.
Another customer review did not recommend the book because it was dated; that's true in the sense he refers to Accuride slides that have now been discontinued; but the basic principles of construction, installation, and the like are as relevant today as when the book was first published.
If you are getting started and would like to know how to build European style cabinets (without face frames), there is no better book."
*****************************************************
The only thing I would add is that he will teach you a basic system which can be used for making any box. I still use this same system that I learned from this book many years ago.
********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I'm not familiar with the ones you have listed, but I got a lot of mileage out of these two Tage Frid books when I was starting to get into WW.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1561580686/002-9434406-8730435?v=glance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/091880440X/002-9434406-8730435?v=glance
Waddaya mean it wont fit through the door?
Familyman, I'm more or less in the same situation as you: demanding work plus young child, trying to squeeze time in to learn by doing. My goal is casework cabinetry, simple furniture and built ins, e.g. shop cabinets, bookshelves, entertainment centers, end tables, blanket/toy chests. I started out buying a few really good power tools and lots and lots of books. After several years of stumbling and bumbling, I'm just beginning to feel like I can execute some simple designs.
Most of the books I have have not been very useful to me to learn as a beginner -- they leave out too many details that I assume are "obvious" to many or most woodworkers, but for one reason or another not to me.
I second the recommendation of the Tage Frid series as an essential, even seminal work. Together with a book called "Encyclopedia of Furniture Making" (massive, older book, can't think of the author off hand -- Joyce maybe?) they seem to cover the necessary concepts admirably. Subscriptions to Fine Woodworking and Shop Notes have been good joinery, and design idea sources. For finishing I rely on Bob Flexner's "Understanding Wood Finishing."
Hope this helps! -robert
To get to "fine" woodworking, you first have to get to "OK", and then "good" woodworking. I'm at "good" and working to "fine" myself.
I think Wood Magazine might be just the ticket for you. I still subscribe, and most libraries carry it. Nothing wrong with Fine Woodworking, either.
Chris
In this day and age of electronic media I think we often forget about the good ol' library. I just checked out a couple books today with the intention of skimming them and seeing which are most desirable to have in a permanent collection.
You could spend as much on books as on tools and still not be any better at woodworking. Find the ones you like and then buy them.
Thanks for the feedback. I have seen the reading list posted on this site in other threads, but since I was looking at the FWW series at the same time, I of course, noted that they were missing.
Since I am just getting started, I am trying to spend my money wisely and don't want to squander tool money on iffy books.
Also, I'm trying to to find the balance between spending all my time reading about woodworking verses getting better. At the same time, I don't want to spend all of my time learning bad habits or re-inventing techniques that I could have learned in a couple of hours of reading.
I guess this is the beginner's dilemma.
Life is good. Wood is beautiful. Tools are expensive.
Thanks again.
Familymay
I'm in the same boat. That is why I suggested the library. There is so much out there (in print) that you could spend all your money on books and never have anything for tools and wood.
Which brings up the price of wood. Practice on some cheap stuff so when you butcher it (and you will), you won't cry over the $$ you just turned into sawdust.
Finally, there is no substitute for experience. I am finding that out right now with using a jointer. Driving me nuts, but I'm figuring out some of what I am doing wrong.
Iffy books are a lot cheaper then iffy tools.
Another way would be to get your hands on some back issues of Woodworkers Journal, Woodsmith etc. and see what is involved in the way of tools, tooling and time to accomplish. One of the great things about woodworking, is you can start with a few basic hand tools and a small space and produce useful things. If you like it, you can ramp up to more tools and more complex projects.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled