Synopses & Reviews
Woodworking should be a fun and fulfilling hobby. Bypass the overwhelming overload of woodworking information available, and get Back to Basics with the core information you need to succeed. This new series offers a clear road map of fundamental woodworking knowledge on sixteen essential topics. In Woodworker's Guide to Wood, you'll learn what is important to know now and what can be left for later. Best of all, the information is presented in the plain-spoken language you'd hear from a trusted friend of relative, and includes: - Knowing the character of the wood to allow you to make the most of your woodworking abilities - Learning the complex process that takes place from tree to lumberyard - How to assess the lumber that you find - Using veneers and man-made boards - Drying and storing your wood - Discovering the elegant tradition of green woodworking - A directory of wood The world's already complicated - your woodworking information shouldn't be.
Review
I was once told that a tree is nothing but an overgrown weed! As a long time woodworker I have much more respect for them and certainly appreciate the length of time it takes to grow a hardwood tree. The authors have done an excellent job of encapsulating volumes in this 158 page reference book. They cover the wood from tree to finished project with a list of both hard and soft woods, moisture content, shrinkage, portable sawmill cutting (to save waste), veneers and man-made materials. This whole series is beautifully put together and my hat is off to Skills Institute Press and Fox Chapel Publishing
Review
Having an intimate knowledge of the material we as woodworkers work with is extremely useful and this book gives us just that. Understanding the theory of wood movement is just the start to this insightful and resourceful book. Flat sawn, rift saw and quarter sawn methods and what those methods mean to woodworkers is also included in this book. Understanding lumber grades, how to build a solar kiln, portable sawmill cutting, estimating wood movement, storage racks, a wood directory that provides useful information on commonly used lumber and working with man made materials and veneers are also covered. This 156 page book is the bare facts, no nonsense book on the unique properties of wood and how to work within the limitations of those properties. Know the material you work with intimately and you'll become a better woodworker ..
Review
Every woodworker should own at least one book about wood and this would be a good one to have in your shop. Woodworker's Guide to Wood: Straight Talk for Today's Woodworker (Back To Basics) provides basic information about the properties of wood and how to identify them and includes a good looking wood directory complete with photos. There are also sections about veneer, selecting and storing lumber, and even a chapter about working with green lumber. For such a little book there is a good amount of information about a favorite topic of all woodworkers: wood.
Review
The cover says it all, (almost), there is a beautiful cross section of a log with its various components. The chapter 'From Log to Lumber' will enlighten most woodworkers that think wood just grows on trees. From the felling of a tree to a 2x4 is covered in great depth and some of the information will surprise even the woodworking veteran. The selection and the grading of lumber is covered as is the amount of shrinkage of the various species. If you have ever wondered how they make veneer, wonder no more. There is a very interesting chapter on how the various veneers are shaved off a log and the Guide shows you how you can produce smaller pieces of veneer. There is a chapter on drying and storing wood as well as one on plywood. Want to work with green wood? This book shows you how and illustrates many of the tools that will make the work easier. The final chapter deals with and beautifully illustrates a wide selection of conventional and exotic wood species with their various characteristics. An excellent book to have around.
Synopsis
The practical information in this shop-tested manual gives woodworkers everything they need to know about their favorite material: wood. Woodworkers will learn how wood behaves in response to atmospheric humidity, how to measure its moisture content, how to shop for wood, how to manage various lumber grades and defects, how to work with manufactured boards and veneers, and how to harvest and season their own wood. Several woodworking projects are also detailed in this guide, including how to build a solar kiln to season wood and how to build storage racks. An extensive listing of wood species with working properties and full-color photos helps woodworkers save money on their next project by choosing the appropriate species and grade of wood.
Synopsis
Get Back to Basics with the core information every woodworker needs. This book will give you a clear roadmap of wood knowledge, from assessing the lumber you find to discovering the elegant tradition of green woodworking.
About the Author
John Kelsey is a journalist, an editor, and a writer specializing in woodworking and furniture making. He is a former editor in chief for Fine Woodworking magazine and a publisher of woodworking and homebuilding books at the Taunton Press. He is the author of several woodworking books, including Furniture Projects for the Deck and Lawn and Kid Crafts: Woodworking. He currently serves as the Editorial Director for Fox Chapel Publishing.
Table of Contents
*Understanding wood *Softwoods and hardwoods *How wood is harvested and processed into boards *Reading wood grain and figure *Identifying wood species *Milling your own wood *Selecting wood at the lumber yard *Ordering wood from a specialty dealer *Calculating how much wood you need *Saving money by understanding wood grades *Working with wood defects *Preparing raw boards for woodworking *Choosing and using veneers *Understanding plywood grades *Working with plywood and other man-made boards *Measuring moisture content of wood *Building a solar kiln to season your own wood *Building racks for storing wood *Working with green wood *Wood directory