Woodworking: A Treatise on Collecting Books

My Woodworking Library

A treatise on my library and book buying habits.

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I don't read many types of woodworking books. In fact I restrict myself to books that fit in one of the following categories: furniture design, examples of fine furniture, workshop design and setup, finishing methods, tools and machinery maintenance and construction, woodworking as a business, joinery and other techniques, and historical woodworking. After a brief discussion of my library I will suggest title in each of these categories. Or, if you wish to skip the prologue, click one of the categories highlighted above to jump straight to it.

Disclaimer: The lists provided herein are not meant to be exhaustive. I may like books you don't, and vice versa. I also have not had the opportunity to read every book on woodworking yet, so there are some, probably very significant, omissions here. I do what I can. Besides, if I were reading all the time, when would I have time to make sawdust? Note: This list became out of date Fall 1999. Search the database for newer additions.

I believe in the power of the written word. Like many others who enjoy making shavings, my start in public school shop class was less than memorable. Let's just say that it was generally understood that I would not be making my living with my hands. I don't know if that was the plan, or whether it was by accident that some of the less academically minded kids got more attention in shop. (Upon reflection, and after having experience teaching, I would venture to guess that discipline had a little to do with it.)

Regardless of those experiences, I quickly learned that if I wanted to know something, I had best research it and read all the best materials available on the subject. This is not to say that reading replaces experience; not at all. Trial and error are the fundamental precepts of learning and improvement. However, adequate preparation can and does ensure that you minimize the number and degree of the errors that you make. This saves time, money, and frustration.

Thus, in building one project after another I have managed to amass a library of well over a hundred titles on the subject. Although I eat up woodworking books generally faster than they can be published, I don't read or even purhase many of the titles available. For example, I no longer have a scroll saw at my disposal so I would hardly buy one of Patrick Spielman's scroll saw pattern books; not that they require any amount of actual reading. Even if I did purchase a scroll saw I wouldn't buy any of them because I find myself to be sufficiently artistic to draw most of the things I need. Not that I claim to be Picasso, but I manage quite well thank you very much.

Then there is the ubiquitous bane of rec.woodworking; the plan. I have very few books on hand that contain plans because I don't use them. In my early days I tried that route, but usually the plans weren't right for my application or they were full of errors. I have since learned to formulate my own, or work from story sticks without the use of plans altogether.

I limit my purchases to books that fall into one of the following categories: furniture design, examples of fine furniture, workshop design and setup, finishing methods, tools and machinery maintenance and construction, woodworking as a business, joinery and other techniques, and historical woodworking. The books in my library that do not fall into one of these categories could be counted on two hands.

Before I discuss these sections in more detail, I would point out that there are two publishers of note that should be given special mention. The Taunton people, who publish Fine Woodworking magazine among others, are responsible for some of the highest quality woodworking books that are on the market. Other than my recent subscription to ShopNotes, Fine Woodworking is the best periodical around. My subscription to American Woodworker, which I started back when they were still large format and in black and white, has even gone by the wayside. The second publisher is Dover. Dover cannot be beat for reprints of important historical works in woodworking and their catalog is a must for anyone thinking of designing their own furniture. It contains many titles which house collections of period furniture examples.

Titles in Furniture Design

First a quick definition explaining what I mean by design; my definition includes all of the generally accepted means of joining together furniture or cabinets so that the finished product is professional looking in appearance, structure, and quality. By professional I mean as would be constructed by a skilled master, not the pseudo professional standard as seen in modern new construction and furniture stores.

To this end, Cabinetmaking and Millwork and Advanced Woodwork and Furniture Maker, both by John Feirer, are excellent books to use as reference materials when planning out a design for a new project. Highly recommended as well is the Encyclopedia of Furniture Making by Ernest Joyce. This is a classic, and if I am not mistaken has been re-released this past year in an updated version. These three books are classics and do show their age when you begin to consider the hardware you wish to use.

If you are planning to build cabinets especially, one of the newer books on cabinets by Danny Proulx would be appropriate and would fill you in on the latest hardware. If the classic design is more what you are looking for, perhaps a period reproduction, try Fine Woodworking's Fine Woodworking On Boxes, Carcasses and Drawers.

This collection will be invaluable when drawing up your latest project.

Examples of Fine Furniture

To do god work it helps to see good work. Short of visiting every furniture collection or museum you can find, which is obviously recommended, it helps to have a collection of books with examples on hand.

Aside from many of the Fine Woodworking publications, any Carlyle Lynch plans you can get your hands on, or the New Yankee Workshop books (yes I even consult Norm form time to time), here is a list that will provide you with pictures and diagrams of many different popular furniture styles, except some of that more modern-looking Krenov stuff, and pieces like it. I am a traditional guy so these reflect my traditional tastes - very European and Colonial with no Nakashima or even Frid-like pieces.

Authentic Georgian Furniture Designs (Ince)
Classic American Furniture (Clapper)
Making Furniture Masterpieces: 30 Projects with Measured Drawings (Gottshall)
Masterpieces of Furniture in Photographs and Measured Drawings (Salomonsky)
Measured Drawing of 18th Century American Furniture (Handberg)
Traditional Furniture Projects (Fine Woodworking)
Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture (Stickley)
Mission Furniture and How To Make It (Popular Mechanics)
Arts & Crafts Furniture (Howard)
Authentic Arts and Crafts Furniture Projects (Popular Woodworking)

Woodshop Books

I love looking at pictures of other people's workshops. I get lots of ideas that way. I even have quite a database of pictures gleaned from the internet, but I love to buy workshop books.

Of course, the best book on workshop design is The Workshop Book by Scott Landis. This book has no equal. Yes there are books with more explicit information on the mechanics involved in ventilation or electrical procedures, but this is the best all around book for making decisions regarding the shop.

Next to these I would have to list The Workbench Book, also by Landis, Woodshop Dust Control and Setting Up Shop, both by Sandor Nagyszalaczy, and most any issue of ShopNotes magazine for ideas. Shop Accessories You Can Build by the publishers of Fine Woodworking is also a good idea starter.

I would follow these with How To Design And Build Your Own Ideal Woodshop and Setting Up Your Own Woodworking Shop, both by Bill Stankus, Creating Your Own Woodshop by Charles Self, and The Workshop by Kingshott, for that final English touch.

Finishing Techniques

This is where my library is weakest. However, that having been said, you can finish just about anything if you are willing to experiment, and you buy one book: Adventures in Wood Finishing by Georges Frank. Frank is an old time wood finisher who trained near the beginning of the 20th century so his background includes the old and new, and a lifetime full of tricks of the trade.

I picked up a couple of books from the sixties at garage sales, All About Finishing by Colton and a Rockwell publication called Practical Finishing Methods, but they offer limited information about some of the newer trends. You would probably never find them now as I am sure that they are out of print.

Two excellent books I must recommend are Spray Finishing by Andy Charron and Understanding Wood Finishing by Bob Flexner. In addition to these check out the newer books on the subject by Taunton Press. I will be.

Titles to Assist When you Tune and Repair Tools

I do not have a very long list here because what I know I leaned through a combination of experience and the following three very fine books: first of all there is Mark Duginske's masterpiece, Mastering Woodworking Machines. This is a must! You cannot have machines and not have this book.

Second is a newer book that I strongly recommend, if you have a table saw, and that is Ian Kirby's The Accurate Table Saw. An excellent all around book, but it excels when you consider the tips on setting up your saw, and some of his jigs. Whilst on the topic of table saws, I will throw in a classic, that isn't really part of the big three I originally alluded to. It is The Table Saw Book by R.J. DeCristoforo. There are scads of lovely jig ideas in this book.

Finally, if you have a lathe, I suggest you get Ernie Conover's The Lathe Book. You will not be sorry.

Making a Living Through Woodwork

Here is a topic I am not so up to date on. I tried my hand at making money through woodworking and I didn't like the end result. That's another story! However, through the process I did happen upon a few great titles to assist those who are so inclined.

My favorite is Jim Tolpin's Working at Woodworking. Not only does he give you a step by step method to follow his method of work, but it is also a great, but unappreciated work on shop organization. This title does more for giving insights on organizing and building accessories for your shop than some books on the subject do. A great book.

Going Professional: A Woodworker's Guide, also by Tolpin, and Profitable Woodworking by Martin Edic give great insights into how to be successful in the trade.

Lastly, A Woodworker's Guide To Pricing Your Work by Ramsey give insights into one of the favorite questions in the rec.woodworking forum - how to set prices for your work, including your labor costs and everything else. Actually, that question comes up so often, I am thinking of writing a guide to setting your shop rate and using it to price out jobs. the process is rather complicated, but intriguing.

Proper Methods in Preparing Stock

Quality work depends upon knowing how to correctly shape the parts of a piece of furniture. You can't just grab a board off of a pile, hack a few joints out of it, and sand it down. Properly fitted joinery requires that the stock be prepared appropriately. This is a concept that just doesn't get enough attention. I feel, especially for the beginner, but equally for the experienced woodworker, that one of the most underrated but best titles on this process is Working With Wood by Peter Korn. He provides an excellent treatise on milling a board four square using a variety of tools, so that you can match the method to what you have to work with. He even includes a couple of nice small projects. I cannot stress the importance of this book enough.

In addition to this book, Tage Frid's timeless classics Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking: Vols 1,2 and 3 are must haves in any serious woodworker's library. His style of construction does not appeal to me but his methodology is sound beyond question.

If you are into ornamental turning, The Principles and Practice of Complex Turning by Holtzapffel is a good, if not intimidating read. The Manual of Traditional Wood Carving by Hasluck is also a great reference. However, if you are a beginning carver, I recommend you check out the three videos made by Ray Kinman on carving. I am just a beginner, and he got me over the hump from being afraid to touch the wood with the gouge to relief carving in no time at all. You can reach him at www.masterwoodcarver.com. The videos are relatively inexpensive and easy to follow.

Learning about the History of Woodworking

All of the following works provide excellent information on various aspects of historical woodworking. The only books I won't list by name are the Woodwright Shop books by Roy Underhill, because they are all good and I recommend every one of them.

Hand or Simple Turning (Holtzapffel)
The Principles and Practice of Complex Turning (Holtzapffel)
Mechanick Exercises or the Doctrine of Handy-Works (Moxon)
The Complete Woodworker (Jones)
Tools: Working Wood in the 18th Century (Gaynor)
Old Ways of Working Wood (Bealer)
Green Woodwork: Working With Wood the Natural Way (Abbott)