Included here are both some books I like and sources for books of interest to woodworkers. Also see the
OLDTOOLS booklist,
which is far more extensive.
Books
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Restoring, Tuning & Using Classic Woodworking Tools Michael Dunbar Sterling Publishing Co, Inc., 1989 ISBN 0-8069-6670-X A great user-oriented guide to selecting, tuning and using a wide variety of old tools. Mostly oriented to cabinet and chair-makers. |
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The Cooper and his Trade
Kenneth Kilby Linden Publishing Co, Inc., 1989 ISBN 0-941936-16-3 A technical and historical account of the coopering trade. Kilby is a cooper turned teacher, and the combination of historical and craft expertise in this book is impressive. |
| The Complete Guide to Sharpening
Leonard Lee Taunton Press, 1995 ISBN 1-56158-067-8 How to sharpen just about anything, by the president of Veritas and Lee Valley. Full of little anecdotes and samples of Lee's extensive tool collection. Purists may object to Lee's fascination with funky jigs, some of which he happens to sell, but I like seeing multiple solutions to the problems. |
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| Dictionary of Woodworking Tools
R. A. Salaman The Taunton Press, 1990 ISBN 0-942391-51-9 An encyclopedic reference, with zillions of drawings and extensive notes on a variety of trades. Covers the period 1700-1970. Despite the generality of the title, it discusses only handtools. |
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Hand Tools: Their Ways and Workings
Aldren A. Watson Lyons & Burford, 1996? ISBN 1-55821-224-8 I suspect most woodworkers could learn something from this book, but it's especially great if you don't have a real live mentor to show you the tricks of the trade. Watson describes the minutiae of using tools to best advantage; the kinds of things you learn slowly by trial and error or by working day after day with a grizzled veteran. He covers fewer classes of tools than Dunbar, but in greater depth. |
| The Wooden Plane: Its History, Form, and Function
John M. Whelan Astragal Press, 1993 ISBN 1-879335-32-8 An encyclopedic reference that covers shaves, scrapers and trade-specialized planes as well as the usual stuff. It covers Asian and Continental planes, and includes a taxonomy of molding plane profiles and a numerical indexing system. |
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| Understanding Wood
R. Bruce Hoadley Taunton Press, Inc., 1980 ISBN 0-918804-05-1 A great reference on the structure, behavior and machining properties of wood. Includes ways to estimate wood movement and structural strength. |
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| Understanding Wood Finishing
Bob Flexner Rodale Press, Inc., 1994 0-87596-566-0 A good discussion of the chemical and physical properties of different classes of finishes, making it much less of a black art than a lot of other things I've read. Not as good on aesthetic as on technical points, I think. |
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| Making & Modifying Woodworking Tools
Jim Kingshott Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd., 1992 ISBN 0-946819-32-7 Not obsessive enough yet? Make your own planes of hand-dovetailed steel. |
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| The Workbench Book
Scott Landis The Taunton Press, 1987 ISBN 0-918804-76-0 A nice combination of plans and visits to other people's benches old and new. A great source of ideas if you're planning a bench. |
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Cambium Books |
Good selection, online ordering. |
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Lindsay Publications |
A quirky collection of technology books. Wood is in the minority, but worth a look. |
| Linden
Publishing 352 W. Bedford, #105 Fresno, CA 93711 (800) 345-4447 |
Linden's Woodworker's Library catalog has a great selection
of books and videos on woodworking, tools and allied topics.
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Woodworkers' Discount Books 735 Sunrise Circle Woodland Park, CO 80863 (800) 378-4060 |
A nice selection of books and videos, often at good prices.
Free shipping on orders of 3 items or more.
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| Taunton Press
63 S. Main St. P.O. Box 5506 Newtown, CT 06470 (800) 888-8626 |
Taunton publishes Fine Woodworking and Home Furniture
magazines. They also publish an ever-expanding list of woodworking books
and videotapes, including two series of FWW reprint collections.
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| Astragal
Press 5 Cold Hill Road Suite 12 P.O. Box 239 Mendham, NJ 07945 (201) 543-3045 |
Astragal Press specializes in books on early tools, trades
and technology. Catalog available.
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| Dover Publications 31 East 2nd St. Mineola, NY 11501 |
Dover, which publishes mostly low-priced reprints, has a selection
of furniture and woodcarving books. No phone or credit card orders.
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| Toolemera Press | Gary Roberts makes
high-quality reproductions of old tool catalogs, instruction manuals and
ephemera. List on request.
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| Sam Allen | The prolific author sells his own books, along with the complete
line of Sterling DIY books.
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The Early American Industries Association has a catalog of books available to members at a discount.