Book Description
In this essential reference for woodworkers, R. Bruce Hoadley explains everything from how trees grow to how best to cut, season, machine, join, bend, and finish wood. Why do miters open and glue joints loosen? How do you get a really sharp edge? Examples of problems and solutions help woodworkers puzzle through their own projects, while 325 full-color photos and helpful tables illustrate key points. Updated information on composite materials, adhesives, and finishes included.
Customer Reviews:
Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology.......2007-06-01
This book takes the reader beyond the basic understanding of wood. If you are interested in a deeper look at wood as an engineering material or if you are more than a weekend woodworker, this book fills a big gap between the pure scientific and craftsman levels. Well written and great illustrations.
Out with the Old.......2007-04-03
I've been using this book for years, and it has come in handy, providing a lot of useful information over the years. But now I'm looking for something more up-to-date. The Encyclopedia of Wood comes from the United States Department of Agriculture and is the best wood technology reference around. And it's a better bargain...a newer book at an old-fasioned price!
Exceptional, but not perfect!.......2006-09-19
This book contains a great wealth of information, my only complaint is the data is not referenced for sources of information. Trying to verify or follow up on specific information is not easy.
Excellent book.......2006-06-06
After you've advanced past the Time-Life 'how to' style books, get this one.
This is an absolute Bible of working with wood. The amount of usefull, intelligent info in here is staggering. This one definately covers the "whys" of wood (why does it do this or that). If you want to know "what" to do with wood (joinery, etc) then look up Tage Frid. I feel the need to say that this book is actually rather scientific. By that I mean it has lots and lots of details and microscopic pictures and things you'd learn in a college class. If you're not really into that kind of stuff, you might not find this book usefull to you.
Personally, I wish I would've gotten this book a long time ago and not ruined so much nice wood in the mean time!
And as always, Amazon has a great price and had it in my hands within a couple of days (literally 2 days) from ordering it.
Analise em Lingua Portuguesa (In Portuguese).......2006-03-16
Ainda nao li o livro de forma exaustiva, mas do que li pareceu-me um bom livro para Engenheiros do sector das Madeiras ou para pessoas com conhecimentos de Ciencias suficientes para perceber os conteudos abordados. Para os outros, penso que tambem podera ser um bom livro, mas neste caso terao de se ficar por uma analise mais qualitativa. Enfim, estou satisfeito com a compra que realizei, e estou mesmo a pensar comprar o outro livro deste este autor (Identifying Wood - ISBN 0-942391-04-7).
Book Description
Filled with handsome photographs of retro-style kitchens, this is a "what to" book for those who want to learn how to restore or re-create a bungalow-era kitchen. It is filled with invaluable information describing what was in these kitchens, when it was available, and how it went together. You will be inspired to re-create the Bungalow aesthetic of old while enjoying contemporary conveniences.
Customer Reviews:
Priority for the Poor.......2007-07-21
Being on the extremely limited budget, the idea of restoring our 1923 craftsman kitchen to the obsessive original is not even an option. This fabulous book gives you numerous ideas/ paths as to what a $100,000 restoration would encompass, and then provides compromises that the 'normal' home owner can accomplish with great results. It definitely made me re-contemplate several ideas that we had already set in stone, and I think ultimately will save us investment money. My favorite aspect of this book? Unlike several bungalow magazines (which will go unnamed) that feel the need to pretentiously describe the 'color of fumed oak' and ten million other things that the average home owner will never afford or see, Jane Powell is down to earth and able to 'talk' to you like your neighbor next door.
Not useful for building my new bungalow home.......2007-03-10
If I were restoring an old bungalow kitchen, this book might have been more useful. But I am just trying to bring some period touches to the new Craftsman bungalow that I'm building. The author gives examples of "Obsessive Restoration" and a "Compromise Solution" for each element of restoring a bungalow kitchen. I found a few things useful, such as what countertops were found in a period bungalow, but I could have found that elsewhere on the internet. In addition, the author wasted way too many pages discussing the history of kitchens, which is irrelevant to me. Her companion book, "Bungalow Bathrooms" is much of the same.
What a great resource!.......2007-02-22
I've been toying for years with plans to fix up the kitchen in our 1923 American Foursquare house, but last year when both my nonagenarian grandmothers moved into Assisted Living Facilities, I found myself clearing out their kitchens. When I brought some of their vintage kitchen equipment into my own kitchen, it suddenly came clear that my own kitchen re-do simply had to honor the history of my house and more importantly, the histories of my grandmothers' kitchens.
I am in no way interested in obsessive restoration, but I really needed to see what kitchens of my grandmothers' childhoods and young married lives would look like. What might my own kitchen have looked like when it was first built? There are charming Craftsman details elsewhere in my home... under the barn-red paint and 1970's "country primitive" wallpaper, what was the feel of this room?
This book is like a stroll through a neighborhood-full of kitchens from this era, wonderfully photographed and clearly explained. While my kitchen renovation will be a relatively simple project, I am thrilled to have such a lovely resource on which to base my search for the kitchen that lies beneath all that paint!
My favorite home decorating book bar none.......2006-12-27
I can't even count the number of times I've reread this book or just leafed through and admired the fabulous pictures. As the owner of a 1920 foursquare, nothing makes me sadder than to see an old house that's been "improved" by someone with no sense of history or vintage style. This book celebrates vintage kitchens in painstaking detail, describing the form and function of every single surface, nook and cranny. If you're using this book as a "how to" guide, the authors are realistic enough to give you several levels of authenticity from which to choose -- for instance, are you going to go all the way and have a vintage icebox? Can you not live without a microwave and dishwasher? What kind of screws should you use on your cabinet hinges if you want to be "period authentic?" The companion bathroom book is great, too, but this book is my very favorite and inspired me to replace my brand new (but characterless) gas stove with a yellow and green 1920's model with shapely long legs!
Best Bungalow Book.......2006-03-24
Together writer Jane Powell and photographer Linda Svendsen create the best bungalow books on the market. Whether you are thinking of remodelling your kitchen, changing a few details, or just want to understand the history of your kitchen, this is the book to buy.
Book Description
Gustav Stickley's The Craftsman Home collects all of Stickley's house designs, published in The Craftsman magazine between 1904 and 1916. All the designs are here in sequential order from 1 to 221, as well as commissions and special designs, along with exterior illustrations, floor plans, and fascinating historical photographs for many of the featured homes. Contemporary photographs of selected built houses, keyed by number to Stickley designs, take the reader's experience from paper dreams to modern reality.
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Book Description
n Opening editorial chronicles the history and philosophy of the Arts Crafts school of design n Eye-catching exteriors and smooth, harmonius interiors celebrate the simplicity and honesty of these homes n A photographic study of several Craftsman homes and tips on creating an authentic Arts Crafts style interior are also included n Complete construction blueprints available for every home in this collection Let Arts Crafts Home Plans be your guide to this well known and beloved American home design.
Customer Reviews:
Try it, you'll like it..........2007-04-20
First off, kudos to the authors for getting the facts right regarding Sears and Aladdin kit homes of the early 1900s. I was so pleased to see the honorable mention of these companies and accurate factual info that I nearly swooned from pure joy. I truly appreciate their giving the kit home companies of the 20s and 30s their due.
As to the designs of the houses pictured in this book, I was pretty impressed with that, as well. Those are some good-looking homes. As to the other reviewer's comment that the houses had big garages and great rooms, the fact is, old-house purists buy old houses and spend 43 years restoring them to their original condition, replete with monitor-top refrigerators and old gas stoves with pilot lights and porcelain tear-drop handles.
The rest of the house-buying public may want something with an exterior look that gives them warm-fuzzy memories of Grandma's house, but with innards that are much more modern (and easy to manage and maintain). The plans offered in this book meet that criteria.
Having spent much of my life in old homes and a small time in a new home, I can see the advantages of a newer home. There is something to be said for being able to pay a utility bill without taking out a second mortgage.
The houses pictured in this book had a nice look. I don't think they'd ever be mistaken for OLD houses, but I was surprisingly impressed with their attention to detail. And the floorplans are spacious, practical and appealing to people who like 21st Century homes.
Rose
Another review to counter Kathleen's below.......2006-08-19
The book is plainly marked "House Plans." That's exactly what you get: plans to build a house. Not to decorate nor historically analyze it, but to build. To rate it low because she wanted it to be something it's *clearly* marked that it's NOT is unfair.
Good stuff working looking at.
Duh........2005-11-29
I really wish that however disappointed Kathleen might have been with what she GOT vs. what she thought she was getting, she would have rated it based on what it was, not what she wanted it to be. It sounds like she thinks it's an OK book of plans, but she only gave it one star. I can only assume that's because it's not a decorating book. That's a little like going to see Citizen Kane and calling it a crappy movie because there weren't any good battle scenes or car chases.
So... even though I haven't read it, I'm giving this 5 stars just to counterbalance Kathleen because it would be a shame if someone looking for a book of plans didn't check this out because of an artifically low rating.
Arts & Crafts Home Plans. Plans for Homes. Home plans........2005-10-23
This book is a catalog of home plans. Operative words: "home" and "plans". Plans with which you can build a home. The other reviewer missed that somehow.
If you want a book of painting tips and decorating suggestions, don't buy this book. This is a catalog of plans for a future home that you might be considering to build.
Just wanted to clear that up a little. Thanks.
Only for People Planning on Hiring Carpenters to Build Them a New House .......2005-10-18
I just have a big warning for anyone thinking of buying this book: it is a catalogue for blueprints that you can buy from the Hanley Wood Company. For some reason Hanley Wood calls their catalogues "books." Their choice, I guess.
I will get to what this catalogue is in a minute. What is important is what it is not. It is not a book about the Arts and Crafts movement. It is not a book of photographs of Arts & Crafts homes since almost all of the pictures are architects' renditions of what the finished houses might look like, not actual photos of what they do look like. It is not a book about Arts and Crafts interiors, which is what I thought it was. When I read about getting 85 "home plans," I was so excited to think that I would be getting 85 ideas for room paint jobs, furniture and fixture ideas, etc. None of that. There's just a handful of photographs of interiors and no real attention paid to that side of it: the dominant imagery is of what the building might look like on the street (curb appeal).
There are a lot of other books about the Arts & Crafts movement that can give you ideas for decorating or redoing an existing home. This just is not one of them. I'm now taking a look at "Living the Arts & Crafts Style: A Home Decorating Workbook."
If you are planning on hiring a bunch of carpenters to build you a house in the Arts and Crafts style, I would buy this book for sure, even though a lot of the plans are not very original Arts & Crafts looking. They have a lot of 2000s details like "great rooms" and three car garages, and some of them look like McMansions with some Arts & Crafts features added in. A lot of them though are original looking and rather nice. You just might find your dream house and won't have to hire an architect. Even if you are planning on hiring an architect, I would buy this little catalogue anyway just to keep him or her honest!
Book Description
Inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement, Craftsman-style homes captured America's heart at the turn of the 20th century. Bungalows and larger houses with broad roof overhangs, comfortable porches, and hand-hewn wooden details grew out of California's warm climate and influenced a range of other building types, from resort hotels to churches and schools. Today Craftsman-style structures can be found as far east as New York State. Intricate woodwork gives them a timeless handcrafted look, and rustic materials tie them to the earth. Behind each element lies a hint of a craftsman plying his art.
This handsome volume is a celebration of Craftsman-style architecture, which flourished in America from about 1895 into the 1920s. It took on a more natural and rustic form on this side of the Atlantic than its British counterpart, in keeping with the rugged American frontier ethos. Robert Winter, one of the country's leading authorities on the Arts and Crafts movement, has supplied the informative text, which complements the gorgeous color photography by Alexander Vertikoff.
Customer Reviews:
A Wonderful Blend of History and Photography.......2005-09-20
This book is perfect for the person who wants to know more about the Arts and Crafts Movement from a historical perspective and who also wants to see wonderful examples of this architectural style. It is also particularly helpful in training the eye to select accessories for your own home that follow the Craftsman tradition. The photography is just beautiful.
Billie Weinstein
La Crescenta, California
Arts and Crafts Style, strictly speaking.......2005-01-04
I'm in the middle of converting my house into a neo-Craftsman style house (http://hillsdalehouse.blogspot.com). I'm trying really hard to recreate all those wonderful details that you can seemingly only find in the circa 1914 originals. So, whenever a new book with Craftsman in the title (especially picture books) comes out, I'm quick to sneak a peek. So, I jumped all over this book (actually, I got it from the library). Here are my thoughts:
If you are looking for a nice coffee table book with very pretty pictures of turn-of-the-century Arts & Craft houses, then look no further. This book has some wonderful stuff from houses featured in other similar books, plus many many houses I have never seen before. But, if you are looking for a book about Craftsman Style houses, you have found the wrong book.
Yes, there are some houses that are what most people would call Craftsman. These include the usual Craftsman Farms house, some Green and Green, and the obligatory Bungalows of Pasadena. But, most of the houses in the book are not Craftsman at all, that is if you subscribe the notion that Craftsman houses are houses that were either featured in Gustav Stickley's original Craftsman magazine, or were obviously inspired by one of them. Instead, you'll find some beautiful pictures with a more William Morris type definition of Arts and Crafts. First off, you'll actually find pictures of William Morris' own house (never seen that before!). You will also find wonderful pictures of very gothic looking houses. You'll see marvelous neo-medieval houses. You'll find terrific Tudor revivals. But, you won't find many Craftsman Style houses, which is fine, except for the title of this book. Yes, Stickley and his followers were very much inspired by Morris, and it is fair to say that all things Craftsman are part of the Arts and Crafts movement. But, it is incorrect to say that all things Arts and Craft are Craftsman.
The pictures are wonderful, the text is insightful, but the title is wrong. Oops.
Book Description
15th-century handbook, written by a working artist of the day, reveals secrets and techniques of the masters in drawing, oil painting, frescoes, panel painting, gilding, casting, more. Direct link to artists of Middle ages. Translation, introduction by D. V. Thompson. "...delightful flavor..." — N.Y. Herald Tribune.
Customer Reviews:
Insight into renaissance painting technique.......2007-04-04
This ultimate treatise on painting technique, together with the perception and insight of the artist Cenninni opens a wonderful new window into the realities of art and craftsmanship in this fascinating period. One also gets an idea of just how skilled these people are and how hard they worked to achieve the perfection in their works. A MUST-have for anyone interested in Renaissance painting, or painting technique - from the horse's mouth. I'm thrilled to possess this book!
A Masterpiece.......2007-04-04
Learn how to paint like medieval artists, right down to the colors and techniques they used.
instruction manual for historic painting.......2007-03-11
This little gem contains a great deal of use for anyone trying to duplicate authentic, medieval /rennaisance painting techniques. The instructions on making egg tempera paints, for example, are extremely clear. This book may as well have "required reading" on the cover for anyone who is interested in painting, calligraphy, illumination or related fields in history and practice.
Please be aware! many techniques, pigments, and methods used in history were hazardous. many pigments in use in proffessional art workshops today are hazardous as well, but the Medeival artist did not have OSHA regulations and disclaimers. Please investigate the safety of ANY procedure or pigment before use.
This book is referenced by many other authors and webpages for their instructions, and can be used as Primary Documentation for most living history groups
After reading this,one can truly appreciate some of the perks of being an artist in 21 century... .......2007-02-26
When you open this little book you are in for a shock. Or, shall I say - a jolt back to a reality show from a florentine painting workshop circa 1400?
It is a completely unrefined(even quite raw to some tastes)step by step manual on the nitty-gritty of paint and medium preparation which can generally attract two types of readers - the professional painter who has heard of this little collection(and its mysterious "painting secrets") from word of mouth; or else, the seeker of bizzare and obscure literature of times past - in both cases you will go through this book alternating between bouts of disbelief and hysterical laughter...
Great entertainment, and perhaps even a thing or two to learn about how renaissance artists saw themselves and their work.
Cennino's Handbook, Still Illuminating.......2005-10-25
Art, genuine art, is a pleasure not only in the thrill of color and line but in its procedure and materials. In fifteenth-century Florence, an artist named Cennino d'Andrea Cennini compiled a handbook for contemporary and future painters to consult in their drawing and painting from the beginning, in choosing their ingredients, mixing their paints and preparing their paper or cloth for painting on.
Unlike the making of sausage, the elements of creating art are a delight. Here are some how-to's excerpted from this wonderful little book (translated by Daniel V. Thompson, Jr., 1933, reprinted numerous times by Dover), still vibrant five hundred years after it was composed. The details also unwittingly reveal something of contemporary everyday life, where the art came from.
To paint on a panel, you start with a little boxwood panel nine inches square, washed with clear water and rubbed and smoothed down. "And when this little panel is thoroughly dry, take enough bone, ground diligently for two hours, to serve . . . take less than half a bean of this bone, or even less. And stir this bone up with saliva. Spread it all over the little panel with your fingers; and, before it gets dry, hold the little panel in your left hand, and tap over the panel with the finger tip of your right hand [presumably Cennino was right-handed] until you see that it is quite dry. And it will get coated with bone as evenly in one place as in another."
Wondering where to find the bone? "You must know what bone is good. Take bone from the second joints and wings of fowls, or of a capon; and the older they are the better. Just as you find them under the dining-table, put them into the fire; and when you see that they have turned whiter than ashes, draw them out, and grind them well on the porphyry."
Parchment comes from sheep or goats; to draw on sheep parchment, the artist lightly inscribes the background of bone with a sharp point. "On the parchment you may draw or sketch with this [stylus] of yours if you first put some of that bone . . . all over the parchment . . . dusting it off with a hare's foot." To add ink, "shade the folds with washes of ink; that is, as much water as a nutshell would hold, with two drops of ink in it; and shade with a brush made of minever tails . . ."
"And if you ever make a slip, so that you want to remove some stroke made by this little lead, take a bit of the crumb of some bread, and rub it over the paper, and you will remove whatever you wish."
The artist gives equally clear and detailed instructions for whittling goose quills to get a sharp point for ink drawing, to tempering paper with several coats of glue (tempera), to making clear tracing paper by scraping kid parchment and treating it with linseed oil. White lead is a basic ingredient, so is saliva. (Saliva combined with lead poses a health hazard; painters often died young.) Colors come largely from minerals, and the author explains how to pulverize and mix minerals to produce the paints desired.
Cennino explains every procedure in gessoing, stamping on gold, working on cloth, painting on velvet (yes, it goes way back), gilding saints' haloes, designing brocades, and embellishing with gold or tin. Much of a loss for art history, his instructions for mosaics are regrettably long since gone.
The author also makes some opening remarks designed to put art in context in creation. Much as he loves art, Cennino subordinates it to thinking, and he never loses sight of the fact that it is work. After the fall, "Man . . . pursued many useful occupations, differing from each other," some "more theoretical than others; they could not all be alike, since theory is the most worthy." Art is a "labor of love," but it is still labor.
Still, his praise for art, being genuine, is as strong as any I have ever read: "Close to [theory], man pursued . . . an occupation known as painting, which calls for imagination, and skill of hand, in order to discover things not seen, hiding themselves under the shadow of natural objects, and to fix them with the hand, presenting to plain sight what does not actually exist. And it justly deserves to be enthroned next to theory, and to be crowned with poetry."
Book Description
Featuring detailed working shop drawings, this book guides carpenters and woodworkers who wish to repair or replace original Craftsman or Craftsman-style designs in homes, cottages, or bungalows. Structural and interior details are tailored to modern standards, techniques, and materials. Explained are how the detailing was originally accomplished by Gustav Stickley early in the 20th century, as well as how woodworkers can fit contemporary hardware, sinks, and appliances into cabinetry featured in the book. Included are working shop drawings for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, closet and passage door details, crown moldings, chair railing, wall paneling and wainscoting, staircase designs, window seats, door trim, built-in dining nooks, and porches.
Customer Reviews:
Just what you need.......2007-02-21
If you're looking forward to doing the interior trim of a craftsman or Roycroft style home this is the only book you need. It has page after page of clear shop drawings of all the trim that will need to go in every room of the house, and covers every interior trim eventuality throughout the entire house.
Crown, base, casing, chair and picture rail moldings are shown in detail. Cabinet work for kitchen, bath, dining and living rooms, beams, columns, paneling, and doors are all shown in detail with full construction and assembly drawings.
This book, a few power tools, and access to a lot of oak is all it will take to create comfortable, inviting interiors that look like they're a hundred years old. Even if you aren't finishing off a craftsman house the book is great reading to fully understand the style, and could easily be the impetus for a lot of shop projects.
This reference is indispensible.......2006-03-05
We own a home built in the Craftsman era, and are currently remodeling / restoring it. I have bought several books about home rehab, Craftsman furniture, etc., and was disappointed with every one of them. Then I purchased this book. The level of detail regarding moldings, for example, is incredible. The complete set of dimensions including radius data for the cove are included. Not only are all the major variants of Craftsman design illustrated and specified, the original drawings for cabinets are shown and then separate, updated drawings that conform to modern kitchen design standards are presented. Anyone who is interested in the architectural details of the Craftsman era should own this book. It is a MUST HAVE!
Great Home Organizers.......2005-09-06
The built-ins shown in this book are just what my old house needs to make it rustically "modern". I've hired a team of Amish carpenters to build them, as I don't trust my skill in that area just yet. Great book!
Great Projects.......2005-03-07
This is a great book for the craftsman wanting to actually build Mission style furniture. While designs for many pieces are not included, the concepts of design and construction can be used to make pretty much any item you can dream up. A craftsman style entertainment center? Stickley would never have dreamed of it. You can combine a few designs and he would be proud of what you conceived.
Very detailed book........2004-04-17
This book contains very good drawings of various craftsman details. Everything from front doors to various builtins. The author shows the historic details and how to recreate them with modern construction methods and materials. There are no color photos, but none are need for the type of book it is. I would love to have this author release a book on Craftsman Exteriors!!!!
Customer Reviews:
Might better have been titled Craftsman-Like Houses.......2005-02-26
Ok, I'll break from the pack and say I really like this book. As previously mentioned, it's actually a collection of older articles from Fine HomeBuilding. I bought the book many years back, when I first started to develop an interest in architecture. My architectural library has now outgrown a medium-sized bookcase, and I've even designed and built several houses. Nonetheless, I still find myself coming back to the articles in this modest book.
Go forewarned - this collection does not focus purely on craftsman bungalows. Instead, the theme tying these articles together is a craftsman-like approach toward design, materials, and building. There are indeed some true Arts and Crafts treasures highlighted, like the Bolton house by Greene & Greene. Others though have a somewhat modern feel about them. Others still...well...we won't go there.
I must say that even the articles about houses that I don't care for offered up something of value. Sometimes this is just a clever detail or use of material. My favorite article is the Greene and Greene inspired home by Rodger Whipple. This showed me how heavy timber could be elegantly integrated with conventional modern stick framing. I'd never seen this done so well and this little article heavily influenced the direction I took with my own work.
Don't write this one off - I consider it a hidden gem.
Craftsman-Style Houses by Fine Homebuilding.......2002-06-22
At best, this book is mis-titled. With a few exceptions, it takes a smattering of abstract interpretations and applications of the Craftsman Style and incorporates them into new homes. Maybe it was my fault for literally interpreting the title, but this is not a reference for Craftsman/Arts & Crafts/Bungalow style architectural elements nor design. I am a Taunton Publishing fan, but this was a real disappointment and a waste of my money.
Mildly disappointing.......2000-12-28
While the houses featured are not the finest examples of the style, the diagrams of construction details are good.
Disappointing, but some articles of value.......1998-11-10
This book will be a real disappointment to readers who expect a collect of articles on the restoration or reproduction of houses in the Craftsman style. Most of the builders/architects whose work is included seem to think that "Craftsman style" means "use a lot of visible wood in the interior." Additionally, there is one real horror of a remuddling of a hapless bungalow.
However, there are a handful of articles of real value, mostly on restorations. These are almost worth the relatively inexpensive price of the book.
Customer Reviews:
The Workbench Book.......2007-09-15
Very fine expository writing for those interested in the history of and current state-of-the-art woodworking benches and accessories. Enclosed plans are a nice plus. The resource section is excellent. Well researched, well written, photography is exceptional.
EIM
WORKBENCH BOOK.......2007-02-23
For me this is a coffee table book. Alot of history and research about workbenches from the middle ages on up till now. Not much information or diagrams on building benches.
Nice idea book.......2007-01-26
Seeing various ways to lay out workbenches is nice and this book fulfills that mission.
The Work Bench Book.......2005-10-01
Excellent information for the woork bench I plan to build this winter. I would highly reccomend this to any woodworker that needs a work bench and doesn't want to spend a lot of money buying one.
Fascinating !.......2005-08-27
Scott Landis knows how to write. This is both a history book and a woodworking book, and I still loved it. I never liked history in HS or college, but if I had had Landis, I would have been a history major. The book is captivating virtually from cover to cover (although I found the latter chapters a little less enthralling than the first 3/4 of the book). I plan to build a significant workbench, and I bought this book thinking it would help me with ideas and planning. It did so much more than that, I'm stunned. The insights it gave me about different ways of working with wood have expanded beyond the previous limits of my imagination.
Landis' approach to describing the workbench from an historical perspective highlights the changes in tools that have occurred over the years and how benches have evolved alongside. I started reading the book as a devoted user of power tools who would put up with some hand tools if absolutely necessary. I ended with a much clearer understanding of how hand tools, working in conjunction with the appropriately designed and build bench, could enhance my woodworking pleasure and accomplishments. lol, I've even started buying high quality planes.
If you enjoy history, get this book.
If you want to gain better insight into ways to work wood, get this book.
I you are looking for bench plans, this has some, but I wouldn't buy it for the plans. While there's nothing wrong with the plans, they just seem sort of out-of-place here. I would rather have had more narrative.
If you are looking for a tutorial on how to build a bench, this is not the book.
If you just like looking at and reading about neat stuff made from wood, buy this book.
Bottom line - if in doubt, buy this book.
Customer Reviews:
a hand tool enthusiast.......2006-08-21
I just received this book. Wow! Because of all the good reviews, I expected a good book. This is one beautiful book and is way above my expectations. I would have been satisfied if it only contained photographs and illustrations without the text, they are very clear. I have not purchased a book that has impressed me as much as this one, ever. I can only add my positive comments to the many reviewers before me. It is well worth your investment whether you just want to scan through a beautiful book or are a serious craftsman wanting to build fine furniture for your tools.
One of My favorite books!!!.......2005-02-23
Tolpin is a refreshing change from the old bland how-to's that have been republished with outdated material year after year. This book is no exception. I love how the author takes you through the history and evolution of the toolbox. The color pictures are gorgeous.(Or maybe it's the toolboxes?) This is a must own for any tool lover. A great gift idea for that person you know with the messy shop!
Fine Bookmaking about Fine Woodworking.......2005-02-11
I turn into a box-making junkie during the winter. Every time I see a chunk of wood I start resawing it in my mind thinking of neat things I could do with it. One of the side effects of this compulsion is that you accumulate a lot of odd tools that seem to meander all over the shop. Guaranteed not to be in the place they should be when you reach for them. After looking at the prices for good commercial tool chests it occurred to me that building one wouldn't be all that more expensive. Even if it took 400 hours of work rather than a quit drive to the nearest discount store.
A quick trip to the local woodworking store turned up several books on the subject, but one, Taunton's Toolbox Book, stood way out from the rest. Even though this is the one book that has not one detailed plan in it. It is, however, the most exhaustive study of toolbox making I've seen so far. Author Jim Toplin blends history and technique together to give you a real understanding of how the toolbox has developed and changed as woodworkers first came to the colonies, then adapted to the rising use of machinery, and finally then met the space age head on. It is carefully and clearly written, and a host of sketches makes up for the loss of detailed, paint-by-the-numbers plans.
In fact one of the things that Toplin makes abundantly clear is that you make a toolbox to hold YOUR tools. Too many of us buy a toolbox and then set about filling it with new widgets that we aren't even sure we will need. And this book is about assessing your needs, laying out the best way to meet those needs, and then building something that is often the showpiece of a woodworker's skills. One glance through the book and you will see many fine photographs of work that is both functional and beautiful. I wasn't kidding when I said a toobox can take 400 hours to make.
As usual, Taunton has made every effort to turn a how to book into something you would be proud to have on your coffee table. This is a very well made paperback with heavy, glossy paper, fine design and layout work, and well-written text. And a very accessible price for a massive amount of information.
Prepare to be inspired........2004-11-19
I think this, along with "The Workbench Book" and Roy Underhill's fine offerings, ranks at the top tier of woodworking books to come out in our generation. The lowly toolbox often gets short shrift in our thinking, and frankly most modern woodworkers don't need the sort of boxes our grandfathers had, but nothing displays pride in your trade quite as quickly as a beautiful tool box. And that's what we get here - loads of gorgeous tool box ideas. Starting with the (probable) first American toolbox, a sea chest brought over with the first settlers, we ascend to the glories of the 18th century cabinet makers like Chippendale, and then on into the modern era where all bets are off. Some are rough and cabaple for taking on real job sites, others are fine furniture and too nice to really use. But any woodworker worth his salt will find inspiration in this enough to build a proper house for his tools to live in.
Awesome.......2004-05-25
This book is fantastic. I've owned a couple months and I refer to it all the time.
This book does a good job of surveying different ways people store tools. It provides excellent examples, pictures and sample projects in just about every classification. Some of the chests at the beginning of the book are amazing.
As I'm building up my shop I constantly look through this book and the other Taunton books (such as The Workshop Book) to get ideas about how other people store these things.
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General
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Identifying Wood: Accurate Results with Simple Tools
Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish
Wood and How to Dry It (Fine Woodworking)
The Complete Guide to Sharpening
The Real Wood Bible: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Choosing and Using 100 Decorative Woods
