Product Description

The author of The Shaper Book, The Band Saw Book, and The Complete Illustrated Guide to Shaping Wood, Lonnie Bird now brings us Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools. Here the reader is given a step-by-step guide that covers the essential techniques for using hand and power tools. Along with over 900 color photographs and illustrations, a correct set-up, safe use of machines, and skillful use of hand tools is also included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80583 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-09
• Released on: 2004-09-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Customer Reviews

Starting Out Right
It's not like me to wax poetic over a an introductory how-to book, but Lonnie Bird's tome on Using Woodworking Tools really is one of the finest effots I've ever seen. Taunton continues to set the bar with their 'complete illustrated' guides, but this one is exceptional for even that series.

The book offers 15 chapters divides into parts - 1) Wood and the Shop, 2) Outfitting the Shop, 3) Benches, Clamps, and Assembly, 4) Hand Tools, and 5) Power Tools. Each chapter lays in the basics and then goes on to provide a good deal of insight into the less obvious things one can accomplish with a given tool or process. The end result is a book that works at a beginners level, but retains its worth well into advanced woodworking.

Excellent illustration and layout are the standard here. I have a long standing gripe with books that use good looking models posing around brand new equipment, usually in the wrong position to do what they are attempting without losing a finger. One look at these photos, and you know you are in someone's shop. Not a new shop, but one that has come together over time, with an owner who values good tools new or used.

The text is thoughtful, straightforward, and well-written. In fact the only flaw in Using Woodworking Tools is that it is a bit more costly than many introductory books. But it has far more lasting value than most of its competition. I would rate this a best buy for the both introductory and shop reference use.

Beautifull book, lack substance.
Overall this book is very well illustrated, it contains information on some tools and put an emphasis on hand tools.

The book is basically a catalog of the different tools and the basic techniques to use them.

I was expecting to at least have some discussions on how to set them up, and care for them. I was also hoping to find more detail discussion on how to chose a power tool (other than you can find some great bargain on used items).
There is a small section on sharpening but I guess you need to buy the book dedicated to the subject to go anywhere.

Good book to round out the Set
I began woodworking about one year ago and started by taking some classes at the local woodworking store. I had the idea in my head to build a wooden chest and finding a good starting place was not easy. Most of the wood workers I encounter are all over the spectrum of skill. No one really had a comprehensive method for teaching woodworking or where to start with the tools of woodworking. I think that this book gives a great start when it comes to selection of necessary tools as well as some general knowledge of how to use them. Keep in mind that a book can not accurately describe the pressure and overall feel of how to use a Plane or any other tool for that matter. These kinds of skills must come from doing.

I have all the other Taunton press books in the "Complete Illustrated" set and I think that together I have a great reference set to begin designing and working with wood. They also all match each other and this makes my bookshelf look good as well. I would recommend the hardcover over the soft cover because it can be more easily used in the shop this way.