I've been diving into some great woodworking content, like the Anarchist books, and I recently found inspiration in "The Why and How of Woodworking" from a recommendation here. I'm really looking for foundational, skill-oriented woodworking books though. I enjoy Paul Sellers' videos, especially his minimalist approach highlighting just the essential tools, but I prefer having a book for reference instead of videos. Does anyone have suggestions for quality books, particularly those that focus on household furniture building and utilize mostly hand tools? I do have access to some power tools like a jointer and table saw, but I'd love to stick to hand work as much as possible. Also, I'm curious if Paul Sellers' books are worth considering, even though they seem to be tricky to find right now.
5 Answers
Here are three books you definitely should consider:
1. *The Essential Woodworker* by Robert Wearing
2. *Worked* by J.K. Klein
3. *Joined* by J.K. Klein
Those last two books are often underrated, but they cover a lot of the foundational skills you need to create furniture effectively. They are pretty straightforward and very helpful!
Absolutely! *Joined* and *Worked* both really emphasize an effective approach to working by hand, especially when you're learning to understand the materials.
Are you planning on working entirely by hand, or will you be using some power tools as well?
Good question! I do have access to an electric jointer and planer, plus a table saw, but I try to do as much by hand as possible.
Don't forget about *The Woodwright’s Shop* by Roy Underhill. It’s classic and his series has a ton of great follow-up books that delve deeper into various techniques.
If you're open to a specific series, check out *Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking*. You can often find these at reasonable prices if you dig a bit! It's laid out very well for step-by-step guidance.
You should also check out Paul Sellers' latest book—it’s a good one and you can find it on his website. It has excellent content with clear photos to help you understand the tools better and how to use them. I would say it's definitely worth a look!
Is it just focused on tools? I was really looking for something that also covers the craft aspects.
No worries! His book balances tool advice with practical crafting techniques. Plus, Mike Pekovich has a great book that focuses more on the how rather than the why.
I completely agree! *The Essential Woodworker* is really a top choice. Pairing it with something from the Anarchist series gives you both theoretical knowledge and practical projects to kick things off.