How to get started in woodworking (book recommendation)
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2018 1:23 pm
Over the years we've had several threads on how and where to start when it comes to woodworking. I even started one myself back in the days. I recently finished reading: https://www.amazon.com/Minimalist-Woodw ... 1940611350 and I want to highlight it because he lists almost exactly the kind of handworking tools I eventually ended up with.
Note, this is a handworking/neanderthal book. Although powertools are nice, the beauty of handworking tools is that they don't create much in terms of dust and noise. They're also light. You can therefore use them in apartments, etc. Also, they don't "break". One of the tools I use is a ripsaw that's about a century old. People who just wanna get'er'done and don't mind hauling a few hundred pounds around should check out http://ana-white.com .. because you want a table saw, a compound miter saw, a cordless drill, and a kreg joint setup. You can then put square stuff (all furniture, except chairs, is square stuff) together really fast.
Back to my point: He recommends almost the same tool collection that I arrived at organically through lots of hem/haw deliberation. I have more planes and I don't like combination squares, but this is definitely not a bad start.
It also includes basic techniques like mortise and tenon and dovetailing. The techniques I settled on are different and they work better for me. I prefer to chisel my dove tails out from the end rather than use a fret saw and do in from the top. I also make my pins first. I also suggest getting a dedicated set of mortising chisels and setting the gauge after the chisel size. I do think that the author might not realize the level of skill required to make his projects look good if a beginner wanted to have a go at it.
The projects in the book are excellent/useful.
I finally made a new mallet (picture on facebook). I changed up his plans a bit, but otherwise followed the main idea/design. (Therein lies the benefit of having some intermediate skills.)
I also made his saw bench.
After spending many an hour contemplating my first real woodworking bench, I've decide to make his Nicholson design. I'll install a Nicholson type vise on the side using a $13 Bessey pipe clamp. I have a real Jorgenson I bought too many years ago (when my reach exceed my grasp by far) and hopefully I can put that in as an end-vise---just because I have it.
Overall, I highly recommend this book in the sense that I wish I had read it when I first started out.
PS: I was pleased to see a workmate bench in his shop. That's the bench I started out with and still use as well. It's shite for planing, but otherwise a genius contraption. He's a harder worked than I am .. having replaced his bench top with pine boards already. In my defense, I have had to fix one "screw" using a piece of metal for used sawblade as a backing piece .. Also, the legs have caved out on me a few times, but the pins can be hammered back in. For your first bench, I highly recommend a workmate. If you feel like bootstrapping from absolutely nothing, one of the Roy Underhill books solves that problem, IIRC. I forget which one.
Note, this is a handworking/neanderthal book. Although powertools are nice, the beauty of handworking tools is that they don't create much in terms of dust and noise. They're also light. You can therefore use them in apartments, etc. Also, they don't "break". One of the tools I use is a ripsaw that's about a century old. People who just wanna get'er'done and don't mind hauling a few hundred pounds around should check out http://ana-white.com .. because you want a table saw, a compound miter saw, a cordless drill, and a kreg joint setup. You can then put square stuff (all furniture, except chairs, is square stuff) together really fast.
Back to my point: He recommends almost the same tool collection that I arrived at organically through lots of hem/haw deliberation. I have more planes and I don't like combination squares, but this is definitely not a bad start.
It also includes basic techniques like mortise and tenon and dovetailing. The techniques I settled on are different and they work better for me. I prefer to chisel my dove tails out from the end rather than use a fret saw and do in from the top. I also make my pins first. I also suggest getting a dedicated set of mortising chisels and setting the gauge after the chisel size. I do think that the author might not realize the level of skill required to make his projects look good if a beginner wanted to have a go at it.
The projects in the book are excellent/useful.
I finally made a new mallet (picture on facebook). I changed up his plans a bit, but otherwise followed the main idea/design. (Therein lies the benefit of having some intermediate skills.)
I also made his saw bench.
After spending many an hour contemplating my first real woodworking bench, I've decide to make his Nicholson design. I'll install a Nicholson type vise on the side using a $13 Bessey pipe clamp. I have a real Jorgenson I bought too many years ago (when my reach exceed my grasp by far) and hopefully I can put that in as an end-vise---just because I have it.
Overall, I highly recommend this book in the sense that I wish I had read it when I first started out.
PS: I was pleased to see a workmate bench in his shop. That's the bench I started out with and still use as well. It's shite for planing, but otherwise a genius contraption. He's a harder worked than I am .. having replaced his bench top with pine boards already. In my defense, I have had to fix one "screw" using a piece of metal for used sawblade as a backing piece .. Also, the legs have caved out on me a few times, but the pins can be hammered back in. For your first bench, I highly recommend a workmate. If you feel like bootstrapping from absolutely nothing, one of the Roy Underhill books solves that problem, IIRC. I forget which one.