Hand Tool Essentials
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Product Description
Hand tools (tools that are not powered, such as hammers and chisels) are currently the hot trend in woodworking purchases. "Hand Tool Essentials" is a book that will benefit all woodworkers, whether new to the hobby, or a seasoned woodworker. For the new woodworker, the book will provide a solid education on the use of hand tools and how they can be used with power tools to provide a balanced approach to woodworking. Many seasoned woodworkers have been taught only the power tool side of the hobby. By adding hand tool knowledge and use into their woodworking, they can improve the quality of their projects and also improve the safety and comfort of their hobby. "Hand Tool Essentials" (written by the experienced editors and authors of "Popular Woodworking" magazine) includes over forty no-nonsense articles on choosing and using common and not-so-common woodworking hand tools. Tools included are: mallets, chisels & gouges, wood and metal-bodied planes, wood and metal-bodied spokeshaves, measuring and marking tools, rasps, awls, Eastern and Western handsaws and other hand tool accessories.
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14 reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Terrific book
30 Oct 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
In summary, this is just a terrific book. Unlike the other reviewer, I did NOT contribute any articles to it, and hence can be considered unbiased.
The book is actually a collection of articles, the primary emphasis of which is on the basics of tool preparation, and in particular on edge tools. I think this is appropriate since poorly set up and mis-sharpened tools are virtually impossible to work with. Thus, mastering the basics of tool preparation is a pre-requisite to successful and enjoyable woodworking just as mastering the basics of "blocking and tackling" is necessary for a successful football team.
The book typically offers different viewpoints by different authors -- numerous approaches to sharpening edge tools are covered, for example. Again, this seems appropriate since it gives the newcomer to the hobby a variety of different approaches with different entry-dollar requirements to choose from.
I particularly liked the detailed instructions on how to make and use certain fairly basic tools---the article on drawboring, for example, was just superb. On top of all this, the book concludes with several really first-rate projects: an arts and crafts tool cabinet, a workbench, and a sawbench that I really like. I'm actually planning on building all three projects, and I can't remember when I last saw even a single published project that I wished to build.
This is probably the best single book on hand tools you can buy. If you're just starting out, get this first---it'll save you lots of time and trouble. The more experienced woodworker will also find some very useful stuff in here.
My only complaint is that I wish the book had had more material on saws and more material on tool making. But then it would be a different book, wouldn't it?
The book is actually a collection of articles, the primary emphasis of which is on the basics of tool preparation, and in particular on edge tools. I think this is appropriate since poorly set up and mis-sharpened tools are virtually impossible to work with. Thus, mastering the basics of tool preparation is a pre-requisite to successful and enjoyable woodworking just as mastering the basics of "blocking and tackling" is necessary for a successful football team.
The book typically offers different viewpoints by different authors -- numerous approaches to sharpening edge tools are covered, for example. Again, this seems appropriate since it gives the newcomer to the hobby a variety of different approaches with different entry-dollar requirements to choose from.
I particularly liked the detailed instructions on how to make and use certain fairly basic tools---the article on drawboring, for example, was just superb. On top of all this, the book concludes with several really first-rate projects: an arts and crafts tool cabinet, a workbench, and a sawbench that I really like. I'm actually planning on building all three projects, and I can't remember when I last saw even a single published project that I wished to build.
This is probably the best single book on hand tools you can buy. If you're just starting out, get this first---it'll save you lots of time and trouble. The more experienced woodworker will also find some very useful stuff in here.
My only complaint is that I wish the book had had more material on saws and more material on tool making. But then it would be a different book, wouldn't it?
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Impressive collection of information
25 Jan 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Knowing that this was basically just a collection of Popular Woodworking articles, I was prepared to be underwelmed. Talk about disappointment! I HATE being wrong like this! In short, this is a truly impressive collection of information that looks more like a group of knowledgable hand tool experts put together, rather than just articles grabbed and put together in a book form.
The book is laid out in a logical way, starting with a "Why Handtools" section, going into sharpening (a must for any hand tool user), then saws, chisels, and the like. The last section are a couple of projects that blend hand tools and power tools well, and that will serve any workshop well for years to come. Honestly, the beautiful tool cabinet of Christopher Schwarz's is worth the cost of the book by itself!
This is a must have for, I believe, any woodworker. There's no preaching about hand tool supremacy, nor any reference to "quaint" ideas of woodworking. Instead, this book offers the modern woodwork a glimpse of the realms where hand tools still excel, and how they can be incorporated into the modern workshop. At the same time, it shows how a hand tool only shop can still produce quality work equal to that of the powered shop.
The book is laid out in a logical way, starting with a "Why Handtools" section, going into sharpening (a must for any hand tool user), then saws, chisels, and the like. The last section are a couple of projects that blend hand tools and power tools well, and that will serve any workshop well for years to come. Honestly, the beautiful tool cabinet of Christopher Schwarz's is worth the cost of the book by itself!
This is a must have for, I believe, any woodworker. There's no preaching about hand tool supremacy, nor any reference to "quaint" ideas of woodworking. Instead, this book offers the modern woodwork a glimpse of the realms where hand tools still excel, and how they can be incorporated into the modern workshop. At the same time, it shows how a hand tool only shop can still produce quality work equal to that of the powered shop.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Most everything I want is there
24 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback
This is a great reference book. While I learned allot just browsing, it was most valuable when I wanted to reference a couple things and found that they were there and in sufficient detail to answer my questions. For me, there is possibly a little much on various forms of sharpening, but then that is s topic that seems to have as many ways as there are people to talk about it.
I have a Stanley cabinet scraper and I became convinced that they didn't work worth a hoot. Then, reading that section, I learned I had prepared the blade wrong, changed it, and feel like I got a new tool out of the deal. Great value
I have a Stanley cabinet scraper and I became convinced that they didn't work worth a hoot. Then, reading that section, I learned I had prepared the blade wrong, changed it, and feel like I got a new tool out of the deal. Great value
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