Customer Reviews

David Charlesworth's Furniture-Making Techniques Volume Two

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I almost did not buy this book because of a bad reader's review. I liked the first book and decided to buy it anyhow. I am really glad I did. The chapters on making drawers is wonderful, and David follows it up with a chapter on aligning the drawers as well. Another great chapter brings you through the tapering process on curved laminated table legs.
More advanced sharpening techniques for scraper planes were a welcome addition. I have finally got mine to work properly thanks to David's advice.
There are many other good features in this book, and I am looking forward to volumn III and will buy it regardless of the reviews. Thanks David.

Absolutely excellent, as is his first book. The author has a penchant for planning and careful execution that is inspiring. But, he is also very human in admitting the areas that give him trouble and suggests alternate methods for those of us who are also human and might not have the hand skills of James Krenov. He is also very honest in appraising tools by brand name and type. I have (budget allowing) followed his recommendations and been delighted with the tools he recommended. I read both of his books over and over again.

Which is not necessarily a bad thing. If you want to learn about Power Tools, routers, sanders - then forget this book. But if what you want to discover is how to do extremely high quality work, than this is for you. Forget the comment above about sharpening. It is one of the most important skills to master if you want to work with hand tools, and there is an appropriate focus on it in this book. But also other skills, like planing techniques, fitting drawers, shooting an edge. Many skills the average woodworker seem to be lacking, but are important for great work.

It is on my top list.

Charlesworth has an insight and perspective that is truly fascinating. Though the British vernacular can be a bit troublesome, I have yet to pick the book up without learning something worthwhile. The downside is that so much of what you thought you had down pat can get easily blown away. Example, though I thought I had a good set of chisels, reading his discussion of Japanese chisels made buy a couple; now I want to replace all of mine.

I bought this book thinking it would at least make reference to the title it bears. Instead it is just another approach to the already overlooked subject(in the 1st Vol.) of SHARPENING. Maybe if the books title would of been, "More demented sharpening techniques for woodworkers" I would not be so upset with it. THe book does not cover any angle of what the title suggests. The author might be a renowned woodworker but, his approach in this (and Vol. 1) is totally LAME.