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Hand Tool Essentials: Refine Your Power Tool Projects with Hand Tool Techniques (Popular Woodworking)
  
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Hand Tool Essentials: Refine Your Power Tool Projects with Hand Tool Techniques (Popular Woodworking) [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Popular Woodworking Editors (Author)
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews) |

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Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2007 | Series: Popular Woodworking
Hand tools (tools that are not powered, such as hammers and chisels) are currently the hot trend in woodworking purchases.

Hand tools require specialized training. Without it, the experience will be disappointing.

Learning to use woodworking hand tools properly makes it easier to understand how power tools work, plus they offer a quieter, safer and more pleasant woodworking experience. This book shows the woodworker how hand tools can be used in tandem with their power tools to produce superior work, improving and enriching their woodworking experience. Readers will learn to use 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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Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Popular Woodworking Books (June 6, 2007)
  • ISBN-10: 1558708154
  • ASIN: B0024FAP68
  • Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,494,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Terrific book October 30, 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?
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I contributed 4 articles to this book. When I signed the form, I wasn't sure which 4 or what sort of book would result! I just got my copy and I'm thrilled with it.

The editor, David Thiel, is an expert woodworker and author. My articles aside, he didn't choose esoteric stuff that you'll never do. There are many articles on sharpening, articles on chisels, saws, and planes (the big three!). There's an article on outfitting your shop on a budget, and plans for Chris Schwarz' "French" workbench.

There are no "filler" articles or driftwood Santa carving articles. Thiel chose articles that will bring the reader up to speed on the latest hand tools and techniques. If you want to learn how to get the most from your chisels or learn what Master David Charlesworth's "Ruler Trick" is all about, you'll find it here.

What you won't find is concensus view. And you may even find some contradictory or controversial views. But that's where we are with hand tools. You get to sort it out.

Woodworkers are always asking me for good introductory books on working wood by hand. Now I have an answer for them. I think this is a must read.

Adam Cherubini
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
More than essentials
The book is a thorough exploration of using hand tools as an integral part of building your woodworking projects. Read more
Published on January 26, 2010 by J. Burritt
Excellent Source for Woodworkers!
Woodworking for me is a hobby. Like many, I am always looking for new methods and ideas. This book is wonderful! Read more
Published on December 19, 2009 by Sharker
Great book
Great book at a great price. If you want to do great woodworking this book gets you there. Came looking new which was a bonus.
Published on December 15, 2009 by Philip Washburn
Not enough time to master all of this
I've done my first read through of this book and I think it is outstanding. It will definitely be a used reference book in my shop. Read more
Published on October 17, 2009 by HAC
Like hands-on for hand tools
Let me start by saying, this is a great book. I have been a wood worker since high school. Up untell now my work mostly has been with power tools. Read more
Published on August 28, 2009 by Tory Swetland
Outstanding Book!!!
As a relative new comer to woodworking, I have gone the way of hand tools for almost all of my projects (very small space with a strong desire to lessen dust and shavings). Read more
Published on July 14, 2009 by M. Levesque
nice blend of hand and power
What is really good about this book is that many of the articles deal with the usefulness and expedience of hand tools in a power tool shop.

I reach for this often. Read more
Published on January 14, 2009 by Mark Twain
Excellent contenet, writing and editing!
Regardless of your skill level and experience, you will enjoy and appreciate this book. Each author is a seasoned woodworker and student of the craft. Read more
Published on October 25, 2008 by J. Berry
Simply awesome
This book is awesome. If you only get one book on using hand tools, get this one.
Published on May 5, 2008 by Mark Wells
Most everything I want is there
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... Read more
Published on February 23, 2008 by D. J.
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
birdcage awl, infill planes, powered jointer, coarse waterstone, planing stop, cambered iron, firming chisel, drawbore pins, miter shooting board, honing guide, piercing awls, miter plane, secondary bevel, ruler trick, wooden spokeshaves, marking knives, jointer plane, hand tool shop, cabinet rasp, striking knife, lateral adjustment lever, lever cap, many chisels, blade projection, fore plane
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Lee Valley Tools, Thomas Lie-Nielsen, United States, Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, Joseph Moxon, Graham Blackburn, Astragal Press, Mechanick Exercises, Bed Rock, Ray Iles
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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