Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools [Hardcover]

Lonnie Bird (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2004

The author of The Shaper Book, The Band Saw Book, and The Complete Illustrated Guide to Shaping Wood, Lonnie Bird now brings us Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools. Here the reader is given a step-by-step guide that covers the essential techniques for using hand and power tools. Along with over 900 color photographs and illustrations, a correct set-up, safe use of machines, and skillful use of hand tools is also included.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lonnie Bird, a professional woodworker specializing in period furniture, runs a woodworking school in Dandridge, Tennessee.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (September 18, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561585971
• ISBN-13: 978-1561585977
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Hand Tools
  • #58 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Power Tools
  • #95 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Furniture

More About the Author

Lonnie Bird, a professional woodworker specializing in period furniture, was a contributing editor to American Woodworker. He taught woodworking at the university level and now operates his own school in Dandridge, Tennessee.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Starting Out Right, December 31, 2004

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools (Hardcover)

It's not like me to wax poetic over a an introductory how-to book, but Lonnie Bird's tome on Using Woodworking Tools really is one of the finest effots I've ever seen. Taunton continues to set the bar with their 'complete illustrated' guides, but this one is exceptional for even that series.

The book offers 15 chapters divides into parts - 1) Wood and the Shop, 2) Outfitting the Shop, 3) Benches, Clamps, and Assembly, 4) Hand Tools, and 5) Power Tools. Each chapter lays in the basics and then goes on to provide a good deal of insight into the less obvious things one can accomplish with a given tool or process. The end result is a book that works at a beginners level, but retains its worth well into advanced woodworking.

Excellent illustration and layout are the standard here. I have a long standing gripe with books that use good looking models posing around brand new equipment, usually in the wrong position to do what they are attempting without losing a finger. One look at these photos, and you know you are in someone's shop. Not a new shop, but one that has come together over time, with an owner who values good tools new or used.

The text is thoughtful, straightforward, and well-written. In fact the only flaw in Using Woodworking Tools is that it is a bit more costly than many introductory books. But it has far more lasting value than most of its competition. I would rate this a best buy for the both introductory and shop reference use.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautifull book, lack substance., January 11, 2007

By 

E. Weber "woodworker" (NH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools (Hardcover)

Overall this book is very well illustrated, it contains information on some tools and put an emphasis on hand tools.

The book is basically a catalog of the different tools and the basic techniques to use them.

I was expecting to at least have some discussions on how to set them up, and care for them. I was also hoping to find more detail discussion on how to chose a power tool (other than you can find some great bargain on used items).
There is a small section on sharpening but I guess you need to buy the book dedicated to the subject to go anywhere.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book to round out the Set, February 8, 2008

By 

David Schlosser - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools (Hardcover)

I began woodworking about one year ago and started by taking some classes at the local woodworking store. I had the idea in my head to build a wooden chest and finding a good starting place was not easy. Most of the wood workers I encounter are all over the spectrum of skill. No one really had a comprehensive method for teaching woodworking or where to start with the tools of woodworking. I think that this book gives a great start when it comes to selection of necessary tools as well as some general knowledge of how to use them. Keep in mind that a book can not accurately describe the pressure and overall feel of how to use a Plane or any other tool for that matter. These kinds of skills must come from doing.

I have all the other Taunton press books in the "Complete Illustrated" set and I think that together I have a great reference set to begin designing and working with wood. They also all match each other and this makes my bookshelf look good as well. I would recommend the hardcover over the soft cover because it can be more easily used in the shop this way.