What Wood Is That?: A Manual of Wood Identification (Studio Book) [Hardcover]

Herbert L. Edlin (Author)

Book Description

Series: Studio Book | Publication Date: May 23, 1969

Strong, pliable, and natural, wood is the world's most versatile structural resource. But how to tell one kind from another and choose just the right wood for your project? This remarkable collection of forty actual wood samples shows the color, grain, and texture of the leading varieties. Detailed drawings identify uncut, unfinished trees by their leaves, fruits, and bark. Originally published in 1969, and now in its eighth printing, this straightforward text explains where each kind of tree is grown and how to use its wood to the best advantage--from lamination to veneering, from carving and molding, to finishing. Here, too, is the history of man's use of wood from the Stone Age ax to modern-day conservation issues and rare rain-forest species. What Wood Is That? is an invaluable resource for builders, homeowners, and hobbyists--and a fascinating companion for forest guides and nature lovers.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The title of this book could not be more explicit or apt. With 40 actual wood specimens in popular use, descriptions of grain, color and texture, how to identify trees by their leaves, fruit, and bark, and much more, this is a small encyclopedia for woodworkers, carpenters, hobbyists, dealers, architects, craftsmen, nature lovers, teachers, or anyone with the urge to learn about wood. With small, aromatic samples of 40 varieties of wood, from afrormosia to zebrawood, this book even smells good! --Mark Hetts

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (May 23, 1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670759074
• ISBN-13: 978-0670759071
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #282,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #96 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Small Homes & Cottages

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Focus On European Not USA Species, December 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: What Wood Is That?: A Manual of Wood Identification (Studio Book) (Hardcover)

This book is of little value for the woodworker trying to identify woods commonly used on the American continent. When the species are described (with wood samples provided) the European varieties are given to the exclusion of woods from this continent. Species vary enough from the Euopean continent to make the book of very little use in identifying American woods and can even be misleading. The grain pattern on Birch is a classic example and Birch is used a great deal on funiture.

The book is very badly outdated and lists uses for various woods not seen since the late fifties and early sixties.

Consider carefully before purchasing this book.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great samples. Great book., May 14, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Wood Is That?: A Manual of Wood Identification (Studio Book) (Hardcover)

If your working on a project involving exotic woods, then this book should be added to your library. The REAL wood samples are great. The book also has very useful information about many types of wood. I find this book to be a handy reference tool and am glad to have added it to my collection.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quiet and straightforward, October 26, 2000

By 

P. van Rijckevorsel (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Wood Is That?: A Manual of Wood Identification (Studio Book) (Hardcover)

This is a very friendly and straightforward book. It starts with veneer samples (quite small, but big enough) of 40 woods and finishes with descriptions of the trees that yield these 40 woods.

In between there is quite a bit of useful information on wood, and the history of woodworking. A pretty good introduction to wood for and woodworking. This book will be only modestly useful in identification, since it is limited to naked eye observations of those 40 woods.

I browsed through the 1969 edition and it clearly is from another era (with the chainsaw just being introduced!). I can well imagine that those who equate woodworking with roaring high speed machines may find this quiet book not to their liking.