Wood Joiner's Handbook [Paperback]

Sam Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 1990

A master woodworker reveals exactly how to make perfect joints: L-shaped rabbet joints, mortises and tenons, butt joints, dadoes and grooves; even deco-rative joints, butterflies, dovetails and inlays; plus Chinese and Japanese styles. “A vast number of useful joints for cabinetmaking, furniture making and architectural woodworking.”—Woodshop News. “An excellent choice for novice or intermediate woodworkers.”—Fine Woodworking.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (June 30, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806969997
• ISBN-13: 978-0806969992
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #601,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Power Tools

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, thorough and well illustrated, May 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wood Joiner's Handbook (Paperback)

Many possibilities, different ways and methods of joining wood are beautifully illustrated in this book. However, so much information is provided that it can almost become confusing, depending on the person's level of expertise. Methods in making the joints are not shown, so this probably assumes a basic ability with hand or power tools.

This book can be used by all levels; from novices to professionals.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable, February 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Wood Joiner's Handbook (Paperback)

My woodworking library is growing steadily, as is my stack of woodworking magazines. This is the most useful book on joinery I have read to date. It's not the prettiest (no color photos), but I find Sam Allen's several years' experience working in a furniture repair shop to be invaluable. He has seen many failed joints and analyzed the cause of the failure, and he describes these in the book. He describes the forces that joints are subject to, and how to design for them. The book is well-organized, and the drawings of joints are very clear. I disagree with a previous reviewer that methods are not shown...actually handtool methods and machine tool methods are both shown. Probably not every method known to man (you wouldn't be able to lift the book), but I think if you can see a drawing of a joint and read a description of it, you should be able to figure out how to cut it...that's part of the enjoyment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You won't regret buying this book., April 25, 2004

By 

Andy Aronson (Sunnyvale, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wood Joiner's Handbook (Paperback)

After borrowing this book from the library I realized that it is so full of helpful information that I am going to buy it to have it in my small home shop. I was surprised to see only two reviews so far for this book: The writing is clear and concise; the diagrams are very helpful. The only thing that I wish for is better photography. Don't get me wrong, the photos work well to support the text but they are some times "muddy" black and white images (I'm a photographer so I tend to be picky about this sort of stuff.). I am relatively new to joinery and find this book one of the best I've read - and I've read probably close to fifty woodworking books in the past several months.
If you are new to joinery like me I think you'll find this book one of your best tools.
Have fun.