Automotive Woodworking: Restoration, Repair and Replacement [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Roland Johnson (Author), Peter Bodensteiner (Author) "Woodworking, like many aspects of automotive restoration, is inherently dangerous..." (more)
Key Phrases: woodie body, urea resin glue, laminate bending, Sources of Supply, Stanley Number, System Three (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
During the course of restoring an old car, many enthusiasts are called upon to utilize some sort of woodworking skill. Trouble is, while most car enthusiasts are comfortable working with metal, wood is enigmatic, indeed. This illustrated guide introduces readers to the tools, techniques, and materials they need to successfully restore, repair, and replace everything from structural automotive wood like that found in door frames and truck beds, to decorative wood like dashboards, to complete woody bodies. Thorough explanations and photo sequences take the mystery out of tasks like choosing the right wood, weather-proofing, and crafting joints that can withstand the stresses of rough roads and daily use.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (September 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760309116
• ISBN-13: 978-0760309117
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,229,585 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A NECESSITY for restorers and hot rodders alike, August 20, 2002

By A Customer

Restoring a woodie is a challenge for car guys used to working with metal, but almost ALL old cars have wood in them, whether it's structural or decorative. In addition, automotive wood is subjected to conditions that furniture never sees -- vibration, flexing, rain, sun, and ever-changing temperature and humidity. After 50 years or more, it always needs work.

Rollie Johnson is a writer and a professional woodworker -- he's a regular contributor to Taunton's Fine Woodworking magazine -- in addition to being a car guy. He's uniquely qualified to give us the information we need to work with wood in old cars.

This book shows you how to restore, repair, or fabricate all new wood for your restoration or hot rod project, with special attention given to the unique needs of wood in the high-stress automotive environment. Johnson shows us what woods to use, what joinery techniques work best, how to cut and shape complex pieces and even veneers, and what glues and finishes to use. It's first-rate information that any car guy should have in his library -- regular woodworkers will find it a good read too.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing for Restoring Woodies, March 5, 2004

By	"bloominq" (Ashburn, VA United States) - See all my reviews

As a woodworker with 20 years of experience I was interested in what it would take to apply my craft to an automobile. More than half of this book is just a primer on basic finish carpentry and what types of woods were used in "woodies". A total of 4 pages is dedicated to the general project sequence of how to work on a woodie car but nothing about woodies themselves. There is no discussion of how a body is attached to a chassis, no discussion of any disassembly, use or types of fasteners nor is there any detailed discussion of the differences in "woodie" types. This book has many glossy pictures but it does not in anyway prepare you to build or restore a woodie. It does give a good overview of types of woods and finished but you can get that for less then half the price (and more detail) at your local hardware stores. Go to any Woodie website for more education on woodie restoration. Disappointing!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woodies from a woodworkers point of view, October 13, 2003

By A Customer

I have been a profesional woodworker for more than 25 years now. I also love cars so the two paths have converged and I am building woodies now. Mr. Johnson's book about automotive woodworking is excellent. He is the only author of automotive woodwork that I have ever read that is really a woodworker. He obviously knows his way around a shop and relates it well. This is great book for anyone interested in doing woodwork on your car, with step by step instructions right on the money. Lets hope he continues to share his wealth of knowledge of woodworking and woodies.