Working Wood: A Complete Bench-Top Reference (Spiral-bound)

by Jim Tolpin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This handy bench reference tells what kinds of jig make a table saw more efficient or accurate, what’s the best drill-bit speed to use to drill a one-inch hole in hardwood, what clamps and fixtures to use if you’re lamin-ating curved pieces, and many more tricks. At last, a comprehensive, accessible, and easy-to-understand guide you can pull off the shelf whenever you’re stumped.


About the Author
Starting in 1970 as a boat-building apprentice in Maine, Jim Tolpin's career moved through timberframing, finshing, and cabinetry. A regular contributor to CabinetMaker and Woodshop News, Tolpin also writes for Fine Woodworking and American Woodworker. His book, Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets, won the 1995 Stanley Award for Best How-To Book.

Other Books by This Author:
Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 224 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (December 31, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871923017
• ISBN-13: 978-0871923011
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #574,761 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with tons of useful information, September 12, 2004

By	A. Schaefer (Fayetteville, AR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just starting to dabble in woodworking as a hobby, I have acquired several books, but this is definitely one that I keep coming back to, and there a several reasons for that.

First and maybe most important is that it's bound in such a way that I can lay the book flat on the table. It allows me to go set up a tool, and constant refer back to the book without having to put weights to hold the book open, photocopies, etc. It's at much a tool as anything else in the shop.

Second, it covers all the major power tools, and their intended uses. It doesn't just tell you what each tool is, and how they work, but the best methods of how to use the tool.

Third, it is chock full of all sorts of tips and tricks to help make the work that you're doing easier and/or more precise. While sometimes it may be hard to remember exactly where a particular trick may be, the book does have a well put together index to help finding things.

This is easily the most important book that I have in my workshop, and have recommended it to others that I know. Now if only other book manufacturers would bind their books in the same way.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good reference book, February 24, 2003

By	Pharmacy Tech Student (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

This is a good reference book - there's just enough information to be useful, not too much so that it's overwhelming. If you are looking for your first woodworking reference, this is a good overview of all the basics, from wood types, to tools and techniques, project design concepts, and home shop setup. There's a really nice appendix at the end the book, with a list of other recommended reads, and lots of "woodworker geek charts and graphs" to ensure that this book stays in the shop. Lots of good info at a value price.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginning woodworkers, November 1, 2008

By	Dick Johnson (Oklahoma USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is a lot of info in this book for the experts, too. I am usually very leery when the word "Complete" appears anywhere in a book's title or description. This book is very complete, though. While you could go through it from front to back, its value is as a look-up source.

Tolpin writes as if he's visiting with you in his shop. His explanations are clear and his tips are practical and do not require ownership of every power tool made.

This would be a great gift for anyone interested at all in woodworking.