Finish Carpenter's Manual (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Finish carpenters today do some of the same work their grandfathers and great-grandfathers did 50 or 100 years ago..." (more)
Key Phrases: Pat Cudahy Figure, Lien Holder, Seb Eggert Figure (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Craftsman Book Company (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934041822
• ISBN-13: 978-0934041829
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #383,098 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all, October 21, 2002

By A Customer

This book is outstanding. It has already paid for itself many times over. If you're doing a finish carpentry project or even contracting one out, then this should be required reading.

This is a well-written manual that covers all aspects of finish carpentry including pricing your work. The advice is sound and this book has saved me from making a number of mistakes. The best part is that Mr. Tolpin is a fine writer and he even manages to make this an interesting read.

If you're interested in finish carpentry this is a great book for you. I read this book while a contractor was building a house for me -- I learned enough to get him to correct some framing and drywall problems that would have hurt me later. I also learned what to do before the drywall went on to save myself time when I added the chair and crown moldings.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Business Advice, April 27, 2004

By	Richard Mastello (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

I am a retired aerospace engineer experiencing a "second life" as a woodworker/carpenter. Of all the finish carpentry books I have looked at, this one is better suited to the person going into the business (I am contemplating it). It offers a decent overview of the range of projects a carpenter will be called upon to do, and serves as a good general reference, though it takes on too wide a scope to go into much detail on all the topics it tackles. However, the last chapter, "Setting Up a Subcontractor Finishwork Business," is worth the cost of the book for someone who wants to learn about contracts, billing, and some of the management issues involved, which may be even more intimidating than the hands-on work. If you really get serious about the business, however, be sure to check out David Gerstel's "Builder's Guide to Running a Successfil Construction Company."

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best "How-To Manual" I own, June 7, 2004

By	Scott T. Conner (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This book is a great recource for professional finish carpenters learning the trade. Step by step instructions help simplify common finish carpentry tasks, each section contains a list of man-hours per job to aid in bidding and the book lay out is very friendly.