Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins (Build Like A Pro) (Paperback)

by Clayton Dekorne (Author) "Managing any construction project is like managing your finances..." (more)
Key Phrases: overlay moldings, cup hinges, running baseboard, Speed Rip Square (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Installing trim requires precision and know-how. This is the book that shows how to handle all common trim projects, including window and door casings, baseboards, wainscoting and crown molding -- and get professional results every time. Presented in a highly accessible format with 34 drawings and 230 color photos, this is a complete do-it-yourself book written by a professional carpenter.

About the Author
Clayton DeKorne learned his craft from his father, becoming a full carpenter at the age of 17. Over the next ten years, he advanced from lead carpenter to trim contractor before becoming Senior Editor at "Journal of Light Construction." DeKorne then became the founding editor of Tools of the Trade.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Taunton; illustrated edition edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561584789
• ISBN-13: 978-1561584789
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,421 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #16 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Construction > Carpentry
  #20 in	Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Carpentry
  #54 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Woodworking

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great balance! Great Book., December 29, 2003

By	"anthonya29" (McLean, VA United States) - See all my reviews

I'm a "advanced beginner" carpenter, and this book is BY FAR the best book I've read and used to give good, practical information and tips on finish carpentry. I orginially borrowed from the library, but liked it so much I bought it.

It's got a great balance between being accessible and detailed. Unlike most books of this genre, it doesn't assume you've got thousands of dollars of woodworking tools in your basement, but does assume that you know a bit about what you're doing, and are looking for someone more experienced to get you through some tricky projects. The best part is page after page of expert tips that help you do things more quickly and efficient, based on the author's 25 years in the business. The pictures and illustrations are also top notch, again, a great balance between detailed and accessible. A lot of thought went into writing this book and it shows.

119 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, concise, informative, August 30, 2003

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

There are a lot of carpentry books out there, and most of them fill you with extraneous details that you don't want to read about, and don't tell enough about what you need to DO. DeKorne's book is a rare exception. He gets right to work, and much of the work of describing what to DO is accomplished with fine photographs and illustrations. I'm an engineer and think I know how material's put together, but I learned far more about how wood goes together (and will perform over its service life) than I ever expected. DeKorne doesn't just parrot the theory of woodworking, but takes you beyond the bench with details that allow you to trim out an old house with expert precision, even where nothing is square or plumb. There's nothing about dovetails, or mortise and tenon (what a relief!) but plenty about practical joinery. The sections describing compound miters are the best I've ever read. Finally I feel like I understand how to make an elegant crown fit in an old house.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I wished my father had taught me, May 7, 2004

By	Martha Martinez (Toledo) - See all my reviews

My husband gave me this book as a gift, and it's provided wonderful encouragement (it's also a book he wanted, of course). Together we have completed some nice house projects together, such as converting our back porch into a sunroom and adding a new window in the dining room to bring in much needed light. We both agree the hardest part to do well is the wood trim, and it's what you see everyday afterwards. This book has been a wonderful guide and confidence builder for us both. It's not a beginner's book, but it's not at all too advanced. I pride myself on having learned some basic carpentry and how to use some tools, but with this book I've picked up some of the extras I wished I'd learned from my father (or any other family member when I was younger) about woodworking. The book's full of useful tricks and short cuts, as well as clear explanations about how all the pieces work together, and what the shortfalls we should be looking out for to get professional looking results. I'd recommend it to anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of carpentry who wants to take on some real carpentry jobs around the house. Next up for us: Wainscoting in the a bathroom, and then replacing the bland, little trim in our living room with elegant Victorian details!