The Complete Manual of Woodworking: A Detailed Guide to Design, Techniques, and Tools for the Beginner and Expert
Condition: New
Buy Now, Pay Later
As low as
$4
/ mo
Learn more
- – 4-month term
- – No impact on credit to apply
- – Instant approval decision
- – Secure and straightforward checkout
Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.
Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Free shipping on this product
30-day returns
Learn more
FREE 30-day refund/replacement
To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
Availability:
Only 4 left in stock, order soon!
Arrives
Thursday, Oct 8
Recently Viewed
Description
Designed to instruct and inspire every woodworker from the beginner to the most exacting expert, this authoritative guide is a must-have classic in the world of woodworking. With more than 1,800 drawings, diagrams and photos, The Complete Manual of Woodworking encompasses the whole art and craft of woodworking. Includes a discussion of all the principal hardwoods and softwoods, how to choose and use hand tools, detailed information on every woodworking technique--jointing, bonding, fastening, laminating, and much more. Read more
Publisher : Knopf
Publication date : December 3, 1996
Edition : 7TH PRINTING
Language : English
Print length : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 7
ISBN-13 : 17
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 8.4 x 0.85 x 10.2 inches
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Thursday, Oct 8
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
- Klarna Financing
- Affirm Pay in 4
- Affirm Financing
- Afterpay Financing
- Zip Pay in 4
- Financing through Apple Pay
- Financing through Google Pay
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Similar Products
$3/mo*
Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship
$3/mo*
Woodworking with Hand Tools: Tools, Techniques & Projects
Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Paperback
This is a great book providing lots of general information that would help any novice and even some experienced woodworker. The text is easy to read and the photos and drawings superb. About the only problem is the age the book shows in so far as power tools. This book could really use an update when it comes to this area. Power tools have come a long way in the last ten to fifteen years and many joinery operations can be performed with them instead of by hand - the book would benefit from showing and discussing this. Little things like carbide tipped blades, bits, and tools are barely mentioned though today they outsell HSS versions by several times and are much more frequently used. That said, however, it is indeed nice to see so many operations shown being done by hand despite power tools being able to do the job. It is always good to know how to do something by hand instead of always relying on power tools. I consider this book a "must have" because it supplies a broad range of information on pretty much everything dealing with woodworking and does it quite well.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2005 by Gauda
Format: Paperback
I was absolutely thrilled when I first leafed through this book. Most of the woodworking books I have seen or purchased in the past are essentially how-to guides. That is to say, they often contain a relatively limited number of step-by-step instruction sets for specific projects. While there is nothing wrong with that format of book, because they don't usually provide much in the way of explanation why steps are done the way they are, they're often not that extensible past the specific project given. Also, unlike those books, while this is illustrated, it doesn't use large color illustrations as filler to increase the page count. Illustrations exist for anything you might want, but there aren't any unnecessary ones. Professionally, I'm an engineer, and so I'm quite used to dealing with large textbooks and reference manuals. And this book reads much more like those types of books. It covers a tremendous range of topics broken down as individual techniques, tools, etc. And unlike many books, it will give a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each. So that you can make your own decisions when creating a project about which joints, adhesives and finishes to use. I really cannot recommend the book strongly enough.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2013 by Fred W
Format: Paperback
I purchased this book more out of curiosity than utility, and I happen to be impressed. I was looking to learn more about the art of woodworking, and was not disappointed. This book would be an excellent reference for a person who was curious about woodworking or merely needed to know the very basics. Many topics were covered, including everything from wood types to designing your workshop. While the book satisfies a person merely looking to reference the craft, it would not really be appropriate for a person looking for particular techniques or guides. Many of the topics covered in this book provide enough knowledge to produce familiarity, but most definitely not mastery. This is not a fault of the authors by any means; it would not be possible to discuss every topic in-depth. Overall, this book satisfied my basic desire to learn about woodworking, but an intermediate or advanced craftsman would be better served with a more focused book.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2011 by Charles Groen
Format: Paperback
This book reminds me of several other books in my collection: The Readers' Digest Complete Do it Yourself Manual, and similar books being published by Home Depot and Lowe's. The book attempts to cover an astonishing range of topics, and what it lacks in depth is made up in encyclopedic coverage. It is well done, but shows both the strengths and weaknesses of the genre. If you are looking for something along this line, you won't be disappointed. It is a useful reference, which will probably see a lot of use. On the other hand, if you are looking for in depth instructions on how to do something in particular, you are better off looking elsewhere. The book begins with a very strong section on the properties of wood, discussing 20 distinct types of softwoods, 56 types of hardwoods, as well as veneers, plywoods, particle boards and fiberboards. Each type is discussed with comments on sources, characteristics, workability, weight, and common uses. After a brief section on furniture design, it proceeds to three sections on tools. These take up the bulk of the book. There are few recommendations on which tools to buy first, or which to put off until later. The authors don't tell us much about what to look for when choosing a tool. Each tool is recommended just as highly as all the others, with sections on typical uses and how to perform them. On the other hand, the coverage of techniques is incredibly thorough in the handful of pages devoted to each tool. There are also a number of techniques here specifically aimed at those of us who have a less than complete collection of tools. The authors follow this with a brief section on setting up the home workshop, and then a chapter on joinery. Like most older books, the construction of dovetail joints is shown entirely by hand, rather than with a router and set of dovetail jigs. This is followed by sections on wood bending, veneers, carving and finishing. My copy, though printed in 2000, was written in 1989. The book is showing its age, particularly in the sections on power tools. The most striking examples are the pictures of DeWalt power tools in a sickly green color, which must have preceeded their current trademark yellow. In most sections, this makes very little difference, but in places one wishes for a second edition. The authors discuss combination tools and radial arm saws in great depth, while ignoring modern additions like the compound miter saw. The book reads like one written by a committee, with bland, unopinionated language. This is not a book you would enjoy reading from cover to cover, but that is probably not the intent. It is properly viewed as an encyclopedic reference work. This is a good book to buy in the early stages of learning about woodworking. I would recommend this book as a good second book, rather than a first book, because there is too little guidance for the neophyte.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2001 by Paul Martin
Format: Paperback
Really pleased with this purchase.
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2026 by John
Format: Paperback
I have been wood working for more than 30 years, but never really got a good workshop going, or really learned the basics; I just learned by trial and error. I saw this book and thought it would be a great refresher for what I already knew, but provide a lot of the info I don't know, and it hasn't disappointed! It starts out with the basics of the biology of trees and wood, lumbering of wood, types of wood, etc., including really nice color photos! I haven't even gotten to the later parts of the book, but it is so good so far, I had to submit this review! If I significantly change my mind after completion, I will make the effort to revise my review, but I don't think I will need to.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2020 by Stephen C. Knowles
The knowledge given is great. The format is concise, abundant, and all-inclusive; making the name of the book very appropriate. A good buy. When it arrived the pages seemed to be yellowing and somewhat full of ambient moisture and I was concerned for the glued binding. Maybe the few days travel in wet weather accounted for this. After a few days in the dry everything was Ok. This book copyrighted 1989 contain all the skills necessary for. a hand-tool woodworker, which is exactly what I need. Woodwork, being the oldest profession, there is a concern that skill-sets may by cast aside and forgotten by the introduction of machinery. And this is what makes this book still timely and important . Power tools and machinery of that day are also given ample exposure: band-saws, scroll--saws, table-saws, planers, drill-press, lathes, radial-arm saws, mortising attachments, sanders This is an excellent book.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2016 by kgb
Format: Hardcover
I got it second hand since the original it's pretty expensive and I was surpised it was in perfect conditions. The inside book, has lovely sketchs, very easy to understand showing a lot of information in just a couples pages. I learn a lot of new wood types I never knew before. Prefect for new woodworkers or DYI people.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2021 by Miguel Acevedo