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Taunton Press

Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship

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Format: Paperback


Description

With Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship, renowned instructor Peter Korn presents a comprehensive approach that has successfully guided hundreds of aspiring woodworkers through the fundamentals of the craft over the past 20 years. This book is your ultimate resource for building a solid foundation in woodworking, whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills. Key Features:Proven Techniques: Korn’s integrated approach emphasizes the right techniques from the very start, ensuring that you develop essential skills crucial to fine craftsmanship. Step-by-Step Instructions: Each chapter offers clear, detailed instructions, taking you through the safe use of machinery and the correct handling of hand tools. Key Joinery Skills: Master classic woodworking joints such as mortise-and-tenon and dovetails, essential for creating sturdy, beautiful furniture Hands-On Projects: Practice your newfound skills with two attractive and functional projects—a small bench and a side table with a door and drawer. These projects are designed to help you gain confidence in using both hand and power tools while producing functional pieces you can be proud of. Comprehensive Coverage: From milling a board four-square to cutting intricate joints, Woodworking Basics covers all aspects of woodworking. Korn’s easy-to-follow approach, complemented by illustrations and tips, makes learning enjoyable and effective. Perfect for All Skill Levels: Whether you’re just starting or looking to polish your craftsmanship, this book is an invaluable guide that will enhance your woodworking journey and inspire you to create beautiful pieces. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Taunton Press


Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2003


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 192 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 156158620X


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 02


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.63 x 0.5 x 10.88 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #338,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #207 in Carpentry #364 in Woodworking Projects (Books) #567 in Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement (Books)


#207 in Carpentry:


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Perfect 101 book for Beginners
I took a beginning woodworking course a long time ago, but have decided to refresh my interest. Korn's book is almost identical to the structure and pacing of instruction from my course. His project based instruction and step by step approach is exactly what newcomer's need. I also like Korn's lack of pretense when presenting tools or techniques. Many books these days wax the "poetic" of woodworking with seductive images and effusive text, being little more than a showcase of very expensive premium hand tools. Korn appears to take a more modest (and affordable) approach with essential hand tools. Although much of the machinery shown in the book may be beyond a beginner's pocket book, the alternative hand tool approach is well within reach and will drive home the fundamentals of woodworking more than machine milling will. The first 70 pages introduce the reader to wood, joinery and (power and hand) tools. The reader learns a great deal without being intimidated by too much detail. The sections are a bit terse (particularly sharpening), but the simpler introductions are appropriate to the scope of the book. There are other books that specialize in the topics of advanced machine use, hand planes and sharpening. Korn's book has just enough to get you going without making you feel it is too complicated to proceed. The first project, milling a board four square, is a fundamental task of woodworking that deserves the attention it gets in this book. Korn does a superb job of providing step-by-step instruction using hand tools or power tools. For me, Sharpening was the first "project" in the WW class I took since it is also a fundamental. The second and third project is to take the boards you dimensioned and do some basic joinery (before working on any furniture). First, the basic mortise and tenon and then the through-dovetail joint. Joinery is also a fundamental, and these particular joints are the most widely used. Korn takes us step-by-step through the process with plenty of clear photographs showing the technique. The milled boards are long enough that the reader can practice the joints several times. Each time your joints will get better, and you will gain valuable experience and confidence. The last 80 pages include two small projects, a handsome stool and a side table. These projects are big enough to introduce several more fundamentals without being too complex that the reader will never finish. The stool introduces half-blind dovetails, pinned tenons, glue-up procedure, and basic finishing. The side table introduces basic carcase and drawer/panel door construction. Again, all steps are well documented with plenty of photographs. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2010 by skippy
    • Good information, selfish author. Don't follow all of his advice.
Good information for new Woodworker's or for Woodworker's who want a refresher. One complaint I have at the author. He says to try to find a place you can pick through the stacks of wood and select your own boards that is the way he does it. He then complains about the quality of even FAS wood not being very good. As proof he offers that he once picked through a thousand feet of cherry and only found three "excellent boards". Guys who will pick through a thousand board feet and then buy three lousy boards are the problem. The reason often the only thing that is left is twisted and knotty are because of guys like this author. Wood is a natural product. You take the good with the bad then you cut around the imperfections or better yet hide them on the inside. If everyone only bought the best boards, think how many more trees would need to die in order for everyone to fulfill his wood needs. Now I'm by no means a tree hugger but I don't think wasting is right and I don't think leaving all the bad stuff for the next guy is right either. I am guessing this author is a democrat since he has no ethics about what he leaves in his wake or the amount of time he takes in the store being in the way while other people may want to buy lumber, but by the way he acts about cutting trees until he finds the perfect one you would never know it. When I buy boards I take pretty much what is on top and buy extra so I can deal with the imperfections in a natural product. I get my stuff, get out of the way, and leave the pile in good shape for the next customer so it doesn't fall on top of him. I request my fellow woodworker's behave in a similar civilized manner. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2016 by Patrick
    • This is not a stand along Novice woodworking book.
This book is not bad. It would be a great supplement to the class. It has nice projects. However a lot of the details a new woodworker who does not have someone to learn from are missing. For example, in one section it's titled 'know your glues.' The author gives limited detail on yellow glue, but only mentions in brief the other types of glues in a matter that only leaves the novice hanging on how to identify a good white, yellow, epoxy, or many of the other types of glue. In another section the author talks about using power tools and things he would recommend, but not the details. For example a router is a great tool for finishing edges and cutting datos,' but the author doesn't help you decide which type of router would best fit ANY type of woodworker. For example something like 'the cabinet maker will have something like these 3 routers, while the hobbyist should start with X router.' Again, the very important details for the novice are left out-- and this book is for novices. Also I like the recommended progressions presented, but it really isn't that helpful in this case. If it was 1993 and we didn't have endless resources at our finger tips on the internet for projects, I could see how this could be more useful. Also from my novice perspective, the project is the source of creativity and interest. if it's already set for me then I lose the desire. More useful than having 30 pages of plans on end table construction would be specific joints and construction method's used for all types of cabinet building, including the specifics on how to execute them, along with tips from the pro. This book along will not help you get started in woodworking. Mark Spagnuolo's book Hybrid Woodworking is much better at guiding the Novice through the sea of expensive tools and techniques for the beginner and has plenty of information on advanced woodworking. There is a slight shift in philosophy towards power tools from Peter Korn, but only slight. And those small differences can easily be found on the internet if you desire to lean more towards the hand tool methods. I would also recommend Terrie Noll's Joint Book: The Complete guide to Wood Jointery as a benchtop resource for helping remember the joints and methods for fine woodworking. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2016 by KP and JP

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