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The Taunton Press

Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship

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Format: Paperback


Description

Learn woodworking from one of the craft's most respected teachers.In Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship, acclaimed furniture maker and instructor Peter Korn presents the proven method he has used to teach hundreds of aspiring woodworkers the skills, techniques, and habits that lead to success in the workshop.Combining clear instruction with hands-on practice, this trusted guide provides a strong foundation for anyone who wants to build fine furniture and develop lasting craftsmanship.Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to strengthen your fundamental skills, you'll learn how to work safely and accurately with both hand tools and power tools while mastering essential woodworking techniques. From measuring, layout, and stock preparation to milling lumber, joinery, shaping, assembly, and finishing, Korn's step-by-step approach breaks complex processes into manageable skills that build confidence with every project.Detailed illustrations and expert guidance walk you through classic furniture-making methods, including mortise-and-tenon joinery, dovetails, and other foundational techniques used by skilled craftspeople. Rather than presenting isolated lessons, Korn's integrated teaching philosophy shows how individual skills work together in real-world woodworking applications.As your abilities grow, you'll put your knowledge into practice by building two attractive and functional projects: a sturdy workbench and a side table featuring a door and drawer. These carefully designed projects reinforce core techniques while helping you develop the precision, problem-solving abilities, and craftsmanship that define quality woodworking.Perfect for beginning woodworkers, furniture makers, woodworking students, serious hobbyists, and DIY builders, Woodworking Basics remains one of the most respected introductions to fine woodworking available today. Key Features:Proven Instructional Method: Learn through the same integrated approach Peter Korn has used to teach hundreds of woodworkers over decades of instruction.Comprehensive Fundamentals: Master measuring, layout, stock preparation, machine setup, hand-tool skills, joinery, assembly, and finishing techniques. Essential Joinery Skills: Build confidence creating classic joints, including mortise-and-tenon and dovetail joinery, the backbone of quality furniture construction.Hands-On Learning: Apply new skills through two practical furniture projects designed to reinforce techniques and real-world shop practice.Detailed Illustrations and Guidance: Follow clear explanations, shop-tested advice, and visual instruction that make woodworking concepts easier to understand and apply.A Trusted Woodworking Reference: An invaluable resource for beginners and developing craftspeople seeking a lifelong foundation in woodworking and furniture making. 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: #104,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #11 in Power Tools (Books) #17 in Carving Crafts #39 in Carpentry


#11 in Power Tools (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Perfect introduction, very enjoyable read
Format: Paperback
First I need to point out that I am an armchair woodworker, unfortunately I have not had the pleasure (yet) to do the various exercises/projects. This was my first woodworking book. The author has a vast experience not only in woodworking, but also, and perhaps more importantly at this level, in *teaching* woodworking. He can explain the various concepts and techniques very eloquently, precisely and concisely. The descriptions are so accurate that it feels like you are actually seeing it done - no, doing it yourself, even though you are (like I was) sitting in a train. The pictures are also excellent, and the balance between text, pictures, drawings and sidebars denotes first-class editing. From a macro level, the book is also carefully structured. The first part describes the properties of wood and how they affect woodworking. Then machines are explained one by one, followed by hand tools (I would have done it the other way around, but never mind). After that, the student is taken through a number of basic exercises, in many cases giving various choices of hand tools and machines. Finally, there are a couple of projects. Be warned, reading the book takes some effort on your side. Especially if you are unfamiliar with technical terms, which are always introduced before they are used in context, you will have to look them up again in the index, which is by the way complete and functional. The author's writing is packed with information (which is good), and he is explaining difficult operations so you sometimes have to read the same paragraph twice to understand how to do things properly. When later projects build on previously-learnt material, the reader is referred to the specific page instead of repeating the explanation. Five stars, well deserved. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2012 by Jas Bro
    • Zen and the art of joinery
Format: Paperback
This book is fantastic, particularly for the beginner or someone who wants a solid foundation in hand-cut joinery. It is certainly not encyclopedic, nor is it a "project book". It does, however, offer concise and insightful instructions on "the essentials". The "projects" on cutting mortise and tenon, and dovetails, contain a wealth of information about how to mark accurately and cut square and true with hand tools. By focusing on these details, skills develop and better joints happen naturally. As a side note, the book contains lots of bits of good tool advice. The author often mentions, "If I had to have only one of tool X, it would be " which I think would be useful to anyone just getting started. Also, I notice that the tools used by the author in the illustrations are the type that get "best value" in tool reviews. Among tools used in the illustrations are what appear to be Marples blue chip chisels, Starrett squares, Shinwa protractor and bevel, xacto utility knife, etc. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2010 by M. Faulkner
    • Good, informative book
Format: Paperback
Good book. Using it for a woodworking class. Informative, though current edition is old.
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2025 by D. Hess
    • Perfect book for me at the perfect time
Format: Paperback
This book grew on me more and more as I have used it more and more. For reference, I am a guy with pretty decent power tools-cabinet grade skills who wants to transition to furniture grade skills. On a first fast read the book seemed too simple - like I already know what a router is. Everything changed when I took the challenge of trying to complete the "assignments." I understood the theory of handcut dovetails and other joints but had never tried to do them with furniture grade precision. Harder and more frustrating than I first thought and more satisfying than I expected as my results began to improve some. Mr. Korn gives just enough instructions in the basics and leaves just enough for the reader to puzzle through. Waited a while to do the review. I am about halfway through with the side table final "assignment." It will be far from perfect of course (what is not?), but I have gained many hours of challenge, frustration, satisfaction, and learning from working with this book until the pages have fallen off the spine. Just the right book for me at just the right time. If your skill levels are higher than mine, you may not need this. If you are a total novice who never cut a board in two, this may be too much. For me it was perfect. If hours of reading and reference and rereading are a reflection of value, this has been tremendous for me. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2014 by Sewell Brumby
    • Great Sill Building Class in a Book
Format: Paperback
Well thought out and presented, it is not only a reference book full of information it is also a skill building class taking the reader through various tasks that will be used in a couple of projects later on in the book. The projects are useful, elegant and as a skill building project they incorporate the techniques in the book providing practical application of some fundamental techniques. I purchased about $50 of additional tools that the projects could require (you don't have to have them but a work-around can be tedious) so if you are just starting, be prepared for the additional expense. Not a great deal of money but the book assumes that you already have some fundamental tools either powered or non powered. Also a mortising marking device is not a common item to me, but I now own one so i could complete the projects accordingly. The basics are really essential for designing and building you own furniture. I am only a third of the way into the first project but having read the book prior to starting I see that this is a great, fun way to learn and build up those wood working creds. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2014 by Lifelong Customer
    • Perfect 101 book for Beginners
Format: Paperback
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
    • This is not a stand along Novice woodworking book.
Format: Paperback
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
    • Good information, selfish author. Don't follow all of his advice.
Format: Kindle
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

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