Early Access Video: The Best Woodworking Books
Added 2019-12-28 12:01:00 +0000 UTCFriends:
Christmas is behind me, the family is healthy again, and the work goes on!
Most of you know that I used to be an English teacher, and you might also know that books are the secret weapon of my videos. I use old or rare woodworking books to bring new ideas and forgotten techniques to my viewers.
How many woodworking books are there? So, so many. And most of them are crap. Most books cover too many topics in too little detail and the very best books are frequently out of print. So how do you find the real gems and focus your research?
Well, I have a few ideas. Here's my guide to the 5 types of woodwork books that I believe everyone can learn from.
The video mentions my list of all my favorite woodworking books, and I'll have that ready in a few days.
Happy New Year!
--Rex
Comments
You know what else is missing? A decent English-language book on BASIC Japanese woodwork. I really wish such a thing existed.
Rex Krueger
2020-01-04 13:59:04 +0000 UTCI took this as an opportunity to check on Japanese-language resources since I'm based in Japan and read Japanese with a high degree of proficiency. I did find an interesting-looking but concise book on joinery technique and theory on Amazon.co.jp that I plan to read, but it doesn't seem to be any easier to find good Japanese-language woodworking books here than it is to find good English-language woodworking books in the US, and I'm not really sure that I want to spend a lot of time scouting used book stores for a diamond in the rough.
Stephen Cannon
2020-01-01 05:58:01 +0000 UTCRex, thanks as always. 1. I twice paused your video so that I could order books from your list. "Make a Joint Stool..." and "Country Furniture" should hit my doorstep in the very near future. 2. Vic Tesolin's "Minimalist Woodworker" is.a personal favorite. I think he and you share a common sensibility regarding woodworking. 3. I'm very much looking forward to your upcoming video regarding construction of a "stand-up" workbench. 4. Happy New Year. All my best to you and yours.
Mark L
2019-12-30 14:30:26 +0000 UTCExcelent video, Rex! I ordered 4 books from your list, can't wait to read them. One of them (Understanding Wood Finishing) is available for Kindle so I already started to read it and I can confirm it is quite good. I dare to recommend myself a book - "The Essential Woodworker" by Robert Wearing. This book has the best method to teach how to plane, IMO.
Mihai Luţescu
2019-12-29 21:15:01 +0000 UTCMortise and Tenon is just exactly what I want in magazine. Insightful, deep, beautiful, worth reading every word, more than once.
William Allen
2019-12-29 15:39:42 +0000 UTCAnd to you!
Rex Krueger
2019-12-29 13:54:51 +0000 UTCFor most of them, you'll need to shell out for the actual book. I know books are expensive, but many of these old book are available used for very little money.
Rex Krueger
2019-12-29 13:54:44 +0000 UTCThat's a good point and I'll give you an early tip: _The Practical Woodturner_ by Pain is a real gem, even though it's old.
Rex Krueger
2019-12-29 13:54:01 +0000 UTCI have to be honest, the only WW magazine I really like is Mortise and Tenon. I find most of the others too surface-level in their discussion of topics. Most of them are VERY power-tool focused (and that's fine; I own a bunch of power tools) but they don't talk much about risk and safety. I prefer books.
Rex Krueger
2019-12-29 13:51:11 +0000 UTCI'll look up that joyce book right away!
Rex Krueger
2019-12-29 13:44:51 +0000 UTCI think you'll find both of those books very useful! They're not the standard books, that's for sure!
Rex Krueger
2019-12-29 13:44:22 +0000 UTCGreat video Rex!!!! Happy hollidays for all
Antonio Marcos Ferreira
2019-12-29 00:29:20 +0000 UTCGreat video again! I need to read these maybe there are pdf versions?
Adrian Abshire
2019-12-28 17:45:25 +0000 UTCCan't wait to see the complete list. As of yet, I have only found two of your books, the hand planes and the Japanese tools. I found them both fantastic. I hope the list includes something on turning. I got a lathe for Christmas and am very excited.
William Allen
2019-12-28 17:42:43 +0000 UTCI got a copy of David's reprint a couple weeks ago and your list looks like something I can focus on now. Are you planning to do any discussion of the woodworking magazine options?
Rick Prosser
2019-12-28 15:35:47 +0000 UTCI can wholeheartedly recommend The Technique of Furnituremaking by Ernest Joyce. A solid reference book for sure, although you'll have to make do with a used copy these days, best found on eBay UK. I was also rather impressed by Woodworking Wisdom & Know-How from Taunton press. It sort of has a good bit of everything, well structured and with plenty of detailed plans and walk-throughs. For about $20 it's a total bargain.
HandToolSalvage
2019-12-28 15:28:24 +0000 UTCThank you Rexx. I've been trying to figure out which other woodworking books to add to my collection. I just ordered used copies of Country Furniture and The Pine Furniture of Early New England for under $20 for the pair, delivered. I'm still enjoying working my way through Ingenious Mechanicks.
Bill Smithem
2019-12-28 14:57:45 +0000 UTCYou know, I've been at this for a while and I'm JUST starting to develop a personal style. For years it was kind of whatever. I'm finally zeroing in on what I like. It takes time.
Rex Krueger
2019-12-28 13:44:01 +0000 UTCI'm glad to hear it! There are WAY too many bad woodworking books out there. I know, because I've read most of them.
Rex Krueger
2019-12-28 13:43:00 +0000 UTCI just got that Bob Flexner book for my brother for Christmas! He refinished a park bench for his front porch and wanted to know more. I'm secretly guiding him into the craft lol. This video was awesome. I feel like I have been in that phase where I have been looking for my style for a while now. Looking forward to reading from the list!
Nic Beurskens
2019-12-28 12:43:20 +0000 UTCThank you. I have been looking for books and felt overwhelmed on what type I should get.
Jason Connell
2019-12-28 12:23:26 +0000 UTC
