Ask HN: Best book to begin wood-working?

14 points by matthewmueller 3 years ago | 10 comments

Hi all, I'm looking for a woodworking book that teaches you through experiments. Also a book that will help with purchasing tools and materials.

It'd be nice if the book starts with hand tools and works your way up to power tools. Ideally something like the Make: Electronics book.

Anyone books fit this description? Thanks!

anthonyoconnor 3 years ago |

Paul Sellers has a book about hand tools. I haven't read it personally but I've watched the majority of his youtube videos. He is an excellent teacher and a joy to watch work.

Here is the video of him describing the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv4krEZAe7E

jeppine 3 years ago | |

He also has a website that has some good guides on tools and exercises to teach you the basics.

https://commonwoodworking.com/

Lost Art Press also has some good books mainly focusing on hand tools.

https://lostartpress.com/

JamesSwift 3 years ago | | |

Came to recommend his online course as well. You aren't going to find a better handtools introduction series IMO. You might be able to piece one together from Chris Schwarz, Sellers, Roy Underhill, and some others. But Common Woodworking is designed and offered specifically for someone like OP to get started IMO.

baremetal 3 years ago | |

Absolutely love Paul Sellers.

Rob Cosman is also excellent.

https://www.youtube.com/@RobCosmanWoodworking

Cody_C 3 years ago |

I'm a fan of woodworking myself. A lot of people in my family have done it for years, so I've grown-up around it. I don't know of any books (I'll be watching this thread for recommendations myself.) As with many hobbies, YouTube has a solid set of people on all levels doing wood-working.

I'll say a few tips:

Don't cut towards yourself, or put your hand in-line with any cutting instrument.

If you are connecting two pieces of wood together, always drill a whole for the fastener through the top piece (two pieces without pre-drilling will not bond.)

Properly glued, the glued joint is in many cases stronger than the original wood bond.

Measure twice, cut once.

When you lose a tool or piece, start cleaning up the area around the work and you will likely find it.

Have some fun!

mattbrewsbytes 3 years ago | |

> Properly glued, the glued joint is in many cases stronger than the original wood bond

Several youtubers have scienced the heck out of this by building joints with various connection methods and stress testing them. For joints using some connector, Scott Walsh has a good point of view from a beginner in a small shop perspective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NOx8F91AaA Others have concluded the parents statement that glue alone is strong enough. I think Bourbon Moth went to a weight room and tested with stacks of weight lifting plates.

Cody_C 3 years ago | | |

That sounds like a really cool set of tests, I'll have to check that link out. I have glued a few guitar headstocks after some nasty cracks. With only standard wood glue they would hold great. The strings apply a lot of pressure, and I never saw a single one fail.

Another nice note about standard wood glue is you can generally steam it apart in case something goes awry.

mattbrewsbytes 3 years ago |

Something I read or saw is really good advice when starting a new hobby and is important with woodworking: buy inexpensive tools first, use them, build some things and after you've built some things you'll have preferences on what tools are best suited for you. Then go get the best you can afford of those tools. Be aware that most youtube channels have paid sponsorships and/or affiliate links so they might be biased towards those.

Nearly everything in woodworking is a box. You might want to look at books on joinery techniques which would cover how to connect sides of a box. All the techniques can be accomplished with hand tools or power tools so there isn't any "work up to" type of graduating from one to another. Power tools require a lot more knowledge of safety practices if that's what you intend. Get some basic inexpensive tools and start building boxes.

You might want to consider youtube as a starting point, Steve Ramsey has a lot of beginner videos on safety, tool selection, build videos, etc. https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRamsey

gateorade 3 years ago |

I’m only an aspiring woodworker myself and don’t have any book recommendations but I really enjoy and am really informed by Bourbon Moth Woodworking on YouTube.

sleepybodo 3 years ago |

I’d suggest two:

Woodworking Basics by Peter Korn and The Anarchists Tool Chest by Chris Schwarz