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Ask HN: Best book to begin wood-working?

by matthewmueller on 1/16/23, 9:32 PM with 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!

  • by anthonyoconnor on 1/16/23, 11:32 PM

    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

  • by Cody_C on 1/16/23, 11:50 PM

    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!

  • by matt_s on 1/17/23, 1:06 PM

    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

  • by gateorade on 1/18/23, 2:37 AM

    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.

  • by sleepybodo on 1/17/23, 8:55 PM

    I’d suggest two:

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