Selecting and Using Hand Tools: The New Best of Fine Woodworking

Yes this is a good book. Like all Taunton publishing, it has great photos, terse but casual writing style and lots of useful information for neophytes. The information i was looking for had to do specifically with finding resources for tools because I am completely replacing all of my collection that was stolen. The problems with this book for that purpose are: One- Much of the crucial information is now out-of-date. Two-Several of the resources listed do not have web-sites (Joseph Co- purveyors of the cheap Eberle saw) and Three-a couple of listed resources (like Misugi Design) are now defunct. Also, prices are from 1998, which means they are not even close to our post-Bushian inflationary prices. Much of the heralded "info" inside this tome is recycled from Fine Woodworking articles, so as a FW subscriber I found most of it redundant... stuff I already knew or had seen previously. One good thing about this book is in the first chapter, page 8. Mario Rodriguez shows a table with his portable tool selection. For newbies, this is an excellent description of a versatile, complete hand-tool collection. For experienced woodworkers, especially those who are seduced by power-tool lust, this single page shows you a better world of hand-powered, skill-building tools that can accomplish almost any conceivable woodworking task. You will save thousands, be a better woodworker and never be a slave to the power company if you follow his advice. However, for those like me who already knew this, the information is merely a reminder of a good basic shopping-list. SO... IF you are not an experienced woodworker, IF you are not a Fine Woodworking subscriber, or IF you don't know much about the varieties of hand-tools, then this is a good volume. For those seeking resources for hand-tools, this book is out-of-date and woefully incomplete. It focuses on the "Golly! ...you too can be an old-time woodworker if you buy our featured advertiser's products. " Too much emphasis is on the overpriced boutique tools (Lie-Nielsen, Bridge-City) and not enough options are listed for budget-minded practical woodworkers. The fact is, a knowledgeable craftsman can get great results buying less-expensive planes, chisels and saws if he knows how to sharpen and tune them, then build appropriate jigs. This book contains some of that information, but its focus is too commercially-driven and resource information is out-of-date.

Fabulous book, containing probably some of the best shop wisdom from excellent sources. Not to be missed are Mario Rodriguiez's notes on rasping, notes on old handplanes, and J.Crate Larkin's bowsaw design, which is an absolute masterstroke of design. A book that is not to be missed for all serious woodworkers!

The latest in the "New Best of Fine Woodworking" series, which collects the best articles from recent issues of "Fine Woodworking" magazine, Selecting And Using Hand Tools teaches the reader about buying the best tools, essential techniques such as four-squaring and using a marking knife in accurate joinery, applying edged tools or handsaws, getting the most out of tools for shaping and modifying, and much more. Diagrams and full-color photographs on every page walk the reader through procedures step-by-step, and the text explains hands-on tasks in easy-to-follow terms. An excellent resource for hands-on woodworkers of all skill and experience levels, from novice to advanced.