Here's Vol IV of this excellent series which takes us up to a page count of 1492. This is perhaps the most entertaining volume. It is certainly the most philosophical.
There is however a strong practical element as you would expect which starts with the first section on workbenches and work holding. A number of types of workbench - essentially variations on the typical English pattern - are discussed in detail and are aimed at the woodworker thinking of building his or her own. A number of ingenious and familiar holding devices are also described. Then there is a wonderful section on tool chests, cabinets and other means of storage. Enough information is again provided for those thinking of building there own. The third section is particularly useful. Entitled Appliances, it covers a range of shooting boards and other devices.
The above three sections could well remove any need to buy books specifically dedicated to those topics.
Then we move on to the more eclectic stuff: a section on styles of furniture down the ages. This is, to this reader at least, simply mind-boggling and a very useful guide to what one is incapable of making. Then comes the longest section, nearly seventy pages of projects and drawings. This is perhaps best not viewed as a "how to" part but rather a tour of the possibilities which open up as skills are acquired e.g. ball and claw legs will be daunting to many a normal mortal. The penultimate part is entitled Miscellaneous Details and it deals with the likes of locks, hinges and other hardware. This really is most useful and instructive.
The real treat is, however, the last section Odds and Sods. It is here that Charles Hayward muses on the nature of the craft and the right way to approach it, the lessons he learned during his working life and the characters he met. It offers both eternal truth and wisdom lightly worn as well as a glimpse into days which were already fading when he was a young man. This is the section for leisurely perusal in your armchair, accompanied by a glass of something you like.
This reviewer found the first three volumes to constitute a wonderfully instructive compendium and this fourth (and final) volume includes more of the same but is also the icing on the cake. The entire series is recommended without hesitation and the editor, Christopher Schwarz, has, in producing it, surely done the woodworking community a great service.
There is however a strong practical element as you would expect which starts with the first section on workbenches and work holding. A number of types of workbench - essentially variations on the typical English pattern - are discussed in detail and are aimed at the woodworker thinking of building his or her own. A number of ingenious and familiar holding devices are also described. Then there is a wonderful section on tool chests, cabinets and other means of storage. Enough information is again provided for those thinking of building there own. The third section is particularly useful. Entitled Appliances, it covers a range of shooting boards and other devices.
The above three sections could well remove any need to buy books specifically dedicated to those topics.
Then we move on to the more eclectic stuff: a section on styles of furniture down the ages. This is, to this reader at least, simply mind-boggling and a very useful guide to what one is incapable of making. Then comes the longest section, nearly seventy pages of projects and drawings. This is perhaps best not viewed as a "how to" part but rather a tour of the possibilities which open up as skills are acquired e.g. ball and claw legs will be daunting to many a normal mortal. The penultimate part is entitled Miscellaneous Details and it deals with the likes of locks, hinges and other hardware. This really is most useful and instructive.
The real treat is, however, the last section Odds and Sods. It is here that Charles Hayward muses on the nature of the craft and the right way to approach it, the lessons he learned during his working life and the characters he met. It offers both eternal truth and wisdom lightly worn as well as a glimpse into days which were already fading when he was a young man. This is the section for leisurely perusal in your armchair, accompanied by a glass of something you like.
This reviewer found the first three volumes to constitute a wonderfully instructive compendium and this fourth (and final) volume includes more of the same but is also the icing on the cake. The entire series is recommended without hesitation and the editor, Christopher Schwarz, has, in producing it, surely done the woodworking community a great service.
