TheWizardofOdds
Established Member
I've been keen to start learning woodwork for a while now and I am looking to see if I can get recommendations for a beginners book.
I've done some searching on the site and have read suggestions about the Collins complete book and some others too. Due to funds and having small kids I've decided to go down the hand tools only route for the mean time. There are no woodwork classes near where I live so I'm going to have to learn myself from the Web and books etc. I've seen certain sites and books that are aimed at the beginner using hand tools and then I read something like ' ...now use a circular saw to cut before we begin...' So no power tools at all is the aim.
I have absolutely no knowledge of woodwork or DIY whatsoever so I'm really looking for simple stuff to begin with. I have read also about The Essential Woodworker and The Junior Woodworker books, are these more suited to people like myself? Any recommendations would be appreciated. I thought the Popular Woodworking book with the small projects was going to be a good one but it has a lot of stuff about power tools sadly. My idea is to start with the minimum of tools (no choice!) do a project, buy a few tools do another and build it up slowly and some day maybe even throw in a power tool. easy eh?
One good thing is that I have recently moved house and the garage is a really nice space so I envisage making my own workbench too when I've built some bird tables and egg cups first! :lol:
I imagine a minimum tool kit would be a few chisels, planes, saws, workmate bench, measuring tools etc.
I also noticed in Waterstones a book called Woodwork; a step by step photographic guide. It's a DK book and I really like their books. I can't remember if the projects in the book require power tools though? Does anyone have this book? At £25 it's not cheap but it does look good.
So, after a rambling introductory post, I'm looking for some good absolute beginner books that use hand tools exclusively, and maybe a few hints on starting in woodwork would be good too.
Thanks.
I've done some searching on the site and have read suggestions about the Collins complete book and some others too. Due to funds and having small kids I've decided to go down the hand tools only route for the mean time. There are no woodwork classes near where I live so I'm going to have to learn myself from the Web and books etc. I've seen certain sites and books that are aimed at the beginner using hand tools and then I read something like ' ...now use a circular saw to cut before we begin...' So no power tools at all is the aim.
I have absolutely no knowledge of woodwork or DIY whatsoever so I'm really looking for simple stuff to begin with. I have read also about The Essential Woodworker and The Junior Woodworker books, are these more suited to people like myself? Any recommendations would be appreciated. I thought the Popular Woodworking book with the small projects was going to be a good one but it has a lot of stuff about power tools sadly. My idea is to start with the minimum of tools (no choice!) do a project, buy a few tools do another and build it up slowly and some day maybe even throw in a power tool. easy eh?
One good thing is that I have recently moved house and the garage is a really nice space so I envisage making my own workbench too when I've built some bird tables and egg cups first! :lol:
I imagine a minimum tool kit would be a few chisels, planes, saws, workmate bench, measuring tools etc.
I also noticed in Waterstones a book called Woodwork; a step by step photographic guide. It's a DK book and I really like their books. I can't remember if the projects in the book require power tools though? Does anyone have this book? At £25 it's not cheap but it does look good.
So, after a rambling introductory post, I'm looking for some good absolute beginner books that use hand tools exclusively, and maybe a few hints on starting in woodwork would be good too.
Thanks.