The Handyman's Guide

With more than 2,500 illustrations, this is a do-it-yourselfer’s dream and a treasure trove of traditional information. It includes an overview of wood and how to choose the right type for specific projects, along with detailed descriptions of both common and unusual hand tools, with tips for their use. (Where else can you learn about the “Donkey’s-ear Shooting Block,” a screw vice, a grinding gouge, various handsaws, and augers?) Most importantly, there’s a wealth of knowledge on crafting almost anything using only hand tools: tables, desks, gates, a revolving bookcase, a linen chest, greenhouses, porches, birdhouses, and so much more. Useful for both amateurs and master craftsmen, this might be the most thorough guide to traditional woodworking available.