Best Woodworking Books

Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you need to have comprehensive knowledge and skills to stand out from the crowd. Woodworking is a fun hobby that anyone, regardless of their age, can take on. Most of us may lack the time or money to attend woodworking courses. The good news is that you can learn from home by using woodworking books.  The books provide you with essential tips, tricks, and solutions in the woodwork industry.


Read More: 5 Easy Ways to Cut Wood Without a Saw

However, with the vast amounts of woodworking books available, it may be confusing to choose one suitable for your needs. To help with this problem, we have compiled a list of ten great books to help you systematically sharpen your skills.

Top 10 Carpentry Books

Great Book of Woodworking Tips: Over 650 Ingenious Workshop Tips, Techniques, and Secrets from the Experts at American Woodworker

Are you looking for inspiration and tested advice from a professional?  Then this book is for you. Written by a world-class American woodworker magazine, this book is a goldmine of knowledge from professional woodworkers. This is a must-have book for any beginner or n expert. It provides tips and techniques needed by woodworkers to produce high-quality products.

The great book of woodworking tips provides an excellent reference if you encounter an unfamiliar issue. This is thanks to its over 650 solutions to common problems encountered in woodwork. You will appreciate its knowledge of how to use tools effectively and safely. Furthermore, the book contains essential lessons on topics like routing, finishing, clamping, sawing, joinery, gluing, drilling, among others.

Even though it does not necessarily focus on project plans, you will definitely learn from the experience of experts on how to avoid common pitfalls. Besides, the book features many clear images that will allow you to tackle any project that you set out to do.

Pros

  • It is well organized to allow easy locating information.
  • It provides clear, detailed images that help with instructions.
  • Has proven tricks and tips from professionals.
  • The information is easy to understand even by a hobbyist.
  • It helps with workshop organization skills.
  • The book provides solutions to woodworking issues and safe, efficient ways to use tools.

Cons

  • It focuses more on tips instead of woodworking project plans

Woodworking: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Skills, Techniques, and Projects

If you are a visual learner like me, then trust this 448-page book for guidance in your woodworking journey. It comes with over 1200 images, diagrams, and illustrations. This acts as a reference and allows you to follow along with your project.

You will appreciate the vast knowledge it contains. It covers every topic, including using tools, gluing, measuring and marking, joinery, shaping, fastening, finishing, cutting, choosing lumber, among others. This book is suitable for anyone who wants to expand their practical skills without getting overwhelmed.

Any carpenter would love the book with its 41 indoor and outdoor project plans. Furthermore, it allows you to gauge yourself by providing time frames, tools, and materials you need to complete a project. It is beginner-friendly and takes you through the process of setting up a workshop, choosing tools, and essential techniques. In short, it guides you through the continuous journey of woodworking.

Pros

  • It covers a beginner on essential knowledge.
  • It has lots of images and illustrations for easy learning.
  • Provides indoor and outdoor plan projects
  • The index format allows for easy navigation through the book.
  • It contains practical knowledge.
  • It is both a wood project and skill-building book
  • The book provides step by step instructions for natural follow-up.
  • With this book, you have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.

Cons

  • It calls for the use of expensive equipment such as a jointer.
  • Focuses mostly on beginners

Woodworking with the Router: Professional Router Techniques and Jigs Any Woodworker Can Use

The author Bill Hylton has written woodworking books for over 20 years. Since its release, Woodworking with the Router has remained the undisputable best-selling router manual in the market. Are you looking to unleash the full potential of your router? With this book, you will reach and surpass your expectations.

Even though it does not precisely focus on woodworking skills, it will definitely expand your knowledge and expertise with its vast knowledge. It will provide you with many ways you never knew were possible to use a router. With this book, you will realize the versatile nature of the router. It goes on to explain the various uses of the tool, such as cutting curves, ovals, circles, decorative edging, and molding, cutting different kinds of joints, making frames, shaping furniture parts, and so much more.

The book goes a long way to provide a lot of tricks and tips to guide you in every step of using a router in your projects. It is suitable for all woodworkers regardless of the level of their skills. Furthermore, the book is a great reference whenever you encounter a problem while working with your router. Besides, it is filled with sound, proven advice to help you use the tool safely.

Pros

  • It comes with clear color photos and drawings.
  • This book provides a lot of advice on how to use a router.
  • It is easy to understand by both experts and beginners.
  • The book provides proven practical uses of a router.
  • It also offers vast knowledge to expand your skills.

Cons

  • It focuses entirely on the router and its uses.

The Foundations of Better Woodworking: How to use your body, tools and materials to do your best work

Did you know that how you use your body and senses might affect the quality of your woodwork? Shocking, right? The book, written by a craftsman, teacher Jeff Miller, provides the basic fundamentals and principles on which your skills should be based.

Furthermore, it contains a vast knowledge of how proper positioning of the body improves the safety and efficiency of a woodworker. The author demonstrates ways to produce accurate work without getting exhausted. You will also learn how to avoid common problems such as splitting when using tools. This is all thanks to the comprehensive coverage of the wood structure and how the machines align with it. The book is beginner friendly as it shows you how to use your tools accurately and effectively.

It covers coves a wide variety of topics with moderate depth enough to be understood by anyone regardless of the skill level. This means that you will have clear and enlightening information. It is definitely a guide to becoming a master in your field. The book should be on top of your list.

Pros

  • It is excellent in setting basic foundations for woodworking.
  • The book systematically provides vast knowledge.
  • The language is simple and clear to anyone.
  • The author offers efficient solutions and proven advice on woodworking issues.
  • It shows you how to use your body and mind to achieve desirable results when working.
  • With this book, you will learn how to use your tools efficiently and smoothly.

Cons

  • You need a big screen to use the photos clearly

Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop

Do you want to acquire skills and knowledge in a fun way? Then this is the way to go. Good clean fun is written by a woodworker, comedian, and actor Nick Offerman. He provides his audience with new ways to have fun while working. It is never that serious in life.

The book gives details on woodwork projects, workshop tips, and tricks. Although the book is partly about freeman’s career, it will inspire you towards the path you love. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. This 352-page book is filled with great pictures, illustrations, and illustrations that will open your mind.

Also, if you love humor, then you will appreciate the author’s fun ways of providing ideas and technical aspects. It is a perfect blend of fun and learning. Furthermore, with this book, you will learn more about different techniques and wood grains to take your career to the next level.

Pros

  • It is fun to read.
  • The book offers ways to have fun in your workshop.
  • It comes with many photos and illustrations.
  • With the book at hand, you will have detailed basic principles of woodworking.
  • It gives the inspiration to handle your next project with its fun projects.
  • The book is available in kindle, hardcover, and audiobook.

Cons

  • It lacks more practical focus
  • Focuses more on power tools than hand tools.
  • It has no glossary

The Handbuilt Home: 34 Simple Stylish and Budget-Friendly Woodworking Projects for Every Room

Are you looking for practical projects for your home? Then look no more. The author, Ana White, is a self-taught carpenter. She has helped many people in improving their homes with her practical knowledge and unique designs. You will appreciate its money-saving approach and practicality. It is perfect for a beginner on a tight budget.

While focusing on hand tools like a drill and saw, the book covers the furniture in every room from the living room to bedrooms. It contains high-resolution images, diagrams, and detailed articles. White provides in-depth knowledge on topics like what you need, cutting, prepping, and how to build projects from scratch. Furthermore, she goes into detail on the cost, material, and time estimates of each project.

With this book, you will learn about the essential tools of woodworking and their functions in your workshop. Get the Handbuilt Home to add a fun and practical approach when building your home furniture. You don’t have to break a bank to have beautiful pieces of furniture.

Pros

  • It comes with excellent designs and high-resolution pictures.
  • The book contains a practical project that you can build on a tight budget.
  • It is an essential guide to a beginner or hobbyist.

Cons

  • Most images show the finished products, not the finishing process.
  • It is focused on beginners

The Why & How of Woodworking: A Simple Approach to Making Meaningful Work

The author Michael Pekovich being a photographer, graphic designer, a teacher and, a furniture maker, puts his talents to use in this book. It is one of the best books for beginners who want to make remarkable woodworking careers. It provides easy to follow instructions and illustrations. Besides, it offers you tips on how to create valuable pieces worth your time, money, and effort.

This knowledge filled book allows you to stand out and make a difference. With the knowledge you have, it inspires you to create remarkable pieces of work that would add value to the lives of others. The author being a teacher uses easy to understand language to explain detailed information.

He will impress you with the woodworking tips and secrets that you will not get anywhere else. He goes ahead to impart knowledge on design patterns, finishing, wood selection, work methods, and shop tips.

Pros

  • The book is beginner-friendly
  • It is highly practical
  • It contains high-quality photos and illustrations
  • The book is precise and detailed.
  • The author aims to improve lives with quality work.

Cons

  • It focusses on beginners and intermediate woodworkers.

100 Weekend Projects Anyone Can Do: Easy, practical projects using basic tools and standard materials

If you are a fan of do it yourself projects, then you will love this book. It contains 100 DIY projects that you can handle with only the necessary tools and materials. The book allows you to build inexpensive functional furniture for your home.

The book contains beginner-friendly projects that you can complete over the weekend time frame. Besides, you can use it for reference because it provides the essential materials and tools needed to complete each project. Furthermore, the book contains comprehensive knowledge on how to build simple projects like bookcases, shelves, workbench, kitchen cabinet, backyard furniture, and so much more.

Pros

  • It contains interesting projects
  • The projects are simple and can be done over the weekend
  • The instructions are easy to understand
  • It comes with high-quality images

Cons

  • It needs more details on how to do the projects.

Hybrid Woodworking: Blending Power & Hand Tools for Quick, Quality Furniture

Are you in search of the best tools to produce quality results? This book provides just that. It is written by Marc Spagnuolo, an internet woodworker. The book offers vast knowledge on efficient ways to combine different strengths of handtools and power tools, for impressive results.

In Hybrid Woodworking, you will learn about the best tools to use for specific kinds of work. It further explains the importance of fine-tuning specific hand tools. The most profound lesson is how it demonstrates different methods to work flawlessly and practically using machines and tools that you have. You will be satisfied with your quality pieces of furniture.

Pros

  • It works well for amateurs.
  • The book is detailed and uses easy to understand language.
  • It provides tips on how to combine hand tools and power tools.
  • The author combines his lessons with humor.
  • It is a clear guide on how to choose useful tools
  • The book contains lots of photos and practical applications

Cons

  • It is mainly focused on beginners.

Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish

This is the most practical detailed book on wood finishing ever written. It is suitable for all woodworkers of all levels with its extensive knowledge.

The book is authoritative with its lessons and easy to follow instructions. The author, Bob Flexner, provides practical solutions to issues and accurate information throughout the book.

Flexner unveils the secrets of wood finishing and walks you through all kinds of finish. He further provides the latest technical updates on techniques and materials.

 

With over 300 color photos in the book, you will quickly differentiate between the products. Solve problems and make decisions. Besides, it contains more van 40 reference tables and guides.

Pros

  • It explains the unclear area of wood finishing
  • This book is well researched and easy to follow.
  • It has many photos and reference tables.
  • The book offers solutions to finishing problems
  • It provides you with information on how to apply a finish
  • It further gives tips on how to choose tools and materials.

Cons

  • It is not suitable for beginners
  • The book is not specific enough

Read More: Best Manual Pole Saws Reviews

Final Word

Woodworking is an ever-evolving industry. With the technology changing each day, there are new efficient techniques and tools invented. Therefore, you must be up to date with the latest trends and designs. Before buying a book, make sure you check the reviews first. This will prevent you from wasting money and time on something that has no value to you.

So which level of a woodworker are you? You have to consider which category you fit to choose the book that fulfills your needs. If you are a beginner, you need a book that covers everything about woodworking. From setting up a shop, choosing tools, how to use tools, and how to handle your first project. Choose a book that does not contain technical grammar and systematically gives ideas.

However, if you are an expert, you can use the woodworking books as a reference when encountering an unfamiliar issue. Reading is also useful in keeping your skills sharp, you never know, you might just uncover tricks you did not know before.