Traditional Woodworking Handtools – Graham Blackburn – BT Batsford Lt (UK) 1999 ISBN 0 7134 8508 6 – This is a wonderful book which goes into the history, construction and use of a whole variety of woodworking tools. It covers holding tools (eg vises), setting out tools (eg bevels, squares and gauges), sawing tools, has a large section on planes (over 150 pages), edge tools, boring tools and miscellaneous tools (eg hammers). No photos but lots and lots of line drawings. If you have an old woodworking tool but don’t know what it does, this book is for you!
Selecting and Using Hand Tools – Editors of Fine Woodworking Magazine – The Taunton Press (US) 2005 ISBN 1 56158 783 4 – This book is a series of articles from Fine Woodworking magazine so there is not a great amount of depth on each tool but some really great information on using, maintaining and in some cases making, the tool in question. Subject covered include buying tools; some essential tool techniques; marking and measuring tools; edge tools; handsaws and shaping tools. There is also a section on making and modifying tools. Lots and lots of colour photos.
Choosing and Using Hand Tools – Andy Rae – Lark Books (US) 2002 ISBN 978 1 60059 274 4 – The book starts off with how to acquire, store and maintain you handtools, then goes on to discuss how to use holding tools (including benches); laying out tools; striking tools (including hammers and axes); pulling prying and twisting tools; boring tools; scraping and chiselling tools. Also covered are edge tools which include draw knives and spokeshaves as well as planes; and the various types of hand saw. There are LOTS of colour photos.
Making and Mastering Wood Planes – David Finck – Sterling Publishing Co (US) 2005 ISBN 1 4027 2022 X – As you would expect, this is a book about planes! It starts out talking about the tools and materials needed for plane making including the parts of a plane. The book the cover what hand tools to use to make the plane, how to sharpen the various types of plane irons, than the techniques of making the plane itself. The techniques of using a plane are covered as well as planing aids and special techniques and scraping techniques as well. The book does have some line drawings but mostly colour photos.
Japanese Woodworking Tools – Toshio Odate – Linden Publishing (US) 1998 ISBN 978 0 941936 46 0 – Japanese woodworking tools have a long history and are somewhat different to their European equivalents. The book goes through the fittings and fixtures of the Japanese woodworking shop and how they are set up. It then goes through the types of tools in each section and how they are used. There are sections covering marking tools; saws; chisels; planes; axes and adzes; hammers; gimlets and knives. There is also a section of tool sharpening stones and techniques. Lots of lne drawings with some black and white photos.
The Tool Book – William Bryant Logan – Smith and Hawken (US) 1997 ISBN 0 7611 0855 6 – As a change of pace, this one is all about garden tools. The book covers tools by their usage – digging tools; cultivating tools; propagating tools; planting tools; cutting tools; watering tools; composting tools and then covers holding and hauling tools, raking and sweeping tools. The book also covers safety clothing and protection and the care and storage of tools. There are lots of full colour photos of some unusual and esoteric garden tools.
How to Make Twelve Wood working Tools – Aaron Moore – Intermediate Technology Publications (UK) 1986 ISBN 0 946688 53 2 – This book is basically what it says on the box: it gives you the techniques and process for low tech production of twelve tools. The tools covered are – try square; bevel square; marking gauge; cutting gauge; mortise gauge (2 versions); panel gauge; mallet; bow drill; bow saw; coping saw; fret saw and hack saw. Fascinating stuff! Lots of good sized line drawings.
For more books on making your own tools I suggest you consult the section on Blacksmithing books
Saws and Sawing (No10 in the Workshop Practice Series) – Ian Bradley – Special Interest Model Books (UK) 2005 ISBN 0 85242 887 1 – All you ever wanted to know about using and maintaining wood and metal saws. The book starts off with sharpening, topping and setting saw teeth then goes through the use of wood saws but the majority of the book deals with metal saws including hacksaws, fretsaws, jigsaws, cold saws, bandsaws and finishes off with the brazing and welding of bandsaw blades. Lots of line drawings and black and white photos.
Drills, Taps and Dies (No12 in the workshop Practice Series) – Tubal Cain – Special Interest Model Books (UK) 1986 ISBN 978 0 85242 866 5 – This book covers metal working tools and processes: twist and other drills; drill sharpening; drill chucks; screw threads; taps and dies; hand tapping; screwing dies and tap and die sharpening. Some charts, line drawings and black and white photographs.
Making Small Workshop Tools (No 12 in the workshop Practice Series) – Stan Bray – Argus Books (UK) 1987 ISBN 0 85242 886 3 – The book focuses on small metal working tools such as marking out tools ( eg scriber and centre punch), benchwork tools (eg drill clamp, filing plate and pin chucks) and lathework tools (eg knurling tool, box tool and filing rest). Lots of blackand white photographs with some line drawings.
The Scythe Book – David Tresemer – Alan C. Hood & Co. Inc. (US) 2001 ISBN 0 911469 19 2 – This book covers every possible thing you could ever want to know about the scythe. It covers the parts of the scythe, how to peen and sharpen the scythe as well as the technique for using the scythe to harvest hay and small grains. The second half of the book is an addendum by Peter Vido which also covers blade selection, field honing and repairing the damaged blade as well as new insights on sharpening etc. Some black and white photos and line drawings.
Woodwork Tools and Their Use – Walter Coventon – Hutchinson’s Scientific and Technical Publications (UK) 1953 ISBN (No ISBN) – This book has a chapter on every type of woodworking tool you can name, as well as a few that I’ve never heard of (like papering sticks and “the mouse” – nothing to do with computers!), all the usual suspects are there too. There is good detail about using and maintaining each of the tools listed. The book is mostly text but there are some line drawings and black and white photos as well.
Old Ways of Working with Wood – Alex Bealer – Castle Books (US) 1996 ISBN 0 7858 0710 1 – This one goes right back to felling and splitting the tree, then covers the work bench, sawing, hewing, boring, chiselling, shaping, planing, turning and miscellaneous stuff. Each section gives details on what the tools looked like and how they were used with lots of line drawings to support the text (the dust cover says more than 200 illustrations, but i haven’t counted).
