Fine
Art of Cabinetmaking
by James Krenov
Softcover
215 x 280mm
192pp
Published by Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., New York USA
R.R.P.$29.90
ISBN 0-8069-8572-0
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 117
This is not a new book. It was first published in 1977 and has become recognised as one of the masterpieces of woodworking literature. The acclaim it has won over the past quarter century is comparable with the acclaim earned by its author over the same period for his contribution to fine woodworking.
James Krenov’s name has passed into the woodworker’s dictionary, for the word Krenovian has come to mean a unique style and supreme quality. Yet the book is simple and readable. It is almost as if the author were beside the reader, quietly confiding the philosophy responsible for his deep understanding of wood and the ways in which it may be fashioned into things of great beauty.
Despite this unusual approach, The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking is still a very practical book, full of hints, tips and faithful advice based on long years, not only as an accomplished craftsman, but also as a widely acknowledged teacher.
The book is divided into three sections of roughly equal size. The first is devoted to Wood — principally how to gain the very best from each and every piece of wood with which the woodworker is presented. The author explores the relationship between wood and the tools used to cut and shape it, the problems that may arise and the ways of overcoming them.
In Workshop and Tools, it is the impact of the wood upon the workshop and the tools upon the wood that are important, rather than any technical discussion of the tools themselves.
The Chapter titled Details of Cabinetmaking ranges far and wide, delving deeply into the subtleties that distinguish the work of great cabinetmakers from those who achieve no more than technical supremacy.
Photos: Black & White
Contents
Introduction
Wood
Workshop and Tools
Details of Cabinetmaking
Index