1001
Tips for Woodworkers
by Percy Blandford
Softcover
165 x 230mm
376pp
Published by Stobart Davies, Hertford, UK
R.R.P.$49.90
ISBN 978-0-85442-145-9
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 138
Most woodworkers are self-taught, but inevitably the process of going beyond the basic skills is time consuming and often costly in terms of materials wasted. The obvious way to overcome these problems is to learn by the experience of others. This is the purpose of 1001 Tips for Woodworkers.
The author, Percy Blandford, was a contributor to English woodworking magazines so frequently and for so long that practically anyone who has read one of these magazines in the past 70 years will have come across his name. He has also written over a hundred books. Among them are texts on furniture making, woodturning, woodcarving, router projects, woodworking joints, canoes, toymaking, sailmaking, knots & splices, metalworking, blacksmithing... even small buildings.
Born in 1912, Percy Blandford wrote the Introduction to his new book in January, 2007. This gives rather more meaning than usual to the back cover note that the book is 'a comprehensive collection of tips compiled over a lifetime of experience'.
The tips are of varying length (though most are short) and liberally illustrated by line drawings. They are divided into 17 categories ranging from Preparation and Layout, through Joints, Cramping and Hand Power Tools, to Hand Routing, The Lathe and Sharpening.
Despite the fact that the tips were written at different times over a period of several decades, they are so similar in style, that it is easy to simply read them as if this was a normal book. Most readers will probably wish to do just that at first - read the book from cover to cover. Afterwards, the categories will allow it to be used for reference when a particular area needs to be addressed.
Illustrations: Black & White
Contents
Introduction
1. Preparation and Layout
2. Bench
3. Hand Tools
4. Workshop Techniques
5. Joints
6. Cramping
7. Hand Power Tools
8. Machine Tools
9. The Router
10. Hand Routing
11. Routing with a Table
12. The Lathe
13. Lathework between Centres
14. Lathework on Faceplate
15. Finishing
16. Sharpening
17. Household
English
and American terms
Measurements