Our Bookshelf
Woodworking etc.
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Our Bookshelf |
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Listed and reviewed here are some books on medieval crafts (and some modern versions) that we consider well worth buying. The books are all ones that we own and have therefore read and can honestly recommend. You can also purchase any of the books by clicking on the "purchase" link by the book you are interested in. As time permits I will add more.
| Archery | Swordsmanship / Fighting techniques | Period life | Sword / Blade smithing | |
| Swords | Cannon / Gunpowder | Wood working, etc. | Blacksmithing etc. |
| Medieval
furniture: Plans and instructions for Historical reproductions By Daniel
Diehl, and Mark
Donnelly ISBN: 0811728544 |
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| Those wishing to create historical furniture need look no further than this book. The furniture described in it is based on one-of-a-kind museum pieces 400 years old and older. Those who dive into this book and its predecessor, Constructing Medieval Furniture (1997), and wish to construct items detailed within should possess considerable woodworking skills and able carving and metalworking hands (or know where to find them). These projects are not for beginners, and the pieces themselves aren't what one would see in a typical modern home. It also helps not to forget that, for example, the church pew herein was originally built when you got 10-foot boards 2 inches thick and 18 inches wide by heading out to the forest and harvesting them. This book follows on from Constructing Medieval Furniture, and offers 14 more designs for historic pieces from the Middle Ages - a game board, tax box, writing slope, church pew, hewn-timber chest, library shelves, half-tester bed, ambry, wheelbarrow, coffer, work table, cathedral cabon, Spanish settle, and barrel chair. The detailed plans are based on careful study and measurement of accurate reproductions or originals from European museums. Step-by-step instructions, materials lists, and notes on woodworking, metalworking, carving, and finishes provide the means for creating history in the home workshop. A brief survey of medieval decorating and a directory of sources complete this authoritative book. | Purchase
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| Constructing
Medieval furniture Plans and instructions with historical notes. By Daniel Diehl ISBN 0811727955 |
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| This book is a collection of detailed plans of rare original pieces of medieval furniture. It contains step-by-step instructions, material lists and notes on woodworking, metalworking and finishing. The Author tries to give a feel for the techniques of the time. The projects laid out with detailed drawings include a 13th-century chest from Merton College, a 14th-century wine cabinet, and a 15th-century canopy bed. the only thing missing for the scholar was the inclusion of the primary source material for reference. | Purchase
this fine work
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| Collins
Woodworking for Beginners
By Albert Jackson & David Day ISBN 0004140524 |
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| This beginners guide to working
with wood explains the basics of tools, wood selection, techniques and
good practice. It includes: hand tools and how to use and maintain them;
properties and versatilities of different types of wood; and woodworking
joints and how to make them. the book is well laid out and and gives
simple yet realistic advice on woodworking techniques. As a basic guide I
rate this book highly.
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this fine work
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| Collins
Complete Woodworker's Manual
By Albert Jackson & David Day ISBN 0004140052 |
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| Following on from the basic guide this book has whatever you need to know about woodworking, all the tools, the properties of wood, designing furniture, dovetails, what have you... It's all in this one book. It's well-written, easy to read and beautifully illustrated. It is also a complete one volume guide. If you want to work with wood then this is a great book. | Purchase
this fine work
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| Green Woodwork
By Mike Abbott ISBN 0946819181
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| Bodging is a truly medieval
skill and the author of this work tries to revive a lost art with a lot of
success. The last bodger turned his last chair leg somewhere in a
Chilterns beech wood in the late 1950s a craft that had lasted at least
400 years ended. This book gives detailed plans to build your own lathe
and make your own chairs from unseasoned (green) wood. Its a good start
for the re-enactor that wants to learn this old skill.
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this fine work
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| Turning Wood
By R Raffan ISBN 0918804248 |
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| As a novice wood turner I found
this book excellent, it describes the parts and functions of a lathe,
demonstrates correct procedures for measuring, centerwork, face work, and
finishing, and shows examples of turned bowls, boxes, and plates. The book
is well written and informative.
There is also an accompanying video available. ASIN: 6301918800 but it is in NTSC format not PAL. |
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this fine work
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| Woodturning :
a foundation course
By Keith Rowley ISBN 1861081146
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| Another introduction to the art
of woodturning that as a novice I found very useful (I am still finding it
useful). It covers a variety of subjects: understanding trees and timber;
selecting lathes and tools; basic techniques of between-centres and
faceplate turning; and step-by-step instructions for 12 projects. It
is a well written book and with the accompanying video forms a very good
introduction to this art form. The Video does seem to be hard to get but
if you can find it it is worth it.
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this fine work
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| Turning boxes
By Richard Raffan ISBN 1561582247
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| For the more adventurous
turner a book on boxes. I used this as a basis for my attempts to
re-create the boxes from the Mary Rose. An excellent book on how to make
boxes with many examples. Step by step instructions with photos on making
end-grain boxes, what to consider in designs, and many variations on the
basic box. Many boxes shown throughout the text and a chapter on forms.
170 pages. Black and White photos with Colour photo gallery (20 pages).
Again there is a great video you can get to go with this but its harder to
find.
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this fine work
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| Adventures in
woodturning
By David Springett ISBN 0946819572 |
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| This book is one of the best in my woodturning library. It is an advanced work and suitable for a turner of some experience, as many of the projects require some quite advanced techniques. At first glance the projects and techniques are quite daunting. There are, however, a large number of quite incredible projects here for the more advanced turner who has got bored of "just bowls". How about turning your own Faberge-style egg, There are several puzzle objects, as well as a large section on elliptical turning which is not for the faint hearted. David Springett's style comes straight from the classroom as used to be a teacher, so everything is explained in minute detail although sometimes a little stiffled. The emphasis is always on making the tools, jigs and chucks needed to do the job. He has based a lot of his ideas on articles and so on from 18th and 19th century volumes on turning - many of the techniques had been lost over the years. I thoroughly recommend this book. It will stretch you, both mentally and physically, if you can stay the course. | Purchase
this fine work
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| Essential
Carving Techniques
By Dick Onians ISBN 1861080425 |
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| This book is a great
introduction to the skill of carving and the tools and techniques
required. I found it very informative and useful hence I added it to my
bookshelf. This is a book to own if you wish to improve your carving.
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this fine work
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| Woodcarving
for Beginers
By Various master craftsmen ISBN 1861080190 |
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| This book is an excellent primer
for someone wanting to start the art of carving. It is a collection of 33
articles from woodcarving magazine and 8 projects to attempt. A very
useful first look into the carvers world and worth getting. The projects
are varied and not too difficult and the instruction and advice clear and
useful.
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this fine work
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| Lettercarving
in Wood: a Practical Course
By Chris Pye ISBN 1861080433 |
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| Taking the form of a progressive course, this is essential reading for those wanting to learn letter carving in wood. It begins with essential background information such as the tools needed, suitable woods to use and how to make working drawings. The step-by-step course teaches the reader how to carve a complete incised alphabet in modern Roman letter style. there is more advanced aspects of the subject, such as spacing, colour, family resemblance, and optical adjustment and these are explained in some detail. There is a good glossary of technical terms to help you understand the lessons, and the 300 colour photographs are both interesting and helpful. | Purchase
this fine work
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| If there is a book you want and it is not listed above try searching for it below. | ||