The Woodwright's Apprentice: Twenty Favorite Projects from the Woodwright's Shop

by Roy Underhill

For more than twenty years, Roy Underhill has taught the techniques of traditional woodcraft with muscle-powered tools. With his four previous books and his popular PBS series, The Woodwright's Shop, now in its sixteenth season, Roy has inspired millions to take up chisel and plane. The master woodwright returns here with instructions for handcrafting an appealing selection of projects from the American woodworking tradition.

The Woodwright's Apprentice begins with directions for building a workbench. Each successive project builds new skills for the apprentice woodworker--from frame construction to dovetailing, turning, steam-bending, and carving. Among the twenty items featured are an African chair, a telescoping music stand, a walking-stick chair, a fireplace bellows, and a revolving Windsor chair.

Designed both for woodworking novices and for more seasoned woodworkers looking for enjoyable projects, the book includes step-by-step directions, complete with easy-to-follow photographs and measured drawings, and an illustrated glossary of tools and terms. All of the pieces presented here are based on projects featured in past and upcoming seasons of The Woodwright's Shop television show.

Genres: Woodwork

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

Reviews

[Noah Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read designed for someone getting into traditional woodworking. Even though I do more modern woodworking I still found several projects I'm interested in taking on. Roy Underhill is also a very entertaining author, very enjoyable and a quick read. The projects are also progressive so it's great to learn and apply the skills in early projects to later.

[Ted Gurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reference for medium to advanced hand tool woodworker. Lots of great advice that novices can use as well.

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably not for anyone with less than intermediate skill. St. Roy is a great writer, but I had a hard time following his directions when they got a little geometry-heavy or direction-light without accompanying pictures. Underhill addresses this a bit in the intro, but I was still often surprised and overwhelmed. For me, the book's good for project ideas, but I'll need a lot more guidance or research before diving into most projects from the book.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can work your way, with power or hand tools, all the way through this book, you'll be an excellent woodworker. I know it helped me immeasurably.

[Jeff Youngstrom]

My review from July 12, 1999