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Hybrid Woodworking: Blending Power & Hand Tools for Quick, Quality Furniture
A faster route to handcrafted results!
In the last few years, there's been a push to return to the roots of woodworking when every step was done with hand tools--from resawing lumber and planing it flat, to cutting joins and creating profiles. Working this way can produce beautiful results, but is it the best method for woodworking in the 21st century?
In Hybrid Woodworking , author and Internet woodworking star Marc Spagnuolo offers a more efficient approach that combines the strength of power-tool and hand-tool techniques. The end You save time and effort while producing furniture that still has that stunning handmade look.
The Hybrid System
Hybrid Woodworking will show you which machines and power tools are best for the grunt work of furniture making. It will explain which hand tools are essential for fine-tuning. And best of all, it will demonstrate techniques for working flawlessly and efficiently with every machine and tool in your shop.
Making beautiful furniture can be immensely gratifying. By adopting the hybrid woodworking system you can get to that satisfying end result with less effort while enjoying every step along the way.
In the last few years, there's been a push to return to the roots of woodworking when every step was done with hand tools--from resawing lumber and planing it flat, to cutting joins and creating profiles. Working this way can produce beautiful results, but is it the best method for woodworking in the 21st century?
In Hybrid Woodworking , author and Internet woodworking star Marc Spagnuolo offers a more efficient approach that combines the strength of power-tool and hand-tool techniques. The end You save time and effort while producing furniture that still has that stunning handmade look.
The Hybrid System
Hybrid Woodworking will show you which machines and power tools are best for the grunt work of furniture making. It will explain which hand tools are essential for fine-tuning. And best of all, it will demonstrate techniques for working flawlessly and efficiently with every machine and tool in your shop.
Making beautiful furniture can be immensely gratifying. By adopting the hybrid woodworking system you can get to that satisfying end result with less effort while enjoying every step along the way.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2013
119 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 25, 2019
Very straight forward approach to adding hand tools to an existing power tool workshop. Marc wrote this from his own experience, and not from multiple viewpoints (adding power tools to a mostly hand tool shop). You can't knock him for that, he wrote what he knows. Good description of the common hand tools and power tools one would need to make the vast majority of projects, and examples of when to use power vs hand. Additionally, I can concur with the hand tools he suggests buying, in the order he suggests.
January 12, 2019
I have really enjoyed the perspective and information shared in this book. I am starting out my woodworking hobby and I found this very useful to guide me as far as what I will probably need for hand tools and power tools. It can be very daunting and extremely expensive if you try to compile your tools without some guidance. I would recommend this generally to anyone who is interested in an efficient blend of hand and power tools for woodwork. Absolutely worth the money.
August 11, 2018
Marc is a tremendous teacher. This is evident in his videos, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find the same to be true in his book. This is a technique book, not a collection of plans, and I found the methods shared to be very practical and easy to implement. The result of combining traditional methods with more modern machines is high quality woodworking. I highly recommend this book.
October 22, 2024
Good insight for beginner woodworker
I've just started woodworking as a new hobby. I've got most of the power tools I need, but this book gave me some great ideas of how to make better projects by incorporating hand tools. I need to pickup a few more of them.
I've just started woodworking as a new hobby. I've got most of the power tools I need, but this book gave me some great ideas of how to make better projects by incorporating hand tools. I need to pickup a few more of them.
March 25, 2019
Love it
July 2, 2019
This is a very informative read about utilizing the right tools for a lot of woodworking tasks. I recommend this for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge about the craft.
November 24, 2022
Marc is actually one of my less favorite woodworkers, but this book is still very helpful. Worth the time to read.
October 24, 2015
Marc has tremendous teaching skill, which is evident in his videos both on his free Wood Whisperer site and his more in depth content on the Wood Whisperer Guild site. This skill translates to his book. I read this book earlier this year, and find myself going back to it to reference various topics. My own woodworking was tending toward a mix of power and hand tools, and this book has reinforced that. Power tools for the grunt work, and to get things "close". Then bring in hand tools where appropriate for finesse and fit.
December 16, 2014
Great book Marc
This book pointed out the trite dichotomy of the old vs the new. Use a pencil or a pen, a notebook or a laptop, an mp3 player or a record.
The beauty lies between the gap, where you find yourself most comfortable.
That being said, there were a lot of good techniques to take home. I work in a niche woodworking market, and I really enjoy taking breaks from time to time to just build some furniture.
I was inspired by this book, and I'll be in my shop tomorrow dreaming of furniture that I'll make in the future.
This book pointed out the trite dichotomy of the old vs the new. Use a pencil or a pen, a notebook or a laptop, an mp3 player or a record.
The beauty lies between the gap, where you find yourself most comfortable.
That being said, there were a lot of good techniques to take home. I work in a niche woodworking market, and I really enjoy taking breaks from time to time to just build some furniture.
I was inspired by this book, and I'll be in my shop tomorrow dreaming of furniture that I'll make in the future.
December 30, 2015
Excellent beginner book that describes a practical fusion of hand and power-tool techniques.
In essence, use power tools for dumb, repetitive work and hand tools for final touches and tasks that require more care & precision.
In essence, use power tools for dumb, repetitive work and hand tools for final touches and tasks that require more care & precision.
October 24, 2016
Good read for beginners but not particularly new info
This book is well written and simple enough for beginners presenting advantages of using both electric and manual tools. On the other hand it shows nothing new for more experienced woodworkers.
This book is well written and simple enough for beginners presenting advantages of using both electric and manual tools. On the other hand it shows nothing new for more experienced woodworkers.
March 7, 2016
This book is good for someone who's interested in simply learning the different types of tools available that woodworkers might use.
November 28, 2016
Almost perfect first book on woodworking (it wasn't first for me, but it could be for you).
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews