The Encyclopedia of Wood

by U.S. Department of Agriculture

Timber is one of our most precious, versatile, and vulnerable resources, so using it effectively is important. Knowing your material inside and out is the first step to doing just that. Read about the structure of wood itself, from growth rings to its chemical composition. Learn wood’s physical and mechanical properties, including everything from elasticity to nuclear radiation. This extensive manual includes a section on stress grading as well as thorough descriptions of which fasteners to use and when. It has information on adhesive bonding, biodeterioration, control of moisture content, preservation, fire safety, specialty treatments, and much more. The Encyclopedia of Wood is an essential resource for builders, architects, engineers, and woodworkers.

Genres: Reference, Science, Woodwork

1467 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of this book is readable, but some is reference. It's in government-speak, dry & precise. Not much fun, but highly instructional. Excellent illustrations of how logs are sawn & good tables showing a variety things such as which species are sold under generic names. My copy is from 1972 & correctly puts the Black Oaks as a subspecies of the Reds. It has black & white pictures only & those are sparse. A pretty good carpentry reference & I use mine to occasionally cross check species identification.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this book as an educational reference book. Perhaps even bordering on a textbook level. It is definitely helpful if you are looking for this type of book.