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The Tool Book: A Tool Lover's Guide to Over 200 Hand Tools
This user's guide to over 200 hand tools highlights how to use tools effectively, understand them better, and how to properly care for them.
With foreword by Nick Offerman, host of the new show Making It on NBC. Salute generations of craftsmanship, ingenuity, and know-how with The Tool Book . Explore tools from every angle, with detailed patent drawings, exploded diagrams, and step-by-step illustrations of tools in action with the science behind the techniques. Gallery pages display different types of hammers, spades, or chisels, while expert advice tells you what to look for when choosing a tool, and how to use it and care for it best. Discover why each tool is perfect for the job, and why it deserves a prominent spot in your shed, workshop, studio, or makerspace. The perfect gift for craftsmen, makers and anyone with an interest in DIY.
With foreword by Nick Offerman, host of the new show Making It on NBC. Salute generations of craftsmanship, ingenuity, and know-how with The Tool Book . Explore tools from every angle, with detailed patent drawings, exploded diagrams, and step-by-step illustrations of tools in action with the science behind the techniques. Gallery pages display different types of hammers, spades, or chisels, while expert advice tells you what to look for when choosing a tool, and how to use it and care for it best. Discover why each tool is perfect for the job, and why it deserves a prominent spot in your shed, workshop, studio, or makerspace. The perfect gift for craftsmen, makers and anyone with an interest in DIY.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2018
13 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 4, 2019
As my summer reading book I chose The Tool Book: A Tool Lover’s Guide to More Than 300 Hand Tools. My favorite pastime is woodworking, and as a novice I am constantly looking for new tools, techniques, and methods of getting a project done. Most of my experience working with wood is through the use of power tools. Power tools are obviously very useful and effective. They have their place with wood workers, contractors, carpenters, and construction workers, but they are also very messy. With wood working tools, the more powerful that they are, the bigger the mess you will be left with at the end of your work day. Cleaning up after yourself will always be a part of any wood working project, but as a hobbyist your time is limited, so you don’t want clean up to take a great deal of your time.
There were several things that I enjoyed about this book. The foreword is written by Nick Offerman, best known for playing Ron Swanson in the series Parks and Recreation. Although Ron Swanson is a fictional character from a tv show, there are many parallels between Offerman and Swanson. Offerman is a very talented and accomplished wood worker. One thought Offerman had that I thought was interesting was how ancestral the use of tools is. Teaching children to use simple tools like shovels, hammers, saw etc. can be traced back generations. If you trace it back far enough, you will go all the way back to the time of using sticks and stones as tools. The use of tools a characteristic that all humans from all corners of the Earth share.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was how it was organized. In fact the first subject that was addressed was organization. That discussed everything from
planning your work area, choosing the right tool box, tool belt, and tool shed. They also divided tools into groups based on the tools function. The chapters included Tools for Measuring and Marking; Tools for Cutting and Chopping; Tools for Fixing and Fastening; Tools for Striking and Breaking; Tools for Digging and Groundwork; Tools for Shaping and Sharpening; and Tools for Finishing and Decorating. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in getting started in the world of woodworking.
There were several things that I enjoyed about this book. The foreword is written by Nick Offerman, best known for playing Ron Swanson in the series Parks and Recreation. Although Ron Swanson is a fictional character from a tv show, there are many parallels between Offerman and Swanson. Offerman is a very talented and accomplished wood worker. One thought Offerman had that I thought was interesting was how ancestral the use of tools is. Teaching children to use simple tools like shovels, hammers, saw etc. can be traced back generations. If you trace it back far enough, you will go all the way back to the time of using sticks and stones as tools. The use of tools a characteristic that all humans from all corners of the Earth share.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was how it was organized. In fact the first subject that was addressed was organization. That discussed everything from
planning your work area, choosing the right tool box, tool belt, and tool shed. They also divided tools into groups based on the tools function. The chapters included Tools for Measuring and Marking; Tools for Cutting and Chopping; Tools for Fixing and Fastening; Tools for Striking and Breaking; Tools for Digging and Groundwork; Tools for Shaping and Sharpening; and Tools for Finishing and Decorating. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in getting started in the world of woodworking.
January 12, 2019
This is a very good book for anyone I believe. The author takes you through setting up a work bench, and work table. He goes over proper storage of tools, cleaning and sharpening. He then moves onto each category of tool, screwdrivers, saws, chisels, etc... What I thought was interesting in the chapter of drills. The author also suggested having an old style hand crank drill for smaller projects and just to have handy for you never know when either your battery drill or power drill could break down in the middle of a project and this way you don’t need to stop. He also said many carpenters kept hand drills handy for this reason as well. I am glad I never got rid of my grandfathers. There are many other tid bites in this book all worth a quick look at. Seemed very useful. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
March 15, 2018
Very handy resource for home-improvement or DIY beginners to have on-hand or by the workbench. The book walks through a variety of tools - measuring implements, saws, hammers, paintbrushes, shovels, etc. - with photos, usage and care tips, how-to instructions for a few of them, what to look for when buying, and even history tidbits. And the poetic, entertaining intro from Nick Offerman was a good way to kick-off the book.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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August 30, 2019Tools. The mere mention of the word thrills my blood, much as I have been given to understand the words "chocolate", or "gin", or "fireman" can sometimes titillate others. Another similarly rousing term for me is "wizardry". Like many, I have always been strongly attracted to the magicks described in stories of enchantment; the eldritch knowledge and "old ways" passed down over generations.
February 23, 2020
Great book for the beginner of tools. Very informative in both use and care for various implements. Getting closer to the end of the book I noticed some spelling errors and such, but not enough to detract from the knowledge gained from this wonderful tome of tools.
December 30, 2019
love woodworking so loved all the history and information. Really great illustrations!!
December 3, 2021
An indispensable book highly recommeneded to digital minimalists.
January 2, 2022
A great overview of hand tools with nice pictures and short explanations on best use, care and tips for all of them.
If you love tools, you'll love this tool "encyclopedia".
If you love tools, you'll love this tool "encyclopedia".
March 20, 2024
Good insight into most tool groups. I enjoyed the humour and philosophical elements that lifted the already clear picture experience.
September 7, 2018
I'm a woodworker, and I was very excited to find this one day while browsing the new non-fiction shelf. Nick Offerman? Tools? Awesome!
Right off the bat, I was mildly annoyed that Nick Offerman's only contribution was the foreward, and I had fallen into the publisher's trap of "put a big name on the cover" (meaning both that he is well-known and it was written in a large font).
Some of the information was good- there were plenty of large, detailed pictures, and explanations of what the differences between one tool and another. Turns out my "marking gauge" is actually a cutting gauge. Interesting. Apparently I am using the wrong kind of saw to cut branches. (Hey, I'm a woodworker, not a landscaper). Though the short descriptions with pictures were decent, the information was often insufficient. I'd see something new I'd never even heard of, and the single sentence on "how to use" was not enough for me to understand it.
I also had a lot of problems with the layout of the information, which was probably done by a talented book designer that never read the actual words. In some spreads, the numbering was a series of steps, but others were actually entirely separate methods and uses of an item. I was told that one tool was used like another "above," but actually hadn't been read yet, if you're reading in a left-to-right column, top-to-bottom custom that English has agreed upon. There were labels on diagrams with painfully obvious descriptions, like that for an on/off button. There were offset quotes that look like they might contain a profound quote from Gandhi, but are more often obvious snippets with random words emphasized, like this gem of wisdom: "A quality TROWEL or FORK can be a HIGHLY SATISFYING tool to own, hold, and USE."
In the end, I felt like this was the kind of pretty coffee-table book that is gifted to an enthusiast because it looks good, but mostly sits unopened, because it's not actually that useful.
Right off the bat, I was mildly annoyed that Nick Offerman's only contribution was the foreward, and I had fallen into the publisher's trap of "put a big name on the cover" (meaning both that he is well-known and it was written in a large font).
Some of the information was good- there were plenty of large, detailed pictures, and explanations of what the differences between one tool and another. Turns out my "marking gauge" is actually a cutting gauge. Interesting. Apparently I am using the wrong kind of saw to cut branches. (Hey, I'm a woodworker, not a landscaper). Though the short descriptions with pictures were decent, the information was often insufficient. I'd see something new I'd never even heard of, and the single sentence on "how to use" was not enough for me to understand it.
I also had a lot of problems with the layout of the information, which was probably done by a talented book designer that never read the actual words. In some spreads, the numbering was a series of steps, but others were actually entirely separate methods and uses of an item. I was told that one tool was used like another "above," but actually hadn't been read yet, if you're reading in a left-to-right column, top-to-bottom custom that English has agreed upon. There were labels on diagrams with painfully obvious descriptions, like that for an on/off button. There were offset quotes that look like they might contain a profound quote from Gandhi, but are more often obvious snippets with random words emphasized, like this gem of wisdom: "A quality TROWEL or FORK can be a HIGHLY SATISFYING tool to own, hold, and USE."
In the end, I felt like this was the kind of pretty coffee-table book that is gifted to an enthusiast because it looks good, but mostly sits unopened, because it's not actually that useful.
September 7, 2018
I'm a woodworker, and I was very excited to find this one day while browsing the new non-fiction shelf. Nick Offerman? Tools? Awesome!
Right off the bat, I was mildly annoyed that Nick Offerman's only contribution was the foreward, and I had fallen into the publisher's trap of "put a big name on the cover" (meaning both that he is well-known and it was written in a large font).
Some of the information was good- there were plenty of large, detailed pictures, and explanations of what the differences between one tool and another. Turns out my "marking gauge" is actually a cutting gauge. Interesting. Apparently I am using the wrong kind of saw to cut branches. (Hey, I'm a woodworker, not a landscaper). Though the short descriptions with pictures were decent, the information was often insufficient. I'd see something new I'd never even heard of, and the single sentence on "how to use" was not enough for me to understand it.
I also had a lot of problems with the layout of the information, which was probably done by a talented book designer that never read the actual words. In some spreads, the numbering was a series of steps, but others were actually entirely separate methods and uses of an item. I was told that one tool was used like another "above," but actually hadn't been read yet, if you're reading in a left-to-right column, top-to-bottom custom that English has agreed upon. There were labels on diagrams with painfully obvious descriptions, like that for an on/off button. There were offset quotes that look like they might contain a profound quote from Gandhi, but are more often obvious snippets with random words emphasized, like this gem of wisdom: "A quality TROWEL or FORK can be a HIGHLY SATISFYING tool to own, hold, and USE."
In the end, I felt like this was the kind of pretty coffee-table book that is gifted to an enthusiast because it looks good, but mostly sits unopened, because it's not actually that useful.
Right off the bat, I was mildly annoyed that Nick Offerman's only contribution was the foreward, and I had fallen into the publisher's trap of "put a big name on the cover" (meaning both that he is well-known and it was written in a large font).
Some of the information was good- there were plenty of large, detailed pictures, and explanations of what the differences between one tool and another. Turns out my "marking gauge" is actually a cutting gauge. Interesting. Apparently I am using the wrong kind of saw to cut branches. (Hey, I'm a woodworker, not a landscaper). Though the short descriptions with pictures were decent, the information was often insufficient. I'd see something new I'd never even heard of, and the single sentence on "how to use" was not enough for me to understand it.
I also had a lot of problems with the layout of the information, which was probably done by a talented book designer that never read the actual words. In some spreads, the numbering was a series of steps, but others were actually entirely separate methods and uses of an item. I was told that one tool was used like another "above," but actually hadn't been read yet, if you're reading in a left-to-right column, top-to-bottom custom that English has agreed upon. There were labels on diagrams with painfully obvious descriptions, like that for an on/off button. There were offset quotes that look like they might contain a profound quote from Gandhi, but are more often obvious snippets with random words emphasized, like this gem of wisdom: "A quality TROWEL or FORK can be a HIGHLY SATISFYING tool to own, hold, and USE."
In the end, I felt like this was the kind of pretty coffee-table book that is gifted to an enthusiast because it looks good, but mostly sits unopened, because it's not actually that useful.
November 11, 2019
A handsome volume featuring different classes of hand tools, "The Tool Book" is a jack-of-all-trades overview, blending together a visual encyclopedia, a smattering of history and a bit of "how to" and care.
It's well designed, with artful arrangements of carpenter's planes, saws and adzes, the kind of cabinet porn to make even a non-handyman feel a little tinge of longing.
The book is at its best when presenting specialty tools--Japanese axes and hand-milled rasps. Of course, what's "special" will depend on the reader. Familiar tool sets in the volume feel a bit obvious, and if you're an actual woodworker, you'll probably find little new here to excite you.
As coffee-table books go, though, this is nicely done. Most casual readers will likely discover something they want to add to their toolkit.
It's well designed, with artful arrangements of carpenter's planes, saws and adzes, the kind of cabinet porn to make even a non-handyman feel a little tinge of longing.
The book is at its best when presenting specialty tools--Japanese axes and hand-milled rasps. Of course, what's "special" will depend on the reader. Familiar tool sets in the volume feel a bit obvious, and if you're an actual woodworker, you'll probably find little new here to excite you.
As coffee-table books go, though, this is nicely done. Most casual readers will likely discover something they want to add to their toolkit.
September 30, 2018
Contains lots of information on a myriad different hand tools for use in all applications from woodwork to gardening to painting and decorating! Some of these tools I'd never heard of but most were familiar. The information it gives is very basic: what the tool is like, how to use it and how to take care of it. And that's about it for around 200 tools.
January 2, 2019
Good coffee table book.
September 28, 2021
Like talking to your grandad, but in a book.
September 25, 2019
Fun quick read with well organized info about a ton of hand tools.
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August 31, 2018621.908 D268 2018
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews