Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology

by R. Bruce Hoadley

The first edition of Understanding Wood was published in 1980 and has since sold more than 130,000 copies. It is widely held as a definitive reference work and the cornerstone of every woodworker's library. Now, Bruce Hoadley's comprehensive guide to wood technology has been revised and updated in this 20th-anniversary edition of a classic. New information on composite materials, adhesives, and finishes brings this book into the 21st century, while more than 300 photographs bring important visual information to life. This edition covers the nature of wood and its properties, the basics of wood technology, and the woodworker's raw materials. Understanding Wood was written for woodworkers by a scientist with a love of woodworking. It will be sought after by craftsmen and collectors alike.

Genres: Woodwork, Reference, Nonfiction, Architecture, Design, Crafts, Plants

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1980

About the author

R. Bruce Hoadley was Professor Emeritus of Building and Construction Materials in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

He covers many topics in this book, but does so with an amazing thoroughness. I was particularly impressed by the way he explains kiln drying. He did so in a fashion that was very readable, understandable & thorough. Much better than other papers & books I've read on the subject. Another chapter covers wood microscopy. It interested me enough that I bought another book he wrote on the subject.

He's a professor, so he can & does use terms that I needed to look up, but he didn't overwhelm me with jargon. For a hard science text, it was extremely readable.

[Mark Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a beginner woodworker, a lot of this book was way over my head - including microscopic differences in wood types, physics formulae to determine strength, etc. However, it also explained aspects of wood that are impacting what I build.

A reference book that will have a place on my shelf with easy access.

[Michael Savill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in-depth, informative guide which I refer back to on a regular basis

[Koen Crolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly thorough and surprisingly rigorous. Hoadley covers more ground than you thought needed covering and dispels many, many common myths (mostly, of course, surrounding wood movement). It's clear he's a scientist first and a woodworker a distant second, though, and particularly the chapter on finishes is somewhat disappointing, but even that is only disappointing relative to the great wealth of information in all of the other ones.

Required reading for anyone who works wood, owns a thing made of wood, or has been within view of a tree.

[Bob Shadel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great in depth understanding of wood. Wow! If one thought out all the vicissitudes of wood -- it's nature, characters, varieties, movement long after it's cut down from a tree, moisture content, it's strengths and weaknesses, one could never make a piece of furniture. I guess I've been more than lucky for 20 years having as few failures in wood working -- primarily going blindly along. Now I am able to at least try to select better wood and work better with the wood I get...

[Emanuele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sono rimasto colpito dalla quantità di informazioni fornite da questo libro. Sono presi in considerazione tutti gli aspetti della lavorazione del legno, a partire dalla crescita della pianta passando per la stagionatura, fino alla finitura dei manufatti. Molto preciso e accurato, consigliatissimo a chiunque voglia accrescere la propria conoscenza del legno!

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for any aspiring woodworker. Covers tons of basics on everything from obtaining your wood, drying it, and working it. A very good general informational type book that provides direction for where to find more detailed information should it be required.

[Darko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, but offers deep knowledge on what is wood, why it behaves in certain ways and how to use it for different purposes. How to use and what to use to build stuff that will be strong and last for a long time.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sees wood for the trees.

[Jason Sanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book on wood. I need to read it again and again.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 WOOD UNDERSTAND WOOD AGAIN

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book if you want to understand wood and things associated with it.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing deep dive into the science and engineering aspects of wood. I got a copy from the library and quickly realized I needed to buy a copy to reference. Some of it is a little arcane if you just want to do woodworking, but there is a host of incredibly practical knowledge that advanced my understanding of how wood works.

[Felicity Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended by a local otg that teaches carpentry, and I can see why. The book is very technical in places (honestly, a lot of it was too technical die me mega), but all of the information is excellent for understanding wood on a foundational level. I especially enjoyed the later chapters on joining wood.

[Terence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough. Covers both the qualitative aspects and quantitative aspects well. Belongs to the library of any good woodworker.

[Sean Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit technical for me.

[Christopher Hachet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a classic, and well worth studying in depth.

[Dario Argentieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

So useful!

[Gary Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures are excellent and incredibly helpful for understanding

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might sound ridiculous, but if you're going to read one book about wood, it should be this book.

If you're thinking, "okay, but what if I'm going to read zero books about wood?" Well, I'd still recommend this book. It was wildly fascinating to discover exactly how little I knew about wood in the first place. In other words, there was a lot I didn't know that I didn't know, and this book was a knowledge enema.

Consider me an acolyte of Mr. Hoadley. Wood for life.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I skimmed through this wonderful reference written by a man who is clearly in love with his craft. He is an artist and a scientist, the art and reverence for wood coming through even in the more technical sections of the book. Anyone who works with wood wants to have this in their reference section!