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The Woodwright's Shop: A Practical Guide to Traditional Woodcraft
Roy Underhill brings to woodworking the intimate relationship with wood that craftsmen enjoyed in the days before power tools. Combining historical background, folklore, alternative technololgy, and humor, he provides both a source of general information and a detailed introduction to traditional woodworking. Beginning with a guide to trees and tools, The Woodwright's Shop includes chapters on gluts and mauls, shaving horses, rakes, chairs, weaving wood, hay forks, dough bowls, lathes, blacksmithing, dovetails, panel-frame construction, log houses, and timber-frame construction. More than 330 photographs illustrate the text.
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For more than twenty-five years, Roy Underhill has taught the techniques of traditional hand-tool woodworking. In five books and on his popular, long-running PBS series, The Woodwright's Shop, America's leading authority on old-time woodcraft has inspired millions to take up chisel and plane. Designed for both woodworking novices and for more seasoned woodworkers looking for enjoyable projects, the books feature step-by-step instructions, complete with easy-to-follow photographs and measured drawings.
Roy Underhill is the former master housewright at Colonial Williamsburg. He created The Woodwright's Shop, one of the first television programs devoted to woodworking, in 1979. The series is produced by the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television and has aired nationally since 1981. Roy is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master's degree from Duke University. He lives in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The Woodwright's Shop
A Practical Guide to Traditional Woodcraft
Features a guide to trees and tools as well as chapters on gluts and mauls, shaving horses, chairs, lathes, blacksmithing, log houses, and more.
The Woodwright's Companion
Exploring Traditional Woodcraft
Includes chapters on helves and handles, saws, the search for the whetstone quarry, hurdles, whimmy diddles, planes, window sashes, and pit sawing.
The Woodwright's Workbook
Further Explorations in Traditional Woodcraft
With step-by-step instructions for tool chests, workbenches, lathes, and historical reproductions of items for the home. Roy also explores building barns, boats, and even colonial fortresses.
The Woodwright's Eclectic Workshop
Popular projects include the Adirondack chair, tavern table, folding ladder, rocking horse, lathe, and kayak, all illustrated with photographs and measured drawings.
The Woodwright's Apprentice
Twenty Favorite Projects from The Woodwright's Shop
Begins with directions for building a workbench, then builds new skills--from frame construction to dovetailing, turning, steam-bending, and carving--with each successive project.
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For more than twenty-five years, Roy Underhill has taught the techniques of traditional hand-tool woodworking. In five books and on his popular, long-running PBS series, The Woodwright's Shop, America's leading authority on old-time woodcraft has inspired millions to take up chisel and plane. Designed for both woodworking novices and for more seasoned woodworkers looking for enjoyable projects, the books feature step-by-step instructions, complete with easy-to-follow photographs and measured drawings.
Roy Underhill is the former master housewright at Colonial Williamsburg. He created The Woodwright's Shop, one of the first television programs devoted to woodworking, in 1979. The series is produced by the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television and has aired nationally since 1981. Roy is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master's degree from Duke University. He lives in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The Woodwright's Shop
A Practical Guide to Traditional Woodcraft
Features a guide to trees and tools as well as chapters on gluts and mauls, shaving horses, chairs, lathes, blacksmithing, log houses, and more.
The Woodwright's Companion
Exploring Traditional Woodcraft
Includes chapters on helves and handles, saws, the search for the whetstone quarry, hurdles, whimmy diddles, planes, window sashes, and pit sawing.
The Woodwright's Workbook
Further Explorations in Traditional Woodcraft
With step-by-step instructions for tool chests, workbenches, lathes, and historical reproductions of items for the home. Roy also explores building barns, boats, and even colonial fortresses.
The Woodwright's Eclectic Workshop
Popular projects include the Adirondack chair, tavern table, folding ladder, rocking horse, lathe, and kayak, all illustrated with photographs and measured drawings.
The Woodwright's Apprentice
Twenty Favorite Projects from The Woodwright's Shop
Begins with directions for building a workbench, then builds new skills--from frame construction to dovetailing, turning, steam-bending, and carving--with each successive project.
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216 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1981
24 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 30, 2008
Underhill is a very good writer. He's descriptive, clear & concise whether he's describing a bark pattern or a how-to project. Yet, at the same time, he takes time to go beyond the necessities & provide tidbits that made me want to read beyond his books. Often these are historical (e.g. Thomas Jefferson's carpenter) or alternate methods to try.
This book is a good reference for any carpenter, history buff or writer. For the carpenter today, with all the power tools, it shows methods that are still valid & often forgotten in the mass of machines & paint-by-number instructions. Historically, he's a gold mine. He helped rebuild Colonial Williamsburg & is well known for his attention to authenticity. Writers can learn how it was really done before the invention of electricity & what kind of trees & wood were available in an old growth forest. Most get it wrong.
There are a number of projects outlined in this book, both practical & fun. It assumes you have some knowledge of woodworking, but not a lot of tools are needed.
This book is a good reference for any carpenter, history buff or writer. For the carpenter today, with all the power tools, it shows methods that are still valid & often forgotten in the mass of machines & paint-by-number instructions. Historically, he's a gold mine. He helped rebuild Colonial Williamsburg & is well known for his attention to authenticity. Writers can learn how it was really done before the invention of electricity & what kind of trees & wood were available in an old growth forest. Most get it wrong.
There are a number of projects outlined in this book, both practical & fun. It assumes you have some knowledge of woodworking, but not a lot of tools are needed.
July 13, 2017
Perfection.
June 14, 2020
Roy Underhill, the pioneer of the modern hand-work revival, sets the stage for what will be his long career of teaching people how to love the craft and the engagement with the world that it fosters. While it is technically more of a "project" book, it is loaded not only techniques, but also the philosophy that there are other dimensions than speed and efficiency. Through the projects are more "country woodcraft" than fine cabinetry, Underhill nevertheless demonstrates how to create beautiful work that contains at least as much soul as a Chippendale high-boy. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to engage more deeply with the craft.
January 5, 2018
Roy Underhill has written a book of woodcraft and ironsmithing using old techniques. He starts out by talking about trees and tools and progresses from there. You can not use his techniques as the book does to end up building all the tools and an entire house from onsite trees. After all, the book is less than 200 pages and has a lot of pictures. The purpose of the book is Underhill showing his love of the work and how he goes about a wide range of the crafts. It's a good book that shows much of our past.
September 16, 2020
In brief, if you don't know who Roy Underhill is, this is where you start. The cover of the book says "Companion to the new PBS show." Now, that "new" show is the longest running, continuous and still running TV show. It is difficult to find a single woodworker who doesn't make reference to Roy Underhill. You may not adopt his method, tools, or style, but you will enjoy his personality and his performance.
May 10, 2023
This is a fascinating book that goes over a lot of traditional ways of making things (mallets, rakes, etc.)
Not for everyone, but a fascinating read if you have ever wanted to homestead it like they did hundreds of years ago on your own bit of forest.
Not for everyone, but a fascinating read if you have ever wanted to homestead it like they did hundreds of years ago on your own bit of forest.
May 9, 2021
a great introduction to traditional woodcraft
October 18, 2010
Roy Underhill is the best of all of the TV woodworkers. Anyone can get a contract from Delta and assemble something from a plan. Roy uses traditional hand powered tools and makes things the way it was done 'back in the day.' A very respectable talent and personality.
May 29, 2017
Very interesting
Liked it. It was very interesting to read this book when I decided to read its contents as it was interesting.
Liked it. It was very interesting to read this book when I decided to read its contents as it was interesting.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews