Who says you can’t read a good woodworking book on the beach? We asked our bloggers which books they are looking forward to reading this summer, and they provided us with some great answers. See below for Lee Laird’s summer reading list:
I have a number of “woodworking” books I’ve added to my bookcase, that I just haven’t had the opportunity or time to really dig into yet. It is starting to look like things are slowing down, since my recent trip to Germany is (sadly) over, and a couple of other issues are resolving. As you will probably notice, some of the books I purchase are how-to’s, but others are design elements I’d like to incorporate in future work. Here are my target books:
“Finishing” by Jeff Jewitt
This is a fairly comprehensive work, that talk about surface preparation, repairing and hiding defects, custom dye and stain colors, glazing and toning, and brushing and spraying finishes. As most know, the best furniture/work can be reduced in worth and desire, if the finish is lacking. Working on your finishing abilities is no different than say, improving your sawing techniques or perhaps perfecting your dovetails. A facet of your overall work you don’t want to overlook.
“A Marquetry Odyssey” by Silas Kopf
At one of the Lie-Nielsen events, I was visiting with Frank Strazza, who turned me on to this amazing book. I’ve never really done any marquetry to speak of, but when I build musical instruments, I can see this as a great way to enhance their looks. This can be as simple as a basic idea on the headstock, to full adornment. The book has photos of current works, as well as period pieces, so covers a great deal of territory.
“The Furniture of Gustav Stickley” by Joseph J. Bavaro & Thomas L. Mossman
This (sadly, out-of-print) book provides history, techniques and projects, relative to Gustav Stickley. Included in the projects, are tables, chairs, different casework, as well as other items, with very in-depth information on the included pieces. There is also a section talking about methods used, which might help the chops one might need before building one of the projects.
“Sam Maloof – Woodworker” by Sam Maloof
There is something about Sam Maloof’s designs – they look great, and are very functional. It is easy to see why his work has always been in high demand, and I’d love to have some of his organic feel to rub off on my hands. There are images, photos, drawings as well as the ideas of Sam Maloof. (This is actually a book I’ve owned for almost 25 years, but it is time it should be back in the “read” rotation.)
Lee Laird has enjoyed woodworking for over 25 years. He is retired from the U.S.P.S. and worked for Lie-Nielsen Toolworks as a show staff member, demonstrating tools and training customers. You can email him at LeeLairdWoodworking@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/LeeLairdWW