Free Woodworking Books
This is a selection of free woodworking books that are available for download from the CD3WD project. I have listed them here because I have not seen books like these listed on many woodworking sites, and whilst they may be a few years old, they are still quite relevant. I will post links to the files on the original sites, but will also keep copies myself just in case the links go down. Happy reading.
Hand Tool Handbook
R.J. De Cristoforo - 1977
"Master your hand tools with over 400 detailed photos, hundreds of timesaving tips and exact directions for saws, hammers, chisels and planes. How to select wood, fasteners and glues. How to maintain your tools. Plans for jigs, tools and projects you can build."
The Use of Hand Woodworking Tools
L. McDonnell & Alson Kaumeheiwa - 1978
"The Use of Hand Woodworking Tools deals with......Safety, Measuring Tools, The Rafter and Framing Square, Layout Tools, Testing Tools, Sawing Tools, Refitting Handsaws, Bench Planes and Special Planes. Edge Cutting To&, Boring fools, Fasteners - Nails, Fasteners ~ Screws and Others, Smoothing Tools, and Coated Abrasives."
This book is designed for students, with frequent question and answer pages. It also has a strong emphasis on carpentry skills and examples from house construction.
DeCristoforo's Complete Book of Power Tools: both stationary and portable
R.J. De Cristoforo - 1973
"Hundreds of step-by-step photos, plus construction plans for building original jigs and accessories"
This is the most in-depth and comprehensive book I have seen on how to get the most out of your power tools, and how to use them in ways I would never have thought possible. It is still quite relevant despite its age, and is well worth a look.
Tools and how to use them
A. Jackson & D. Day - 1978
"An illustrated encyclopedia of hand and power tools from the ordinary to the odd - their history, what they are used for, how to operate and maintain them"
This book covers all sorts of tools - not just those specific to woodworking.
A manual on sharpening hand woodworking tools
J.K Coggin, L.O Armstrong & G.W. Giles - 1943
"...A job thoroughly understood is usually very simple....emphasis is given to the “why” and the “how” in all the sharpening procedures set up in this book."
Sharpening small tools
I. Bradley - 1976
"...the sharpening of tools in general use only is dealt with, and, whenever possible, simple and well-tried methods have been adopted,"
Covers more than just woodworking tools
How to make 12 woodworking tools
A. Moore - 1986
"This manual describes, in detail, how to make .... a: TRY SQUARE, BEVEL SQUARE, MARKING GAUGE, CUTTING GAUGE, MORTISE GAUGE, PANEL GAUGE, MALLET, BOW DRILL, BOW SAW, COPING SAW, FRET SAW and HACK SAW."
More to follow when I get the chance