Woodshop & How-To Books

John's work has appeared in the following books...


 

Woodworker's Guide To Sharpening
John's newest book from Fox Chapel Publishing explains the nature of steel and stones - water, oil, ceramic and diamond. It also looks at the myriad jigs and devices available, including a few shop-built ones.

In the final chapter, the book includes a quick tour of the sharpening set-ups of some of America's best professional woodworkers. It also has a roundup of all the latest machines available to those of us who wish to put a sharper edge on our tools, and our craft.

To order a copy of this book, click here.

The Collins Complete Woodworker
John was a contributing editor on this project, which was published in the summer of 2007 under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. From the publisher comes this description: "With woodworking fast becoming one of the most popular pastimes in the country, The Collins Complete Woodworker, from the editors of Woodworker's Journal, is the perfect introduction for anyone wanting to get better acquainted with this rewarding hobby. Written in an easy-to-understand style and accompanied by hundreds of full-color photographs and illustrations, this encyclopedic reference covers tools and techniques in 16 lively chapters."

ISBN13: 9780060825751, $29.95

  

ISBN 0-9635669-0-3

  

The Building Buddy
John's first book, The Building Buddy, (1993, PTG Press) was a guide for people building their own home, or for those acting as their own general contractor. The first printing sold out in less than a year.

In 2003, the currently available edition (revised and updated) was released on CD. Go to the Black Hills School of Woodworking to see the Table of Contents and get more details.

  

ISBN 0-9635669-1-1

 


John's work has appeared in two sets of woodshop library books. The first set, published by the Handyman Club of America, became available around 2001. His projects and general woodshop wisdom appear in three volumes in this set - Workshop Projects (1999, HCA, ISBN 1-58159-042-3); Toys & Accesories (1999, HCA, ISBN 1-58159-084-9); and Woodworking Essentials (2000, HCA, ISBN 1-58159-087-3).

The Complete Book of Woodworking, published by Landauer Corporation in 2001 (ISBN 1-809621-35-8) and widely available through national retailers such as Home Depot, is a "step-by-step guide to essential woodworking skills, techniques, tools and tips". Large portions of this invaluable reference manual (including the Introduction to Wood section beginning on page 35 and the section on Making Joints and Assembling Projects beginning on page 95) were primarily written by John, and also feature his photography.  

 
As a former editor with Woodworker's Journal, John's writing and photography have a strong presence throughout all eight volumes shown here of WJ's series, The Complete Woodworker's Library. There are a few more volumes planned for this series, which is a comprehensive collection of projects (complete with large drawings), methods, jigs and general woodworking.
The Journal periodically issues themed Collector's Editions such as the volumes shown at right. John's projects appear in all three of these.  

  John's work is currently being featured in a new series of books from Fox Chapel, entitled "The best of Woodworker's Journal". That's John's Irish Parlor Clock on the cover of Boxes, Clocks, lamps.

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