Book Description
Considered among the highest achievements of the American arts and crafts movement, Greene & Greene furniture was custom-built for specific interior spaces, and many of the pieces still remain in their original locations. This manual, written by a nationally recognized furniture maker, provides intermediate and advanced woodworkers with well illustrated, step-by-step instructions for classic Greene & Greene details, including ebony plugs, cloud lifts, leg indents, brackets, and pulls. A discussion of the design philosophy of the period accompanies how-to chapters, and photographs of contemporary Greene-inspired furniture provide ideas for projects. Biographical sketches are included for Charles and Henry Greene, Peter and John Hall (who built most of the furniture), and competing furniture maker Gustav Stickley.
Customer Reviews:
Not anything special.......2007-03-10
Before I bought this book, I owned another book call In Craftman's Style. It was such a great book that I thought this book was just going to be another great book. However, soon I realized that my expectation was unrealistic. First of all, this book did not offer me with any new information. Most of what it talked about in the book was already covered in the other book. The other book also offered many useful project plans. This one offered no such thing. It may seem unfair to judge one book base on another one. However, this book came out several year after In Craftman's Style repeated half of the materials. So even if I don't consider being cheated by buying this book, I was truly very disappointed at best.
Greene & Greene Design Elements.......2007-02-16
A very good book on how the many design elements used in the manufacture of Greene & Greene furniture come together. The color illustrations and accompaning text are easy to understand and easily guide any interested woodworker or patron of this arts & crafts furniture builder. The only small comment would be - when's the next add on edition coming?
Greene & Greene How To.......2007-02-15
An outstanding book which combines history with practical techniques for creating your own G&G style furniture. Peart is truly an outstanding craftsman and now an author/historian. Excellent photos and ideas...and some plans.
Greene and Greene woodworking techniques.......2007-01-16
A must for the woodworker who is looking to accomplish those fine details in the Greene bros. furniture. They are easier to do once you see how it is done, a great time savins book.
Green & Green Design Elements for the Workshop.......2007-01-12
Darrell Peart has excelled in writing a book like only a professional woodworker could. He gives a thorough history of the Green brothers and their work. Then he dives into the details that mark the Green & Green style and offers instructions on how to reproduce them. At the end he includes drawings of his fantastic Aurora furniture. This book should be in every woodworker's library.
Customer Reviews:
This is an excellent collection!.......2004-06-16
I would classify myself as an intermediate level woodworker and a book expert (I am a librarian after all) and I can honestly say that this is one of the absolute best books of its type on the market. As I see it, the normal downfall of a book such as this is the authors either spend way too much time giving us all of the philosophical and historical background behind the furniture style in question, or once they actually get to the furniture projects section they disappoint by selecting such rare (and odd) pieces to reproduce that the book ultimately becomes more of a novelty rather than a useful tool.
I am thrilled to say that the authors of this book got the balance between philosophy and practical matters just right. There is just enough about Arts and Crafts fundamentals here to whet the appetite for the projects which follow. And speaking of the projects, this is good stuff! Out of the twenty two projects offered in this book, I can honestly say that I would be very happy to build fifteen of them and put them in my own home. In a book this size I am usually lucky if half of the projects are appealing enough to want to build them for myself, and keep in mind that I am a HUGE fan of this furniture style.
Bottom line is that the color illustrations (although minimalist to the beginner's eye) are compelling to the more skilled among us, the choice of projects is excellent, and the bibliography of suggested reading is very good. I highly recommend this purchase.
Build it all and have fun!.......2004-05-11
I have built almost everything in the book. I made a few mistakes because I misinterpreted the drawings, but if you study the drawings very carefully before construction then you will truly enjoy this book. Author needs to write another book like this. Watch the interpretation of Dado and rabbet joints in particular.
Excellent Writing and Furniture Designs.......2003-09-03
This book was the first that I picked up when I started building my own furniture. The projects turned out great and the finishing process that he recommended was excellent. The diagrams and step by step instruction give you all the information that you need to complete each project even if you're an amateur like I am (you do need to have/buy some good power tools though). I've made two of the projects he describes and there are still a couple more I'd like to do.
Furniture you will use.......2000-12-13
This is a good A&C furniture book for the intermediate woodworker. The authors cover pieces from the simple (wastebasket) to the more difficult (entry bench, sideboard). A nice touch is that besides covering the usual Gustav Stickley pieces there are items by other A&C companies of the time (Shop of the Crafters, Limbert, Greene & Greene [actually architects, but they designed the furniture for their buildings], L & J.G. Stickley, Roycroft). The introductory chapter covers a brief history of the style, next is an introduction to some of the general woodworking techniques needed, and then the various projects with good photographs and explanations (there are a couple of minor editorial glitches, but they cause no real problems). The projects also vary from a duplicate of the original to slightly modified interpretations. A useful technique is given for staining/glazing the furniture to achieve the traditional golden brown color without actually having to fume the pieces in concentrated ammonia (a smelly, dangerous, and potentially lethal approach). So if you are a somewhat experienced beginning woodworker, you should find some great projects here to move you on to the next level. And even if you are a very experienced furniture maker, you will find some nice pieces you might want to make too.
Book Description
The often-intimidating art of chairmaking is explained in this book of expert patterns and tips for creating seven elegant chairs. Through each project, craftspeople learn increasingly complex skills that build upon each other, making the manual a complete education in all of the basic chairmaking techniques. The straightforward plans and methods make the designs—such as a child's ladderback chair and even armchairs—accessible for home woodworkers. Illuminating discussions of construction and design fundamentals, along with an appendix on oils and waxes to give projects the finishing touch, round out this exploration of the art of building comfortable chairs.
Customer Reviews:
Good book -- too bad its out of print.......2006-03-10
I looked all over the Internet for this book a while back and couldn't find it. Used sellers are charging way too much (over $100), so I finally just checked it out of the library (very available and no cost).
This is a good book, and is the only one I know of with general chairmaking info that covers different chair types. The other chairmaking books I've seen seem to be specific to Windsor chairs. I would like to see more books like this ... until then get this one from the library.
Nice book..........2005-07-07
...that provides good information on the basics of building chairs. This focuses more on traditional chairmaking versus "green" chairmaking.
Essential chairmaking resource.......2005-02-03
There are several books on Windsor and country chair design but this is the only one that will let you produce, say, a set of elegant dining chairs. Miller takes great pains to de-mystify the what is a daunting project for many woodworkers. His projects start basic with each one indroducing principles of design and construction that build throughout the text. The discussion clear and thorough.
Excellent resource and reference for personal projects.......2004-03-04
I attended my first workshop (on making tables) at Jeff Miller's studio in the summer of 2003. I purchased this book shortly after completing the class. This book is a fantastic way to take Jeff's clear, creative teaching skills home, and has absolutely everything you need to know in order to build chairs, especially if you're doing it on your own and don't have a master craftsperson to call on for help.
I have referred to this book time and again, and am sure other furniture makers will find Jeff's concise but thorough style a terrific and worthwhile addition to both bookshelves and workbenches.
Pretty much all you could ask.......2003-11-13
This is really an excellent book for a woodworker seeking guidance with the particular challenges of chairbuilding.
Most chapters cover some particular chair of the author's creation. Don't worry about whether Miller's designs will appeal or not. Plans are included, but copying them really isn't the point. They're presented here as case studies in conceptualization and construction, with lessons that are widely applicable. For example, how to accurately lay out and cut angled tenons, how to obtain a flat surface on an otherwise curved leg, how to fashion a slip seat, etc. And throughout, Miller details a bunch of clever jigs and methods of work.
A caution: familiarity with the ABCs of furnituremaking and access to some modicum of shop stuff is assumed here. This isn't a beginning woodworking text, which only makes sense, given the subject.
Book Description
On a farmlike compound near New Hope, Pennsylvania, George Nakashima, his family, and fellow wood-workers create exquisite furniture from richly grained, rare timber. Tables, desks, chairs, and cabinets from this simple workshop grace the homes and mansions and executive boardrooms of people
who prize such excellence. In this lavishly illustrated volume, George Nakashima allows us in intimate look at his artistry, his philosophy, his life. It is the portrait of an artisan who strives to find the ideal use for each plank in order to "create an object of utility to man and, if nature
smiles, an object of lasting beauty."
The author's search for the meaning of life took him as a young man to Paris, Tokyo, and Pondicherry, India. In India, he found the inner peace for which he had been searching and began to find ways to work with timber. He writes movingly about the grandeur of ancient trees and stunning figured
woods and explains how he selects and prepares his materials. Above all, he impresses us with his devotion to discovering the inherent beauty of wood so that noble trees might have a second life as furniture. The Soul of a Tree looks at the world through the eyes of an artist and evokes the joy of
living in harmony with nature.
Customer Reviews:
He is a rarity.......2007-01-26
Able to tug at you in so many ways. A privilege to be able to buy his product.
great book - a woodworkers essential.......2006-09-11
Alot of philosphy, mostly biographical, has a few quotes that stick:
"Man has the audacity to try to improve the tree...."
This is a MUST read for a woodworker.
Gorgeous and inspiring book.......2005-11-27
Like the books of James Krenov, "The Soul of a Tree" is as much a book about philosophy as it is about wood. And it's a good philosophy: slow down, take your time, play with the wood, and enjoy it. The book is really about the soul of Nakashima. He outlines some of his own personal history and how he developed his ideas about craft. There's not really much on technique here - you can certainly find better books for that - but you won't find many more inspiring.
On a personal note I had a lady call me years ago to fix up `some old furniture' she and her husband had bought years ago (in the `50's I believe.) Seems when they were young college professors they found this young oriental guy down the road who made furniture in his garage. When I looked at the furniture I told her that her young oriental friend had become quite famous and showed her this book. She was flabbergasted. What she wanted me to do was to nail up some chairs that had worked loose over time. I refused, of course, and explained to her that these were valuable pieces that should be cared for properly. I also encouraged her to contact Nakashima's Conoid Studio (if it still existed) to let them catalogue the pieces. Even after years of use by a family with kids living in the sticks the pieces were obviously crafted with meticulous care and held up surprisingly well. It was a real joy to bring them back to daily use.
Pure Style........2001-08-27
The author omit needless wood and carve great pieces of furniture. It is like zen on wood. You will not regret the money you spent on this title.
This man never wasted a single second of his life.......1999-10-30
George Nakashima was not only a master craftsman in his field, he was a genius. He could pick up any piece of wood and at a glance know what the end product would be to its full potential...and more.He would let the wood tell him. Even his simplest of projects 'sing' beauty and finesse. I bought the book for insperation to my own woodworking skills, and learnt much more than i expected. Included in the book is a short biography telling us of his early life, his travelings and how he ended up the man he became, his family, lifestyle, work and good natured beliefs. It certainly gave me insperation towards beautiful woodwork and i like to think I learnt a few lessons in life as well. If i was to me this man and only shake his hand I would feel honoured.......
Book Description
Woodworkers don’t live by power tools alone! With a focus on traditional and modern hand tools, acclaimed craftsman David Charlesworth presents an indispensable guide for all levels and abilities. Lively writing and more than 300 photographs show how to select and use equipment such as chisels, planes and peen hammers to make high-quality furniture. Covering everything from plans for making a spokeshave adjustor to age-old dovetailing techniques and ways to keep tools in top shape, this is the ideal workshop accessory. There’s also instruction on finishing techniques, and lots of inspiration and encouragement.
Customer Reviews:
A good book, but not as good as the first two.......2007-07-12
I am a big fan of David's and I must confess that I was a little disappointed in this book. I also own the first two, and the material there seems much more common and useful. This book includes material such as making a metal plane from a kit. The company that offered the kit is no longer in business, so the material is somewhat less relevant. There is an article on making a spokeshave adjuster for the Boggs shave. In my opinion, this is a solution looking for a problem. A small tap with a hammer like with any wood plane is a simple adjuster for the spokeshave. I just didn't find much of the material useful overall.
I guess I would much rather see more material on furniture techniques such as drawer fitting, veneering, dovetailing, and hardware fitting. But I guess this would be a different titled book!
Another Outstanding Treatise from David Charlesworth.......2007-01-20
I eagerly anticipated the arrival of David Charlesworth's third volume, and was not disappointed. It is, in my opinion, even better that his first two excellent books on the "art" of fine woodworking. He explains in clearly understandable detail the use of "cutting edge" (no pun intended), state- of-the-art tools by Lie-Nielsen. David's books are a necessity in any workshop intent on exhibiting fine workmanship in its products. As an avid woodworker, I look forward to future volumes from David Charlesworth. I have Charlesworth DVD's which are instrumental in maintaining, sharpening and properly using Lie-Nielsen planes. No shop should be without these "learning tools". Keep up the great work, David.
Book Description
This book is the ultimate guide to building high-end period furniture. Master craftsman Glen Huey packs so much knowledge and instruction between these covers that woodworkers will feel like he's standing right next to them in the shop. Highlights include:
-A bonus DVD with real-time demonstrations of key furniture-building techniques!
-Clear, concise instruction--complete with step-by-step photos and full-scale, pull-out drawings--to answer all the important questions
-A breathtaking selection of projects worthy of the Antiques Roadshow--everything from a Federal Secretary Bookcase to a Kasper clock
With all this information at their fingertips, woodworkers will finally be able to build the heirloom furniture they've been dreaming about!
Customer Reviews:
OUTSTANDING !.......2006-05-15
An outstanding book for a beginner or more experienced woodworker. I am truly impressed. I am a fairly experienced woodworker. I own many books on the subject. Glen Huey has produced a very fine book on period furniture.
Another very excellent book is Lonnie Bird's: "Period Furniture Details" I would reccomend buying both books.
This book is more step by step and informative than many.There are five main projects:1.block front chest 2.Massachusetts high chest{high boy}3.Pennsylvania chest on chest 4.Pennsylvania tall case clock 5.New England desk and bookcase{secretary} All projects are thorougly covered with step by step construction instructions.The book is easy to use in the shop with its spiral binding.There is an accompanying D.V.D That is by itself worth the price of the book! Every project has full cut lists and sources for specialty hardware.The D.V.D {82 minutes} has detailed demonstrations on: making cabriole legs,stickered miters,dye finishing,ogee feet and more. There are printable full size patterns for all curved or special parts for all projects on the D.V.D. [One negative the book like many is printed in China and in my opinion the picture and printing are not as good as many others] If you want to build one of these period pieces this is the book for you,you can do it!
Book Description
This new paperback expands on the techniques covered in Shaping Wood — a title in the enormously successful Complete Illustrated Guides series. It covers joinery relating to 18th century furniture styles, as well as the demanding techniques required to complete ornate period pieces. Turning and carving, as well as building accurately, are all included in a highly visual format. Anyone who loves period details and longs to create them will want this book. 300 color photos and drawings are featured.
Customer Reviews:
Very good!.......2006-05-16
I am surprised at the low book review. This is one of the best teaching books I have read. Lonnie Bird is an artist at conveying woodworking concepts. This is not a step by step how to guide to a completed project. Every detail that is covered is very well covered. I have both of the Lonnie Bird books and believe they complement each other. I highly reccomend this book and this author! If you want a good step by step book on Period Furniture try: Glen Huey's "Building Period Furniture" Both of these books are excellent. See my review under this book on Amazon.I have bought many books that are barely worth taking home. These two books are worth more than they cost! The printing and pictures in This book are superior as are all others I have read by Taunton press.
Details Add Value.......2004-07-10
This is a valuable aid in making details. Another reviewer states that 80% of the book is in another book by Bird. This might be a bit of an over statement - no matter if just 20% is new material the book is worth it. I own both of the books he addresses - I noticed the duplication right away. The real question is "will this book make you a better period furniture maker?" I am 57 years old - own every tool required to make period furiture - hold a Masters certification from Marc Adams School of Woodworking - have taken course work with some of the top people in the field - I am now working on a Philidelphia Low Boy and am wooking with Allan Breed (instructor) - and this book is helpful and even insightful. I know at least four of the eighteen of us in class have purchased this book.
Don't buy if you own Complete Guide to Shaping Wood.......2004-02-28
If you already own Lonnie Bird's Complete Illustrated Guide to Shaping Wood you will be extremely disappointed with this book. It seemed that 80% was duplicate material. The book descriptions says that this book expands on the techniques covered in Shaping Wood. To me, it looked like nothing more than a page for page copy.
Book Description
Once woodworkers master basic techniques and have some experience building projects, they begin to look for inspiration. For over 30 years woodworkers have turned to Fine Woodworking magazine, not only for the wide variety of projects offered, but because the designs offer a level of refinement and sophistication not found in other magazine projects. A signature feature of Fine Woodworking project articles is detailed exploded drawings. Some of these plans are works of art in themselves and reward careful study with insights into the basis of good furniture design. For the many woodworkers who come from engineering and other technical disciplines, these plans are worth the price of the book alone.
This book collects the furniture and accessory articles that contain exploded drawings from the last 15 years of Fine Woodworking. It is organized by type of furniture (tables, beds, case pieces, etc.). The book contains approximately 60-65 projects. Because there is such a wide variety of styles, projects types, and skill levels, it should appeal to a wide range of woodworkers.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Value at $17.......2007-06-13
I really like this book. I've built several pieces following articles from Fine Woodworking magazine and have always been very pleased with their how-to articles.
Unfortunately, each piece of furniture in this book is short on how-to information. Each piece has a complete measured drawing but the construction details are pretty much left for the reader to determine. Several pieces would benefit from more detailed construction advice. But a solid intermediate-level woodworker will be able to build everything shown in here.
I was surprised to see the Newport secretary included here. Anyone that intends to build a piece of furniture that will require at least 1000 hours to complete will probably want the complete article (and not the abridged version found here) and will probably do extensive research before undertaking such a monumental project.
furniture books.......2007-01-03
As with all the Fine Woodworking books, this has lots of detail and good pictures if you like fine woodworking magazine, you'll
like this book, although you may already have some of the articles
Wide-ranging survey of furniture plans.......2006-11-02
Readers of Taunton's "In the [fill in the blank] style" books will recognize many of the designs featured here since much content is duplicated. However, there is enough new material amongst the ~65 designs to make _Furniture_ appealing in its own right. Arranged by category (bookcases, tables, office furniture, etc.), each section begins with a short introduction and includes a measured drawing and completed photographs of the piece. Notably absent are detailed step-by-step instructions, which may intimidate novice woodworkers. However, the scope and variety of projects will have broad appeal for those looking to reproduce specific projects or looking for ideas to incorporate into their own work.
Book Description
You can learn how to build log furniture like the pros! Using this 160 pg. information packed how to book. Over 200 pictures & illustrations & easy to understand directions. You can soon be building for fun or profit.BED FRAMES,BAR STOOLS,BENCHES ect. Book is endorsed by MINWAX & includes their recommendations on finishing. The secrets and information revealed in this book are:MARKETING, LOGS AND MATERIAL,TENNON &MORTISE,TOOLS,SANDING,DRILLING 10 PROJECTS & MUCH MORE! This is the newest & best book available for the rustic furniture building industry. If your looking for a new career in rustic log furniture building,"this is the book!"Learn this great "old skill" and move toward greater self sufficiency and a sense of accomplishment.
Customer Reviews:
Don't Waste Your Money.......2007-03-23
This book spends very little print space dealing with "how to", and a large amount of space promoting Minwax products, the wide array of power tools required, and how to market your product once it is made. I am a very experienced woodworker. I have all of the recommended tools, and with all of those Minwax sealers, stains and oils. But I am at the same place as a novice as to the fundamentals of selecting wood, debarking, drying, making tenons, drilling accurate mortices, etc. This book was no help whatsoever.
rustic furniture.......2005-07-27
Inspiring ideas for tools and furniture for someone in the coppicing industry in United Kingdom.
Practical book, but too little text.......2005-06-17
This is a practical book for working with dry softwood logs. Among others, it has 15 pages on tools, 35 p. on some basics (joinery, finishes...) and 50 p. on various projects. However this includes some big pictures and a lot of white space, or wasted space (e.g. a check list covering 4 pages, with only 15 items /page, and looking useless and stupid to me, pp. 37-40), so that in the end there is not much text per page in average. Although some traditional tools are exposed, everything in the book is meant to be made with power tools (but one could also use traditional tools).
This book does contain some real, practical teaching to help you build things (unlike a book with a deceptive title, Daniel Mac's Making Rustic Furniture). However, as it has so much white space and so little text, I think that it is definitely not worth its price (maybe it should be sold for about 10 dollars?).
If you want to get something for your money, buy instead Drew Langsner's Green Woodworking.
A good starting place.......2004-11-09
There are few reference works available in this category. Fortunately, this one is a useful, helpful, and clear guide to the art of making log furniture. We have yet to faithfully follow any of the authors' detailed step-by-step plans. The text and pictures were clear enough to enable us to start right off making our own derivative designs. Thanks, guys!
bilding fernitur outta wuud.......2004-09-28
I just received the book and am reading it (and getting lots of good ideas) but the spelling is atrocious!! Haven't you guys heard of EDITORS? Using a Still chainsaw to build an Amour, or use a Skill saw on your dinning table top and letter rip....oy vey.
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Shop Drawings for Greene & Greene Furniture: 23 American Arts and Crafts Masterpieces
Greene & Greene: Creating a Style
Greene and Greene: Masterworks
Greene & Greene
Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors: Cabinets, Moldings & Built-Ins for Every Room in the Home (Shop Drawings series)
