Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Working with Wood

291 Pages·2010·14.33 MB·English

by  Andy Rae

Taunton’s COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED Guide to
Working with
Wood
ANDY RAE
➤ Harvesting and Drying Lumber
➤ Buying and Storing Wood
➤ Building for Wood Movement
➤ Machining and Bending Wood
➤ Smoothing and Finishing Wood
Taunton’s COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED Guide to
Working with Wood
ANDY RAE
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Text © 2005 by Andy Rae
Photographs © 2005 by The Taunton Press, Inc.
Illustrations © 2005 by The Taunton Press, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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The Taunton Press, Inc., 63 South Main Street, PO Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
e-mail:
Acknowledgments
It takes many people to help one become familiar with the intricacies of
wood. In truth, my greatest knowledge of woodworking comes from our
woodworking forebears, who deserve thanks from all of us. However,
I also wish to thank all the woodworkers I’ve known in my career who
helped me understand the material a little better by letting me into their
shops to see how they work it. Their names are many, but they know who
they are. Their lessons and friendships are priceless.
Special mention goes to my editor, Paul Anthony, who helped as usual
to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground. Not only is Paul an ace
editor, but he is a woodworker and published writer in his own right.
What author could ask for a more qualified collaborator? Also, thanks to
my in-house editor, Jennifer Renjilian Morris, editorial assistant Jenny
Peters, and executive editor Helen Albert, who all pulled tight when the
rigging got slack.
Once again, I am in debt to my family for their support and love.
Thanks to them, the home fires burn warm and bright.
Contents
PAR T O N E Understanding Wood • 2
➤ SECTION 1 The Properties of Wood • 4
4 Wood’s 6 Softwoods 7 Understanding 10 Reaction Wood
Structure and Hardwoods Wood
Movement
➤ SECTION 2 Identifying Wood • 11
11 Identifying 14 Distinctive 21 Tricks for 23 Understanding
a Species wood Identifying Grain
Properties Wood Orientation
P A R T T W O Finding and Storing Wood • 24
➤ SECTION 3 Cutting Your Own Wood • 26
35 Harvesting 40 Rough-Milling
Trees Lumber
➤ SECTION 4 Drying Lumber • 48
54 Drying Lumber
➤ SECTION 5 Buying Lumber • 58
62 Buying Lumber
➤ SECTION 6 Storing Lumber • 65
71 Handling 73 Parts Storage
Sheet Goods
P A R T T H R E E Designing with Wood • 76
➤ SECTION 7 Dealing with Wood Movement • 78
87 Reading 88 Letting Wood
Moisture Move
➤ SECTION 8 Choosing Joints • 104
104 Designing 106 Testing 108 Common
a Joint Your Joints Joints
➤ SECTION 9 Selecting Your Material • 123
131 Drawing 132 Appearance
Full-Scale and Strength
P A R T F O U R Cutting Wood • 140
➤ SECTION 10 Dimensioning Wood • 142
147 Milling 156 Sizing 158 Cutting 160 Cutting
Solid Wood Plywood Shapes Veneer
➤ SECTION 11 Working Difficult Wood • 162
171 Getting 173 Making 180 Flattening
Clean Cuts Repairs Veneer
P A R T F I V E Bending Wood • 182
➤ SECTION 12 Bending Wood • 184
197 Green 198 Kerf-Bending 202 Bent 206 Steam-
Bending Lamination Bending
P A R T S I X Smoothing, Gluing, and Finishing • 212
➤ SECTION 13 Smoothing and Preparing Wood • 214
225 Planing 228 Sanding 234 Making 235 Preparing
and Scraping Wood Repairs for a Finish