A furniture maker and author offers a mix of personal memoir and personal philosophy in a book perfect for craftspersons, artisans, and artists.

Woodworking, handicrafts—the rewards of creative practice, bringing something new and meaningful into the world through one’s own vision, make us fully alive. Peter Korn explains his search for meaning as an Ivy League-educated child of the middle class who finds employment as a novice carpenter on Nantucket, transitions to self-employment as a designer/maker of fine furniture, takes a turn at teaching at Colorado’s Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and finally founds a school in Maine: the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, an internationally respected, non-profit institution.

This is not a “how-to” book in any sense. Korn wants to get at the why of craft and the satisfactions of creative work to understand their essential nature. How does the making of objects shape our identities? How does creative work enrich our communities and society? What does the process of making things reveal to us about ourselves? Korn poignantly provides answers in this book that is for the artist, artisan, crafter, do-it-yourselfer inside us all.

“In his beautiful book, Peter Korn invites us to understand craftsmanship as an activity that connects us to others, and affirms what is best in ourselves.” —Matthew Crawford, New York Times–bestselling author of Shop Class as Soulcraft

“What is the point of craft in a completely mass-produced world?... This fascinating account offers insights into the significance of the handmade object for the maker as well as for society as a whole.” —Martin Puryear, artist, recipient of the Guggenheim and MacArthur Foundation Fellowships

Woodworking Basics presents an approach to learning woodworking that has proven successful for hundreds of people who have taken the author's introductory course over the past 20 years. Peter Korn's method helps new woodworkers learn the right techniques from the beginning. More experienced woodworkers can use it to master the classic furniture-making skills key to fine craftsmanship. Korn includes two attractive and useful projects -- a small bench and a side table with a door and drawer — providing you the opportunity to practice skills and develop confidence with tools.

This book provides a step-by-step introduction to all aspects of woodworking, including:

• Safe use of woodworking machinery


• Correct use of hand tools


• Milling a board four-square


• Cutting a mortise-and-tenon joint


• Cutting dovetails

Hand tools are essential to woodworking, but, unlike power tools, they don't come with detailed owner's manuals. Think of this book as the missing manual for your hand tools.

Peter Korn covers virtually all the hand tools in the modern woodshop. For convenience, tools are listed alphabetically within chapters organized by function (abrading, cutting, planing, sawing...).

Beautifully illustrated, The Woodworker's Guide to Hand Tools explains:

• what each tool is used for


• which tools are essential for your shop


• how to recognize quality when buying tools


• how to tune up tools for top performance


• and, in many cases, how to use each tool efficiently