Collins Complete Woodworker’s Manual “packaging may vary”

I've been a furniture maker/restorer for years now and have always worried about being self taught and knowing that there are gaps in my knowledge. This book deals with everything that I wanted to know. It is beautifully laid out with fantastic illustrations. There is a big section on 'standard' plans for most types of furniture. There is a great section on the benefits etc of most types of hard and soft wood. There are sections on pretty well everything that a hobbyist as well as a craftsman should know. Honestly, one of the best woodworking books that I have every bought - shame I only spotted it years after I started.

I spent a lot of my life Managing a Furniture Unit in a College and a lot more of it as an external verifier for City and Guilds. This book is a magic offering for any learner, formal or otherwise, in most woodwork subjects i.e. C&J or Cabinet making particularly. Covering, as it does, materials, tools and techniques along with power tools and machinery. I bought this edition to compare it with the First edition and found it just as good and useful. It should be an essential Text Book for all students, particularly in early years Cabinet Making. I read one review which wanted more on Design and Drawing - in my opinion the book has it just right for the early years student where practical techniques are the most important element. This book gives a great start to essential underpinning knowledge (used to be called technology).

Are you picking up woodworking tools for the first time or are you, like me, going back to something which I have always loved but until now, never had the time to explore in depth?If your answer to either of the above is, 'yes', then buy this book, a real gem which provides an absolute shed load of information about woodworking, from knowing how the material you are about to transform is grown, cut and treated, to the selection of tools and what they do, right through to making your own masterpiece.You can go out and buy many, many volumes, all of which will touch on parts of this, probably, (hopefully), in more depth but for sheer grounding in this fascinating pastime, hobby or occupation, you need this book.

This was a present for my fiancé and it’s beautiful. The illustrations are lovely and he enjoyed flicking through it. I bought it as a starter book for learning woodwork. It is very detailed but it’s a good reference book. Tells you all about different tools and specifics of woodwork. I need to find him a woodwork book that has ‘patterns’ or ‘instructions to build certain items’ to supplement this one.

Well worth it, great reference book.

This was purchased for somebody who has retired who has a very keen interest in woodwork. Although they have been making items using wood, they are not a professional carpenter, but they said having this book has helped them no end and it is a constant source of valuable knowledge and learning. Indispensable for any serious woodworker. Magnificent quality and value for money.

Just spiffing.

Excellent and informative for beginners