Product Description

An indispensable guide to one of the world s most valuable natural resources. This new edition adds 17 important timber species not included before, bringing the list of species described up to 400 in total, in this lavishly illustrated book. A new section illustrates the variety of decorative figuring and there is valuable information on wood defects and potential health hazards. A best-selling reference work, now revised and updated, it additionally offers inspirational examples of finished work, an enlarged glossary of technical terms and drawings of living trees which serve to enhance appreciation of the raw material of woodwork.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37528 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

About the Author
A professional woodworker and former editor of GMC s best-selling Woodturning magazine, Terry Porter has brought a lifetime s practical experience to the writing of this book.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful reference book
I bought this book for my partner, who is an amatuer wood turner. The bookis full of descripitions and photos of many, many, many different woods ,and their uses. It tells you what woods don't glue well - which ones areuse for particle board, where the tree grows, what the "natives" call it,how big the tree is, how it is seasoned, how it is cut etc etc etc. It'sreally very nice for us "ordinary" folk too - and if you are aninformation addict it is superb. (I would have said "trivia" addict - buttrivia this is not!) This book was bought as a late present as I had towait for it to be published - but wait was well worth it. Nothing in thebook disappointed me.

My wood Bible!
I must admit I was a bit swayed to buy this book by the two 5* reviews it got! I'm really glad I did buy it!! If you're into wood in anyway this is a fantastic reference book! It's got some really good sections all about wood, how it grows and it's structure etc plus it has a seperate index of 'Common' names so you dont have to be an expert in latin!
Each page contains a picture of the wood, a description, it's properties, seasoning, durabilty and typical uses. Along with a drawing of the tree, its leaves and flower/fruit/seed. other common names and where it grows. lt also has an imediate identification symbol if it is a hard or softwood. It's amazing how often I pick up and refer to this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who works with wood or who is interested in woods.

Great for getting to know wood
My partner is a craftsman, always sculpting something wonderful with his hand, be it made from metal, glass, plastic, wood whatever. However I always find his wood to be the best piece. Marvelously crafted to painstaking detail, he really knows how to put a smile on my face. He is always interested in getting to know the raw materials so he can use them to their best - and this book really gives him a good insight on the variety of wood available, and how best to use it. He cetainly knows how to use his wood, I can tell you. I definitely recommend it. So go on, give your man Wood : Identification and Use.