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The Foundations of Better Woodworking: How to use your body, tools and materials to do your best work Hardcover – Download: Adobe Reader, November 30, 2012

by Jeff Miller (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 81 ratings
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Woodworking with Mind, Body, and Senses

What's the secret to producing beautiful furniture that you and your family will treasure for generations? It starts with the fundamentals--those essential, yet often overlooked principles upon which all of your skills should be based.

In The Foundations of Better Woodworking, craftsman, teacher and noted woodworking author Jeff Miller clearly lays out these basic concepts, helping you understand:

  • How proper body position and mechanics improve your ability to cut precise joins, as well as add efficiency and safety.
  • Just what it means to cut a line.
  • How the wood works, so you can avoid such problems as tear out, splitting and warping--whether you use hand tools, machinery or both.
  • How woodworking tools actually cut and work, so you learn to use them more easily, effectively and accurately.

Follow the advice in this book and you'll build the foundation for making significant advances as a woodworker. Your time in the shop will be more rewarding, and your results more satisfying.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Popular Woodworking Books
  4. Publication date
    November 30, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    9 x 1 x 11 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1440321019
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1440321016
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeff Miller is a designer, craftsman, prolific writer, and an active teacher both at his own woodworking school in Chicago, and at furniture schools around the country. His furniture has won numerous awards, has been in shows around the country, and is in the collection of the Chicago History Museum. His book Chairmaking and Design won the Stanley Award for Best How-To Book of 1997 (and his companion video Chairmaking Techniques won best video as well). He has also written the books Beds and Children's Furniture and has contributed chapters to Furniture for All Around the House and Storage Projects for All Around the House for The Taunton Press and is a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking and now Popular Woodworking magazines.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Popular Woodworking Books; Popular Woodworking edition (November 30, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1440321019
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1440321016
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.88 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 1 x 11 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 81 ratings

About the author

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Jeff Miller

Jeff Miller

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
81 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

nando
5.0 out of 5 stars Deals with things no other book does
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book very much. It is well written and easily readable. The kind of information you find in this book is what you expect to get from a teacher that is actually showing how to do stuff and giving you feedback on how you do it; it talks about body stance, how to hold the tools, how to make sure they are straight and how they should feel or sound when they are working well.

I have read quite a few books on woodworking and I would put this at the top of my "must-reads" list for any amateur like myself, even if you do have access to a mentor or instructor. The author fully realizes his goal. "My goal for this book is to create a significant resource for woodworkers – to pull together as much of the fundamental woodworking knowledge as possible so it can be easily learned and then applied in a wide variety of woodworking situations. It can’t quite be the equivalent of an apprenticeship, or working directly under a great teacher, but it should provide a more comprehensive understanding of the essentials of woodworking than is currently available with other resources." (Kindle Locations 228-232)
4 people found this helpful
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Ali Kermani
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, clear, and very helpful!!
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2015
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Just finished reading this book and it is AWESOME! As a relative beginner to woodworking (I've built a few projects including cabinets, a workbench, mobile miter saw stand, etc.) I found this book informative, clear, and enlightening. This book covers a wide variety of subjects in moderate depth; enough so you understand what's going on, but not so in depth that you will become a master in any one field. I feel like this book gives you a good understanding of the fundamentals of most aspects of woodworking and then guides you toward other books you can read to become a master of any one given aspect.
Time is my scarcest and most valuable commodity and I feel that the time I spent reading this book was very well spent! 5 stars well earned Jeff Miller!
2 people found this helpful
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Dan of the Suburbs
4.0 out of 5 stars Text is First Rate, But You Need a Big Screen for the Photos
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2015
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I have been a fan of Jeff Miller for many years. His artistry and craftsmanship in woodworking functions at a very high level. My own woodworking experience has been one of fits and starts with no formal training so I was hoping this book would give me a the foundations of woodworking in a systematic manner. Jeff's book was exactly what I needed. He presents an excellent treatise of how and why wood is structured the way it is, which leads to why woodworking tools are made the way they are.
He demonstrates the body mechanics you need to do accurate work without exhausting yourself. This may have been the best part of this excellent book.
The only problem I had with the book is the same one anyone would have with an e-book with lots of instructional photos. I first put the book on my Kindle Fire HD which handled the pictures poorly. I then put the book on my PC, and the photos were displayed as intended.
So the book itself is great, but you need a large screen to benefit from the photos.
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MG
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for beginners as well as seasoned woodworkers...
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2013
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I have always enjoyed Jeff Miller's books and teaching style... his chairmaking book and companion DVD have been a solid reference for me for the last 7 years. Jeff's writing style is fresg, intellegent and well thought out. He covers topics in this book that are touched on in countless other woodworking books such as sharpening, grain directions, etc but he does it in a different light. I am a professional furniture maker and have been a woodworker for over 14 years and the way Jeff tackles these subjects is unique and I come away from each chapter with new information or at least a different way of seeing the information I have always known... The photos and diagrams are super too.

I highly suggest putting a copy of this on your reference shelf!
9 people found this helpful
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Walter Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on becoming a better woodworker
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2013
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Jeff Miller's The Foundations of Better Woodworking ranks among the best woodworking instructional books I have read, and I've read them all. As an aspiring woodworker, and voracious reader, I am hard to please. Too many books on woodworking focus on projects, or on power tools alone. Jeff's book focuses on fundamentals, and outlines a solid path to become the best woodworker you can. I particularly enjoy the hand tool sections, as I am predominantly a hand tool woodworker.
Attention to how to read measuring tools: incredibly useful, take it form a guy who used to frequently get three different measurements every time!
Overall, the integrated approach which forces the reader to consider the materials, methods, and approach left me energized, and I highly recommend the book.
4 people found this helpful
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bruisers mom
5.0 out of 5 stars foundations of better woodworking...
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2013
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This is a very informative book... the author really thinks out of the box! Never have I seen a book with as much detail... I especially enjoyed the part about the grain of the wood, and how to choose pieces of wood that will help your project be the best it can be. He goes into detail on how to go by the grain of the wood and the way it is cut to keep your projects from warping, or pulling apart, and also how to use your body to the best mechanical advantage to prevent injury and to increase your strength. Such detail! a great book!
7 people found this helpful
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Michael Peterson
3.0 out of 5 stars Designed for Newbies
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2013
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Interesting but tuned for a a real newbie in woodworking. I recommend it for that purpose. its a little too basic for someone that has average skills.
5 people found this helpful
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Sterling
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource to introductory woodworking
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2019
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Great introduction into inexperienced wood work. It thoroughly goes over all beginner basics needed to develop into a new craft. From chisels, to body positioning, hand placements, to power tools, to jigs, cuts, and wood tools and wood breeds. Highly recommend. This was also a required book for my class.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cliente Amazon
1.0 out of 5 stars Writer Jeff Miller is excellent, book print is poor
Reviewed in France on November 10, 2020
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The content of the book is excellent however the print of the book is like it is done with an inkjet printer. Might as well buy the pdf of the book and print on a home printer. Recommend to stay away from this vendor and only buy the book when one can check the actual quality of the print/ paper. The price - quality is a rip off.

I bought the book after reading the electronic version. Writer Jeff Miller is excellent, and I recommend the book itself with a 5star. It is a classic for hand tool woodworking.
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Mauricio Santos
2.0 out of 5 stars Edição ruim.
Reviewed in Brazil on April 9, 2018
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O livro tem um bom conteúdo, sobretudo para os iniciantes na marcenaria como eu, no entanto a impressão e o papel utilizado ficam muito a desejar, parece mesmo fotocópia. Não gostei.
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Lena
5.0 out of 5 stars super Einstieg in Woodworking
Reviewed in Germany on November 30, 2014
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gekauft als Geschenk wurde es schnell und mit viel Interesse gelesen und brachte die Liebe zur Holzbearbeitung mit.
Der Beschenkte wekelt jetzt regelmäßig ohne Maschinen an neuen Werkstücken und im Moment gibt es ein größeres Projekt, die eigene handgearbeitete Werkbank.
Also es wurde als Inspirationsquelle gekauft und hat durch einen einfachen Einstieg mit Liebe zur Holzarbeit den Anspruch voll erfüllt.
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Sean
5.0 out of 5 stars For the craftsperson more than the technician, excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2014
Verified Purchase
I have been a carpentry and joinery lecturer for 8 years and I emphasise VERY heavily how important it is to use your body to achieve better results. This book is the first I have seen to illustrate how simple changes to posture, etc can make the difference between an acceptable piece of work and an industry standard piece. This book is not the best for technical information on joints, components, etc but that is no bad thing (leave that to Brett and Porter).
Whilst no book can ever replace an experienced craftsperson demonstrating skills in front of you or pointing out the tiniest of flaws in your technique, this book does an excellent job of bringing the biggest issues to your attention and offering you ways to remedy them.
I now have this book placed firmly at the top of my reading list for all Year 1 (Foundation) carpentry and joinery students and ask my second years to periodically glance over it.
3 people found this helpful
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WSmith
5.0 out of 5 stars Foundations of Better Woodworking
Reviewed in Canada on December 4, 2012
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Foundations of Better Woodworking by Jeff Miller (Popular Woodworking, 2012)

I write this review from the perspective of an amateur cabinet maker who, working alone in his basement shop, relies on printed and video material to learn about designing and building furniture. Because an amateur does not have the benefit of an apprenticeship or other formal training program, he or she typically has an uneven skill profile - advanced in some areas but with serious gaps in various basic skills. By systematically addressing the foundations of woodworking, Miller helps fill these gaps.

If you are someone who is thinking of taking up woodworking and wants a place to start or someone who is a beginning woodworker and needs a better grounding in the 'basics' then this book is for you. In fact, if you only buy one book on woodworking, then this is the one. However, even if you are an experienced woodworker, this book will enhance your understanding and appreciation of your craft.

It is organized in three main sections: 'Understanding the Basics,' 'Getting a Better Sense of Where You're Going' and 'Learning as You Work.' While many other books, articles and videos tackle specific skills or types and styles of furniture, this book is unique by examining what underlies success in woodworking in general. It is well written, amply illustrated and chocked full of examples to explain the point Miller is making on a given topic. The span of material covered includes both hand tool woodworking and the use of power tools and machinery.

The first section of book offers, as you might expect, chapters about wood and using and sharpening various tools, such as chisels and saws. However, it also talks about using your body to maximum advantage and how to truly 'observe' not merely 'see' what you are doing. For example, he illustrates how you can use low raking light to show up "lumps, bumps and awkward parts" of a curved piece of wood, an essential precursor to being able to cut a 'fair curve' with a spokeshave.

The second section focuses on measuring and marking lines, and being able to cut and shape pieces that are flat, straight and square. Everything one does in crafting a piece of furniture from simple to complex joinery depends on a mastery of the skills presented. For examples, he shows how you can reduce errors in duplicating identical pieces by the use of a 'story stick.'

In the final section, Miller 'brings it all together' starting with a chapter on making mistakes - it's always nice to find a chapter on something you are good at! He talks about the use of continuous feedback: using all your senses to reflect on what you are doing, for example, listening to the sound the hand saw is making - being able to tell when you are using it with a good balance of speed and pressure. And he reminds us that practice is only useful as a repetition of the right way of doing something, not the wrong way.

In another excellent book, The New Traditional Woodworker, Jim Tolpin talks about the importance of the 'mind set,'the 'tool set' and the 'skill set' for hand tool woodworking. Miller offers a way forward from the mind set to the 'skill set' required to design and build fine furniture.

William Smith
Montréal CANADA
5 people found this helpful
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