Ancient Carpenters' Tools

By Henry C. Mercer,

Book cover of Ancient Carpenters' Tools: Illustrated and Explained, Together with the Implements of the Lumberman, Joiner and Cabinet-Maker in Use in the Eighteenth Century

Book description

Classic reference describes in detail hundreds of implements in use in the American colonies in the 18th century. Over 250 illustrations depict tools identical in construction to ancient devices once used by the Greeks, Egyptians, and Chinese, among them axes, saws, clamps, chisels, mallets, and much more. An invaluable sourcebook.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Ancient Carpenters' Tools as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

From witchets to moulding planes, from Roman tools to eighteenth-century American tools, this was my first "bible" on the subject. A more thorough grounding — with amazing photographs — would be hard to find. Reading this book puts two millennia of woodworking into a useful perspective. Once read it will illustrate in greater detail every other book on the subject. Totally essential.

From Graham's list on traditional woodworking.

Want books like Ancient Carpenters' Tools?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Ancient Carpenters' Tools.

Browse books like Ancient Carpenters' Tools

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in carpentry, woodworking, and Ancient Greece?

Carpentry 7 books
Woodworking 27 books
Ancient Greece 152 books