The Penland Book of Woodworking: Master Classes in Woodworking Techniques Reviews

Review by furniturediva for The Penland Book of Woodworking: Master Classes in Woodworking Techniques
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This book is a gem! It provides a wide variety of work, both traditional and individual, all extremely well made and well designed. It also gives a peek into certain techniques, without being a “how-to.” Great for anyone looking for creative inspiration, with a vast array of different forms, surfaces, techniques, and ideas. For traditionalists, there are a few nice images and a great section on Windsor chairs, as provided by Curtis Buchanan, in my opinion the finest Windsor chair maker in the country. The main focus of the book is on innovation rather than tradition, so traditionalists, like the previous reviewer, will be disappointed.

Review by Jonas Hanna for The Penland Book of Woodworking: Master Classes in Woodworking Techniques
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This book simply put is one of my favorites among the ton of furniture and woodworking books i own. I am an architect turned woodworker with an admiration for Studio furniture. This book not only showcases some of todays best crafstmen but also has a step by step process of how some of their signature features are achieved!

One example is Brent Skidmore’s texturing techniques.

I pull for this book quite often not only for design inspiration but also for technique insights.

Review by David C. Brayton for The Penland Book of Woodworking: Master Classes in Woodworking Techniques
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Should a reader expect that information about constructing the furniture shown on the front cover be contained in the book? Well, if you, like me, would expect such a thing, then you will be disappointed.

This book really isn’t all that much about woodworking. Sure, there are a lot of pictures of furniture made with wood. But that large majority of pictures have no discussion regarding construction. And a lot of the construction details are about surface decoration, like painting. Most woodworkers that I know have little desire to spend days creating the illusion of a star chart on their woodwork.

I enjoyed Tage’s discussion of tapered plies in the construction of bent laminations. But this has been discussed in many places and didn’t need to be repeated. The discussion on Windsor chairs is excellent but again, Windsor chair construction has been covered amply by many sources including Norm Abrahms on the New Yankee Workshop.

And the fact that construction of the desk shown on the cover is not covered in detail inside the book is misleading and really annoying.

Review by Jason T. Amsden for The Penland Book of Woodworking: Master Classes in Woodworking Techniques
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I saw the description of this book and the cover here on Amazon and I thought this would be an interesting book that may stretch my imagination in my own woodworking, but based on my estimations after going through the book most of the folks profiled in the book have more than stretched…they have snapped!

I am just not into painted woodworks or wood art (like some kind of painted cabinet shaped like a vegetable). I think some folks try a little too hard to be original and, personally, I just don’t get it.

About 20% of the book is worthy works in wood, but the other 80% is just wacky junk in my opinion.

Definitely find the book and page through it before purchase. I wish the preview option was available on this book in Amazon and I would have quickly determined this was not for me.