When Daniel Robb set out to rebuild a family sailboat that had been deteriorating for years, he couldn't have anticipated what he was getting into. Although Robb was a skilled carpenter, boatbuilding (and boat repair) required a specialized set of skills. And this wasn't just any boat; it was a Herreshoff 12 1/2, a classic wooden sailboat. Built especially for the coastal waters of New England, this little sloop had sailed for years out of the author's boyhood home in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, before being relegated to a quiet corner of a yard, no longer the focus of the family's summer. Restoring the sailboat was both an act of respect and an homage to a place and a way of life that are in jeopardy of disappearing.

"Sloop" is the captivating story of Daniel Robb's education in boatbuilding, peopled by an eccentric cast of characters -- lumbermen, boatbuilders, and local artisans -- who are part of a changing and perhaps dying world. They tell Robb how to find the materials -- certain kinds of wood, fastenings, caulking, and canvas -- he'll need, which are increasingly hard to come by, and they educate him in the techniques of restoration, an all-but-lost art. Building and restoring wooden boats means an initiation into a world where life is lived simply, with respect for materials, for labor, and for the local waters.

A craftsman and environmentalist, Robb is a willing and able student, and although the restoration of the boat takes far more time and effort than he'd calculated, it is ultimately successful. After all Robb's struggles with quartersawn white oak, homemade steam boxes, bronze screws, copper rivets, andold mast hoops, the Herreshoff sails again -- and a dying art and a vanishing way of life remain alive and vibrant just a while longer.

By turns charming, meditative, and wonderfully quirky, "Sloop" is a paean to a sense of place and to old-fashioned values.

The Painter, Gilder, and Varnisher's Companion: Containing Rules and Regulations in Everything Relating to the Arts of Painting, Gilding, Varnishing, and Glass-Staining: Numerous Useful and Valuable Receipts; Tests for the Detection of Adulterations in Oils, Colours, &c. And a Statement of the Diseases and Accidents to Which Painters, Gilders, and Varnishers are Peculiarly Liable; With the Simplest and Best Methods of Prevention and Remedy. Philadelphia: Henry C. Baird, Successor to E. L. Carey. 1850. Henry Carey Baird (1825-1912) was an author, publisher and proponent of the 19th Century industrialization of the United States of America. His publishing house specialized in both scientific and practical books (for mechanics and tradesmen). His was the first American publishing house to focus on technical and industrial titles.

Mechanick Exercises: Or The Doctrine Of Handy-Works, was written, printed and published by Joseph Moxon between 1683 & 1685 and reprinted in 1703. Breaking away from Guild restrictions, Moxon wrote of what he knew from his experiences as a practitioner of skilled trades. A mathematician, writer, printer, publisher and maker of maps, globes and scientific instruments, Joseph Moxon was also the first tradesman to be awarded membership in the Royal Society of London. Mechanick Exercises popularized the secrets of the skilled trades of Smithing, Joinery, House Carpentry, Turning and Bricklaying, along with the making of Sun Dials. Mechanick Exercises is as important a reference today as a description of early skilled trades as it was in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

A wonderful book for anyone interested in starting their own homestead or small farm. This book will show you how to be self reliant and build the things you'll need. There are more than 200 illustrations showing you how to make handy farm devices. You'll learn about the farmer's workshop and tools, running a grindstone, making a dumb waiter, making a cradle, how to clean a well, how to stake out stock, bee keeping, how to transplant trees, how to build a bridge for a small stream, how to keep a gate from sagging, important points in house building, how to build small greenhouses, advice on the best way to split wood, black smithing, and much, much more in this thrift-conscious and environmentally wise book.

A wonderful book for anyone interested in starting their own homestead or small farm. This book will show you how to be self reliant and build the things you'll need. There are more than 200 illustrations showing you how to make handy farm devices. You'll learn about the farmer's workshop and tools, running a grindstone, making a dumb waiter, making a cradle, how to clean a well, how to stake out stock, bee keeping, how to transplant trees, how to build a bridge for a small stream, how to keep a gate from sagging, important points in house building, how to build small greenhouses, advice on the best way to split wood, black smithing, and much, much more in this thrift-conscious and environmentally wise book.

Staining and Polishing - Including Varnishing & Other Methods of Finishing Wood, With Appendix of Recipes Originally published in 1917. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Obscure Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents include: Stains for Woods - Woods for Staining - Staining - French Polishing - Preparing Furniture for French polishing - French Polishing - Glazing etc, - Matching and Improving - Defects in Polishing and Their Remedies - Polishing Inlaid Work etc, - Oak and its Various Finishes - Oil Polishing and Wax Polishing - Stencilling on Wood and Ornamental Wood Staining - Varnish - Varnishing - Faults in Varnishing - Appendix

First published in 1937, Woodcraft In Design And Practice contains a wealth of designs for 1930s furniture. Working from solid design principles, Rodney Hooper sets out plans for practical, modern furniture to suit the changing lifestyles of the time. Considered as part of an overall interior, his tables and chairs, shelves and cabinets, boxes, sideboards and light fittings are examples of clean, bold period design that would still sit comfortably in today's houses and flats. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs and detailed line drawings, Woodcraft In Design And Practice is of interest both as a fascinating piece of design history and as inspiration for today's interior decorator or DIY enthusiast.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Originally published in 1918, this is a wonderful book of things for children, young adults or 'handy' grown-ups to make, full of great project pieces. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents Include - A Sawing Trestle - A Joiner's Bench - A Handy Bookstand - A House Ladder - A Developing Sink - A Poultry House and Run - A Shed for your Bicycle - A Target Apparatus for Rifle Shooting - Cabinet-Making - Telegraphic Apparatus - A Reciprocating Electric Motor - An Electric Alarm Clock - A Model Electric Railway - A Simple Reciprocation Engine - A Horizontal Slide-Value Engine - Model Steam Turbines - Steam Tops - Model Boilers - Quick-Boiling Kettles - A Hot Air Engine - A Water Motor - Model Pumps - Kites - Paper Gliders - A Self -Launching Model Aeroplane - Apparatus for Simple Scientific Experiments - A Rain Gauge - Wind Vanes with Dials - A Strength-Testing Machine - Lung-Testing Apparatus - Home-Made Harmonographs - A Self-Supplying Matchbox - A Wooden Workbox - Wrestling Puppets - Double Bellows - A Home-made Pantograph - A Silhouette Drawing Machine - A Signalling Lamp - A Miniature Gasworks

Many people--and not just kids--dream about having their own treehouse. With this very practical and personal guide, it can come true. Not only is this an attractive record of author Maurice Barkley's appealing creations, but it delves into every aspect of planning and construction so others can build them too. In a friendly, conversational tone, Barkley offers time-tested advice on safety for both builder and user, and meticulously outlines each step, from raising a ground-built platform into the tree to bolting and anchoring the structure. Dozens of sidebars, how-to illustrations, and photos accompany detailed plans, and the amount of information conveyed is amazing: tools and materials; tree basics; house designs, including ones hung between two trees and others with self-supporting platforms; maintenance; and even costs.

Originally published in 1934, this guide to French Polishing contains a wealth of knowledge for anyone who wants to find out more about the subject, and also for those who are in the trade and wish to know more about methods and techniques. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents Include: The Improving and Preparation of Furniture Woods Stains and Imitations French Polishing Cheap Work Re-Polishing Old Work Spirit Varnishing General Instructions Enamelling American Polishing Processes Miscellaneous Recipes Materials Used

The Wheelwright's Shop By George Stuart Originally published in 1930. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Obscure Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents include: The Wheelwright's shop - Timber: Buying - Timber: Carting and converting - The Sawyers - Timber: Seasoning - Wheel-stuff - Hand work - Bottom-timbers - Waggons - Curves, Tapering and Shaving - Learning the trade - Wheels: Dish - Wheels: Spokes and Felloes - Stocks and Ringing the Wheel - The Smith: Getting ready - The smith: Putting on and Boxing on - Iron work and Jobbing.

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Originally published around 1900, this is an exhaustively detailed guide to cabinet making and woodwork for the amateur craftsmen. It contains hundreds of diagrams and illustrations and clear, simple instructions for many, many projects. An excellent book, featuring vintage techniques of master craftsmen. Contents Include The Carpenter's Bench Tools and Their Selection Hints About Wood Hints About Glue An Easily Made Four o' Clock Tea Table An Easily Made Dwarf Bookcase A Lavatory Glass A Kitchen Table A Plate Rack House Steps A Butler's Tray and Stand A Simple Cupboard Hanging or Medicine Cabinets Simple Screens Simple Window Boxes For Plants A Towel Horse A Pedestal Cupboard A Wooden Coal Box A Double Washstand A Combination Bedroom Suite Improving A Mantel Piece A Child's Cot A Duchesse Dressing Table A Chest Of Drawers An Overmantel A Small Whatnot An Umbrella Stand A Luggage Stool A Moresque Music Holder Or Bookstand A Combination Music Cabinet and Coal Box A Combination Music Box and Stool A Corner Bracket Cabinet A Wall Bracket For Bric a Brac A Moresque Seat A Simple Hall Stand A Simple Overmantle Combination Overmantel and Cigar Cabinet A Portable Bookcase A Garden Swing Combined Wall Desk and Pigeon Holes A Moresque Lamp Stand A Revolving Bookstand An Over Door A Wool Winder A Leaf Screen A Cheval Fire Screen A Hand Camera Instantaneous Shutters A New Dark Slide An Improved Clothes Horse and Cloth Rack A Hanging Whatnot A Three Cornered Writing Table A Fancy Shelf Bracket A Sideboard A Dinner Wagon A Combination Table and Music Stand A Folding Jewel Case An Old Style Cabinet or Sideboard A Fancy Cabinet An Easily Made Dog Kennel A Home Made Easy Chair A Combination Cupboard and Chest of Drawers A Small Wardrobe A Small Umbrella Stand A Plain Dressing Table A Quaint Wood Chimney Piece and Overmantel A Drawing Room Secretaire How To Make A Mortise and Tenon Joint

A Victorian-era collection of plans, diagrams and instructions for a variety of projects, not just cabinets.Just a few of the chapter headings are: hints about wood, hints about glue, a tea table, a dwarf bookcase, a lavatory glass, a kitchen table, a plate rack, house-steps, a butler's tray and stand, a simple cupboard, hanging or medicine cabinets, simple screens, simple window-boxes for plants, a towel-horse, a wooden coal-box, a double washstand, a combination bedroom suite, a child's cot, a chest of drawers, an umbrella stand, a luggage-stool, a combination music-box and stool, a combination music-cabinet and coal-box, a corner bracket cabinet, a garden swing, a revolving book stand, a wool-winder, instantaneous shutters, a three-cornered writing table, a folding jewel-case, an easily-made dog kennel, and how to make a mortise and tenon joint.

This essential reference for pros and passionate amateurs is back with a fresh design and updated content. Written by respected builders from all over America, this extensive revision collects all the latest roof framing articles from the pages of Fine Homebuilding magazine--from cutting rafters and framing roof valleys to building dormers and working with roof trusses. The contributors offer hard-earned, job-tested advice on an impressive variety of tools, techniques, and trade secrets. Framing Roofs shows how to work with speed and precision, and, since working on a roof is often a complicated and dangerous task, safety is always at the forefront.