Working Wood 3 the Cabinet Maker's Workshop: An Artisan Course with Simon James Paperback – 1 Nov. 2014

Fantastic - arrived on time, in mint condition, well packaged.Is interesting with its well played out projects, clear easy to understand instructions.troubleshooting section for tools is A boon for filling in the unknown issues with fine tuning traditional hand tools as well as for reforming old ones and making good for use.All in all an investment in my future.

A fantastically comprehensive guide that's most helpful and a very enjoyable read . So many essential tips, tools and techniques made easy I can't wait for the DVDs and what's in store for the next book.

This is a lovely looking book and full of useful information, but there are omissions, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies - and plenty of them!

Comprehensive and easy to understand with great pictures throughout I cant wait for the DVDs.

I have had this book for around a week now and have been thoroughly enjoying going through it. How to describe it though ... I suppose it's a bit like getting an old-fashioned apprenticeship in woodworking, but in a well illustrated book format. Everything is presented in a very clear and orderly fashion. I guess I was mostly intrigued with the details of the old tools, but there is much more supporting information in addition. Summing it up, the value of it for woodworkers of different experience levels would be:>Beginner - this book will demystify many of the strange manual tools you may have seen in a cabinetmakers hands. It will likely introduce a number that you have never even heard of. The book also brings together the "how to" knowledge that you need to get started e.g. making the right workshop accessories (sawhorses etc.) that you might need, or reconditioning an old plane (since you probably would have a hard time buying some of these new, or may have old ones passed on to you ...), sharpening blades without ruining them (beware the grinder), reminders of how important it is to work with the grain (and what happens when you don't) and so on.>Intermediate - the book will likely fill holes that you may have in your knowledge. Most woodworkers these days haven't served an apprenticeship, so will probably have learned project by project (a bit more piecemeal). This book has a feast of pictures and advice on tools that you may not have used, or tips that you may not have heard; it's a great way to fill in gaps in your knowledge. You can skim the pictures to get a general sense of how to tackle certain jobs, or return to dive into the detail when it's time to finally do the job.>Advanced - the step-by-step approach to some areas may be overkill in some areas (for advanced practitioners), but I'd think that most would still find nuggets of information or perhaps slightly different approaches they hadn't considered in here if they are open minded. I can see that not all advanced practitioners like books that demystify their art, but others (maybe most) will appreciate this book as a way to pass on the knowledge of the art. Not everyone has served an apprenticeship (in some form) or had a kindly old figure to pass along the knowledge! In my opinion, it's much better to see these old techniques in use by people having a go than to relegate these old tools to the museum.So - in summary - I love the book. It's going to take me years to slowly accumulate the various tools described, but I now feel like I have a handy guide that I can use to figure them out as I go along. I don't anticipate ever being a cabinet-maker for a living, but I am looking forward to trying my hand at making some items completely by hand, with the old tools, using the old ways. Happy times ahead.Overview of the sections of the book:Section 1 - Your workshop: Layout, dust control etc.Section 2 - Setting out tools, edge tools, planes for cabinet makingSection 3 - Rebate planes, grooving / plow planes, moulding planes (including details on restoring old planes)Section 4 - Sharpening curved plane ironsSection 5 - Work holding devices, bench work holding devices, other devices (shooting sticks etc), tapered sliding dovetail joints, shooting boardsSection 6 - Glues, finishes, solvents and fillers

A gorgeous book that picks up pretty much where previous two left off. The book looks into more advanced topics such as using speciality planes, sharpening complex profile cutters, care, fettling and maintenance of various tools. A good deal is dedicated to making shop jigs and aides, and, while you won't need them all, you will definitely require some. This is a must have book for those who owns the first two volumes and, most importantly, practices what's written there - after about a year you'll be wanting more and Simon James will extend your skills beyond foundational skills laid by unsurpassed Paul Sellers.

Nothing really "new" here. A very thick and heavy volume, with gorgeous photography. Mostly, its about making jigs and helps for bench work. For me, these projects are waaaay overwrought and complicated. Every single one of them could, and are, made simpler and just as effective. Just look at YouTube, and you will be better off. There is nothing much on technique, but then that was covered very well in 1&2. Really wish I had not taken the bait on this one, but I enjoyed the predecessor (WW 1&2, by Paul Sellers) so much I was excited for #3. My bad.

Some good information for a handtool woodworker; but also a lot of pretty pictues and "filler." Fourteen pages on how to build a sawhorse is a bit much.

Contains a lot of information that i've not seen elsewhere. Very clear explanations. Great photography. Extremely useful for the hand tool shop.