World Woods in Color - The color photos are fairly close to the real thing. This book is an easy reference guide to use, especially from a species identification standpoint. If you sell wood or wood products, the cross referencing of botanical names with common names is made very easy in this guide, especially because the names are cross refenced with full color photographs. An immense amount of technical information regarding each individual species is given, from steam bending properties to carving and cutting outcomes. Use this excellent reference guide with caution around customers and potential recipients of your work, the great, full color photos in this book will make it difficult to settle on the right wood for your project. Each page in this book covers a separate wood, with a very nice 5-1/4" by 3-3/4" color picture followed by commercial name, other names, distribution, general discription, mechanical properties, seasoning, working properties, durability, uses and any important notes. Of particular interest to the average woodworker are the sections on mechanical properties, seasoning and working properties. Here one will learn such things as ease of steam bending, whether it exudes resin, checking and twisting as it seasons, ease of use with power tools such as blunting effects, sanding, and any cautions on nailing, screwing, gluing or finishing.
Identifying Wood - This is a small book in both page size and number of pages. Each type of wood covers 1/2 page and gives a lot of information for such a small space. A charming booklet that presents some of the most used or most distinctive woods of the world. In 128 entries, each accompanied by a beautiful (but small) color picture, it very concisely gives quite a lot of information. Not suited for any half-serious attempt at wood identification, this is a bright little book that is eminently suited as a coffee table book or as a first introduction into the world of wood. A very nice, short overview of the major types of wood used in various capacities, such as wood carving, construction, furniture making, etc. There is a very brief introduction; but the body of the book is 64 pages of ratings, 2 woods per page. Each review consists of 6 numeric ratings (impact bending, stiffness, density, workability, bending strength, and crushing strength) plus more subjective descriptions detailing: 1. where it grows; 2. appearance; 3. properties; 4. workability (e.g. "works well with both hand and machine tools..."); 5. preservation; and 6. uses. The woods are listed in Latin name alphabetical sequence; but there's a very good index using the common names. The size of the book is great for throwing in a big pocket or small purse when visiting the local lumber or woodworking store.
Identifying Wood : Accurate Results With Simple Tools - The color pictures of the end grain are unparalled in any other book. The text is crystal clear and well paced. If mystery wood bugs you and you have to know what it is, this is the book to use. Appearances can sometimes be deceiving even for experienced woodworkers. The techniques in this book are easy to use and, as the title says, accurate.
Understanding Wood : A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology - This book is a systematic review of all of the properties of wood that are of importance to woodworkers. It is filled with photographs and tables to illustrate key points. This book discusses wood as a "material" of interest to woodworkers. Did you ever wonder how much a piece of wood will deflect when loaded? Do you know how to calculate how much a panel inside a frame will expand/contract? This book explains this and much more. Chapters include: The Nature of Wood, Figure in Wood, Wood Identification, Water and Wood, Coping with Wood Movement, Strength of Wood, Other Properties, Machining Wood, Joining Wood, Finishing Wood, Modifying Wood, and The Woodworker's Raw Materials. For all serious woodworkers, professional and amateur alike.