Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins: Expert Advice from Start to Finish (Build Like a Pro)

Rating:
Summary: Clear, concise, informative
Review: There are a lot of carpentry books out there, and most of them fill you with extraneous details that you don't want to read about, and don't tell enough about what you need to DO. DeKorne's book is a rare exception. He gets right to work, and much of the work of describing what to DO is accomplished with fine photographs and illustrations. I'm an engineer and think I know how material's put together, but I learned far more about how wood goes together (and will perform over its service life) than I ever expected. DeKorne doesn't just parrot the theory of woodworking, but takes you beyond the bench with details that allow you to trim out an old house with expert precision, even where nothing is square or plumb. There's nothing about dovetails, or mortise and tenon (what a relief!) but plenty about practical joinery. The sections describing compound miters are the best I've ever read. Finally I feel like I understand how to make an elegant crown fit in an old house.