Anyone know a decent book on joinery repairs?

[Geoff Flegg]

The title says it all really!

Lots of books out there on how to make woodwork joints on "new" work, but can anyone recommend a good one on repair work?

I've the usual old house stuff to do - sashes with bits of rot that need new pieces splicing in, drawers with worn out runners, fancy gable end timbers that need new sections splicing in, 4 panel doors with failed joints etc etc - about 100 years worth of neglect to sort out basically!

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

No many specific examples, I'm sorry to say, but you might take a look at the Axminster website (axminster.co.uk) - they have quite an extensive range of woodworking and building books.

I'm quite a fan of Hugh Lander's "The House Restorers Guide" (ISBN 0-7153-000-2) though I think it's out of print now.

Some of the most enlightening titles I posses have been found in second hand bookshops. These can give a fascinating insight into traditional techniques. I have a wonderful book entitled "The Handyman and Home Mechanic" dating from 1948, which gives detailed instructions on making your own paint, the best way to construct an oak cabinet to house your colection of woodscrews, installing gas lights, constructing an electric bell from first principles and making your own line shafting to drive the machines in the workshop which you built back in Chapter One.

However, I think that one can rely too much on advice from books etc. Sometimes you need to approach repair work with a designers eye, to find the root causes of a problem and then cook up a new soultion to avoid the same thing happening again. For example, lots of the repair work I do on sash windows tends to be where nails have been used on joints. Over time rusting has caused the wood to split and rot to start. So in the repair / replacement I use glues in preference to mechanical fastenings, and where these are unavoidable I use stainless or bronze screws rather than steel nails.

I hope somebody else has the definitive bible of repair techniques to share with us!

 

[Ian Bond]

I agree with Andrew's advice regarding old books - a wealth of information from the days when people had to make do and mend.

I think I've got a very similar Home Handyman title from 1938. In addition to making your own workbench and lean-to workshop, there are poignant chapters on constructing splinter-proof bomb shelters, and turning your parlour into a gas-proof refuge.

Hugh Lander's books also provide good guidance, although they tend not to go into great detail for the more mundane repair jobs - that information is expected to be sought elsewhere. Just ignore the bits about guaging lime mortars with cement, which is not now deemed best practice. Otherwise excellent, and a must for Period Property owners.

 

[middi]

The truth may be that you will never find a book which covers the " exact" repair applicable in your situation.

All good woodworking repairs are executed by individuals that have a good understanding of types of woods, types of joints in traditional construction, a decent array of portable woodworking tools and the will to repair. It is definetely not beyond the scope of any enthusiastic DIY person which studies the task which he/she is confronted with.

A lot of common sense comes into play when repairing just by studying the the task before them.

Admittedly at times( especially with window repair) it is difficult for the willing, good, handyman because they will be restricted in creating profile and counterprofiles in widow bars sections because of lack of tools, such as routers or basic spindle moulders and cutterheads .

Just by reading woodworking books will suplly you with knowledge in woodworking ( which is very handy !! ) but more important will demonstrate the approach and tooling needed to perform certain tasks which can then be transfered to any repair situation with a bit of immagination and application.

It really is up to you, informed with general knowledge and undersatanding of woodworking, if you are equipped and confident to carry out the job in hand.

 

[essexbearhunter]

I'm quite a fan of Hugh Lander's "The House Restorers Guide" (ISBN 0-7153-000-2) though I think it's out of print now.

http://www.abebooks.co.uk currently have one for £10 plus postage which beats the best Amazon secondhand price by about £7.

 

[dandrew]

I'd reccommend Cassel's Carpentry and Joinery from the early 1900's. Contains some good stuf about repairing doors, but in general is a gold mine of traditional methodology.

 

[Penners]

It sounds as though you're after quite a wide range of woodworking information, from cabinet-making to carpentry.

As a general manual on furniture-making techniques of all kinds, I think the very best book I've come across is "Collins Complete Woodworker's Manual". It's wonderfully illustrated and covers just about every aspect of cabinet-making and joinery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Complete-Woodworkers-Manual-Jackson/dp/0004140052

For a more esoteric study of carpentry and timberframe building joints/methods - again with lots of diagrams and pictures - have a look at "The Development of Carpentry 1200 - 1700" by Cecil Alec Hewett. It's based on Essex buildings, but is hugely informative on a vast range of timberframe techniques.

http://www.bills-bookshop.com/si/017524.html

 

[Geoff Flegg]

Thanks everyone - the Collins Woodworker's Manual I'll hopefully have off Ebay shortly, the Hugh Lander book I've already had off Ebay for £4, which is good.

The House Restorers Guide on abebooks.com has been sold, but if anyone else is interested then http://www.ulovebooks.com has one for £4 - or there are a few on Ebay

Incidentally, on trawling through book sites I've seen dealers selling ex-public library copies of the House Restorers Guide for as much as £50 in the UK, and £112 abroad !!!

At least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask......

 

[Penners]

Caveat emptor - if people are foolish enough to pay those prices....

 

[biffvernon]

I saw a beautiful book on carpentry in a bookshop in Sedburgh this morning. Late ninetheenth century, many hand-tinted plates. £250.

I didn't buy it.