| Review by Blake | posted 1243 days ago | 2783 views | 1 time favorited | 19 comments |  |
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Tom Fidgen is one of our own. He’s been a Lumberjock for almost two years now. About three months ago he announced the completion of his book in THIS blog. I was shocked to see that he didn’t get much feedback from the blog post (only 9 comments). But I knew it was a book I was going to need in my collection.
The book was released to Amazon and Boarders just in time for the holidays and I put it at the top of my Christmas list. Well let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I absolutely love this book. I’ve been glued to it ever since Christmas morning.
MADE BY HAND is about 160 pages loaded with beautiful, high quality photographs of the process of working with hand tools. But Fidgen doesn’t just write about the tools, he writes about the process in vivid detail. Despite the fact that he is a gifted artist, he comes off as just a regular guy. He makes it look easy, but he also makes it accessible to anyone who has ever picked up an old stanley hand plane from a flee market.
Fidgen starts by listing the essential hand tools of his collection, then discusses workbenches, hand tool techniques, and tricks of the trade. And then once he’s got your full attention the fun part begins: the projects. More than half of the book is devoted to putting all this talk about woodworking to good use. Six projects are followed—a table, a sideboard, a bookcase, etc.—from start to finish, in beautiful detail. Nothing important is left out.
As well as this book stands on its own, what takes it over the top is that it comes with a bonus DVD as well. On the DVD the reader gets a rare luxury… to see and hear the author speak! Fidgen just stands behind the workbench in his 12’x14’ basement woodshop in Toronto and shows us his collection of tools and why he chooses them.
If you liked James Krenov’s IMPRACTICAL CABINETMAKER you will love MADE BY HAND by Tom Fidgen. He writes, as he builds, in the spirit of the Legendary Krenov. Just like my collection of Krenov books, this book is a must have for any woodworker of any skill level to open your eyes to the lost art of hand tools use.
-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us
19 comments so far
Mark
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27 posts in 1624 days
#1 posted 1243 days ago
Hi Blake,
I got my copy about 2-3 weeks ago and have read it twice already. i agree it is a must have.
-- Mark, Sydney, Australia
MsDebbieP
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18320 posts in 2331 days
#2 posted 1242 days ago
sweet!! Great review.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Karson
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34370 posts in 2570 days
#3 posted 1242 days ago
Blake: Thanks for the review. A great read and also the like to Tom’s post. It had slipped through my sight earlier.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
cabinetmaster
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10874 posts in 1728 days
#4 posted 1242 days ago
I have to ditto Karson. Thanks for the review and I absolutely missed his earlier post. Must put this on my order list.
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
Dick, & Barb Cain
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8681 posts in 2469 days
#5 posted 1242 days ago
Thank you for the great review, Blake!
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Todd A. Clippinger
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8654 posts in 2269 days
#6 posted 1242 days ago
I have this book and I love it.
As soon as he announced it was out I started watching for it at Barnes & Noble and snagged the first one that came in.
The photography is great and with everything going to computer drawings (including myself) I found it interesting to see hand drawings. They bring a personal connection to the work in the book.
I recommend this book for the rich information, photography, and inspiration that it will bring to any woodworker.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com
Jim Bertelson
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3337 posts in 1334 days
#7 posted 1242 days ago
Thanks Blake, I am placing Tom’s book and the link to your review in the LJ Booklist this morning. It will appear in two places, under hand tools and under general woodworking. Sometimes things like Tom’s announcement just show up at the wrong time and are kicked off the home page fast. I’ll reference this in my blog and give Tom a little more press. This looks like a book I would like to have, and I will give the link to my wife for a birthday gift.
-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska
WayneC
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9596 posts in 2267 days
#8 posted 1242 days ago
I recieved the book a couple of weeks ago and have to agree with Blake, it is a must read for those interested in woodworking for the joy of the craft.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Llarian
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128 posts in 1777 days
#9 posted 1242 days ago
I absolutely love this book. I preordered it on Amazon on a lark since I’ve been wanting to get more into hand tools. I wasn’t at all disappointed!
-- Dylan Vanderhoof - General hobbiest and reluctant penmaker. http://llarian.etsy.com
a1Jim
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87200 posts in 1747 days
#10 posted 1242 days ago
Thanks for the review Blake.
The wife has put her foot down no more books until I make more bookshelves to hold them
(I already have about 650 woodworking books and magazines)
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
Dick, & Barb Cain
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8681 posts in 2469 days
#11 posted 1242 days ago
WOW!
a1jim also has the most routers!
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
a1Jim
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87200 posts in 1747 days
#12 posted 1242 days ago
Hey Dick
I think Amazon has more routers. LOL
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
Dennisgrosen
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10854 posts in 1285 days
#13 posted 1242 days ago
Tank´s for sharing blake and I´m on his blog now and then and when I got enoff money the book will arive in Denmark
Dennis
lou
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340 posts in 1612 days
#14 posted 1242 days ago
its a classic already.
Beginningwoodworker
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13225 posts in 1843 days
#15 posted 1242 days ago
Thanks for the review!
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
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