Traditional Country Woodworking Projects
Plans for 18 Practical Indoor and Outdoor Projects, Plus Tools and Techniques
Jack Hill
Photography by James Merrell
Additional photography courtesy of Shutterstock
First published in Great Britain in 2005 by Mitchell Beazley, an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, 2–4 Heron Quays, London E14 4JP
Text and projects © Jack Hill 1995, 2005. Photographs and illustrations © Octopus Publishing Group Ltd 1995. The author has asserted his moral rights.
The majority of the material and images in this book has previously been published in Mitchell Beazley’s Country Woodworker by the same author.
ISBN 1 84533 160 5
Mitchell Beazley Project Team
Senior Executive Editor: Anna Sanderson
Executive Art Editor: Christine Keilty
Editor: Catherine Emslie
Design: DW Design
Production: Jane Rogers
Illustrator: Julie Douglas, with Jack Hill
Indexer: Hilary Bird
Copyright © 2016 Lumina Media, LLC™
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Lumina Media, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Hill, Jack, 1933- author.
Title: Traditional country woodworking projects: plans for 18 practical
indoor and outdoor projects plus tools and techniques / Jack Hill.
Other titles: Traditional country woodworking
Description: Irvine, CA: Lumina Media, [2016] | Includes bibliographical
references and index. | Reprint of: Traditional country woodworking. --
London: Mitchell Beazley, 2005.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016008945 | ISBN 9781620082515 (softcover)
Subjects: LCSH: Woodwork. | Woodwork--Equipment and supplies.
Classification: LCC TT180 .H548 2016 | DDC 684/.08--dc23 LC record
available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016008945
This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein.
Lumina Media, 2030 Main Street, Suite 1400, Irvine, CA 92614
Introduction
It is something of a paradox in the 21st century that so many of the products made in the village workshops of the 18th and 19th centuries throughout Europe and in the early settlements of colonial America, for a population more interested in function than in fashion, are much sought after on account of their bold simplicity and traditional craftsmanship. We may be thankful for the products and amenities of modern technology but we also enjoy the often more satisfying and visually pleasing products of a bygone age.
“Why is this?” we may well ask. Is it because these early makers have come to epitomize a time, and a way of life, when the pace was much slower and less stressful than it is today, or is it because of a growing dissatisfaction with the monotony of urban living and the sameness of mass production? The idea of the simple country life certainly appeals to many people—a trait that television, magazine publishers, and the advertising business fully exploit with their portrayal of village life, farmhouse interiors, and country living. As a consequence, this obvious step back in time and consciousness has brought about a reverence for and a revival of the handmade products of our rural past.
And nowhere is this more apparent than in the increased interest in handmade wooden objects, be they items of furniture, for use indoors and out, kitchen utensils, or containers, racks, and shelves for storage or display. Traditional woodwork, perhaps more than anything else, is central to the so-called “country style.”
From ancient times, wood has been one of the most used of all our natural resources, and throughout history new ways of using it have continually been found. In the beginning, trees provided man’s basic needs—food, fuel, and shelter. Later, evermore sophisticated forms of shelter were devised, and buildings (small and grand), and furniture of all kinds to be used in them, were built of wood, as were boats and ships of all sizes, fences and fortifications, agricultural implements, domestic ware, and household utensils. The earliest airplanes were made from wood, vintage cars have wooden frames, and giant locomotives on their “iron road” were supported on wooden ties or sleepers. The paper we write on, the pencil we write with, and even the eraser used to correct mistakes began as a tree. The fuels that drive our cars and run our domestic heating come from prehistoric forests that grew and perished long before man appeared on Earth.
The early workers in wood had only the simplest tools, and this is reflected in the simplicity and severely functional nature of what they produced. It is this naivety that appeals to our senses today. The clear step-by-step projects provided in this book, which are organized and color-coded by an increasing level of ability required for the task, should enable and inspire readers to make their own hand-crafted traditional wooden furniture and artifacts that will help capture the essence of country living and style. Living with wood is undeniably pleasurable, and working with it can be deeply satisfying and rewarding.
All measurements are given in inches, with the equivalents in millimeters indicated in brackets.
What You Can Make
Birdhouse
Attracting birds to your yard depends on more than just food. Equally important are the other necessities of life, such as water and shelter. Different species of bird have very different nesting requirements, and the box illustrated here is intended to be used by hole-nesting birds such as blue tits, robins, and sparrows. Alternatively, you may find its aesthetic appeal works just as well as part of an interior setting. The size of the hole is critical, since invasion by other species of birds and animals is not uncommon if the recommended dimension is exceeded. With the instructions followed carefully, this project is an excellent starting point for the novice woodworker becasuse birds are not a critical audience.
ABILITY LEVEL
Novice
