Chapter 1
The global forest of ancient builders
Chapter 2
The secret language of wood
Chapter 3
Master joinery and the physics of strength
Chapter 4
The toolbox and the modern maker
YOUR GOAL
Master of The cosmic puzzle of carpentry
Ch 4 · The toolbox and the modern maker
artiteacher The Carpenter's Toolbox
Build your own, build your own, Show 'em what your hands can do.
artiteacher Born in 1905, Japanese-American woodworker George Nakashima gave cracked walnut slabs a second life using butterfly keys
Fun Fact
Microscopic shavings: A finely tuned hand plane can shave wood ribbons thinner than a single human hair.
Glossary
maker (noun)
A person or thing that makes or produces something. In 2005, Dale Dougherty popularized this term to describe DIYers combining traditional woodworking with modern digital tools.
A person or thing that makes or produces something. In 2005, Dale Dougherty popularized this term to describe DIYers combining traditional woodworking with modern digital tools.
Quiz
Which Japanese-American woodworker pioneered the 'live-edge' style of furniture in the 20th century?
Quiz
Why is building skyscrapers with mass timber better for the climate than using concrete?
Quiz
What is the name of the 280-foot-tall wooden skyscraper constructed in Norway in 2019?
Quiz
What is 'cross-laminated timber' (CLT), a material used in modern eco-friendly skyscrapers?
Quiz
What wooden joint did George Nakashima famously use to stabilize cracks in large wood slabs?
Quiz
Which historical empire is credited with inventing the metal-bodied hand plane around 79 CE?
Quiz
What is the typical bevel angle ground onto a standard woodworking chisel for general paring?