Tool Making Reference

[Michael Fross]

Hello everyone,

I've gotten a bit interested in toolmaking. While I know very little about blacksmithing, I thought I'd pick up a book and learn a bit more about it.

The two I could find were:
"Tool Making for Woodworkers" by Ray Larsen (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964399989/qid=1148486761/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-5932768-3191132?s=books&v=glance&n=283155)

and

"Make Your Own Woodworking Tools" by Mike Burton (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565233069/ref=ord_cart_shr/104-5932768-3191132?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance&n=283155)

Both seem like good introductions to the subject for a greenbean like me. Does anyone else have information on these two books, other references, or experiences doing this?

Many thanks,

Michael

[Kent Fitzgerald]

Two standards by Alexander G. Weygers:

The Complete Modern Blacksmith
The Making of Tools (out of print)

[harry strasil]

http://iforgeiron.com/ scroll down the main page on the left, click on Blueprints

[Dave Anderson NH]

Hi Michael,

I own Ray Larsen's book and while it is well done, it orients itself primarily toward the metalworking aspects of making tools. Specifically it explains and talks about how to do your own smithing work and how to choose and deal with steel. Relatively little is about design of things like planes, fixtures, and special tools. It covers very well things like knives, adzes, scorps, drawknives, etc.

A very good book for the beginner was published last fall by Cambium Press. TOOLMAKING FOR JOINERY AND WOODWORKING by my very good, now deceased, friend Steve Olsesin. Steve and his wife were killed in an unfortunate traffic accident in New york State about 2 months ago. He covers the basics of making your own planes, squares, backsaws, and a bunch of other stuff useful to the hand tool woodworker.

[Steve Beadle]

A very good book for the beginner was published last fall by Cambium Press. TOOLMAKING FOR JOINERY AND WOODWORKING by my very good, now deceased, friend Steve Olsesin. Steve and his wife were killed in an unfortunate traffic accident in New york State about 2 months ago. He covers the basics of making your own planes, squares, backsaws, and a bunch of other stuff useful to the hand tool woodworker.

Thanks for the recommendation, Dave. I just ordered Steve Olesin's book (not Olsesin, if anybody does a search on the Cambium website!) and look forward to reading it!

[Michael Fross]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I was, in fact, looking to learn a bit more about the metal aspects of toolmaking. I'm not sure I'll ever do it, but it seems interesting and something I'd like to learn more about.

Now if I can ever find the time to make my first handplane. I've even got the wood!

Thanks again. I really appreciate everyone always taking the time to help each other out.

Michael