Working Wood 1&2 Availability

Note
We have sold out of Working Wood 1 & 2. Thanks for your support! For up to date information on the revised edition please check this page.

I recently let you know that I have regained full control of my first published book Working Wood 1&2 which was originally published by Artisan Media 10 years ago. In the acquisition, I took possession of all existing book stocks. They are taking up valuable space here at my workshop. This book is my foundational course for anyone starting out in hand tool woodworking. My plan is to update and rewrite a revised edition over the coming months. I want this new volume to parallel the same quality we produced in my Essential Woodworking Hand Tools book. I want it to be something that will sit side by side as a reference book for woodworkers.

We are discounting this original edition of the Working Wood 1&2 book to clear space and prepare for the latest version, hopefully later this year. I make no bones in telling you that the new version will substantially improve on the first edition. However, the first edition is still a good choice for anyone either learning the craft of traditional hand tool woodworking. Or indeed anyone wanting to have a first edition copy of my first published work in their woodworking library.

Note, we have sold out of the original edition of this book. If you want a copy your best bet is to fill in the form at the end of this post to hear about the revised edition when we do it (hopefully later in 2021).

40 Comments

  1. Hi Paul, as these are the last of the original editions, any chance of you doing a quick “hope you enjoy the book” and signature on them?
    Cheers
    Brian

    1. That’d be really nice; I wish I had asked for that when I ordered my copy

  2. Have you determined if Lee Valley will distribute the updated version of your book ? I have used the original version as a constant reference and look for to you revised version .

    1. We will continue to supply worldwide directly from our storage here at the workshop. We have discussed the future of the books with Lee Valley but until the book is revised we have not settled on whether to supply wholesale to other suppliers as there are many added complexities to do this.

  3. Bought it ten years ago .made most of the projects ‘got me hooked. I have since built a little workshop . Looking forward to the new edition

  4. i bought it a number of years ago but fond it hard to work out the timber I need to order for each project from the cut lists this is what is really stopping me in my progress to be a better wood worker

    1. Then my suggestion is to find someone with the capacity to mill the stock to size for you adjust focus on the making!

      1. Thanks for the personal reply Paul and as usual sound advice. In a separate theme are the side made alongside the books available for purchase from yourselves and if so ,in the teams opinion ,is the content on them covered already by the free projects and techniques already. Thanks in advance

        1. We decided not to sell the DVDs as this was a major point of contention for me. Whereas the videography work was always excellent, capturing my mood and enjoyment, the introduction of graphics was highly invasive to the point that they were a major distraction. It was as if the true theme of pleasant woodworking was shoved out of the way. I saw no sense in perpetuating my pain. So we created our own instructions and paralleled them with videos for free and paid on woodworkingmasterclasses.com (free and paid), commonwoodworking.com (all free) and my YouTube channel etc.

  5. Paul,
    I have learned so much from your videos, and even better unlearned some bad practices. (Always harder to unlearn!) Some things you taught seemed counter intuitive to me or conflicted with what I had learned earlier in life. That changed once I gained more experience and worked on learning your techniques. Thanks for the sharing your knowledge and philosophy. In addition to the skills you have helped me develop, you have improved my level of serenity and connection to making. No longer chasing this machine or that, or building all sorts of jigs to be able to machine wood. Hammer, saw, chisel and plane, amazing what can be accomplished efficiently and with peace of mind. I could not pass up the chance to own one of your original works. Thanks again for sharing your wisdom!

    1. Thank you for your encouraging words and for supporting the work we do. The history behind that book and my Essentiual Woodworking Hand Tools is still a remarkable passage from maker to teacher/maker/designer for me and I am pulling all of that together as I rewrite the introduction to tell the whole story. Looking at the different points when I all but lost all of my decades of work to now owning it lock, stock and barrel has been so empowering and fulfilling. I feel that we now have total control to encourage new and seasoned woodworkers worldwide.

  6. Hey Paul,

    I purchased a copy of the book yesterday with a request that you sign the copy or add a shaving of wood as a bookmark. I thought it would be a cool reminder that we’re all working the same wood, even if there’s a difference in the level of skill and experience between us. 🙂

    One issue I had was that I wanted to add a copy of ‘Essential Woodworking Hand Tools’ to the cart at the same time, and I wasn’t allowed to. Apparently, I could have only one item in the cart. I was hoping to bundle them together to maybe save on shipping, but that wasn’t possible.

  7. Hi Paul,

    I have enjoyed and benefited tremendously from your teaching over the years as a member of Woodworking Masterclasses and reading Essential Woodworking Hand Tools. But before joining Woodworking Masterclasses early on in its beginnings I bought a copy of Working Wood 1&2 and built your workbench and all the projects following the clear directions and photographs. Thoroughly enjoyed the process. Are there any plans to publish Working Wood 3 as mentioned on page 309 of Working Wood 1 & 2?

    1. Martin, actually the company that had control of Paul’s book and DVDs did publish Working Wood 3. However, the content is that of another woodworker. Part of an Artisan series. There was to be a Working Wood 4, but I don’t think it ever happened.
      I am glad Paul got control of his works!!
      I like both the Working Wood 1 & 2 book and dvds. I have worked through part of the projects and found the info very helpful.
      I incorporated handles into the design of the nut bowl, which added more challenge to the project, but also personalized it. I made it from a Redbud tree which died in my back yard. I had saved the little bit of useable wood for years, and it was perfect for the project. Had enough wood to make a couple of spoons also.
      I definitely encourage readers to help Paul clean out his shop by buying his book.

  8. Ordered! And I’ll make a book shelf for the shop where this gem will be placed next to my copy of essential woodworking hand tools. Invaluable references to have in the shop!

    1. Received! I haven’t had the time to study it, but a quick rummage through the pages proved that this is a great book. I’ll order the updated version when the time comes. It will be money well spent, if not for anything else than to support what you are trying (and succeeding) to do. Learning how to use, maintain and select hand tools has changed everything for me, and I’ll continue to pay it forward.

  9. This has absolutely made my day. Just dropped in this morning to catchup on the blog and what a surprise. Thank you.

  10. Hi Paul,
    As the proud owner of Essential Handtools, I held off buying this book from other sources as you never seemed to mention or promote it. I’m so glad to order it now that I know the money is going to you. I am truly grateful to you for sharing your knowledge, passion and thoughts in general to do many people. I look forward to buying the updated version too. And an autograph in the book would be a fantastic gift. Wish I’d also thought to ask for that when ordering.

  11. Thanks Paul. However I may wait for newer one.
    You should offer in $CDN. Many woodworkers I know don’t want to take a hit on conversion.

  12. Although it will be bettered later this year, I might be interested in purchasing this older book. However, I would like to know how much overlap, if any, there is with your other book ‘Essential Woodworking Hand Tools’.

    1. Hard to say. I can say that they are two totally different animals if that helps, Stuart. One is a foundation course for traditional hand tool woodworking, and detailing how to make a range of projects ranging from wooden spoons and spatulas through to a full sized woodworking workbench and one I have used for over 55 years, I did include good info on hand tools used in the curriculum so nothing was left out. My Essential Woodworking Hand Tools stands unparalleled in any modern work and also any past work. It contains the handed down by word of mouth information that was never written about. In my not-so-humble or independent opinion, I think it is most likely the most in-depth tome detailing every element of the essential woodworking hand tools and hand tools that I have used as an expert hand tool woodworker over the same 55 years. I will say though that yesterday we were down to only a handful left so by the time you read this the old stock may well be all gone.

  13. I wanted to purchase this both for its content and to help you fund the site. I really appreciate the videos and other information you’ve been giving away for free here. Thank you very much!

    1. That’s so kind, Kevin. Replicating what I have had as a lifestyle for most of my work-life does not mean giving up a paying job that supported in a different era but encourages people to think about how they could incorporate serious making into the time they have outside of their day job. If others can see that craft and working with your hands enhances life itself and can indeed be a provision for better health, mental acuity, things like that, things that often equal and surpass exercise regimes like running, cycling and going to the gym even, then we will see true health return to people in need of working manually. That is not to say exercise is of no value though, I cycle, walk and skip and do other exercises throughout the day as a break from the workbench to extend myself. It’s just so much more multidimensional than people might think, that’s all. Personally, I find most exercise and almost all sport dull and uninteresting, especially watching it, but I do it because I feel that it does offer me some moderate good.

  14. I decided to purchase one of your older (current) books and as with some others above, it represents a small thank you for all the advice, education and experience you offer to everyone. I’m sure it will be of benefit until you release the new one in the future.

    I have sort of returned to hand woodworking from very early beginnings. As a young boy, I can remember working with my father’s tools at his workbench. I can’t remember now, if it was helping him with something, or making things or myself. I certainly learnt some aspects from him and suspect I have probably forgotten some too, as I have come to re-learn things from your posts and videos.

    Given my new found interest, I wish I had taken in and retained more and spent more time learning while he was alive. He referred to his skills as those of a cabinet maker (a little jokingly), based on an earlier job, which I think was because it had a less negative connotation than the actual job, a coffin maker. I think whilst few people like a funeral, or understandably take much notice of how well a coffin is made, that the quality involved in their creation matches that of any fine woodworker.

    So, I’ll try not to make that mistake again, learn as much as I can from yourself and see if I can then pass on as much as possible to our grand children.

    I look forward to progressing this journey.

    1. I have made several coffins, all of them for people I knew well enough and for free. Remembering them in their death was bittersweet every time. It takes me 40 hours to make a coffin by hand. My coffin design was generally the same and simple. I dovetailed the corners, coopered the hinged lidded-top and used only solid wood. I used shellac for the finish so that every element was natural and biodegradable. The rewards in doing this work far surpass some of my finest work. The casket was pillowed and lined with cotton fabric, sewn carefully into the casket. On the outside I had a blacksmith hand forge the eight carrying handles. Of all the wood chosen it was the pine ones that spoke the most of the celebration of each individual’s life.
      I think all too often we dismiss the significance of learning and enjoying our dads if we are boys. The reality of transitioning from boy to man can create conflicts and I had a period of such. Thankfully, as an older man, I was able to apologise to my father and we had two decades of closeness before he passed at 86. No regrets!

    2. I was a foolish kid. My uncle who raised me as a father was a master welder. He was trained in the U.S. Navy. He knew both wet and dry hyperbaric welding along with all of the other techniques. He was involved with testing electron beam welding. If it joined two pieces of metal together he knew how and was consulted by very important people about his thoughts. It was all offered to me freely, but I was too stupid to reach out and grasp it.

  15. Can you confirm: it appears, as of 4/16/2021, the Rokesmith shop shows ‘out of stock’. All gone?

    1. Sorry, they are now sold out,Kragh, yes! I knew that they wouldn’t last long, but rest assured, I am working on the new and updated version.

      1. Thanks for the update, Paul. A question/suggestion. Do you ever update your blog posts to reflect conditions like this, so readers don’t have to wonder, or find out by following links or reading lengthy comment threads? A simple edit/addition to the original post, near the link to the Rokesmith shop, saying: “Update: Original Edition SOLD OUT” would keep the post current and meaningful.

  16. That’s a shame.
    I’ve only just seen your email come through about the books, and I’ve now missed out.
    They were certainly popular then!
    I’ve signed up your notification for the revised edition. Hopefully you’ll do a good price to those, like me, who have just missed out on the original books.

  17. Tēnā koe Paul, I picked up this book from a retiring woodworker friend of mine who highly recommended your YouTube channel. And it has been life-changing, no exaggeration. I’ve made all the projects in the book, and I could not be more proud and grateful. Thank you for sharing everything you do, the world is brighter as a result.
    Ngā mihi maioha (many thanks with appreciation) from Aotearoa New Zealand.

  18. I can’t sign up for the notification. When I press ‘Submit’, nothing happens.

  19. I now have both of your books, Working Wood 1 & 2, and Essential Woodworking Hand Tools. These are, by far, the best teaching books I have ever read. (Though I wish the fonts were a little bigger in Essential Woodworking Hand Tools, maybe it needs to be two volumes.) Detailed, practical, full of the tips and tricks that only an experienced woodworker would know, with a minimum of tool-nerding. I’m a tool nerd, and I know how easy it is to fall into the ‘oo shiny’ trap. I love good tools for themselves. Fortunately, I have learned to focus on what I want to do, rather than amass a collection of pretties that will not be used very much.

    Thank you, very much appreciate everything you do.

  20. Crud, sold out? My book would have showed up yesterday but USPS only delivered the cardboard sleeve it must have been shipped in. I’ve contacted Rokesmith of course and let them know that the book escaped somewhere crossing the pond, but it sounds like their options for addressing this might be limited…sigh.

  21. Please let me know when the new edition becomes available
    Many thanks

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