With The Grain – A Craftman's Guide to Understanding Wood

by Christian Becksvoort

In this revised and expanded version of his classic 1983 text, In Harmony With Wood, Becksvoort takes an in-depth look at wood as a structural material, examining its physical properties from a furniture maker's perspective. The author covers a range of topics, from wood movement and how to compensate for it in a wide range of applications, to steam bending, laminating, finishing and dealing with grain imperfections.

Blending scientific study with practical know-how, he presents a general summary of tree anatomy and grain structure before describing specific characteristics of 30 common North American species. A complete woodlot-to-workshop guide, the book includes a chapter on woodlot management that outlines basic forestry principles to help sustain, select and harvest trees with good timber qualities.

Valuable not only to those who mill their own wood, the chapter on sawing and drying lumber also offers insight into selecting and storing commercial stock. Supplemented by numerous tables, charts, formulas, diagrams and black-and-white photographs, it is an excellent reference for anyone who works with wood.

Smyth-sewn hardcover, 8 1/2" × 11", 136 pages, 2013.