If you've always wanted to try your hand at woodworking, what are you waiting for? You don't need a shop full of expensive equipment or the skills of a master craftsman. All you need is a little bit of space, an interest in building something with your hands, and the commonsense information found in The New Woodworker Handbook—a refreshing new guide for the newcomer.

Written by Tom Hintz, a realistic and straight-talking woodworker with 30 years of experience who believes that woodworking should be fun and relaxing, this handy reference is neither overly simplistic nor too complex in its approach. In fact, the book is the culmination of thousands of comments, questions, and suggestions from the many new woodworkers who have visited the author's website (www.NewWoodworker.com) for help in getting started in this craft.

With more than 300 photographs, easy-to follow directions, enlightening tips, and helpful charts and sidebars, this book makes learning about woodworking easier than ever.

Tom Hintz retired from his personal involvement in stock car racing to become a staff writer and webmaster for Stock Car Racing and Open Wheel Magazines and staff editor for Circle Track Magazine all the while enjoying his lifelong hobby - woodworking. Later he began SPEEDWORDS, a marketing firm offering web development, writing and photography services for the racing business community. Known for his straightforward style of writing, Tom created one of the top online websites for woodworkers, NewWoodworker.com, that draws more than 150,000 visitors each month. Tom says these woodworkers log onto NewWoodworker.com "because they know the most effective safety tool is a well-informed brain." Tom Hintz lives in Concord, North Carolina.

"Tom Hintz covers all the basics in The New Woodworker Handbook, from setting up your shop to applying a finish to your final project. His passion for woodworking and his desire to help others learn is evident on every page."

From a simple tote box to a shop cabinet or a coffee table, these skill builders will be enough to get any beginner addicted to woodworking.

"Tom presents an easy-to-read and down-to-earth approach to woodworking. I can recommend it to those who love the craft."

"I found The New Woodworker Handbook to be quite enjoyable. I like the author's ease with the subject matter, his lack of pretense, and the structured way he lays everything out. I wish I had had a book like this when I began woodworking."

"This book is packed full of useful information for both the new as well as the experienced woodworker. It should be reference material for all those wanting to increase their skill and mastery of this great hobby."

"The goal of this book is not to make you a master woodworker. Instead I want to get you going in the hobby with a core set of skills that will let you find out if you are a master, a happy weekender, or maybe even a contractor in the wrong job," Tom hintz writes in his introduction.

A woodworker for 30 years, Hintz writes that his 254- page book is based on the questions, comments and suggestions that flodded in during the first five years after he launched NewWoodworker.com - a source of information for new woodworkers.

That said, Hintz guides the reader methodically though the process of planning a workshop area, buying tools, tool setup, alignment and maintenance, working safely, slecting and preparing wood, understanding adhesives and fastners, joining wood, and finishing. He ends with six skill-building projects including a hinged box and a coffee table. His style is straightforward, delivering information that is easy to understand, complemented by 300 color photos, tips, and helpful charts and sidebars.

A well-done beginner's manual, this book lays out all the possibilities, and clarifies some of the more confusing questions a novice might have. Hintz concentrates on safety and shop setup, how to buy tools and what the many choices are, and how to prepare and use materials. He has an excellent section on making adjustments to, and aligning different power tools, which is a subject most woodworkers need advice or reminders on.
The author covers adhesives and fasteners, basic finishes, and types of joinery. He explains what all the tools are, why and when they are necessary and offers advice on what to buy when starting out.
One advantage to this beginner's manual is that it includes ten well illustrated, step by step projects with tool lists and a difficulty level of skills needed to complete each one. Sidebars of information tell things such as how to use a marking system for parts, how to use a router table for making cuts in increments rather than all at once, or how to properly install hinges. From a simple tote box to a shop cabinet or a coffee table, these skill builders will be enough to get any beginner addicted to woodworking, with plenty of safety reminders to encourage a good experience in learning. Mr. Hintz included a full glossary of terms, and the book is well indexed.

If you don't already have a copy of The New Woodworker Handbook, you will want one. Tom Hintz explains tool selection, safety, wood selection, joinery and finishing—just to mention a few topics. The book includes several projects for novices, as well as a few for more experienced woodworkers. Filled with color photos, this is a great addition to any woodworker's library.