Praising the simplicity and economy of customised handles and blades made from recycled materials, this manual details the construction and assembly of handmade tools that can be fitted to individual hands and are designed to keep a razor-sharp edge. An extensive section on salvage steel provides advice about choosing metal, and an in-depth analysis of heat treatment explains how to get a hard cutting-edge while keeping the back of the knife soft for greater strength. Carpenter comfort and safety is also considered, with a section on making handles recommends techniques for shaping and carving wood to distribute pressure over a large area of the heel of the hand in order to relieve stress on the wrist and arm.

A very misleading title (2.0)

I bought this book based on the title and the reviews of other amazon users. It was a serious let down. The misleading title infers that it contains info on making your own woodworking tools. I think that for many readers woodworking tools and woodcarving tools are two very different things. I purchased it hoping for plans for making planes, spokeshaves, measuring tools, chisels and the like. What you get in this book is about a hundred different hokey ways to pound out a carving gouge using everything from the back of a framing hammer to the adjusting screws on your vise. The book is just full of terrible "hints and tips" like these that will not only damage your tools but not be very effective either.
The page on making a plane includes a design for a plane that wouldn't function properly if it was contructed correctly. The "author" botched the making of the plane and couldnt be bothered to do it correctly or give you any practical tips on making or sharpening a plane iron. I didn't buy this book to learn how NOT to do something.
I think that for someone to "write the book on" a subject, that person should be a professional with a high degree of skill in dealing with it. Mike Burton is neither a professional nor a person with any degree of skill in metal working. The extremely amateurish tools in this book are clearly poorly made with burned and annealed edges. Mike does the right thing with them by hanging them on his walls and leaving them there. You would be doing yourself a great injustice by purchasing this book and following a single one of his inane "techniques".

Make Your Own Woodworking Tools (5.0)

This book is a five star winner for the carver who wants to make his own tools. The author explains the process, discusses different type of metals to use. The heat treating process is thoroughly explained. Handle materials are even covered. Often times a carver will run into a situation that requires a special tool not available in the market place. This book will aid the carver in making his own skews, gouges and specialty items. So interesting I've read it cover to cover, twice!

Get this book! (5.0)

Informative and Entertaining. I enjoyed this book, because he teaches you how to make things with everyday materials. For example the authors forge is made from pipe a wok and a hair dryer. I highly recommend this book.

From someone who want to make his own hand plane (4.0)

I bought this book exactly for what the title mean: make my own woodworking tools. Exactly, molding hand plane.

I liked this book because:
-It is is a global and central source of reliable information in his field;
-It offers many options to "do things" to the tools makers who don't (for the moment) want to get deeply involved in blacksmithing;

I disliked this book beacause:
-It does not explain the scientific bases of the field when (I think) is could/should be requires;
-It focus too much (I think) on the autor's life. I enjoy some familiarity with the autor, but at the end, too much paragraph are about autor's anecdotes;

To conclude, I would rebuy this book without hesitation.

*** The "see inside" option played a definitive role in my purchase. I never buy a book I can't "see inside for 4 or 5 pages ***

Mike Burton should be a Kiwi! (5.0)

Mike Burton should be complimented for sharing his multitude of skills with the reading and crafting public. This book is the distillation of many years of practical and academic study. To be able to take advantage of this wisdom for the paltry sum that this book cost is remarkable. Mike has the ability to take us through all the stages in the manufacture of a great variety of woodworking items. He does it in a simple, easy to follow manner and with a beautiful dry wit. If you buy this book you will be in the position to save a great deal on the purchase of essential tools by making many of your own to your considerable satisfaction. I have had the book for only two weeks and so have concentrated on my own particular interest. I now have a splendid array of woodcarving tools. They cost me very little in materials and the saving is many hundreds of dollars.The price of this book would only buy half a woodcarving tool! Mike has a fine eye for a bargain himself and it is a pleasure to be inducted into his economic ways. In the weeks and months ahead I feel that my savings, skills and satisfaction at making my own tools will increase many times. Mike you should have been a New Zealander! You would fit in very well.