fiddleboyster Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 So I'm just getting into woodworking... specifically building electric guitars. I've completed one, and currently I'm working on a Telecaster with a swamp ash body with a tiger maple top. I'm doing high school at home and was wondering if there are any books/dvds/textbooks/online rescources that explore the scientific side of woodworking... why oak is harder than pine... why some maple is flamed and some is birdseye... what makes swamp ash lighter than northern ash... etc. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 Bruce Hoadly is the wood scientist. His book "Understanding Wood" is the exhaustive work. Very good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petersb Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 Bruce Hoadly is the wood scientist. His book "Understanding Wood" is the exhaustive work. Very good read. I 2nd that motion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewoodwhisperer Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 Depending on how deep you want to get into it, just about any text book on plant physiology will give you some valuable information as well. When I read Hoadly's book I felt like I was back in college again.: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mn pete Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 Ditto! Bruce's book will tell you everything, and more! It was our textbook for a short course I took several years ago in Santa Fe, NM. Very informative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddleboyster Posted March 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 thankyou thankyou. I'll check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwllms Posted March 7, 2011 Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 If you want to go beyond Hoadly look for Textbook of Wood Technology by A.J. Panshin and Carl de Zeeuw. Another good source of information that's free on line is US Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook. You have to download the new edition in chapters but it's free and good. The link is: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/products/publications/several_pubs.php?grouping_id=100&header_id=p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattvan Posted March 7, 2011 Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 I 2nd, 3rd and 4th all of the above. Especially the free handbook from the US Forestry Dept. They do a lot of research into which species are best for specific applications, etc. It's pretty much the wood bible for timber buyers and large scale furniture lumber purchasers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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