Books like The workbench book by Scott Landis

Christophe Pourny learned the art of furniture restoration in his father's atelier in the South of France. In this, his first book, he teaches readers everything they need to know about the provenance and history of furniture, as well as how to restore, update, and care for their furniture--from antiques to midcentury pieces, family heirlooms or funky flea-market finds. The heart of the book is an overview of Pourny's favorite techniques--ceruse, vernis anglais,and water gilding, among many others--with full-color step-by-step photographs to ensure that readers can easily replicate each refinishing technique at home. Pourny brings these techniques to life with a chapter devoted to real-world refinishing projects, from a veneered table to an ebonized desk, a gilt frame to a painted northern European hutch. Rounding out this comprehensive guide is care and maintenance information, including how to properly clean leather, polish hardware, fix a broken leg, and replace felt pads, as well as recipes to make your own wax, shellac, varnish, stain, and more.

This book is just plain neat! I acquired the book about a year and a half ago and I have used many of the techniques detailed in the book since that time. On more than one occasion, I have just sat reading about many of Mr. Moungovan's projects and admiring his accumulated knowledge and skill. For a woodworker to get a view into the world of the metal worker, and vice versa, IS EXTREMELY USEFUL AND PRACTICAL -- especially in this day of one-size-fits-all Home Depot's and the like. What do I mean by that? Most of us had to spend many years in the company of serious practitioners to have the kind of skills and techniques - at-the-ready - like those detailed in Mr. Moungovan's book. I am a woodworker who has a bench metal lathe, but not until I acquired this book did I realize the full utility of this piece of equipment! I use an oxyacetylene torch now. The book conveys a definite confidence about home workshop problem solving. I'm still primarily a woodworker, but now I have so many more approaches, materials, and techniques available to me. This book is unique. It will get you over the hump and help you maintain a real and genuinely useful home workshop. Seriously, here we have a guy -- Roy Moungovan -- who has been there and done it! Hats off to Mr. Moungovan and I really respect what he has accomplished here. Harry J. Ries (copied from an Amazon review).......... Best review found