Fear not, workshop math is not something to be scared of or avoided;
Practical Shop Math covers it all from the basic to the
advanced.
By its very nature, woodworking requires a basic understanding of math.
Various numbers, in the form of thickness, width, and length dimensions,
are used to describe the physical size of a a woodworking project and
its component parts. Inevitably, these dimensions -written as whole
numbers, fractions, and decimals - must be added, subtracted,
multiplied, and divided in order to cut and assemble the project.
Although math is an essential part of woodworking, a surprising number
of crafters feel intimidated when working with decimals, fractions,
geometry, and formula. Fear not; workshop math is not something to be
scared of or avoided. Woodworking involves a lot of math and you'll be
at a disadvantage in the workshop if you don't know or can't remember
how to do basic calculations. Even if you do know how to work with
fractions, decimals, and geometric shapes, this tremendously handy and
comprehensive guide from a Tom Begnal, a life-long woodworker and former
editor at Fine Woodworking, Woodworker's Journal, and ShopNotes,
will increase your capabilities in the workshop many times over.
With Practical Shop Math, you'll discover simple, but
non-condescending approaches for everything from adding fractions and
decimals to laying out ellipses, octagons, and other shapes that will
expand your design repertoire. In addition, Practical Shop Math
focuses on the things that you think should be simple, but can drive you
nuts: tasks such as enlarging grid patterns, determining miter angles
for polygons, dividing angles and arcs, calculating board feet and the
amount of finishes you need to complete a project, and so on. Included
is a very useful trick for converting a furniture photo from a magazine
or catalog into a dimensional drawing that you can use for building your
next project. Practical Shop Math covers it all from the basic to the
advanced.
In the end, if you sum up the benefits of this resourceful reference, it
makes for a great addition to any workshop.
