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For Him / Her / Kids
Woodworking: The Complete Step-by-Step Manual — a photo guide from first joint to finished piece
Woodworking: The Complete Step-by-Step Manual (DK, 2024)
Reviewed by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated September 2026 · How we choose
Perfect for
- Beginner woodworkers
- Improvers learning joinery
- Illustrated reference
- Project ideas
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Price: $19.10
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- Great gift ideaChosen for real-world gifting
- Hand-pickedCurated, not scraped
- Honest reviewThe catch, not just the hype
Why this gift works
Woodworking: The Complete Step-by-Step Manual is DK's 400-page illustrated reference, in the 2024 US hardcover edition. It covers hand, power and machine tools, basic to advanced joints, finishing, woodturning and restoration, profiles more than 100 woods, and walks through over 25 step-by-step projects from chopping boards to blanket boxes and garden benches. It is accredited by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters.
DK's photo-by-photo style makes techniques easy to follow at the bench, which is why these manuals are popular with beginners and improvers. For a new woodworker it doubles as a course; for an experienced one, it is a handy reference for the joints they rarely cut.
Who is this gift for?
Great for
- Someone who has just set up their first garage shop
- A woodworker ready to learn new joints
Think twice if
- They already own many woodworking books
The catch
It is a broad survey rather than a deep dive - one reviewer wanted more on hand tools - and a big hardcover to keep in a dusty shop.
Skip for a very experienced woodworker who already owns a shelf of specialist books.
Key specs
| Publisher | DK |
|---|---|
| Edition | 2024 US hardcover |
| Pages | 400 |
| Size | 8-1/2 x 10-7/8 in |
| Covers | Tools, joints, finishing, woodturning, restoration, 100+ woods |
| Projects | 25+ step-by-step |
| Endorsement | Accredited by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters |
Worth knowing before you buy
- This is the 2024 edition from DK.
- It covers woodturning and restoration as well as furniture making.
Why we like it
- Photo-by-photo instructions that are easy to follow
- Tools, joints, finishing and turning in one book
- More than 25 projects to build
What to look for in a woodworking book
- Skill level. Photo-led manuals suit beginners; specialist books suit experienced makers.
- Projects. Step-by-step projects turn reading into building.
- Edition. Newer editions add projects and update tools.
Questions people ask
The 2024 US hardcover, 400 pages. An earlier 2020 edition exists.
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