Books by Mike Abbott
Mike Abbott has now written three books on various aspects of working with green wood:
Green Woodwork - Working wood the natural way - published by GMC publications, 1989
Only one edition but reprinted 10 times
Currently out of print
Translated into German and still available as Grunholz
Most of the contents have been updated and included in Mike’s two subsequent books (except for details of making Windsor chairs, which can be found in James Murcell’s book, Windsor Chairmaking, Crowood press 2009)
Living Wood - From buying a woodland to making a chair, published by Living Wood Books, 2002
Second edition, (totally redesigned with a new cover) 2004
Third edition (corrected version of weaving an Irish pattern seat plus minor changes), 2004, reprinted 2008
Fourth edition (including the establishment of the workshop at Brookhouse Wood) due in 2012
Going with the Grain - Making Chairs in the 21st Century, published by Living Wood Books, 2011
Going with the Grain is about how to make a chair - simply and with tools
you can easily obtain or construct for yourself.
In 1985, when Mike Abbott started running courses using the
traditional tools and techniques of the Victorian chair-bodgers,
many people said it was about time he moved into the 20th
Century.
Following the success of his first two books Green
Woodwork and Living Wood, Mike’s third book shows that he
has now moved happily and unashamedly straight into the 21st
Century.
With the help of over 600 colour photographs he guides you,
step-by-step, through:
The tools and techniques needed for cleaving, shaping and
assembling a chair
Constructing a few simply homemade devices to aid the
process
Making 3 stools and 3 chairs, each with its own unique
character.
Going with the Grain is not written for cabinet-makers (although
they are welcome to read it too) - the techniques described in
this book have as much in common with cabinet-making, as does
a jacket potato with haute cuisine. It is written for anyone who
shares Mike’s passion for trees and wood and is interested in
getting to know them better through the fulfilling process of
turning a tree into their very own chair.
The structure of Going with the Grain
Going with the Grain falls into ten sections:
Chapters 1&2 - Background
A brief background to how this book came about. If you just want to get on with making things, you could happily skip this section.
Chapters 3-7 - The bare necessities
The materials, techniques and the tools needed - essential reading unless you already know it.
Chapters 8-10 - Making equipment
Step by step instructions for making the shaving horse, the bench and a few other useful pieces of equipment.
Chapter 11 - The basic components
How to make the three main components of the chair structure
a rung, a seat-rail and a leg - essential reading before undertaking any of the following projects.
Chapter 12-14 - Three stool-making projects
Starting with a simple foot stool and a tall stool, to a more complex perching stool.
Chapter 15 - Steam bending
The equipment needed to generate steam and the jigs needed for bending curved chair parts.
Chapters 16-19 - Three chair-making projects
Detailed chapters on making three chairs, two of which (the spindle-back and the lath-back) involve steam-bending,
while the wee-wor chair is made incorporating some naturally curved components.
Chapter 20 - Seating
A wide-ranging description of seating patterns and materials.
Chapter 21 - Scrapbook: A collection of photos with ideas for taking your chair-making further.
Appendices - Resources Lists with further reading and suppliers of tools and materials.
Going with the Grain is now available at a price of £16.95. Order this and Living Wood together for £29.00 including free p&p.
| Title: | Going with the Grain - Making Chairs in the 21st Century |
| Author: | Mike Abbott |
| Publisher: | Living Wood Books |
| ISBN-10: | 954234553 |
| ISBN-13: | 978-0954234553 |
| Size: | 210mm x 275mm |
| Extent: | 192 pages |
| Illustrations: | Over 600 full colour photographs and 5 diagrams |
| Retail price: | £16.95 |
| Publication: | May 2011 |
| Synopsis: | A down to earth handbook using simple tools and homemade devices to make stools and chairs out of freshly cut logs. This radical combination of traditional techniques with 21st century tools and materials places the craft of chair-making within the reach of anyone. |
Living Wood - From Buying a Woodland to Making a Chair
Living Wood is intended both as a practical manual and an inspirational guide and falls into four distinct sections:
- Becoming a green woodworker - Mike's story, from growing up in the woodlands near Bristol to owning a share in a woodland in Herefordshire;
- Setting up a woodland workshop - the process of buying a woodland and developing the facilities including an access track, a woodland workshop and kitchen and a compost toilet. Mike also covers methods of harvesting wood both by hand and with machinery for woodwork and for firewood;
- Fitting out a woodland workshop - plans for a shelter, updated designs for a shaving horse and a height-adjustable pole-lathe, new information on tools and a detailed chapter on sharpening;
- Making ladderback chairs - new techniques for ultra-tight joints without glue, which make use of the irregular shrinkage of wood as it dries out. Also new designs including armchairs and rocking chairs and details of seating with bark and with rope;
-
The book finishes with a chapter outlining the green-wood revival over the last thirty years plus useful information on "woody"organisations, suppliers and books.
The book is beautifully illustrated by Mike's wife Tamsin, and has useful colour and black and white photos. This book is packed with accessible information on how to make woodland products ranging from Mike's famous baby-rattles to a portable woodland shelter. If you are dreaming of buying a wood, have already bought one, or just love woodland, Living Wood is a book that will inform your mind and lift your spirits.
Smallwoods Magazine - Summer 2002
The autobiographical section is both amusing and educational. This book is beautifully produced and I will definitely be putting a lot of the information it contains into practice. A must for anyone interested in green woodworking at any level.
Permaculture Magazine - Summer 2002
| Title: | Living Wood - From Buying a Woodland to Making a Chair |
| Author: | Mike Abbott |
| Publisher: | Living Wood Books |
| ISBN-13: | 9780954234539 |
| ISBN-10: | 0954234537 |
| Size: | 210mm x 275mm |
| Extent: | 240 pages |
| Illustrations: | 200 line drawings, 130 photographs including an 8-page colour section |
| Retail price: | £16.95 |
| Publication: | August 2008 |
| Synopsis: | An inspirational mixture of autobiography and practical handbook,
taking the reader through the process of buying a woodland, harvesting
the timber, setting up a woodland workshop and making a range of superb
chairs. |
Purchasing books
Both of Mike’s current books cost £16.95 but can be purchased together for £29.00.
Both prices include p&p free within the UK.
Please make cheques payable to Abbotts Living Wood Ltd at the address below:
Post and packaging is free.
Living Wood Books
Greenwood Cottage
Bishops Frome
Worcester
WR6 5AS
Tel: 01531 640005 (8am to 7pm)
e-mail: abbott@livingwood.co.uk
Going with the Grain is available in the USA and Canada from Chelsea Green Publishing.
For other overseas or for trade enquiries, please e-mail abbott@living-wood.co.uk.
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