Practical Shop Math: Simple Solutions to Workshop Fractions, Formulas and Geometric Shapes

There's no need to be intimidated by the fractions, decimals, and geometric formulas that are part of every woodworking project. Practical Shop Math, Tom Begnal's comprehensive and very accessible guide, puts all the solutions at your fingertips so you can enjoy your time in the woodshop building your next project instead of scratching your head. 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 the end, if you sum up the benefits of this resourceful reference, it makes for a great addition to any workshop. AUTHOR: Tom Begnal is a life-long woodworker whose interest in the craft evolved into a full-time furniture business in northwestern Connecticut. He moved on to become the managing editor of The Woodworker's Journal magazine for more than fifteen years and eventually joined the editoral staff at Shopnotes in Des Moines, Iowa. His final stop was Fine Woodworking magazine where, among other things, he edited the Tools and Materials department. He has also written or edited woodworking and how-to books for several publishers including F+W Publications, McGraw-Hill, Rodale Press and Sterling Publishing.

Table of Contents:
Part One: Basic Woodshop Arithmetic • Understanding Fractions • Working with Fractions • Understanding Decimals • Working with Decimals • Powers and Roots Part Two: Basic Woodshop Geometry • Common Geometric Shapes • Plane Figure Formulas • Solid Figure Formulas • Basic Geometric Construction • Basic Geometric Theorems Part Three: Using Math in the Workshop • Enlarging Grid Patterns • Simplifying Compound Angles • Solving Right Triangles • Applying Handy Woodshop Formulas • Converting a Photograph into a Dimensioned Drawing • Reading Micrometers and Calipers Appendix Index

About the Author :
Tom Begnal is a life-long woodworker whose interest in the craft evolved into a full-time furniture business in northwestern Connecticut. He moved on to become the managing editor of The Woodworker's Journal magazine for more than fifteen years and eventually joined the editoral staff at Shopnotes in Des Moines, Iowa. His final stop was Fine Woodworking magazine where, among other things, he edited the Tools and Materials department. He has also written or edited woodworking and how-to books for several publishers including F+W Publications, McGraw-Hill, Rodale Press and Sterling Publishing. Retired, Tom still woodworks and lives in Connecticut.