Wood Identification & Use (Updated Edition)

Edition: Wood Identification & Use is an updated reference book covering more than 200 wood species, with photographs and details on working properties, seasoning, uses and safety considerations. Its scope suits small-scale professional and amateur woodworkers, though this is a reference guide rather than a project-led manual.

At a glance

Covers more than 200 wood species, each described with a colour photograph and practical information.
Includes working properties, seasoning requirements, uses and safety considerations for the woods covered.
Additional topics include decorative figuring, wood defects, potential health hazards, finished work, a glossary and drawings of living trees.
Intended for small-scale users working in cabinetmaking, joinery, carpentry, turning, carving and specialist applications.

Price

£13.86Save 45%

Reference price: ~~£25.00~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Often bought together

Complete Guide to Joint-Making, The

£11.90

Collins Complete Woodworker’s Manual “packaging may vary”

£26.93

Pros and cons

Pros

Combines species identification with practical information relevant to selecting and working wood.
The stated coverage spans both common workshop disciplines and specialist applications.
Includes safety considerations and a section on potential health hazards.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Book details
Edition	Updated
Publisher	Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd
Publication date	10 Jun. 2025
Language	English
Print length	288 pages
ISBN-10	1784947105
ISBN-13	978-1784947101

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	1.16 kg
Dimensions	21.34 x 2.29 x 27.69 cm

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Woodworkers seeking a species reference for cabinetmaking, joinery, carpentry, turning or carving.
Amateur and professional small-scale users interested in wood properties, seasoning and potential uses.

Less suited to

Readers primarily seeking step-by-step woodworking projects or a technique-led course.

Wood Identification & Use (Updated Edition) · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.4 / 5 · 33 ratings

5 stars71%71%
4 stars11%11%
3 stars12%12%
2 stars3%3%
1 star3%3%

Customer feedback describes the book as informative, with specific praise for detailed explanations of woods and up-to-date information. That reported usefulness fits its stated role as a broad reference, while the overall rating distribution includes some lower ratings, so experiences are not uniformly positive. The feedback does not establish how useful it will be for a particular workshop task.

Positive themes

Customers describe the book as informative.
Feedback highlights detailed explanations of woods and up-to-date information.

Frequently asked questions

What does the book cover?

It describes more than 200 wood species with colour photographs and information on working properties, seasoning requirements, uses and safety considerations. It also covers defects, decorative figuring and other reference topics.

Who is the book aimed at?

It is aimed at professional and amateur small-scale users, including people working in cabinetmaking, joinery, carpentry, turning and carving.

Does it include project instructions?

The supplied description mentions inspirational examples of finished work, but does not describe step-by-step project instructions.