This compendium is a work in progress, driven by the pursuit of knowledge and documentation. Due to the  traditional style of apprenticeships during the 20th century and the predominantly “on the job” style of teaching, many of the fine details have not been written down or are difficult to find. With advances in modern building materials and practices, the state of the construction industry has changed greatly over the course of the last few generations. Whilst the current standard of education involved within carpentry/construction related apprenticeships form a suitable basis for a successful career, the alternative learning resources available leave much to be desired for those that wish to pursue the subject in greater detail.

Dating back as far as 200 years ago, thousands of publications, treatises, manuscripts, encyclopedias, pamphlets, manuals, and texts all relating to carpentry are readily available online, digitally scanned and free for any who are interested. In modern times, a mere handful of legitimate publications provide fantastic insight into the subject, and offer a perspective of how the industry has changed as they have been released over time. In the last 20 years or so, forum threads provide more specific answers and detail to questions asked by those who wish to further their trade, though these are few and far between.

Carpentry is not a subject that has ever been recorded in the same way that more academic subjects have been, though it can be studied in the same way.

This volume serves to research, collect, and collate all available information relating to woodcraft, with a specific focus on site carpentry and joinery. We aim to gather as much detailed information as possible in the name of education and preservation - to bring the pertinent elements of the long forgotten manuals and forum threads, as well as the lessons learned by time served carpenters into one clear and concise collection.

As such, given the vast subject material, articles will be often updated to feature new information. New subject matter will be added, images and pictures updated, and importantly - questions answered. During our research so far, many questions have arisen with limited to no information available. If you have any questions relating to carpentry or the field of woodwork in general, contact us via our email or form, where we aim to provide you with the answers you seek, and add the information gathered to our collection for all to see.