Joinery classic, With All the Precision Possible: Roubo on Furniture, to be published
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Robou on
Lost Art Press says it will publish the 18th-century wood joinery masterpiece, l’art du Menuisier [The Carpenter's Art] by André-Jacob Roubo, covering Roubo's writing on woodworking tools, the workshop, joinery and building furniture, in its first English translation, under the title, With All Precision Possible: Robou on Furniture
 
The book represents a decade of work by an international team, and is a second volume of Roubo's work, covering his writing on woodworking tools, the workshop, joinery and building furniture. The translation was done by Donald C. Williams, Michele Pietryka-Pagán and Philippe Lafargue.
 
The translated text is accompanied by images from the original, along with five contemporary essays on Roubo’s writing by craftsmen Christopher Schwarz, Don Williams, Michael Mascelli, Philippe Lafargue and Jonathan Thornton.
 
"Roubo on Furniture is filled with insights into working wood and building furniture that are difficult or impossible to find in both old and modern woodworking books," the publishers say. Unlike other woodworking writers of the 18th century, Roubo was a traditionally trained and practicing joiner. He interviewed fellow craftsmen from other trades to gain a deep and nuanced view of their practices. Learning to draw, most of the illustrations in the book are from his own hand.
 
“Roubo on Furniture” is made entirely in the United States with quality binding and materials. All of the acid-free pages are sewn together and then bonded with a fiber tape so the book will not fall apart. The cover is a heavy and stiff board covered with cotton cloth. The book is 8.5 x 12-inch - the same width and height as its predecessor translation, Roubo on Marquetry and is 472 pages, almost 2 inches thick. It lists for $57 at Lost Art press.

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About the author
Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.