Book excerpt: This book provides the apprentice or trainee carpenter and joiner with the basic technical knowledge necessary to complete the first half of a City and Guilds Course in Carpentry and Joinery. It will also be a useful reference to any persons studying for examinations, or simply wishing to further their knowledge in one of the associated areas, such as wood machining, cabinet making or general building construction. Dealing with the basic skills and techniques employed in the present day construction industry, the text assumes little prior knowledge of the subject, but lays before the reader a simple, straight forward and readable out of the skills, tools, materials and methods likely to be used or encountered in the workshop, on site or during studies at home or in college.