Book excerpt: Woodworkers, carvers and turners who are frustrated with keeping sharp edges on tools, and with handles that don't fit the hand precisely, can use this book as a guide for creating customized woodworking tools either with or without blacksmithing. The authors considerable research into heat treatment of knives results in a chapter that will surprise the reader the author recommends heat treating with fruit! He helps carvers cut through the controversy on how to get a hard cutting edge while keeping the back of the knife soft for extra strength. An extensive section on salvage steel is for those ready to experiment. A chapter on carving handles offers advice for customizing handles that distribute pressure over larger areas of the heel of the hand to relieve stress from long hours of carving.