Book excerpt: Strong, appropriate and well-fitting joints are one of the hallmarks of the skilled woodworker. Making them properly requires intelligent planning, accurate marking out, and a sufficient degree of care in the cutting, fitting and final assembly. A methodical approach is essential, and that is what this book provides. Professional woodworker Ralph Laughton takes us through the whole process, from choosing the appropriate joint for the purpose to assembling the finished piece. We learn about timber selection, tools and adhesives, but above all we learn the working methods and habits that are needed to achieve consistently good results. The emphasis throughout is on the traditional hand techniques that are still the essential foundation of the woodworker's skill.