Flexner's book is the go-to that I know of - https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Wood-Finishing-Comprehensive-Troubleshooting/dp/1565235665
If you are going to paint, don't use oak. The open grain shows through the paint and will not look smooth. Birch, maple or poplar are better choices for painting. There is no single right way to build things, but it is a good idea to standardize your construction as much as practical. But don't try to make everything the same way if the end product needs something different. A combination of books, YouTube videos and looking cabinets others built is the way to go. I have heard good things about this book, but I have not read it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1565238036/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_3R1GN0AX3AA7DY62YTQH
That guy looks like movie director John Landis and I don't trust myself not to make a tastelessly morbid reference to the fatal helicopter crash from 'Twilight Zone: The Movie', so instead I'm going to focus on thinking about what made someone look at the cover for the 1990 instructional reference book 'Identifying Wood' and feel that it deserved to be adapted into a ska meme, because I have to admit I adore their esoteric line of thought.
Find a book or two about guitar building on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Own-Electric-Guitar/dp/0953104907 this one is pretty excellent) and read it. The book will not only tell you every step of building an instrument, but it will also list every tool and material you will need to complete the project.
The first step to take, though, is to learn basic woodworking skills. Without them (and without good hands-on guidance from a skilled woodworker), you will not build an instrument worth playing.
Very nice work. For coming up with it yourself, you came remarkably close to a Rubou style bench, which are all the rage nowadays.
This is a great book, you might be interested in: https://www.amazon.com/Workbenches-Design-Construction-Popular-Woodworking/dp/1558708405
If you haven’t already, you should read ‘Norwegian wood’ by Lars Mytting. It’s an excellent book about chopping, stacking, and drying wood.
Here’s the link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419717987/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_36ASJN61XP5VVKNVZ8MK
I’d read Chris Schwarz’s workbench design book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Workbenches-Design-Construction-Popular-Woodworking/dp/1558708405
He talks in good detail about different styles of bench and - more importantly - talks more generally about what a bench must, should and shouldn’t do. Helped me a great deal when I was paralysed by choice!
And speaking of which, don’t over-think it. Any (within reason!) bench is better than no bench.
Good luck!
It's been a long time since I've looked through them, but I believe one or both of the books linked below cover neck through builds:
https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Own-Electric-Guitar/dp/0953104907
https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Guitar-Construction-First-Time-Builder/dp/1574241257
I’d say gift certificate to a woodworking store.
Or rubber gloves, sandpaper, mineral spirits, or this
Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish (Fox Chapel Publishing) Practical & Comprehensive with Over 300 Color Photos and 40 Reference Tables & Troubleshooting Guides https://www.amazon.com/dp/1565235665/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_XKCPK2KDWBBJV5FNE8TB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I love his title, Understanding Wood. But you are probably better off with the following for your specific aims:
Identifying Wood: Accurate Results With Simple Tools at Amazon.
I like this one a lot.
Bob Lang's The Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker, Revised Edition: Shop Drawings and Professional Methods for Designing and Constructing Every Kind of Kitchen and Built-In Cabinet (Fox Chapel Publishing) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1565238036/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_RVq.FbVZQBG75?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
If you're looking for workbench info, in addition to the Paul Sellers video that has been linked, I highly recommend Chris Schwarz's book on workbenches. I linked to the copy on Amazon, but my local library has it so maybe check yours as well.
He talks about a ton of different aspects of workbenches and runs down the pros/cons to a lot of different types of vises and designs. I found it super interesting.
It’s a little pricey, but you may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere:
Tage Frid teaches woodworking.
This 3 book set will give you everything you need to know, although it may skew towards furniture a bit more than you need.
Honestly though, start with a book. This one is good, or just go to the library or whatever. Come back with questions after that. The level of knowledge that you need to pick up is way more than you’re gonna get from the comments.
I bought and read through this book, it was quite helpful. Though I don't remember paying $48 for it.
I also used a lot of internet research, but this was my main basis.
I would suggest reading the book "Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking, and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way" to learn about the tried and tested techniques behind all of this.
These tips come from me as a scandinavian, there might be some difference in the UK, but see these as general tips.
Always buy wood in bulk, if you can buy unseasoned wood then do it. It's alot cheaper, but remember that wood should be handled and laying for drying before midsumer - ish early june. Wood is like insurance, its really freaking nice to have. Buy atleast for 2-3 years forward then you'll be able to get a good price. Here someone from the UK will have to step in, but i'd say never pay more than 500sek per cubic meter. What a decent price in the UK is, idk.
Here comes a rant on BTU, i've never understod it so i'll use Kw/h. But what i mean is count on how much you need, 1 kg of birch wood is ish 4kw/h (1364 btu). You'll easily be able to heat your house with wood, but man you need like 10-20 cubic meter. And thats alot of work to handle.
When it comes to burning remember to do it correctly, every burner has its pro's and cons and be sure to read the manual. You cant keep a burner going for over 400 celsuis for a longer time, it will destroy your burner and your chimney. Your relation with your burner is a deep one, you need to learn how it works.
Sweep your chimney, here we have rules that it needs to be done every second year. With that said you need to do it alot more often if you burn alot. We do it every year and we only go through 3-5 cubic meter every year.
If you want to deep dive and learn alot i'd recomend this book: https://www.amazon.com/Norwegian-Wood-Chopping-Stacking-Scandinavian/dp/1419717987/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1668171181&refinements=p_27%3ALars+Mytting&s=books&sr=1-1
It's 50% tips and 50% poetry regarding wood.
The sheds my father uses to dry and store firewood has 1" slits between the boards in the walls, and even some hatches on the walls without doors that can be opened to let even more air in.
He usually built the sheds with a front and back door, then stacked along the back wall first, then rows in front of that until it was filled up. This can take several years. Then he opened the back door and used the wood there first. That was he always used the oldest wood first.
Anyway...
Have you read this book?
https://www.amazon.com/Norwegian-Wood-Chopping-Stacking-Scandinavian/dp/1419717987/ref=sr_1_2
Every woodworker imho would benefit from having this book. https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Wood-Finishing-Comprehensive-Troubleshooting/dp/1565235665/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=understanding+wood+finishing+bob+flexner&qid=1659309580&sprefix=understanding+wood+fini%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-4
​
What kind of price range?
Just in case you don't see my reply to someone else the finish on one side only is a myth that was debunked in this book and well we have a fuck load of old furniture that is only finish on one side and it's still doing just fine.
That's a myth that was debunked in this book https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Wood-Finishing-Comprehensive-Troubleshooting/dp/1565235665 . The reason this happened is that the pieces that are glued on perpendicular to the grain of the top restricted the wood from expanding and contracting and it's the only reason this happened.
Understanding Wood Finishing https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565235665/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Nothing will make you better at finishing than experience, but the book sure does help.
If you’re doing it as a non serious hobby but do do it, the book will help, but I wouldn’t cover to cover read it, just hit the sections that cover what you use.
Yeah. Compressors are in demand.
If you don’t have it, consider:
Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology https://www.amazon.com/dp/1561583588/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YFGQYV402C6C76TYSE9T
It has a whole chapter on drying that’s really useful.
How thick are they? And what’s the weather been like when they were outside? We dry slabs for like 3-5 ‘summer’ months outside and then drive the humidity down to somewhere less than 10% in a solar kiln. 2”+ white oak really takes time to dry.
…that said, I find the spalting can be quite attractive on the right piece.
Excellent advice! Also, let me recommend Bob Flexner's book, "Understanding Wood Finishing". I thought this was an excellent reference that clears up a lot of the marketing nonsense and general misunderstandings that have confused the subject for so long.
https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Own-Electric-Guitar/dp/0953104907.
i may have a copy of this OP. its yours if i can find it. pm me.
dont want to be contrarian, but afik, it is only drying oil finishes, and specifically anything with linseed oil which will combust, and pretty much only on rags. here is a link to an article by Bob Flexnor who has forgotten more about finishes than pretty much anyone, his Understanding Wood Finishing is pretty much the first and last word on finishes of all types.
dont get me wrong, better to be safe than sorry, so any rag used with an oil based product of any kind should be dried flat, but not everything needs the can of water treatment...
Understanding Wood, and once you got that, Understanding Wood Finishing
If that’s the case, here is the Bible for wood finishing
Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish https://www.amazon.com/dp/1565235665/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_P25XM0RHWVP9AQXAZ7K7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1