[1] The magazine focuses on the very best of woodworking techniques at the highest level of skill.

The magazine emphasizes high-quality work regardless of the difficulty of execution.

Taunton encourages this, with sales of back issues and the publication of indexes.

These began as collections of the best general articles in a numbered series '"Fine Woodworking" Techniques' (8 volumes from 1985 to 1986).

[2] Later there were more strongly-themed "Best of Fine Woodworking" collections on particular topics such as: "Joinery",[3] "Making and Modifying Machines", "Bending Wood", "Woodshop Specialities" and many others.