Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 The router book with the widest range of topics August 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I like this book for a lot of reasons. That includes clear and enjoyable writing, good pictures that support the text, minimal non-usable material, and content that extends my vision. This is not really positioned as "Router 101" type of book. While it does have some introductory material in the opening chapters, it doesn't stop there - far from it, in fact! The number and types of jigs the book covers is just amazing, plus it manages to convey how to build them without wasting enormous numbers of pages on unnecessary details. Multiple approaches to many jigs are also presented, too. There is useful advice embedded throughout the book, ranging from bit selection to the depth of carcass sliding dovetails. I particularly appreciate perspective advice like the latter, as a simplistic presentation of how to cut a sliding dovetail alone will get you plenty frustrated once you try fitting one a half-inch deep and 12 inches long!
This is a Reader's Digest book. Don't let that hold you back. They've had some pretty good woodworking titles, and this book is well-made in addition to being really well-written. Another is Bob Flexner's Understanding Wood Finishes book. I used to regard Taunton as the gold standard in woodworking books. Lately it seems as though 90% of what they publish is retreads of Fine Woodworking articles.
 impressed and disappointed at the same time July 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
One of the reviews I read here said that this book was all about making one's own jigs and not buying commercial jigs. I wanted to make dovetails but really didn't feel like spending a ton of cash on a jig and a bushing. So I bought the book primarily hoping to find a good way make dovetail jigs or even a trick for cutting them by hand. Well, the book told me to buy a jig. I guess I should have just bought one, it's just that it's awfully hard to spend almost $100 on something that will be used so infrequently.
One the positive, the book had plans for a small table-top router table. It worked out very well and even though it was a very simple design, I sure didn't think of it. That was a good find.
If I ever wanted to really get into woodworking, I think I'd find the book more useful. While I enjoy woodworking quite a bit, I don't have time to really get into it. Most of my woodworking is done as part of larger projects. I think that limits the usefulness of the book, at least for now. But I'll keep it around and who knows, I might find more goodies when I am ready for them.
This really is the manual that your router company didn't include June 3, 2008
Normally these kind of books, I end up reading the first couple of chapters and putting it on the shelf to collect dust. I actually brought this into the office one slow day, and was 3/4 of the way through the book in no time, and taking notes!
My router (used) actually didn't come with a manual. With this book I was able to get by just fine. The book teaches you the fundamentals of the router, and in doing so is teaching you how to safely operate it.
I did buy into the Eurekazone System which I highly recommend that you look into. This will save you from buying a router table, combined with this book, it'll save you a lot of money.
Excellent Book... May 23, 2008
This is an excellent resource for the beginning woodworker interested in learning about the router.
Too many jigs, not enough bits May 21, 2008
I'm a total beginner in woodworking. I purchased "Woodworking with the Router", to get a basic understanding on how a router is constructed and how it operates. The 1st few chapters were just what I was looking for. What I expected next was descriptions of the most commonly used bits, and how to use them. Instead I got jigs. Ultimately, this book is going to be a valuable reference for making your own jigs, but in the meantime I've got to find out what to do with the bits.
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