Customer Reviews

The New Scroll Saw Handbook

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I haven't touched my Scroll Saw since High School (10+ years). I wanted to fire it up again and do a little more than cutting letters out of plywood. I bought this book primarily because it looked pretty extensive and was recently re-published. It mostly covers technique and has no patterns for stupid schlock like owl napkin holders. This book shows you what you can do with your saw from simple to complex. If you are a beginner or looking to increase your skill, this is a must have.

Synopsis (quote)
The world's leading scroll saw expert offers a masterful comprehensive reference covering the equipment, materials, and artistry, from time-honoured methods to critiques of the latest machines and accessories. A bestseller in its classic first edition for 15 years, the guide's massive technical updates and new sections make an even more valuable contribution, with simplified instructions on ways to apply the latest innovations and how to make the best projects from the past even better. Sections on current models and major parts of the scroll saw; accessories; how to select a saw; blades, speeds, & feeds; safety techniques & guidelines; patterns & layout; scroll-sawing basics; stack-cutting & cutting thick wood; sawing thin & small stock; compound sawing; inlay work; marquetry basics; fine fretwork; appliques & overlays; joinery; sawing plastics; sawing metals; segmentation & intarsia; finishing basics.

The synopsis above says it all, but what it doesn't say is how readable and informative it is. I first saw the early edition of this book at my uncle's, and spent the entire evening engrossed in it, to the dismay of my wife and aunt, but delight of my uncle. Subsequently I purchased the new updated version, and was pleasantly surprised at how many of the modern saws were included and appraised. Although American, so are the majority of the designs in your major Hardware Store (even if they're actuallly produced in China or Taiwan).

The history of the scroll saw is given, with plenty of pictures of the various makes, showing improvements and simplifications to the basic design. Then we get the theory and mechanics of scroll sawing and why some designs are better and/or more or less expensive than others - what you get for your money, in short.

The book manages to avoid the trap of 'designs that any idiot can make', instead detailing the whole gamut of techniques, blades, jigs and materials to enable one to produce anything from the simplest to the most complex, professional-looking piece of work.

Loaded with hints, tips, Dos&Dont's, this is a must-buy for all woodwork/filigree enthusiasts. *****

A little long on the history of scroll saws but still very interesting. Well put together and relitively up to date on equipment. The only scrollsaw not shown is the new Delta saw. Great book for beginners but there is something in this book for everyone. Very well documented lots of how-to photos.

This book is very informative and a must have for all those interested in learning to use a Scroll Saw.
I was very pleased with this book and would highly recommend it. It is very thorough and covers all the bases concerning Scroll Saws such as history of the saw, saftey tips, how the saw works and much more useful information.

This is a good-sized volume, and a nice reference book for this particular tool. It is exhaustive in its exploration of all of the different types of projects that the scroll saw can be used for. It also talks about routine maintenance and blade changes, how to tell if your machine is running properly, the pros and cons of different blade types and sizes, and what kinds of wood are appropriate for the scroll saw and won't waste all of the time and effort being put into the project at hand. All very useful information.

There is also a ton of information on the history of the scroll saw, which I found to be marginally interesting. The only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars is the huge section that is meant to help you choose which scroll saw is right for you. The saws are outdated. This is a 2002 edition of a book originally published in the 80's. I assumed that the models would be current, but they really aren't. Unless you are trying to buy a used saw that has been around for a while, the information in that section isn't particularly helpful.

Having said that, I still really like this book, and it is well worth the $7 or so I spent for it. I am inspired to try out a few different kinds of projects now. Of course the projects I am inspired to try are quite complex, requiring hundreds of precision cuts that are beyond my current skill level, so I am practicing up before wasting any expensive wood.

I thought I knew a little about the scroll saw and this book showed me how little really I knew. I know what projects that I want to build and this book has the answers on techniques that I need to accomplish them all.
Referencing the scroll saw machine features from the book, I bought the Hitachi 16" Variable Speed Scroll Saw Model: CW40 from Lowes [great value: $150, including table legs, vacuum port, 45` table tilt left & right, flexible blower hose, accepts plain or pin end blades, attached work light, and with a $25 rebate/gift card] Now I feel almost totally prepared to begin trying my hand at a new skill.

There is a lot of info in there, almost too much in some chapters like machine history, but it is very much worth the USED LIKE NEW book price.

Everything you ever wanted to know about scroll saws. Originally checked a copy out of the library and after looking it over decided I had to have a copy. Every scroller should have one!!

Great little book, covers a little more than i needed about the history of scrollsaws and various types/ brands, but and its a big but, this book does not skimp on technique and is packed other useful information, blades, speedds, how to cut a million different things. Probably the only scrollsaw book you'll ever need and that's something.