200 Original Shop Aids & Jigs For Woodworkers [Paperback]

Rosario Capotosto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1987

A Popular Science book filled with ingenious solutions to hundreds of problems! Complete plans for building 80 jigs that let you cut right angles with a circular saw, rip and crosscut with a scroll saw, cut compound angles for inside and outside corners, bend, shape and cut metal parts--plus turn a portable electric drill into a mini-drill press, produce perfect corner radii with a band saw every time. "Great ideas, simply illustrated and explained."--Wooden Boat. "Generously shares hundreds of professional tips."--Workbench.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Great ideas, simply illustrated and explained." - Wooden Boat; "Generously shares hundreds of professional tips." - Workbench" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (July 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806965827
• ISBN-13: 978-0806965826
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #687,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for big tools, August 1, 2001

By 

"mdoubleu" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 200 Original Shop Aids & Jigs For Woodworkers (Paperback)

I bought this book because I had the impression it would contain a wide range of jigs for big tools like table saws, stationary routers, etc. There were some jigs for those, but not as many as I expected. The jigs shown for all the other (smaller tools) are very good. The books gives an impression of being very old by showing pictures with tools my father used to have when I was young, but jigs used then are still useful.

31 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very helpful book, May 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 200 Original Shop Aids & Jigs For Woodworkers (Paperback)

The number of jigs provided in this book has proven to be quite useful in my studio. On the odd chance that a jig is not provided to meet your need, you will find the necessary tools in this book to design your own.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chock full of ideas for accomplishing a lot with only simple tools, May 15, 2006

By 

QuincyAnn "QuincyAnn" (Rural Midwest USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 200 Original Shop Aids & Jigs for Woodworkers (Paperback)

Wow! An outstanding book for beginners! This also would be appropriate for medium-level woodworkers wanting more ideas on handy tricks and homemade jigs for unique geometries and better cut control.

I bought this to leaf through for ideas when I am wondering, "How am I going to make THAT cut with the tools I have?" Included are ideas for about every occasion--and with the simplest of power tools. Multiple photos on practically every page demonstrate work holding and tool operation positions.

The power tools in the photos look obviously dated, but that doesn't matter--or perhaps makes it all the better--because the jigs, aids, and techniques are appropriate for those of us who don't have Norm Abram's workshop and need to figure out how to do more with less--and to do it more safely. Almost all the jigs and fixtures are homemade and typically involve little more than scrap wood, carriage bolts, and C-clamps.

In addition to strictly woodworking techniques, this book includes a section on jigs and fixtures for metal bending and tube bending, sections on working with alternative materials such as ceramic tile, stained glass, and plastic laminate, and assembly techniques.

I can't understand the user comment about this being simply a book of blueprints. Some of the more complex jigs and fixtures do include prints, and there is a section of projects, many of which include simple prints, but even in the project section, the prints are far outnumbered by photos of steps in the processing and techniques for obtaining the cuts or other features desired. Projects seem to be chosen more for their demonstration of techniques than on the usability of the pieces themselves.

One does not have to make the more complex jigs to benefit from seeing the concept. Many of these jigs have commercially-available counterparts--they just cost more!

For a better idea of content, I have added a detailed contents and topics list to the "Product Wiki."