Learn Everything You Need to Know About the Most Important Tool in Your Shop.

Woodworking experts would agree that the first machine to purchase for a home workshop is the band saw. From simple cuts to joinery to intricate designs, chances are whatever you need to do, you can do it with a band saw. Now, from Mark Duginske, professional woodworker and band saw expert, comes the only book you'll need to master this versatile, safe, and indispensable power tool.

Whether you're seeking the basics or advanced techniques, it's all here, including:
o The questions you must ask before purchasing a new or used band saw
o How to set up, maintain, and safely operate your saw
o Proper blade selection and the secrets to making straight and curved cuts
o How to use patterns, templates, and accessories
o Four projects to develop your band saw skills

With an informative glossary and a valuable list of resources, this is the must-have reference for anyone looking to learn everything he or she needs to know about the band saw.

Mark Duginske is a fourth generation central Wisconsin woodworker. He makes his living as a woodworker, designer, writer, and inventor. He was formally a contributing editor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and now writes for a number of magazines. His work has appeared in Fine Woodworking, Fine Home Building, The Design Book, Americana, Chicago Magazine, Architectural Digest, Architectural Record, Woodsmith, Wood Shop News and Wood News. His restoration work in the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park, Illinois has appeared on This Old House and the PBS Frank Lloyd Wright Special. He has 8 patents on woodworking tools and a number of patents pending. He is the author of 10 books. He has done two videos for the Taunton Press.

The author gives readers the benefit of his lifetime experiences using a bandsaw - his favorite machine tool - in hopes they will gain confidence to use it in their workshops. The author of several books, including five others about the bandsaw, Duginske is also an inventor of many patented woodworking aids and devices including Cool Blocks replacement guides for the bandsaw and the Kreg bandsaw fence for resawing.
Duginske offers his expert advice in nine chapters that begin with a detailed introduction to the bandsaw's operation, followed by comprehensive information about buying a bandsaw. Next Duginske addresses setup, stressing the importance of understanding, selecting and maintaining bandsaw blades and of learning how to make bandsaw adjustments - from the first-time adjustments through vital everyday calibrations including tracking, tensioning and aligning.
Remaining chapters show how to do a variety of tasks with the bandsaw: make straight cuts for jobs like ripping and resawing, make curved cuts for projects such as those required for cabriole legs or bandsaw boxes, create and use patterns and templates, and create and use jigs to improve the bandsaw's accuracy. In the final chapter Duginske shows the reader how to cut mortise-and-tenon and dovetail joints on the bandsaw and how to make a dovetail jig.
Several chapters also include projects: a Scandinavian corner shelf, Shaker box, three-legged Shaker table, and bandsaw dovetailed step stool.

Mark Duginske's book, subtitled "Everything you need to Know About the Most Important Saw in the Shop", is right on the money. If you are just starting out, you would do well to consider the band saw for your first shop machine, particularly if you are not going to be process sheet goods. It's safe to use, inexpensive compared to a table saw, and extremely versatile. With it you can rip stock (and crosscut short stock), cut a variety of joints, cut curves, and re-saw lumber.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned woodworker you'll get the most out of any machine by understanding how it functions and how to adjust and maintain it.

"The New Complete Guide to the Band saw" is the cats meow when it comes to understanding the band saw. Any shortcomings can be ignored because of the overall completeness and scope of the book.

Duginske covers material in a sequential, logical format. There are copious photos and illustrations, though a number of the photos are really too small to see features clearly, and somewhat on the dark side.

He begins with an introduction to the band saw, its parts, and safety procedures, and then discusses the different models, styles, and features that you need to consider when shopping for a saw. A band saw is only as good as the blade on it, and Duginske does an excellent job of explaining how to select and maintain saw blades. He takes you through the finer points of adjusting the band saw, including blade tracking and tensioning. The latter part of the book then shows you techniques for making both straight and curved cuts (including re-sawing stock), and making and using jigs and templates.

This is definitely not a 'coffee table' book; it's really a 'shop manual' that you'll want to keep close at hand for the inevitable 'how-to' queries that come up regardless of how seasoned a woodworker you become.

Table of Contents:
Band Saw Basics
Shopping for a Bandsaw
Band Saw Blades
Adjusting the Band Saw
Sawing Straight Cuts
Sawing Curved Cuts
Patterns and Templates
Jigs and Fixtures
Sawing Joints
Glossary
Resources
Index

The subtitle of The New Complete Guide to the Band Saw is 'Everything you need to know about the most important saw in the shop”. That might say it all. The book has over 300 photos and illustrations and covers topics such as buying, setting up, and maintaining a band saw as well as how to get the most out of the machine with jigs and accessories. There are also project ideas, including a three-legged shaker table, a shaker step-stool, and an oval shaker box.