Product Description

This comprehensive course on making joints with a router is divided into four sections. It starts with a course on the tool itself, plus bits, special holding systems and techniques, and looks at features to consider when buying, which basics are usually included and how to make your own improvements. Part two looks at the different woodworking joints, from rabbets and dadoes to mortise and tenons to the most special and rarely-used kinds, and how to execute them with the router. The third part explores the special techniques at which the router excels: make multiples of a shape with template routing; join curving edges without a gap; fix defects in the wood; and decorate a plain project with inlay. The last section includes projects such as a totebox, bookcase, frame and panel door and a small table.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #499569 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Customer Reviews

Good Luck
As I beginner I was anxious to read and do everything in this book from front to back. She's obviously a skilled craftsperson and her jigs are well built and thought out. I however became discourged quickly with the complexity of them. I found that the materials she suggests for the projects are hard to find, ie, baltic birch plywood, acrylic over 1/4", HDPE plastic,veneer screws, and adhesive backed sandpaper. My local hardware stores and lumber yards did not have these materials. Wait until you see the vacuum clamping system she recommends! If you enjoy scavenger hunts this book is for you.

If you start by building "her" router table the jigs work better, but I already have a nice router table and don't care to make the invasive modifications she recommends when other plans and jigs are available elsewhere that adapt well to what I have.

Of couse if some of the jigs and parts are too difficult for you, you can find them prebuilt and available for a price at her own website!

WoodWorking Student
I have taken several of the hands on classes that the author offers on the use of routers. She is a great teacher. The book does a super job of covering the materials from the classes.

The photographs and illustrations are clear and easy to understand. If you follow the instructions in the book there is a much better chance that will be able to use your router without getting hurt and you will enjoy using it all that much more.

The jigs, shown in the book are very useful and practical. They are simple and you wonder why you never thought of them. They make using your router much safer and user friendly.

Just the tips on how to setup a dovetail jig are worth the price of the book.

Check out the author's website http://www.routerlady.com for more information about the tools she markets and her classes.

I was pleasantly surprised!
To tell you the truth, I got this book when I forgot to return a woodworking book club card in time. When the package came, I thought about writing "return" on it, but was curious as to which title was inside. It was this one!

As a visual person, I was immediately impressed with the copious number of photographs and illustrations. The pictures are well balanced with the text which is clearly written and to the point. A LOT of ground is covered in only 172 pages.

The book has four main sections:

Section One: "Tools, Jigs and Techniques" covers the basics: Choosing a Router, Router Bits, Jiggery (9 different ones), Special Holding Systems, and Basic Router Techniques. (First 76 pages)

Section Two: "The Joints" covers Rabbets, Dadoes, Grooves and Slots, Box Joint, Mortises and Tenons, Dovetails, and Special Joints with Special Bits
Special Stuff (Next 49 pages)

Section Three: "Special Stuff" covers Routing with Templates (including inlays)
(10 pages)

Section Four: "Practice Projects" contains 5 project plans, the most complicated of which is a gorgeous Router Bit Cabinet with router bit trays (which also includes practice making a frame and panel door and a dovetailed drawer.
(16 pages)

The remainder of the book is a Glossary, Sources, etc.

I did not know anything about Carol Reed's reputation before cracking this book, but it is clear from both the text and the pictures that she knows of what she speaks!

If you are looking for a good first book on using a router for something besides putting pretty edges on boards, this book is highly recommended!