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by: Mark Duginske
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Book Description Here's every saw, blade, option, and technique-along with 1,000 illustrations and instructions that present a complete course in cutting basics. "Offers some terrific troubleshooting hints, projects, and basic instructions."-Booklist. "Even devoted band saw users will find valuable information in this book...an enlightening experience."-Workbench. "Duginske describes how to properly fine-tune and use this versatile tool for straight cuts, curves, and joinery."-Library Journal
Make Your Bandsaw Purr Like a Kitten: I've been a woodworker for 34 years, and was an electrician in the U.S. Navy for 6 years. I graduated from the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power school while in the Navy, and I earned a BA in English after I was discharged. I'm not writing this to brag, but to show my qualifications to review this book in particular. After buying BANDSAW HANDBOOK, I applied the knowledge I learned from reading it to buy a Delta 14" bandsaw at auction. My "new" saw ran OK when I brought it home, but ran much, much better after I super-tuned it using the info in Duginske's book. First, I replaced the 1/2 HP motor with a 1 HP to give the saw more pep, and then worked to reduce vibration in the saw. (According to the author, vibration in the machine will cause a scratchy, low quality cut, and I can verify this from my own experience). First, I used rubber mounts to isolate the motor from the saw frame. Next, I replaced the v-belt with a funny-looking Power Twist brand belt, and installed new lathe-turned pulleys on both the motor and the saw. I used a precison straight-edge to carefully align the pulleys in the same plane, and then I did the same thing to the saw's 14 inch wheels. Next, I very painstakingly balanced the wheels (I was surprised at how much metal I needed to shave off each to get a perfect balance). After following Duginske's extensive instructions to tune-up the other parts of the saw, I replaced the hardened steel guide blocks with "Cool Blocks". The fact that Duginske invented "Cool Blocks" himself, shows that he really knows bandsaws! I can now balance a worn nickel, on-edge, on the saw table with the saw running. I even ran the saw for over 5 minutes and the nickel never fell over. I learned to do all of this from just two chapters in the book. The other chapters are just as packed with reliable information covering all other aspects of owning, understanding and using a bandsaw effectively. Needless to say, I am very happy that I bought and applied the knowledge packed into BANDSAW HANDBOOK, and I highly recommend it to beginners and old pros alike. Duginske will teach you everything you need to know to make your bandsaw purr like a kitten. He is an excellent writer, very well organised, and his writing is very clear -- even when describing highly detailed technical operations. Buy this book, read it, understand it, and apply it to your bandsaw. This book gets two enthusiastic thumbs up, and if you apply Duginske's lessons on safety, you might even keep both of YOUR thumbs!
Solid Buy ... But Add Bird's "Bandsaw Book" As a novice woodworker involved in home reconstruction and associated projects such as building bookcases, wall shelves, built-in desks, cabinets, etc., my basic shop until now has consisted of the trusty table saw, compound mitre, router and more recently a 13" Delta planer (great tool). Having found access to a terrific hardwood lumber wholesale outlet, the issues of economically getting boards of out 6"-12" rough cut lumber and getting into jointing/fancy cuts, naturally placed my focus on bandsaws for resawing, tenon cuts, scroll work and such. The Bandsaw Handbook is worth every penny and it takes only a few pennies to place a lot of information at your fingertips here. It would be helpful to get real, detailed, color pictures (and fewer sketches) into future editions, if any. As a serious bandsaw buyer, I'm still left with (as with Bird's book and also very helpful) the fuzzy problem of finding the best all-around buy for my needs. Neither book does a great job in my mind on "how to select a bandsaw". However, this is probably the primary reason why many of us "weekend woodworkers" buy the books to begin with - seasoned bandsaw owners don't need it. Still looking for that simple, practical guide for the bandsaw investment. Regardless .. buy Bandsaw Handbook by Duginske if you are considering getting into the bandsawing world, its loaded.
Reviews:
The band saw bible: Arguably the best book on band saws. It has a wealth of information not covered in most other books on the subject and then some. It even has a short chapter on the history of the band saw which I found very interesting. One interesting note is that Duginske is a proponent of coplanar tracking. I have Nick Engler's very good book on band saws and he *isn't* a proponent of coplanar tracking. It's good to read opposing views from these two woodworking authorities. If you have a band saw or are thinking about getting a band saw you *need* this book...whether you become/are a proponent of coplanar tracking or not. :-)