Woodwork with Router

Templates are used a lot with routers. Similarly, I wish this book were a template for the multitude of woodworking books available, because it is well-written, very complete, well-illustrated, entertaining, and except for Pat Warner's excellent router books, the best router book one could own.

More so than any other single tool, jig, fixture, or accessory in your shop, this book helps you solve problems and get the job done. Starting with the basics of selecting and using routers and bits, you'll believe by the time you're halfway through this book that the router can do every job all your other tools do. By the time you finish the book, you'll understand how to do it all for yourself. The reason is simple: a router is simply a powerfully driven bit that be be guided with great precision. Bill Hylton taps into its potential by exploring the various ways to hold and guide it, performing jobs normally associated with other tools, as well as the exciting and mundane traditional routing jobs. Whether you're a beginner or expert with a router or woodworking, this book has something of value for everyone. It is well illustrated with photos and line drawings, bringing life to Bill's clear and easy to read writing style.

I am an absolute beginner having just bought my router and table this week. I knew I could make nice edges on wood projects but I never new of all the other great effects I could do with the router until I read this book. It covers all the basics, as well as some advanced techniques, and has all the necessary jig designs a beginning woodworker needs to become very effective with the router in a short amount of time. I would call this the "Routers Bible" and recommend it 110%. If you only get one book on routers, then it better be this one.

This book covers every aspect of the router that you would ever want to know about! It covers both the hardware (routers, bits, jigs, plans for jigs and helpers) and techniques. The first few chapters are a must for a beginner or for an old timer to refresh their minds. The other chapters you may not need immediately (such as resurfacing with the router), but you will surely come back to the book when the need arises. Definitely the best I've seen on the subject up to now.

Not only does this book explain/show what you need to get started using that expensive router you just bought, they do so in a casual very readable style with good humor. Useful reccommendations on bits, their use and their care. Lots of plans like a good bit storage box, a great free-hand router table and useful jigs to handle many router problems. I even found directions on how to dado a 1/32" layer off a desktop - now try that with your table saw! These guys have lots of experience with routers and it shows in this thoughtful book. IMHO this is the best general router book of the several others I've read (Let's hear it for Good Local Library's and for volume purchasing) and is well worth the low price.