Book Review: Scroll Saw Bench Guide by Zachary Taylor (2002), New York, Sterling Publishing, ISBN 0-8069-9139-9
Published in 2002, the Scroll Saw Bench Guide is a paperback that draws on information from both sides of the Atlantic to produce a comprehensive guide to scroll saw operation. The author is extremely experienced and is able to communicate his understanding of the scroll saw clearly. It is very easy to follow his explanations about getting the best out of a scroll saw, largely because he writes about types of equipment rather than specific machines. That said, he does illustrate his points with reference to individual machines and the text is always accompanied by very clear monochrome photographs and diagrams.
This book works on the sound assumption that its reader has used a scroll saw before. Let’s face it, the first book that most newcomers buy is normally a pattern book by either Patrick Spielman or Judy Gale Roberts, and that book will have sufficient information in the introduction to enable a novice to start work. So there are no patterns in Taylor's book. Instead, there are chapters that describe the mechanics of how a scroll saw cuts, how to maintain the saw, how blades cut wood, jigs, cutting techniques, tracking errors, marquetry, intarsia and a lot more.
Although I’m very familiar with my saws and I’ve been using them for quite a few years, this book opened my eyes to techniques that I’d either unconsciously adopted or was unaware of. The chapter on blade selection was a particular revelation. So was the section on jigs, an example of which is the explanation of how straight fences (and even a finger fence) can be used on a scroll saw. I'm now considering how I might be able to refine these jigs for my own purposes, which is always a sign that a book has made an impact. I’ve no doubt it will become a much loved friend and guide as I use my saw in future and my skills develop.
The Scroll Saw Bench Guide is not aimed at beginners so I am loathe to recommend it as a standard manual. However, I am sure most people who have ever asked themselves questions along the lines of “Why does my scroll saw do that?”, “I wonder if changing the blade would improve the cut?”, or “Wouldn’t it be nice if my scroll saw could…?” will find this book invaluable.
Gill
Published in 2002, the Scroll Saw Bench Guide is a paperback that draws on information from both sides of the Atlantic to produce a comprehensive guide to scroll saw operation. The author is extremely experienced and is able to communicate his understanding of the scroll saw clearly. It is very easy to follow his explanations about getting the best out of a scroll saw, largely because he writes about types of equipment rather than specific machines. That said, he does illustrate his points with reference to individual machines and the text is always accompanied by very clear monochrome photographs and diagrams.
This book works on the sound assumption that its reader has used a scroll saw before. Let’s face it, the first book that most newcomers buy is normally a pattern book by either Patrick Spielman or Judy Gale Roberts, and that book will have sufficient information in the introduction to enable a novice to start work. So there are no patterns in Taylor's book. Instead, there are chapters that describe the mechanics of how a scroll saw cuts, how to maintain the saw, how blades cut wood, jigs, cutting techniques, tracking errors, marquetry, intarsia and a lot more.
Although I’m very familiar with my saws and I’ve been using them for quite a few years, this book opened my eyes to techniques that I’d either unconsciously adopted or was unaware of. The chapter on blade selection was a particular revelation. So was the section on jigs, an example of which is the explanation of how straight fences (and even a finger fence) can be used on a scroll saw. I'm now considering how I might be able to refine these jigs for my own purposes, which is always a sign that a book has made an impact. I’ve no doubt it will become a much loved friend and guide as I use my saw in future and my skills develop.
The Scroll Saw Bench Guide is not aimed at beginners so I am loathe to recommend it as a standard manual. However, I am sure most people who have ever asked themselves questions along the lines of “Why does my scroll saw do that?”, “I wonder if changing the blade would improve the cut?”, or “Wouldn’t it be nice if my scroll saw could…?” will find this book invaluable.
Gill