The New Scroll Saw Handbook

by Patrick Spielman

This bestseller's massive technical updates and new sections make an even more valuable contribution, with simplified instructions. “Terrific, everything a book should be.”— Fine Woodworking . “Excellent....Belongs in all public libraries.”— Library Journal . “Everything you would possibly want to know about the history, operation and cutting techniques.”— Woodshop News

Genres: Woodwork

352 pages, softcover

First published May 28, 2002

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good-sized volume, and a nice reference book for this particular tool. It is exhaustive in its exploration of all of the different types of projects that the scroll saw can be used for. It also talks about routine maintenance and blade changes, how to tell if your machine is running properly, the pros and cons of different blade types and sizes, and what kinds of wood are appropriate for the scroll saw and won't waste all of the time and effort being put into the project at hand. All very useful information.

There is also a ton of information on the history of the scroll saw, which I found to be marginally interesting. The only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars is the huge section that is meant to help you choose which scroll saw is right for you. The saws are outdated. This is a 2002 edition of a book originally published in the 80's. I assumed that the models would be current, but they really aren't. Unless you are trying to buy a used saw that has been around for a while, the information in that section isn't particularly helpful.

Having said that, I still really like this book, and it is well worth the $7 or so I spent for it. I am inspired to try out a few different kinds of projects now. Of course the projects I am inspired to try are quite complex, requiring hundreds of precision cuts that are beyond my current skill level, so I am practicing up before wasting any expensive wood.

[Joel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Scroll Saw Handbook is a very good introduction into the hobby of scroll sawing. It is exceptionally thorough starting with an overview of scroll saws available on the market today, basic techniques and tips for scroll sawing, and all the way to advanced techniques and projects. I am an intermediate scroll saw hobbyist and I learned many new tips from reading this as well as new projects that I could do with my scroll saw.

[Ali]

A