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The subtitle of this book is “A Complete Guide to Setup, Troubleshooting, and Maintenance”. You can read the Editorial Review above. I’ve become very leery of the use of “Complete” lately. The shop machines covered in this book are: jointer; table saw; thickness planer; drill press; bandsaw; router table; miter saw. He does a very good job on these. But hardly a complete guide. You will also note that “router table” is now a shop machine (and the router itself is not covered).

Perhaps I am being too nitpicking, but it really ticks me off when books are billed as being something they aren’t. Five stars for those tools covered, less two stars for what it promises and doesn’t deliver.
Rating: 3 / 5

The reason woodworkers want this book is to save money and time. Understanding and applying the knowledge herein might save your fingers and maybe even your life! I am not joking…

John White was the shop manager for Fine Woodworking for about a decade and is still a contributing editor. He has a wealth of practical knowledge and presents it clearly. I particularly like Mr. White’s style in some of his videos. He “cuts to the chase” by demonstrating you how things work, THEN explains them concisely. He also invented (or re-engineered) a very clever workbench and numerous practical shop-jigs. Now, not all of those ( or even very many ) are in this volume. I only mention that to illustrate the breadth and scope of the author’s knowledge. John White is certainly qualified to write about this subject.

The MOST IMPORTANT REASON that every newcomer should buy (or at least read) this book is to prevent hassles, mistakes, accidents, and bad buying-decisions.

For instance, if you do not understand how to adjust a tablesaw or bandsaw, how can you possibly choose a machine with the right features?

If you don’t know how to tell if a blade is square to the miter-slot (or fence,) and how to adjust it, you WILL experience kickback. (…not “IF” but “WHEN.”) Unlike that funny TV commercial, kickback is deadly serious.

There are over THIRTY THOUSAND wood-shop accidents every year, many of which are related to these main machines discussed in this book. I have seen a piece of plywood shoot from a table-saw and go careening across the shop at sixty-miles an hour like a demonic frisbee, then stick itself into a wall. That particular incident was caused by a novice who ignored basic rules of machine set-up and use. No one was killed or blinded that day, but he was lucky. Would you rather depend on luck or knowledge? If that guy would have followed the advice in this book, it would have never happened.

Those “bargain” tools we see in home-centers are often more trouble than they are worth. If you know what features to look for, then you can avoid buying junk. You can also spot a real bargain when you see one.

John’s set-up tricks can save money on wood too. When you gaff and destroy some lumber because a machine wasn’t set-up well or you used it improperly, you throw money down the drain. The small investment in this reference will definitely pay a beginner backs MANY TIMES over!

BTW… If your primary interest is table-saws, you really should online-search “Ed Bennett” and the “tsaligner.” (Table-Saw Align-er). Ed developed a tool and methods (plural) for really dialing in any decent table-saw. He has taken the subject of table-saw adjustment to a degree of accuracy that approaches and meets machine-shop standards. He has a good web-site with so much information I can’t possibly delineate much of it here. Once you understand Mr. Bennett’s approach, the same methods can be applied to numerous machines.

I agree with another reviewer that Taunton’s use of the word “complete” in the tittle is wrong. This is nowhere near complete. But the information is crucial to choosing the right equipment, using it well, and keeping it in top shape for best results.

This book covers crucial adjustments for the main machines. Not only that, but the concepts are universal. Simple tools, jigs and geometry will measure and verify every shop-tool operation for safety and accuracy. How much is THAT knowledge worth?

No finite tome can possibly cover every possible machine or set-up scenario.

This does show beginners how to choose and safely use the most common shop machines.

Heck, even and old-fart like me learns a new trick now and then, and I have learned a few from John White. I have had to train dozens of people in various work environments over the decades. If I could have had this volume thirty years ago, it would have saved a whole lot of time. I’d just say to every new guy that walked in looking for a job, “Here… read this.”

John’s advice will save you money, and possibly a trip to the hospital too. That alone is worth the price of admission. If you run a woodworking shop with employees, this should be mandatory reading. If you can’t buy it, go to the library and check it out.
Rating: 5 / 5

I’ve been having some problems getting my jointer tables aligned properly, and happened upon this book by accident. What luck! This book is full of great info on tune-ups and alignment. John White goes in depth into the set up and alignment of primary power tools (jointer, planer, table saw, bandsaw, router table, drill press and miter saw). His writing is clear, easy to understand and follow, with plenty of very descriptive pictures. The book is very complete on each of the tools covered. I truly appreciated that he used many shop-built jigs and common tools to get things done.
Rating: 5 / 5