Workshop
Essentials DVD:
Jigs & Accessories
Vol. 1 &
2
by Steve Maskery
Published by Steve Maskery
R.R.P.$70.00
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 139
Jigs and fixtures are not just handy. They're often essential if the job is to be done accurately, safely and within an acceptable period of time.
Many, probably most, jigs are made on the spur of the moment when a need arises in the course of the work. These jigs are rarely well made and are usually discarded the moment they have served their purpose.
But there are other jigs and accessories - such as the ones described on this two DVD set, Workshop Essentials - Jigs & Accessories - that are intended to satisfy a repeated demand and are therefore made with care and thought.
Steve Maskery obviously enjoys designing and making devices to help his woodworking. Here, he presents a range of them: from an outfeed bench for a tablesaw, a measuring stick to make panel cutting easier and a complex tenoning jig - to custom-made marking gauges, a router-raiser Metric/Imperial converter and wooden headed adjustment screws.
Among other small items are slip gauges for a router or mortiser and what he calls his Waggleometer for a Festool Domino.
Steve Maskery makes no claims for the uniqueness of the jigs and accessories he discusses, though he does appear to have added his own touches, even to those with which the viewer may be familiar. Certainly, they are all sufficiently wide in their application to make them worthwhile considering in any workshop.
Maskery has a pleasant, down to earth style and the production of the DVDs is quite professional although a tad long-winded in places. The mantra, Right First Time/Every Time, works well as an ending to each sub-section of the video.
One particularly noticeable feature of the presentation is the focus on safety and each of the DVDs begins with a short discussion on eye protection. Maskery has more than common reason to stress the value that should be placed on eyesight, for his own now relies on corneal transplants.
Although reasonably well equipped, Steve Maskery's workshop appears to have more in common with those of recreational than professional woodworkers. It's located in a typical English garden shed and is small enough to require large panel work to be done outside. This gives his presentations unusual relevance to the broad community of woodworkers.
Duration:
Volume 1 Total running time approx. 1hr 30 mins
Volume 2 Total running time
approx. 1hr 21 mins
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Adobe Reader
required (not included)
DVD - English - NTSC