50 Shop-Made Jigs & Fixtures is a fitting tribute to Danny Proulx, who passed away unexpectedly in 2004. Danny was an excellent cabinet maker, as well as a prolific author with over a dozen books to his credit. He constantly emphasized expediency and safety - two themes that form the core of this book.

The jigs and fixtures presented in the book are all very simple - that is, simple to build and use. All are useful, and some are indispensible.

Each project includes a short description of the nature of the jig or fixture, with a clear and concise description, in a step-by-step format, of how to make it. The photographs are well done, showing you the salient points you need to know. A cutting list is also included - in both imperial and metric measurements. An illustration also accompanies each project.

The jigs and fixtures cover 8 categories: safety related, table saw, router table, hand hand router, drill press, band saw, miter saw, and hand tools.

Going through this book I was surprised at how many of the jigs and fixtures I have made over the years. Most of them I use so regularly that I tend to see them as part of my tool kit as opposed to jigs that I might use now and then.

You don't need to slavishly follow Danny's instructions to the letter. You can easily modify these jigs and fixtures to suit the kind of woodworking you do. For a lot of the jigs Danny uses shop grade plywood - you can substitute another sheet material (like MDF or Baltic Birch plywood), or even use hardwood. If the projects you make tend to be small, then you can make some of these jigs smaller to accommodate your work. Half the fun is experimenting - it's where the learning curve really peaks!

If you are an seasoned woodworker with a decade or so of shop experience under your belt, then this book is not for you. But, if you are a novice or amateur woodworker, and have been enjoying the craft for only a few years, this book will certainly help make your woodworking more enjoyable, easier, and ultimately safer. If you are just getting into woodworking then this is a 'must have' book. 

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