Testimonials From Clients and Students

"Revelations on Table Saw Set-up & Safety"
5-DVD Boxed Set

"ALL you need to know about using the tablesaw."

Like each DVD in this set, let me start this review with a warning and a disclaimer: If you are the kind of person who starts using a new tool as soon as they get it and only consults the manual after something has gone horribly wrong, this DVD set is not for you. You will get bored well before the end of the first disc and nothing short of being confined to a chair with a broken leg will make you sit through the nearly 10 hours of instruction.

If, however, you read the fine print before you sign anything; you study the whole manual before assembling a tool let alone using it, and if you more than a little nervous about using the tablesaw, this DVD set is for you. Varju starts with setting up the saw, covering subjects such as blade parallelism, fence alignment and splitter placement. He then goes on to other safety features such as featherboards and inserts. We then learn about the basics of ripping and crosscutting, including how to safely handle wide or narrow stock.

How to safely make beveled rip cuts on a right-tilt saw is shown in great detail, as is how to cut dadoes and rabbets. Lastly, Varju shows you how to make a dead-on accurate crosscut sled and concludes with some general thoughts on woodworking. The $95 (Canadian) price may seem a bit steep (it currently equates to about $80 U.S.), but Varju’s DVDs match their claim of being “Private Woodworking Instruction in a Box”.

The only thing that makes me hesitate to praise this DVD is that Varju may ask me to review his next production. Based on his first DVD, “Jointer and Planer Secrets” lasting 4 hrs 38 mins, and this DVD set lasting nearly 10 hrs, at this rate of growth the next epic will last over 21 hrs. Broken leg anyone?

-- Mark Schofield
    Managing Editor of Fine Woodworking Magazine

Hendrik has done an amazing job of providing a ton of detail. It’s almost as if you have travelled to his shop and you’re taking an all day seminar with him. He puts so much information into these DVDs that it really feels like you are there. The best part about it is you can pretty much put him on pause, walk away and do whatever it is that you need to do, then come back a couple of days later and you can pick it up right there where you left off. With this new DVD, “Revelations on Table Saw Set-up & Safety”, you just might have to do that because there is close to ten hours worth of information here. It’s set up on five different DVDs, so you’ve got a ton of watching to do.

You can jump feet first into a lot of the stuff with the table saw, but a lot of times we kind of get ourselves in over our heads. Hendrik has helped to point out the little things that, in all honesty, down the road make a huge difference. So it’s definitely worth checking out.

One of the most important things in this DVD, and I can’t emphasize this enough, is when we get to the safety aspects. He does an excellent job of talking about the proper way to set up your blade guard, ripping a board, crosscutting a board and working with solid lumber versus plywood. He really, really breaks this down in a very, very informative way. But I think that the number one thing that I took from this DVD, and I’ve watched it several times over and over, he explains how kickback actually occurs and what can happen. He not only explains this with diagrams and just a dry run, but he actually takes a piece of very thick rigid foam and demonstrates an actual kickback. He shows how it happens, the way that we pinch the blade just the right way and you see this thing flying backwards! Now obviously it’s a lot safer to do it with a thick piece of foam than it is with a solid piece of lumber, but the camera person actually slows this down so you see the blade catch on the piece, flip it back, and even though it’s a piece of foam you can see the reaction is scary enough as it is. So that alone to me was just outstanding. It’s something we talk about enough but to actually see it is a totally different thing and it may be just enough to make you even more safety conscious.

-- Matt Vanderlist
    Host of Matt’s Basement Workshop Podcast

"Hands down the best Table Saw DVD out there."

I reviewed Hendrik’s DVD (Jointer and Planer Secrets) a while ago and was very pleased with it. When Hendrik came out with a new DVD on Table Saws, I was very interested in getting it. At first the price of $94.95 CDN, might seem a little high, but what you get makes it worth every penny. I really wish I had this DVD when I bought my first table saw!

This is a 5 DVD set and it has almost 10 hours footage. As with his Jointer DVD set, Hendrik always focuses on safe operation of the tool. To use a table saw safely, it needs to be set up properly and this is what he talks about first. His approach to setting up a table saw is different from most of what I have read/seen about table saws. Most books and DVDs really gloss over how a table saw should be set up. Hendrik goes into great detail on why he sets table saws up the way he does. His explains how his methods will improve your safety and the accuracy of your cuts.

Hendrik then goes into great detail on how to make just about every type of cut you would do on a table saw and how to do them safely.

Rip cuts on long and short boards

Rip cuts on wide and narrow boards

Crosscuts on all sizes of board

Rabbet and dado cuts

Handling large sheet goods

Beveled rip cuts

He also gives one of the most compelling arguments on why you should have a right-tilt table saw over a left-tilt. I don’t think this topic will ever have a clear “winner”. It’s like asking someone if you should cut tails or pins first ? I would like to try a right-tilt saw sometime, and will seriously consider it if and when I buy a new table saw.

Another concept that came up in the DVD, was the idea of using your miter gauge on the right side of your blade instead of the “standard” left side. After you learn how Hendrik recommends setting up your saw, this just makes all the sense in the world.

Also included on the DVDs is a demonstration of how kickback happens. If you haven’t experienced kickback yet, the demonstration will be an eye-opener! Hendrik talks quite a bit about kickback. I believe after learning what I have from this DVD and implementing Hendrik’s recommendations, I can be confident that I have done everything possible to eliminate the scary event.

Also included on the DVDs is a very detailed demonstration on how to build a crosscut sled. He doesn’t leave any step out. You see him build it from start to finish. He has many tips on how to get the most accurate set up for your sled.

Hendrik has inspired me to be a safer woodworker. So much so, I’m putting my splitter and guard back onto my table saw. Now that I know how it is supposed to be setup and used, I’m embarrassed I ever took it off! All those TV woodworkers that say they took their splitter/guard off for better “visual clarity” should be embarrassed! They are doing a great disservice to the new and novice woodworker.

You can find Hendrik over at www.passionforwood.com.

-- 5-Star Rated Review on www.lumberjocks.com

“A Course on Tablesaw Safety and Setup”

Hendrik Varju recently released his epic DVD, Revelations on Tablesaw Set-up & Safety. This is not your everyday average DVD. At 9 hrs and 55 min. running time, this is really like a private weekend class. Hendrik is thorough and methodical in his approach, and leaves no stone unturned. This is one of those DVD’s that I like to think of as a reference DVD. Its one that you’ll be pulling off the shelf for years to come just so you can get the low down on some detail that Hendrik covered.

Here’s what the DVD features:

Step-by-step table saw set-up techniques.

Crosscutting and ripping techniques.

Narrow, wide and short stock ripping techniques.

Dados, rabbets, bevelled rip cuts and other special cases.

Bonus footage on building a crosscut sled.

So who do I recommend this DVD for? Primarily beginners. I say that with a little hesitation because there are a ton of valuable gems that even experienced woodworkers will benefit from learning. I wish this DVD were available when I first started woodworking as it would have saved me a lot of grief!

You can learn more about Hendrik and purchase his instructional DVDs at PassionForWood.com.

-- Mark Spagnuolo
    Host of The Wood Whisperer Video Podcast

This 5-DVD box set is the second in a series of ‘Private Woodworking Instruction in a Box’. Varju offers woodworking training from his Canadian workshop and produces a range of fine furniture – check out his www.passionforwood.com website.

The first four chapters (around 21⁄4hours) cover a series of steps required to set up your tablesaw, as well as its safe operation, such that you can obtain accurate results from the saw. The topics covered include blade-to-mitre-slot non-parallelism, fence alignment and
splitter placement, as well as a range of accessories for the saw. The presentation is detailed and thorough and there is a very strong emphasis on safety.

Crosscutting and ripping
In the six following chapters (around 33⁄4 hours), the tablesaw techniques of crosscutting and ripping are examined. From ripping in general, Varju examines special approaches for ripping both wide and narrow stock and bevelled cuts.

The final chapter of this informative section covers cutting dadoes and rabbets using a dado head fitted to the tablesaw; note, however, that the use of dado heads is illegal in this country [England].

As promised on the front of the box, Chapters 11 to 13 provide the bonus footage. Varju presents a tutorial (a further 33⁄4 hours) on the construction of a crosscut sled for your tablesaw. This is presented in full detail concentrating on the preparation of the two slides which run in the mitre slots as well as getting the front fence at 90° to the cut line.

Finally, he shares some of his thoughts on woodworking, including the importance of regular habits for safe working practices. Overall, this DVD set offers value for money and should enable the viewer to improve the results from their tablesaw. The only downside is the variable sound volume – but a hand on the remote control solves this problem.

-- Alan Wadsworth
    Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine

Hendrik Varju is a Canadian craftsman whose business Passion for Wood became known around the world when he produced his first DVD: Jointer and Planer Secrets.

This is the second video in what he clearly intends to be a comprehensive instructional series. Like the first, Varju calls it ‘Private Woodworking in a Box’.

It’s an apt title, given the quietly efficient presentation style and the wealth of information that Varju provides.

There are five DVDs in the pack totaling almost 10 hours of video!

The presentation begins with a discussion on safety, but unlike some other presenters, Varju never puts the subject of safety entirely aside; he refers to it continually as he progresses through the instructional material.

Varju starts his Revelations on Table Saw Set-up with a list of the topics to be considered. The list is expanded later as he explores them further, but initially, it comprises:

Ensure that the extension wings and extension table of the saw are flush with the main table

Check that the table insert is flush or below the main table

Adjust the trunnions so that the arbor is exactly at right angles to the mitre slot

Make the rip fence parallel to the mitre slots

Check the saw tilt and accurately set the stops for 90° and 45°

Remove any slop between the mitre gauge and the mitre slot

Ensure that the alignment of the splitter (riving knife) is correct

On the face of it, this might seem like a reasonably simple list, but as Varju analyses each function of the table saw, he shows there is often much more to these adjustments than meets the eye.

He also explores peripheral areas that impact upon table saw accuracy.

For example, in a discussion about whether it is better to have a saw on the which the blade tilts to the left or to the right, he shows the impact of these alternatives on the accurate setting of the rip fence and the changes that occur with each when opting for a blade of a different thickness.

Included in these DVDs is a step-by-step tutorial for the building of a Crosscut Sled.

This section contains a fascinating demonstration of how to use a standard thicknesser to achieve the thousandths of an inch shavings necessary to make runners that will fit smoothly and firmly into the mitre slots of the saw.

Hendrik Varju has a talent for vocalizing his thoughts as he performs an action. The viewer sees what is happening and at the same time hears what the presenter is thinking.

It’s unlikely that anyone who is seriously interested in learning how to set up their table saw for greatest accuracy and safety will be bored – even after 9 hours and 55 minutes viewing this video.

-- As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 148

I just finished watching Hendrik Varju's new DVD "Revelations on Table Saw Set-up & Safety" http://www.passionforwood.com/dvds.htm. It is by far the most complete video I've ever seen on the subject. Techniques and set-up steps that are barely brushed over in other videos are explained step by step by Hendrik. There are interesting tips throughout and nothing is left for the viewer to ponder on how he gets from A to B as some videos tend to do.

Setting up and adjusting a right tilt cab saw, including wings and extension tables, takes up a good part of the DVD. He explains his reasons for preferring right over left tilt and makes very convincing arguments for his conclusions. There is a very good section on blade selection also.

In the technique section he covers quite a few situations that might arise while using the saw and gives good advice on how to handle them.

Safety is the paramount lesson from this DVD. Hendrik goes into detail on how to safely make many cuts and mentions a few he wouldn't make using a TS.

Like his first DVD on Jointers and Planers, this one leaves the viewer with very few questions at the end. Neither are inexpensive, but the quantity and quality of information on them far surpasses the usual video fare. I've been working wood for more than 30 years and there were eye openers for me on this DVD.

For a beginner I would unhesitatingly recommend this DVD. It would probably save a few accidents or close calls even for the more experienced.

-- Brent Smith (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
    Review posted on Workshop Buzz, Wood Central and Sawmill Creek woodworking forums

I wanted to let you know I was finally able to watch your new DVD "Revelations on Table Saw Set-up & Safety". I consider myself an experienced amateur woodworker. After watching your DVD, I learned how much I didn't know about using a table saw. You have inspired me to put my splitter and blade guard back on my table saw. Now that I know what it is really for and how to set it up, I'm ashamed I ever took it off. I've read a lot about table saw set up and use, but many of the concepts you talked about were new to me. You gave the most compelling argument for right-tilt versus left-tilt saws. Your approach to use your miter gauge on the right side of the blade, was interesting. I'm not sure why I never thought of it. When I use a crosscut sled, I always cut from the right side so why not with the miter gauge. It must be because that is what you always see on TV. Speaking of TV, I now think the idea of removing the guard for "visual clarity" is a real cop out. I now think it does a real disservice for new woodworkers.

Thanks again for putting out a product that no one else is coming close to matching.

-- Michael L. (Bothell, Washington, USA)

Don't ask me how or why but I no sooner ordered my table saw when I found myself looking at your web site. I ordered 3 of your videos and once these arrived I became obsessed. I know I'm not telling you anything you haven't heard many times before but these are absolutely spectacular -- you're spectacular. You're wonderful -- a true sage.

While I went out of my way to make sure I ordered the table saw from someone who would deliver and install it, in retrospect, that was a mistake as I literally had to completely disassemble it after coming to appreciate your Table Saw series -- a brilliant work of art. I'm not kidding you when I say I'm obsessed. Between this series, the Planer/Jointer and the Plywood series, I don't know which one I've watched more and whenever I'm watching one the others are calling. There continue to be new insights every time I watch so I have to keep on watching.

-- John D. (New Jersey, USA)

I've just watched for the first time (I'll go back and make notes next) your extraordinary recent DVD set; as a confirmed book/instructional video junkie I consider myself something of an expert on evaluating that kind of stuff; yours is the best I've come across in the genres that have captured me over the years. Unexpected - the loads of examples such as how to drive a screw, make a pencil mark, etc.. It is indeed like having a private lesson. This is much more than a safety demonstration; after 10 years of tablesaw use I found something new every few minutes.

All the best.

-- Mark C. (Huntsville, Ontario, Canada)

I have just finished watching your Table Saw DVD, which I actually purchased from you, and I now know that after owning a table saw for over 30 years, that I am just a beginner. I enjoyed it immensely and am now looking forward to setting up and using my new saw, properly. I hope you are planning the same instruction for the router table which you mentioned, was more dangerous than the table saw. It's fun to learn incorporating safety as # 1.

I think your operation is first class . . . I have had extensive courses most of my life and I think that I know good from poor instruction. . . . people like Hendrik . . . seem to understand what we need to know and can present material in a simple yet technical manner. There are a lot of professors out there who get paid handsomely but can't teach at all.

-- Tom M. (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada)

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been using your table saw. Hendrik teaches solid basics for all skill levels. He brings, not only the how, but the why these procedures will keep you safe and give you the best results as well. Hendrik has an even flow teaching method that keeps your attention and leaves you with virtually no questions in the end. He covers it all, from a proper set up to final perfect cuts. I’ve yet to see such a thorough lesson presented in a way that makes you want to run to your shop and check and adjust your own equipment to get those perfect results.

Five DVDs are a lot, but the lessons are broken down in a well thought out methodology so you can watch and apply as you go. It made me wish I had a TV and DVD player in my shop to follow along.   Maybe I will now. If you are a beginner woodworker this is definitely a lesson you need to invest in. I guarantee it will pay for itself over and over.   For an intermediate, like me, it will add those solid basics to your arsenal of knowledge and give you better results while keeping you safe. If you are one of those folks, invest and you’ll be pleased you did.

-- Jim H. (Chesterfield, Virginia, USA)

Bonjour Hendrik,

I just wanted to share with you my crosscut sled I built following your valuable instructions from your latest DVD. I have used ½” baltic plywood for the base and ash for the fences. Since I am a beginner I decided to play safe and I added an acrylic cover plus a wooden block to protect myself. This is one of my first woodworking projects and I am amazed at the level of accuracy I was able to get. Beginners luck (or very good instructor guidelines), my cuts are perfectly square without any tape on the fence.

Thank you again.

-- Andre C. (Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada)

Hi, I ordered and received and watched both of your DVDs. I thoroughly enjoyed them. I am a 44yr old beginner woodworker and am looking for all I can on instruction material. I was wondering if you have any plans to release any new material on DVD in the future? If you don't that would be unfortunate for the many followers you have. . . .

Anyhow I am now in the process of watching them for a second time and starting to put to use the skills you teach. Just a great product. Thank you.

-- Pat L. (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada)

After watching and following your instructions contained in the Revelations on Table Saw Set-up and Safety DVD, I tuned up my table saw. The saw is approximately 12 years old and I am amazed at how well it now performs. I have moved on to the Jointer and Planer Secrets and am really beginning to fully understand how to work with my planer and jointer. Most importantly because of both sets of DVDs I am developing what I believe are very good safety habits while working in my shop.

-- Bob. M. (Pickering, Ontario, Canada)

Your DVD's are fantastic! I have learned so much in the few hours that I've spent watching and re-watching them. I wish I would have had these a long time ago before learning some bad habits on my own. I hope you are able to do a DVD on the band saw and using hand planes and other topics as I will surely purchase those as well. Thanks for all your efforts--you are a fantastic teacher!

-- Walter S. (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)

I was somewhat surprised when I saw the new line of instructional DVDs that Hendrik Varju is producing. Comprising 5 DVDs with a running time of 9 hours and 55 minutes it certainly had the time to explore the subject at hand. With our attention spans shrinking and most TV woodworking shows typically running ½ hour in length with 8 minutes of commercials included, we have become accustomed to having our information delivered in short sections. With the popularity of YouTube, our attention spans have been further shortened to brief internet clips and I’ll have to admit that I had initially thought that with one subject spread over nearly ten hours of video, I would be fighting to stay awake and pay attention – the question is, was I?

Hendrik is well-known to many woodworkers through his articles in Canadian Home Workshop Magazine, Canadian Woodworking Magazine and Fine Woodworking Magazine as well as his appearances and seminars at various Canadian woodworking shows.

Hendrik’s stated goals at the beginning of the class are to teach the student how to set up their table saw so it produces accurate results every time, to demonstrate various table saw techniques and to show the possible safety risks of using the table saw.

First off, on disc one, Hendrik covers table saw safety: from the various safety glasses to the options for hearing protection and dust control. In addition to the personal protective gear Hendrik covers the safety equipment that comes as a part of the saw as well as other considerations that the average user may not have considered – from your choice of clothing and even your marriage. To close off the safety discussion, Hendrik uses some foam to demonstrate the dangers of a kick back incident.

With the safety considerations covered, Hendrik jumps into showing how to set up a cabinet saw. Without a properly tuned machine, you’ll never get accurate results. From the basic assembly and alignment of the major parts to a detailed discussion of the differences between a left and right tilt version, you’ll see what it takes to set up your saw for accurate, repeatable cuts that are perfect every time. How does the construction of the saw affect your choice of blade thicknesses and as a result, your accuracy; how does blade thickness affect the splitter position on a left tilt saw? Hendrik explains it all.

After working through all of the procedures to fine tune a table saw, Hendrik moves on to performing various operations. From rough and fine cross cuts, ripping lumber and using dado cutters, Hendrik covers it all with specific emphasis on safety and accuracy.

Some of the questions that Hendrik answers...

Which type of saw is better – left or right tilt?

How can a pencil help you get accurate 90 degree cuts?

At which locations will a little dust always accumulate and ruin your accuracy?

How high should you set your blade?

When is a piece of wood too short to cut on a table saw?

Why will your dado likely be deeper than you set the saw for?

Watch Hendrik show you how to...

Adjust your parallelism using a mitre gauge, a steel rod, feeler gauges and a pony clamp

Set you fence properly for safety.

Test your splitter set-up and adjust it for maximum safety.

Perform rough and fine crosscuts accurately and safely.

Crosscut multiple parts to exactly the same length.

Perform rough and fine rip cuts.

Rip wide stock safely.

Ripping narrow and short stock.

Make bevelled rip cuts safely.

How to set up a stacked dado blade and make dado cuts.

Build a cross cut sled.

This video course is jam packed with tips and ideas. One of these tips is Hendrik’s low profile splitter made of aluminum that he had featured in Fine Woodworking Magazine. Taking the time to make a couple of these will make any dado operation much safer. Not only does he explain how to make and use them, he explains the reason they work so well.

After running through the various operations you’ll be performing at the table saw, Hendrik walks you through every detail involved in building one of the most important jigs in the shop: the cross cut sled. By building one of these sleds, your cross cuts will be more accurate and safer than were you to simply use the mitre gauge that the saw came with. From machining the runners to assembling the sled and ensuring the fence is perpendicular to the cut, the entire construction process is laid out.

To finish off the lesson, Hendrik shares his thoughts on keeping it simple, what makes a good jig and the importance of regular habits.

So, the question is, why nearly 10 hours of video? Is it self-indulgent or time well spent? Very shortly after beginning the first DVD it became clear why this was a project that would require some commitment. Most video treatments of a subject are edited down into quick condensed clips that quickly move you through the material with the intent of getting to the end. This set of DVD’s that Hendrik has produced was not meant to give you an introduction to the table saw, it was produced with the sole purpose of explaining everything you could possibly need to know to use your table saw safely while producing accurate results. Not only does Hendrik cover the material, he explains the reasoning behind it and when you understand the material on that level, it is much likelier you will remember it. This is essentially a full-blown one and a half day one on one course with Hendrik that will give you the confidence you need to work with this tool, and because he covers the material thoroughly and methodically you won’t be left wondering how anything was done. I would consider Revelations on Table Saw Set-up & Safety something any novice woodworker should invest in when they buy their first saw and possibly even before they make the purchase; hearing Hendrik explain the differences between the left and right tilt models might prevent one from making a poor decision. Even experienced woodworkers will find this set worthwhile as it is packed a ton of useful information.

So, to answer that question from the top of the review.... no, I was not tempted to nod off. This is a thorough, informative, intensive course packed with the type of information you would expect if you had hired Hendrik for a private lesson and at $95 it is a fraction of the cost of a private session.

The DVD is currently available directly through Passion for Wood.

-- Canadian Woodshop News & Review