First Edition of Second Edition Of Woodworking with the Router?

[BigguyZ]

I want to get the book by Bill Hylton, mostly because I'm told it has an excellent plan for a router table. So, I see that Amazon has the original book published in 1993 hardcover for $8, or a new copy published in 2006 for $20.

Does anyone know the difference between the two? Is it worth 2 1/2 times as much for the newer edition?

[mschrank]

I've seen both (checked the orginal out from the library, and bought the new editon). The original is chock full of great info and plans, but is a bit dated in the section describing router types and brands. The original is all black & white.

The new edition contains much of the same info, but seems a bit better organized. It is all color. I think it's well worth $20, as I see myself referring to it often over many years.

I'm not sure it necessarily worth 2.5x as much...rather, I think the old edition is deeply discounted because of the existence of the new edition (i.e., before the new edition was released, the old one was probably closer to $20 than $8)

[LarryG]

You probably won't like my answer.

The most readily obvious difference is that the first edition's photographs are B&W whereas the second's are in full living color.

I have the first edition. I've seen some negative comments about the photos not being in color, but I personally attach almost no importance to that. The information in the first edition is solid and the fact the pictures aren't in color detracts from that not one bit. To me, a B&W photo conveys exactly the same lesson, it just doesn't look as nice in doing so.

From what I've seen of the second edition, the text is mostly the same, although I did notice some updated material. Which brings me to why you won't like my answer. I intend to buy the second edition when it comes out in paper, and when I do, I'll keep my existing first edition. Having examined the second edition several times in bookstores, I think both are worth owning.

All that said ... you won't go wrong spending eight bucks on the first edition; but if you want only one, get the second. Not because it's prettier, but because it's newer.

[BigguyZ]

Lol- no Larry, your answer was just fine.

How about the router table plans? That's one of the reasons I was pointed to the Hylton book. Are the plans the same? Or is the newer version different/ better with that?

[LarryG]

Mike could maybe answer than better than I can. I want to say that the table in both books is the same, but I'm not entirely sure. Reasonably sure, yes. But not entirely.

It's a sweetheart of a design, BTW. Basically similar to the NYW Deluxe Router Station, but with the insert plate offset toward the front of the table and the miter slot omitted. Hylton (and co-author Fred Matlack, in the first edition) makes persuasive arguments for why a router table should be built this way.