Customer Reviews

The Table Saw Book (A Fine Woodworking Book)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you are already a skilled woodworker, look elsewhere. The information in this book will be too basic for you.

I am NOT a skilled woodworker; I did not have "shop" classes in high school (and man, in retrospect was I ever steered wrong!); and I'm determined to learn the right way to work with power tools. For someone like me, this book is perfect.

Thanks to Mehler, I now know that I'm looking for SO much more than a motor spinning a blade. This book's discussions on table saw history, design, application, and safety are written with a wealth of first-person experience behind them. Mehler's style is relatively jargon-free, in that he explains the common terms used in woodworking when they come up.

Mehler's clear exposition has persuaded me to pass up the $89 table saw at the local big-box store. My time, my lumber, and my fingers are all too precious to waste my money that way. What is remarkable, though, is that he has also persuaded me that I don't have to give up an arm and a leg (sorry!) purchasing a stationary home-shop saw. There are several good models at the high end of the portable saw market that will do everything I am likely to need, for about $500. (And yes, your mileage may vary--that's what this book helps you determine.)

I did not find the comments on the advantages of European-style saws to be tedious. They served to educate me on what I should be seeking in my own table saw--and I would hope that American consumers would start demanding some of these improvements since they relate to safety and performance. Knowing what I was looking at, I noticed that some of the American saws on the market in the three years since this book was published now have some European-style features...and wonder of wonders, without an increase in price.

What was taught in woodworking classes was "The Code"--how this stuff works and how to use it. I believe Mehler effectively teaches The Code to beginners like me through this book. I heartily recommend this clear text with its full-color illustrations to others who want to know how to purchase and use a table saw.

I am a beginner at woodworking. I bought this book, based on reviews, hoping that it would give me some of the fundamentals of table saw use. Mr. Mehler does cover many of the basics fairly well but he also has something of an eliteist attitude about saws.

The first problem is his infatuation with "European" table saws. Example: "A riving knife. . . is a much better solution than a typical splitter. . . Sadly, riving knives are only available on European saws." This is fairly typical. There are lots of good illustrations but many of them are of a guy working at a European saw.

Then there is the fine woodworking attitude. He starts off the section titled "Ripping Sheet Stock" with: "I don't use plywood or other manmade boards very much in my work, but. . ." Gee, as a beginner just hoping to get a project to come out square I plan on using plywood quite a bit. In most of the other procedural discussions plywood given little attention, if any at all.

This book contains good discussions of setting fences and miter gauges, stuff like that. How to handle stock, how to extend the utility of the saw, safety tips. There is value here.

European saws sure look great but right now I have a simple contractors saw and I would appreciate a book that tells me how to make the most of that without giving me an inferiority complex.

I am a beginning cabinetmaking student at a local community and technical college in Minneapolis. I'm also one of those people who feels ill prepared for an undertaking unless I've read at least one book on the project. This is particularly true with my present undertaking, because I have never used power tools in the past and feel sort of all-at-sea!

Because I hope to set up my own shop, I have been researching the types of equipment that I will need to do that, in this case the table saw. I looked for a book that could not only give me advice on what to purchase for my particular needs, but how to use it safely, how to care for it, and what types of spacial arrangements would be best in housing and using it. The Table Saw Book provides that information in a clear, well-organized and well illustrated manner.

It begins, logically, at the beginning, describing the anatomy of the machine, both externally and internally, listing the parts and discussing their purpose. It also includes a chapter specifically dedicated to blades: their types, uses, and maintenance.

There is a section on dust collection and the pros and cons of different styles. This is something of importance in my case, as I expect to set up my first shop in the basement and my house has forced air heating. I have already looked at some of the equipment that is available on Amazon to control the dust, and am planning a dust collecting system. (I've even thought of putting in a household vacuum system also).

The chapter on adjustment and maintenance of the saw helped to reinforce classroom learning in the former case and provides an important reference in the latter case when I am faced with care of my own equipment with no instructor around to advise me! I hope to have a complete reference library for trouble shooting all of my equipment, and this represents my first addition to that collection!

Sections on ripping, cross-cutting, the use of jigs and joinery on the table saw were very informative. I expect that my first purchase-and probably the only one for a while-- will be a table saw, and I will have to become proficient in its full range of usage if I wish to do much work before I am able to get any other equipment.. This volume and The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery by Gary Rogowski should help me do that.

The book is ok, but it mainly rehashes what has been done in the video. The Cliffe book Table Saw Techniques is much more detailed. The Tolpin book is pretty good.You must however get the video companion to this book. Kelly is truly a master at what he does and explanations are clear and well thought out. I have run the video at least 8 times so far.

Several important points to note:

Positives:

1) Lots of pictures. Every concept has a clear picture and/or supplemental drawing. Much better than most books I've read that explain the technique, but don't show an example.

2) Serious about the basics. It's an exhaustive study of all the basics, it assumes you know nothing, but is written using novice wording.

3) Breadth. It covers many different examples of saws and attachments, rather than focusing on one saw in particular. Gives a good feel of what is out there, from basic stuff to pro tools.

Negatives:

Continually calls out how much better European saws are, from dust collection to riving knives to sliding table layout. Every other paragraph contains something like: "American saws do ____ poorly, but they are catching up to Euro saws, which have had this feature for years." Granted, he makes some great points, but it gets tedious.

Overall: a fantastic reference book.

This book contains "no frills" information. New table saw owners will become familiar and comfortable with their new tool. Contains just the right level of activities to assure success and confidence.

Excellent book for everything from purchasing, using, and maintaining your saw--including extensive references to safety.

Color photographs are clear, sharp, and very detailed, and Mehler's writing is sure and firm without being overly preachy The references to European saws do get tiresome (as one other reviewer has noted), especially since the majority of the photos in the book are of US-made equipment. Not many Saturday wood butchers or even serious amateurs can afford two thousand dollars and up for European saws.

While 20 years older and only using B&W photos, R.J. De Christoforo's book by the same name is still fairly current and has far more detail for the serious woodworker. The section on saw blades alone is more than 20 pages and contains valuable information that is missing from Mehler's book.

Buy both. You'll be glad you did.

If you are a beginner - this is an excellent book to start. It describes different kinds of saws: portable, contractor, cabinet, etc. It also pays attention to important subjects such as safety, dust collection, blades and simple jig setup.
The book provides a good description of a host of valuable accessories that you might want to either make or buy. In addition, a resource section with a list of the more popular manufacturers proved to be very useful.
The author spent time and effort to write a book that is appealing to anybody interested in table saws, regardless of whether you are planning to spend $5,000 on your saw or $500.

I found this book very disappointing. As others have pointed out he's very dismissive of anything other than top of the line equipment and he's nearly obsessed with "European" saws. I feel certain that many people buying this book are like me and have already purchased a mid-level "American" saw. It really doesn't help me to tell me over and over that I've wasted my money on a piece of garbage and then sing the praises of expensive equipment I can't afford. I really get the idea that he feels that if you can't afford a $3000 saw using $200 blades and a thousand dollars worth of dust removal equipment you're just throwing your money away. This teaches me nothing about how to make the best use of what I have.

I was also put off by his dismissal of working with plywood and would have liked some more examples helpful to those of us who aren't master carpenters working with unlimited funds.

I guess I should have saved my money (and taken out a second mortgage) for a better saw instead of getting this book.

Books are somewhat difficult for me to rate, because if you get one solid tip out of it - it is probably worth the money not to make the mistake. I purchased the video and found that to be very useful, the book is handy for the shop. Mehler is straightforward in his approach and generous with his insight and knowledge. He is not intimidating at all, and generally presents the theory, problems and solution consecutively, for your immediate understanding. As most craftsmen do, they prove that the equipment while nice, is not essential - as is skill and perserverance. I genuinely believe that Mehler can duplicate any of his pieces on the Delta contractor's saw he assmebled, tuned and used in his video, as he would typically on his cabinet saw. Further proof that success stems from learning to do something right and doing it that same way over and over again. I definitely recommend this book for all but most proficient woodworkers.