Customer Reviews

The Table Saw Book

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I received this book for Christmas 2 years ago. It is the most useful how-to book that I have. The jigs are very easy to make and many can be made from scrap wood. I am a novice to woodworking and found the instructions clear and the final product accurate, cheap, and good for years to come.

This is a very useful introduction to what a table saw can do. Some of the ideas for jigs and aids were highly imaginative and helpful. I'll refer to this book periodically for many years to come.

I was lucky enough to buy this book before even shopping for my first saw. He doesn't actually recommend one model of saw over another (that would date the book very quickly), but instead explains the strengths and weaknesses of the various features.
With the knowledge I gained, I was able to make a smart purchase. I wish I'd had a larger budget, but with this book in hand, I was able to align and tune my cheapish purchase to perfection. Taking his advice, I made a few choice accessory purchases (such as the Ripstrate) that improved accuracy and safety remarkably.
Two years later, this is still the only table saw book I own, though it's dog-eared by now. Mr. de Cristoforo is excellent at describing techniques, and the many accessory and jig plans he provides help turn my fairly-good machine into a precision device, good for just about anything 'cept mitering expensive 8' trim sections (as I found out today to my chagrin...)
A final testimony: I'm trying to switch my career to finish carpenter/cabinetmaker, and am now avidly in search of his out-of-print book "Woodworking For Beginners." I'm not a beginner any more, but I'm sure this man can teach me things I don't know.

I am new to woodwooking and wanted something to let me use my table saw without investing a fortune in custom jigs and fixtures. I saw this book along with several others at the local library and checked them out. Most of the other books just had one or two jigs that looked interesting so I copied them. I read this book for two weeks and figured I'd have to do a lot of copying (everything looked great) so I just bought it. If you only want one book, this is it.

Excellent book. He covers a lot of ground, including small items like types of blades and just about every type of cut imaginable with a table saw. Lots of good safety tips as well. For beginners, an excellent start. For advanced woodworkers, lots of great jigs and ideas from which to get great ideas.

This is an excellent, very detailed introduction to the table saw. B&W photos are sharp and clear, and the explations are tightly written. You can tell that the author clearly enjoys not only working in the shop but helping others to share in that enjoyment.

While the book is almost 20 years older than Kelly Mehler's book of the same name, it's still current and valuable. Mehler's book is visually more engaging but just doesn't have the level of detail included in De Christoforo's book.

I bought both Mehler's and De Christoforo's books. I find myself referring to both of them--Mehler for high-level information and De Christoforo's for more in-depth explanations.

I can't put this book down. I also bought "The Table Saw Book : Completely Revised and Updated" by Kelly Mehler. Mehler's book is visually appealing but this book is "Meat and Potatoes" and gives the novice a firm foundation to effective table saw use.

This book is friggin' awesome. It tells you how to be safe, how to make your own table saw tools, how to use a table saw, etc.

I bought it because I wanted to make sure I didn't cut off my arm on accident. I found that it has so much more to offer.

This should be read by anyone starting out on a table saw.

I picked up this book along with the Mehler book (and also his book on Table saws, Bandsaws and routers with Warner and Bird as co-authors).

Great guidance and advice. Easy to read.

I feel everyone should read at least these books prior to using a table saw, they are cheap used. It's probably the most dangerous tool any common homeowner will use. A few easy things to remember will keep you safe though, they are not so 'common sense' though and to learn them the hard way would be a life changing event...

good safety and maintenance info for the newb like me. If you had shop in high school (I didn't) and don't have a mentor (I don't) then this is a good book for self starters.