Anonymous | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The book is written clearly. The text and accompanying figures are, in themselves, excellent. However, it spends too much space going over material. The whole book could have been compressed. The author has a clear preference for European saws, which may indeed be a valid preference. However, it would have been useful to go through the various saws, maker by maker, and compare them. Instead, he merely cites his preferences for the saw features, without mentioning which saws he is referring to. In summary, I

Bob Champoux | Saturday, December 19, 2009

Prior to adding my thoughts, I read all the other reviews first. Most everything about this book has been said and my thoughts are very similar to Rusty Flewelling's and Will Cosair's:

If you are looking to purchase your first saw or have just done so, this is the perfect book. Sections on what to include on your shopping list, how to set up (tune) the saw and how to maintain are very well written as is the section on safety which also serves as the undercurrent throughout the book (as it sho

Mark D. Schnittman | Saturday, August 22, 2009

I bought this book with a serious table saw purchase in the next 12 months in mind. I thought that I should learn as much as I could, so I hopefully wind up with what I want and with a quality unit. This book is exactly what I was looking for -- everything is here. Explanations of different designs, pros/cons, and all of the things one should consider when looking for a saw. After reading the first few chapters, I realize that spending a little more than I originally planned would probably save me money and grief later down the road. An excellent book, and worth reading if you are looking for or already own a table saw.

Sebastian Schultheiss | Monday, June 22, 2009

This book certainly covers a lot of what there is to know about table saws. I don't mind the comments on "European Saws" so much... the author after all explains what features make them better in his view. The latest generation of American brand saws might well stand up to that. What I am missing a bit is an application part with a few little projects that teach you how to use your saw effectively. I feel that despite the age of my saw I as the operator bring in more errors.

David C. Delany | Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The Table Saw Book provides plenty of information. The organization is fine, and I am not disappointed. Compared with other shop literature, however, Kelly Mehler fails to make the reading compelling -- or even very interesting. This book is more like a dull lecture.

S. Vest | Friday, May 30, 2008

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

Richard L. Lachance | Thursday, July 05, 2007

While the box covers the basics of a table saw, I was expecting a broader section on the design of jigs for use with a table saw. The jigs provided, however, are the basic ones commonly used.

Rusty Flewelling | Monday, June 18, 2007

After reading all of the positive reviews, I was a bit disappointed after securing my copy of Mehler's Table Saw Book. Maybe my expectations were a little high, but I was left wanting more. I was hoping for something similar to Hylton's Woodworking with the Router.

The first two chapters (Introduction to and Buying a Table Saw) can be completely skipped by anybody who already owns or is familiar with a table saw. I felt Mehler spent WAY too much time touting European saws. These pages would

Bosco Bob | Sunday, November 26, 2006

The Table Saw Book was a great book to read as I began to get into doing some basic woodworking. It was extremely clear and an easy read. However, I found the information very good and on a level that I could understand. I would recommend to anyone who is just getting started in woodworking to read this book first. You will find that you refer back to it time and again.

Raymond B. Jennings III | Sunday, March 19, 2006

This book is simply excellent. I can't say enough about it. The one slight negative thing I could say is that the last chapter does not read as well as the rest of the book. Reading the last chapter you almost get the impression that it is written by a different person or that they felt they were rushed and didn't do as good as the rest of the book.

Overall though I just cannot believe how this book reads so well, easy, straight forward, no nonsense. I wish more books were like this.

vaxmanid | Wednesday, March 15, 2006

I'm another one of those that took shop in school and until been unable to assemble a home shop. This is a great reference and brush up on safety. I find it helpful as I enter the market for a table saw.

Bill Laine | Monday, February 27, 2006

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 ar

M. J. Mccaffrey | Saturday, February 04, 2006

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.

M. Feuerberg | Wednesday, January 25, 2006

This is a great how-to book - it is well-written, organized, and illustrated. All the basics are clearly explained in simple, straitforward language. Coverage of topics is concise too, this book doesn't waste your time with a bunch of unneccessary detail. One nice touch is how there are tips and techniques sprinkled in throughout, so even more advanced woodworkers will likely find it useful.

I bought 3 woodworking books at the same time, this one, Woodwork with Router by Bill Hylton (not worth the paper it's printed on), and Dust Collection Basics - and this Table Saw book is clearly heads and shoulders above the rest. Its interesting how rare a really well-done how-to books can be, and how enjoyable they are when you come across one.

Photoguy | Wednesday, September 21, 2005

I bought this book based on other customer reviews. I was disappointed. In my opinion it is only somewhat useful if you are a rank amateur and need advice buying your very first table saw. If you are looking for detailed advice and hints on use and operation, this book falls far short.
I don't doubt that Mr. Mehler is a well qualified expert, but as a general table saw manual, he does not give me the information I wanted.
As an example of a work that really fills the bill of a well written tool selection guide and manual, check out "Woodworking With the Router" by Hylton and Matlack for the American Woodworker series from Reader's Digest Books.
I don't know what to suggest instead of this book except perhaps Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools. It is much more expensive, but well worth it and covers the entire spectrum of woodworking tools.

Brian Jones | Tuesday, September 20, 2005

This is an in depth look at the table saw. It has a VERY safety oriented text that expalins the how's and why's of operation.

Closeup pictures give the reader a detailed look at setup, and use. It also provides some jig use and construction tips.

All in all a very informative read.

A_G | Tuesday, April 19, 2005

This is a very well written and laid out book. The information is relevant, concise, and most of all, helpful. The author writes in a way that makes it easy to follow along and the photos and drawings help even more when specific things are discussed. I was able to read this book in a few hours because not only is it written well, but I was learning so much I just continued to read until I flipped the last page. This book should be owned (not just read because if you own it you can refer back to it at any time) by every novice woodworker and perhaps even anyone else who works with woodworking machines. Highly recommended!

evenfall007 | Tuesday, April 12, 2005

My Table Saw was new in 1948. It is a restored Vintage Saw. It did not come with all the conveniences of the modern saw, but it was a forerunner of the modern saw. What it did come with was built to last, and it has.

After reading The Table Saw Book, I have done many Tunings and Upgrades, I have Made many Jigs, I Have much more safely enjoyed many hours with my Saw and gotten the best results ever, thanks to this book. My 59 year old Table Saw has features that many modern Saws sold today still don't have, thanks to this book. And at the price of Lumber today, can you afford not to have the best running Table Saw you can get? '

If you learn nothing else from this book, you will learn the importance of having a splitter installed on your saw, and to make and use a push shoe instead of a push stick. Learning those two things alone will pay you back dividends for having bought this book.

The best running Table Saw may be the Saw you already own. The only thing it lacks is what you will learn from and do after you read this book. It is truly a reference. Keep it handy in the Shop

William Corsair | Thursday, April 07, 2005

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.

Jack Wilson | Tuesday, January 11, 2005

A great guide for anyone using or planning to use a table saw. It will show you how to be safe and make accurate cuts. Also shows how to matain and tune your saw.

Mark Witczak | Tuesday, November 23, 2004

This is a good easy read for anyone that is interested in getting the most out of their table saw. Even after you become proficient you'll want to keep this one around for reference. I pull mine out at least once a year to tune up my saw.

This book covers the basics. You will not learn techniques to help you build that Louis XIV armoire, but you will learn what you need to use your saw (safely) on 99% of the projects you take on.

If you ever have a chance to see Kelly give a presentation at a woodworking show, you'll be impressed by his teaching style. He also does this great demonstration of kickback with a foam board.

Anonymous | Friday, July 16, 2004

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.

Anonymous | Tuesday, June 22, 2004

I was a self-started on the table saw. I took-off and learned as I went. That is, I learned every nasty, unsafe method possible. I was not a smart worker but didn't know it. That's where Mr. Mehler came in. Not only does his book instruct the reader how to cut cleaner and be more productive, he pushes safety all through the book. Because of Kelly (can I call him Kelly?), I have a cross-cut sled, a zero-tolerant throat plate, and two grip-tites. I have not taken another single kick-back to the head or lost another finger in over a year!

Anonymous | Saturday, February 07, 2004

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.

Anonymous | Monday, March 31, 2003

I'm bought this book based on several recommendations from other woodworkers. I'm very happy now that I have. It covers a lot of ground that is probably "common sense" to a seasoned woodworker, but to a beginner is priceless information. Some of the area's that were important to me are the safety portion and the table-saw setup. I've recently purchased a table-saw and now I feel I have enough knowledge to get it setup and tuned up properly, and how to use it safely.

I definately recommend it to novice woodworkers.