[.uk] The Table Saw Book: Completely Revised and Updated (ISBN 1561584266)

Getting Started....:
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.

Disappointing and elitist:
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.

Ups and Downs:
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've been much more useful on topics more relevant to most of us. I also wasn't particularly impressed with the Crosscutting chapter. On the bright side, the book does contain some valuable information. The chapter on Safety is excellent. Mehler also consists of some good tips on maintaining your table saw. I liked the chapter on cutting various joints. Lastly, the book includes very good color photos and black-and-white diagrams. Pros: Cheap, good newbie information, alignment and maintenance tips Cons: Too much pre-buying info, infatuation with Euro saws Recommendation: If new to table saws, this book is great. However, for experienced woodworkers, I'd look elsewhere.

Table Saw Book:
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.

Fine Book, but:
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.