The Complete Table Saw Book (Paperback)

The competent and collaborative effort of expert woodworkers Chris Marshall and Mark Johanson, The Complete Table Saw Book: Step-by-Step Illustrated Guide To Essential Table Saw Skills, Techniques, Tools And Tips is an excellent methodically presented, do-it-yourself manual to the art and craft of joinery techniques, table saw jigs, woodworking with sheet goods, and more. Enhanced with full color illustrations on almost every page, superbly showcasing an in-depth text, and a narrative tone that communicates clearly with experts and novices alike, The Complete Table Saw Book is a "must-have" for anyone who, as a hobby or a career, needs to master the versatile uses of this woodworker's tool.

The Complete Table Saw Book is useful for beginners and for those who have basic experience but have not been doing precision cutting. I found it helpful in setting things up and doing some semi-precise things. I expect to get a lot more out of it in the next few months as I get into more detailed projects.

For me, buying a new table saw is not only a cause for celebration, but an opportunity to shuffle through the shelves to find a book about my new toy. This one struck my eye - mostly because it was thicker than the others, was well laid out and seemed to cover all the salient points. Possibly not the best criteria in the world, but they have stood me in good stead for a long time now.

For the most part, my initial assessment was accurate. The editor Tom Carpenter, has gone out of his way to maintain a solid, plainspoken approach to the subject matter, with a great number of illustrations and photographs. I can honestly say that there are enough ideas, pointers, and explanations to greatly enhance what you get for what is often the most expensive piece of equipment in the shop.

Chapters cover Basics, Tune-up & Maintenance, Chosing Saw Blades, Basic Cuts, Joinery Techniques, Sawing Accessories, and Essential Jigs. That covers the first 160 pages. The second section, which is about the same size, is devoted to some information about Woodworking With Sheet Goods and a collection of ten projects.

This latter section, while useful, is not up to the same level of quality is the first part. Not that it's shabbily done, but that the projects, which range from a bookshelf to an entertainment center, are a bit clunky looking. They are training projects rather than works of art. As such there is a good deal of explanation to help the budding sawyer.

Written primarily for the beginning to intermediate table saw user "The Complete Table Saw Book" provides thorough coverage of the art of using a table saw. The first part of the book examines the table saw itself and the coverage is excellent. Starting with an education on the various parts of the table saw it progresses through different types, blades, and functions. Next comes a thorough section on table saw maintenance and how to select a used table saw. The analysis of what to look for and how to determine the condition of a used saw is very detailed and well illustrated.

The next section covers basic cuts, joinery techniques, sawing accessories and basic jigs. One of the things that I really liked about the book is the detailed information on making your own jigs. Making the cuts to create a specific joining method is fine but it can be a pain to do several of them in a row by hand. So, he not only teaches how to make the cuts to make the join but also teaches how to make a jig so that it can be used to make the cuts quicker and easier. This shows that the author not only knows his joining techniques but also has the real life knowledge of how professional woodworkers actually do it. The last section of the book contains several projects you can make using your table saw. These projects include various cabinets, a play table and chairs, and an entertainment center.

"The Complete Table Saw Book" is an excellent reference that I can highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn about table saws and how to use them for everything from basic cutting to cabinetry. Filled with illustrations so you can easily understand everything in it, you can't go wrong with this book.