Metal Artist's Workbench: Demystifying the Jeweler's Saw

Don’t waste anymore time, read this book, at least the first 40 pages! If you would like to stop breaking saw blades and drillbits understand the blades mechanics so you can execute precision sawing this is it!! Stop spending time on filing after you saw then this is a must have read/reference. The author is also a bit funny, it’s a pleasant read for a technical book:-) Here is a pic of my first try at sawing after reading this book.

Not that the saw needs any actual "demystifying", but good techniques are really VERY important to the successful use of the saw. When I started using it I was so incredibly frustrated. I broke so many blades and just dreaded having to saw anything out. Then I bought this book and took it's tips to heart. I LOVED the tip about not needing lube. You really don't! After reading this, of course my skills got better from experience, but I think they got better QUICKLY because of Tom's tips. I never do any of the projects in books. I like to do my own work, not copy others so that's not why I bought this. Buy it for the sound advice and wisdom of the author. You'll be happy you did.

Who knew that you don't need lubricant to saw!? That and many other tips in this book. Better for beginners but I'm not and still worth it.

Great little book with a light style. Excellent photos with clear instructions and explanations. Projects are gorgeous with one thing building on another. Mann gives reasons and doesn't simply dictate. This is now my 'go to' book for metal jewellery. I was disappointed that I couldnt get this for my Kindle but it's probably more useful in paperback as it turns out. This book had me returning to the bench with lots of problems solved and bad habits picked up on. Haven't broken a saw blade since I read it (as opposed to one or two per piece previously), it will pay for itself in saw blades!

This book is full of wonderful eye candy! I hope to be able to try some of the designs in the book. There is a wonderful section on the proper use of a jewelers saw and that is why I got the book to begin with. I need to practise and with the helpful hints in this book I feel I could be successful. Now the problem is with picking out a first project. I really admire Thomas Mann's body of work and can only hope to be a fraction as good. I wish I could take a class from him, but the book will have to do.

This author is a master with the saw. His work shows it and the glowing terms he uses when talking about sawing sounds like a person who is obsessed with the fun of sawing. That may sound strange but this man loves to saw, anything, and his descriptions and instructions and his art show it. I was lucky to find a person who saws and writes equally well.When you go to find a book to learn something from, it isn't always easy to tell what you may be getting. I had missed a class and reached for Amazon for a book and I was really lucky with this one. It made a big difference in my work.

I like the book okay but I guess I was hoping to find some unique tips that might enhance my sawing skill. I didn't but that doesn't mean the book didn't have good tips. It did, I had just read or learned it all elsewhere with the exception of the saw not needing lubricant.The projects weren't something I would likely do so for me the book probably wasn't a good buy.For others that haven't already gained the knowledge elsewhere, I think the book would provide good value as the instructions and information are good and the projects would yield great practice.

He writes from the heart and gives many good tips. The projects are difficult for a beginner like myself, but they give me inspiration. If he has a video, I would like to see it, as well. I recommend this highly to a metalsmith wannabe like myself. He really explains all the details of the saw and shares many other workshop tips. Mr. Mann is to the saw what Mr. Fretz is to the hammer..

Good book. Beginning metalsmith, and it had lots of tips with pictures.

What a lovely book! If you want to learn how to love your saw and love what you do with it, then I'd suggest you get this book. You might wonder how on earth it's possible to write a whole book about how to use a very simple tool...but there is a lot to know about how you even approach holding a saw.

This has helped me tremendously with learning to work with a peircing saw. I highly recommend this book.

Good, clear instructions 7 illustrations.

The book is informative, easy to understand and a great reference tool. It is a really useful book to have to hand.