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Early Access Video: Getting Started with Handsaws

🕑 Added 2021-10-23 11:01:01 +0000 UTC

Comments

Norman E New

You could look at flinn-garlic-saws.co.uk if you want new and don’t mind expensive

Kenan

I agree only cry once but Lie Neilson doesn’t make panel or large hand saws, Cross cut or rip cut. They only make large tenon saws, is that want you are talking about?

Rex Krueger

I know they are pricey, but Lie Nielson makes some great saws. You'll only cry once.

James Powell

I recently attended a saw seminar at Bad Axe Saws in WI. We restored, set and sharpened saws over the two day course. At BA they are huge proponents of sharpening all saws with a hybrid bevel on the teeth. This makes crosscut saws more durable and rip saws more flexible. For many cuts, you can use one saw for everything.

Kenan

hey Rex, can you recommend a quality company that sells hand saw, for cross cutting and rip cutting. Of-course i would love to get a vintage Diston D 8 saw but i live in turkey and can't find a quality saw, so i have to find a hand saw dealer and have them ship it to me.

Rex Krueger

You're TOTALLY right and I even have a nice ECE frame saw that I need to get up and running. So little time!

Peter Schmiedeskamp

Having a few frame / bow saws in the stable now, I’d say that there is a third way. Not British/American or Japanese, but Continental Europe! I find that the height and light weight of the bow saw makes it very easy to see how much you are or are not tilting the saw one way or the other. Paul Sellers has a couple videos: one on youtube that shows a very easy design, and another on his woodworking masterclasses that is a lot more ornate. The simple one is really pretty easy to put together. Lots of options for blades including bandsaw, mitersaw replacement blades, purpose sold blades, and I’ve even heard tell of people using blue steel shim stock to make their own blades.

Rex Krueger

You're not wrong; I'm just a believer in systems. If you're building in a tradition, then the books, videos, etc are going to located in a tradition with certain tools, techniques and work-holding. Working in that same tradition and staying consistent just reduces friction and wasted effort.

A1BASE

I was also very confused when you kept referring to Hand Saws. I didn't know that's the name of the big dadddy saws - I kept thinking 'They're all hand saws!?' X)

A1BASE

I'm not sure I agree with the broad idea that if you want to build Japanese furniture then Japanese saws are more suitable - what's specific about the style of saw that makes it more suitable for specific joinery? I can’t think of a joint that you could cut with a dozuki, but not with a dovetail saw – the two are interchangeable in purpose, but very different in feel, and that’s what should define which you get.

Sean O'Neill

Rex-I’m sure you’ll like it!!

Rex Krueger

I just found out about those! I need to try one.

Rex Krueger

We're glad you're here! Sounds like you're making a very fine start!

Rex Krueger

Although I've not heard of a docking saw, Simonds is a major name. All quality.

Rex Krueger

You know, that never occurred to me! Thanks for the hot tip!

Rex Krueger

Most sawsets put in too much set even at the lowest setting. I almost always set my saws and then tap a little set back out with a hammer. It's annoying, but it works.

Rex Krueger

That seems like a very good idea!

Rex Krueger

I'm so glad you found it helpful. Honestly, I think you're right about panel saws being common in CA. I think all the ones I own came from my time there. Weird!

Rex Krueger

Hard to beat a big old disston when the going gets tough!

Rex Krueger

You're very kind to say so!

Rex Krueger

The longer you're in this craft, the luckier you get with old tools. People just give me stuff whether I want it or not.

Rex Krueger

It's worth counting. I didn't pay enough attention to TPI when I was starting out.

Rex Krueger

Well, this is an introductory video, not a tutorial on sharpening or restoring. I have complete videos on those topics. I can't mention everything in one video. Also, most used saws you find generally have enough set to last through several sharpenings.

Rex Krueger

You're very welcome.

Rex Krueger

I think I have that model miter box! It's worth the restoration, for sure.

Rex Krueger

Seems like a very reasonable approach. You'll always be able to replace any saw that breaks.

Rex Krueger

It's true. I find just sticking to one style really helps.

Rex Krueger

Well, I hope we got you started!

Sean O'Neill

Great video, Rex. You mentioned about the rip ppi under 6 or 8. Actually, I have an old Warranted Superior rip hand saw that’s 5 ppi and Lynx Garlick made in England and sold by Tay Tools sells a 4 ppi that I bought recently. They cut like a beast!!

Ghani Dykes

I enjoyed the video on handsaws. I'm 68 years old and just getting into woodworking. I have a bunch of tools but when I looked through them, I realized my tools was mostly construction tools. I have very little of the traditional woodworking tools. I'm basically starting from zero. I did inherit two rip saws (6 and 8 TPI) from my father. They are worn a lot. I just ordered a Japanese saw from Amazon. I do have two tendon saws and a cheap miter box. I'll be making a miter jig from one of your videos. I did purchase a Ryobi 10" table saw and have the basic skill an jig saws and 2 drills. I have found it difficult to drill straight holes. I built a Moxon vise and a work bench. Wish I had watched your video on work benches before I built mine. Anyway, I'm glad to be a patron.

Joel D Canfield

I was just given a Simonds docking saw, 1940-ish. About 4 tpi.

Matt Evans-Koch

Great overview of saws Rex. Enough information to get started, not too much to confuse anyone. The saw you hadvethat is worn down at the toe can be shortened to give a deeper toe and extend the life. This is typical for some boat builders who need good saws in tight spaces. Thank you as always, take care, stay well and have a good weekend.

Will Clevett

Fun video, I have an issue buying too many vintage saws and restoring them, so this kind of content is evergreen for me, I have to say getting the set right, I find quite challenging, making new handles on the other hand, I have to do a lot due to woodworm. It would be really interesting to see you you do a troubleshooting video of how to diagnose and remedy issues with set, I have a few vintage sawsets and frankly, even the lower settings on them, put a pretty high degree of set on the blade to my mind. But the better I get at setting up tools, the straighter I cut, so practice makes perfect I guess. On another note, I'm not at my workshop right now, so I cant measure accurately, but I have a saw I would guess is 2-3 TPI, I'd frankly dismissed it as something I was going to restore as there is some twisting in the blade I didn't spot when I bought it, but this has encouraged me to give it a go. I'll drop it on the forum when I get round to it.

Fred Gosbee

Filing saws is not that hard. I needed an aggressive crosscut and refiled a 4 TPI ripsaw. I can make some sawdust with that baby! It is tricky to get the cut started and next time I sharpen the saw I'm going to file it 8 TPI for a couple of inches at the handle end and add set so that the kerf matches the rest of the blade.

Martin Hartley

Probably an accident of history. Panel saws are more common for home owners and full sized hand saws were the tools of construction workers.

Russell Gough

Rex, I dare say no one in the business distills and presents hand-tool information as clearly as you. You are truly a master communicator. That’s why I’d like to see you take this info further by doing a how-to sharpen video. Yes, there are a lot of such videos, but I believe you could present this somewhat difficult information more clearly than just about anyone. So please consider it. Also, I was going to mention that here in CA I am finding panel saws everywhere I look, but full-size hand saws are mighty hard to come by. Anyone else have that problem?

Kevin S Thomas

Great video Rex. I think the Japanese saws are excellent for small, quick jobs. I use my Disston's for larger Projects.

John Morrison

Spectacular I can even chart myself on your developmental line: late Ryoba saw user. You're going to bring in more people to the craft with this video. Pat yourself on the back, after you put the saw down. Thank you.

Bas Noblesse

I need neighbours like you Rex, or a distant "neighbour" who is generous enough :P

Jeanine Hoffman

Loved this- i have the Japanese saw and a cheap construction rip saw. Now I want to go to the garage and count teeth but the power is out… maybe later 🙃

The Deaf Maker

@rex no worries mate, I know YouTube are messing around with auto captions. I manage to watch the video using a different method, but not great as the alternative is always out of sync. There is a Deaf YouTuber that might be able to advise better than I, will try and find the name and send you a message.

Rex Krueger

Man, we just cannot get a handle on captions. Please bear with us!

Rex Krueger

Wearing a button-up shirt makes it much easier to position that mic!

Daniel Bohrer

Your latest videos were much better audio quality, thank you!

Paul Boegel

You mention saw sharpening but did not mention setting the teeth once it has been filed....

Edward Conway

Good information Rex, Thank you

Pete seddon

I just bought the correct saw to go with my Stanley 358 miter box that I’m restoring. This video comes at a good time!

The Deaf Maker

The captions are in Vietnamese

Joff

I have only Japanese saws, Thailand has no second hand tools. So I made the decision to master Japanese saws.

Brian Taylor

I have both Japanese and Western saws in my shop. Since my early experience was exclusively Western saws, I find I have to really concentrate when using a Japanese saw so that I don't put the power into the push stroke. Muscle memory is hard to overcome.