Early Access Video: Getting Started with Handsaws
Added 2021-10-23 11:01:01 +0000 UTCFriends:
I get SO many questions about saws and it’s time to help the newcomers get a grip on basic saw buying and restoration. Even without touching on backsaws, there is SO much to know about handsaws and panel saws. For such a simple tool, there sure are a lot of variables.
So, let’s do a deep dive into the humble handsaw, one of the most useful and efficient tools in the kit!
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
Comments
You could look at flinn-garlic-saws.co.uk if you want new and don’t mind expensive
Norman E New
2021-11-07 18:41:43 +0000 UTCI 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?
Kenan
2021-10-28 21:30:31 +0000 UTCI know they are pricey, but Lie Nielson makes some great saws. You'll only cry once.
Rex Krueger
2021-10-28 18:45:18 +0000 UTCI 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.
James Powell
2021-10-27 18:56:00 +0000 UTChey 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.
Kenan
2021-10-27 14:10:08 +0000 UTCYou're TOTALLY right and I even have a nice ECE frame saw that I need to get up and running. So little time!
Rex Krueger
2021-10-25 20:54:47 +0000 UTCHaving 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.
Peter Schmiedeskamp
2021-10-25 19:38:03 +0000 UTCYou'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.
Rex Krueger
2021-10-25 17:01:25 +0000 UTCI 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
2021-10-25 03:00:49 +0000 UTCI'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.
A1BASE
2021-10-25 02:51:37 +0000 UTCRex-I’m sure you’ll like it!!
Sean O'Neill
2021-10-24 23:57:36 +0000 UTCI just found out about those! I need to try one.
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:29:39 +0000 UTCWe're glad you're here! Sounds like you're making a very fine start!
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:29:13 +0000 UTCAlthough I've not heard of a docking saw, Simonds is a major name. All quality.
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:28:30 +0000 UTCYou know, that never occurred to me! Thanks for the hot tip!
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:28:04 +0000 UTCMost 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
2021-10-24 23:27:37 +0000 UTCThat seems like a very good idea!
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:26:35 +0000 UTCI'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
2021-10-24 23:26:13 +0000 UTCHard to beat a big old disston when the going gets tough!
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:25:08 +0000 UTCYou're very kind to say so!
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:24:45 +0000 UTCThe 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
2021-10-24 23:24:25 +0000 UTCIt's worth counting. I didn't pay enough attention to TPI when I was starting out.
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:23:48 +0000 UTCWell, 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
2021-10-24 23:23:07 +0000 UTCYou're very welcome.
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:22:01 +0000 UTCI think I have that model miter box! It's worth the restoration, for sure.
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:21:51 +0000 UTCSeems like a very reasonable approach. You'll always be able to replace any saw that breaks.
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:21:13 +0000 UTCIt's true. I find just sticking to one style really helps.
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:20:35 +0000 UTCWell, I hope we got you started!
Rex Krueger
2021-10-24 23:20:12 +0000 UTCGreat 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!!
Sean O'Neill
2021-10-24 20:40:21 +0000 UTCI 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.
Ghani Dykes
2021-10-24 14:54:33 +0000 UTCI was just given a Simonds docking saw, 1940-ish. About 4 tpi.
Joel D Canfield
2021-10-23 22:13:25 +0000 UTCGreat 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.
Matt Evans-Koch
2021-10-23 21:55:51 +0000 UTCFun 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.
Will Clevett
2021-10-23 21:34:16 +0000 UTCFiling 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.
Fred Gosbee
2021-10-23 21:28:57 +0000 UTCProbably an accident of history. Panel saws are more common for home owners and full sized hand saws were the tools of construction workers.
Martin Hartley
2021-10-23 21:11:37 +0000 UTCRex, 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?
Russell Gough
2021-10-23 18:03:31 +0000 UTCGreat video Rex. I think the Japanese saws are excellent for small, quick jobs. I use my Disston's for larger Projects.
Kevin S Thomas
2021-10-23 17:41:10 +0000 UTCSpectacular 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.
John Morrison
2021-10-23 17:32:45 +0000 UTCI need neighbours like you Rex, or a distant "neighbour" who is generous enough :P
Bas Noblesse
2021-10-23 17:30:07 +0000 UTCLoved 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 🙃
Jeanine Hoffman
2021-10-23 17:24:35 +0000 UTC@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.
The Deaf Maker
2021-10-23 16:53:37 +0000 UTCMan, we just cannot get a handle on captions. Please bear with us!
Rex Krueger
2021-10-23 16:49:22 +0000 UTCWearing a button-up shirt makes it much easier to position that mic!
Rex Krueger
2021-10-23 16:48:32 +0000 UTCYour latest videos were much better audio quality, thank you!
Daniel Bohrer
2021-10-23 16:26:13 +0000 UTCYou mention saw sharpening but did not mention setting the teeth once it has been filed....
Paul Boegel
2021-10-23 15:51:38 +0000 UTCGood information Rex, Thank you
Edward Conway
2021-10-23 15:14:30 +0000 UTCI just bought the correct saw to go with my Stanley 358 miter box that I’m restoring. This video comes at a good time!
Pete seddon
2021-10-23 13:54:06 +0000 UTCThe captions are in Vietnamese
The Deaf Maker
2021-10-23 12:26:27 +0000 UTCI have only Japanese saws, Thailand has no second hand tools. So I made the decision to master Japanese saws.
Joff
2021-10-23 11:38:23 +0000 UTCI 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.
Brian Taylor
2021-10-23 11:35:40 +0000 UTCThis was really helpful as I don't know much about saws
Stuart Slattery
2021-10-23 11:23:41 +0000 UTC
