Tool Request
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- This topic has 60 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 4 months ago by Sven-Olof Jansson.
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Hey all,
I have got a few questions about tools I was hoping someone might be able to help me with.
My workbench is almost finished (it’s only taken me 2 years – but to be fair I’ve stopped a good few times) and I’m starting to look forward to my next project. In doing so, it dawned on me my original tenon saw is in need of an upgrade and I don’t even own a dovetail saw. To that end I was looking at this Spear & Jackson tenon saw:
I quite like the larger S&J crosscut saws I bought so I was hoping the above would be of similar quality. Anyone know if they are any good, or if you could recommend something better?
Also, could someone recommend a good dovetail saw?
Finally, what do you think of Veritas tools in general? They look beautiful but are expensive. I’m primarily interested in their saws and planes.
20 November 2019 at 4:54 am #628964This is the best saw I’ve ever used. (I am a rookie, but have tried a fair number of saws) I can rip or cross cut with it really well, but it cuts very clean dovetails and tenons as well. At $20 – $25 each you can have a few on hand. The curved handle makes all the difference and makes them much more usable (and valuable) than the Japanese saws with slippery, straight handles
https://www.woodcraft.com/products/okada-z-saw-japanese-life-saw-s-265-for-saw-guides
- This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by joemonahan.
- This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by joemonahan.
20 November 2019 at 3:50 pm #629061Hi Mark,
I reckon that S&J saw will be a pretty good purchase, I don’t have one, but really it’s going to come down to how you set-it up once you’ve got it.
It could have the light crosscut that the bigger saws come with, in which case you may want to adjust them to be a rip – but either way it shouldn’t be too scary if you’re careful and even with the file. You’re going to have to learn to file it anyway, so you may as well get stuck in!
I had to ease the rake angle on a couple of new saws because they were so aggressive the saw would either jam or jump out of the cut, it took a couple of stokes per tooth and now they cut really nicely.
It’s relatively affordable so if you make a mess of it it’s not the end of the world.
Rob.
Mark, what are the details of that saw? Is this the one that is 12″ and 15 tpi? If so, you can cut dovetails with it. I have a 14″ 12 tpi-ish saw and use it for dovetails. What matters, really, is the sharpening, especially the set. With a fine set and rip, you’ll do fine.
So, if you’re set on this saw, I’d give a try before buying a second.
Btw, I have relatively long arms, so on a typical little dinky dovetail saw, I tend to pull the blade out of the cut. With a nice, full size saw, I can give a couple mostly-unweighted rubs to get started, then a definite push and be close to depth in many cases.
- This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Ed.
21 November 2019 at 4:17 am #629251Hej Mark,
My two pennies on Veritas planes and saws are that I’ve never been disappointed. Did draft a disgustingly long comparison with other companies’ “ready to use from the box” products, but at the end of the day there are really no significant differences.
22 November 2019 at 1:59 am #629553I’ve got the S&J 9550B which is very similar I believe and I’m very happy with it
-Matt
I was reading Paul’s blog about No. 80 cabinet scrapers and he was saying the Veritas is the one to go for (if deciding between that and Axminster’s ‘Rider’ offering). He also said it was £40 but the one I am looking at is a little over £80.
http://www.axminster.co.uk/veritas-cabinet-scraper-474843
Am I looking at the wrong one?
Also, do the Record and Stanley No. 80s perform well? If so I might try and get one on Ebay instead.
24 November 2019 at 3:38 pm #630248It was much easier for me to cut straight with pull stroke saws. Much less fatiguing too. Just my 2 cents.
@Mark68 If you buy directly from LeeValley (Veritas), the price now is USD 69.50 (about £54). But shipping is at least £16 to the UK (for the cheapest and slowest option and may vary with destination address). All excluding VAT. See Veritas-#80
The axminster link you posted shows £67.08 + VAT, so slightly cheaper if they will ship free to you.
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