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Hand saw recomendation?

3K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  philsville 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am looking at purchasing some hand saws. (good ones)

I am looking at the following:

Adria small tenon saw (crosscut)
Adria small tenon saw (Rip)
Lie-Nielsen straight handled dovetail saw. (rip)

(That comes to nearly $400.00)

If money were no object I'd just get them all (and I may eventually) However I have some other purchases to consider.

I am wondering if just one of the above might work well enough for cutting tenons and dovetails until I can afford to buy another. My thinking is that an Adria tenon saw filed in a rip configuration might work well enough for crosscutting because of the thin kerf that I may not need to get the crosscut saw right now.

Any advice?

Dave.
 
#5 ·
Practice Dave, that's all. I have a cheap japanese pull saw I got at a local hardware store (but not a big box, because they don't seem to stock replacement blades). I use this more than just about any hand tool for all sorts of jobs. Using a speed square to help me establish a line on two adjoining planes, I can quickly cut a perfectly square end off a 2×4 everytime. Learned that tip from one of Christopher Schwarz blogs. I recall some handsaw (japanese) excersizes in another mag, Woodwork, I think. I'll see If I can't dig that up.
 
#6 ·
That would be great.

I really would like to be able to use such a saw. I have tried. I seem to be left to my own to figure out what I am doing wrong. The blade is so thin and flexible that I usually get a curved line and even if I do manage to get the line started straight It gets off track and I can not get it back.

I know that it must be technique otherwise no one else would use them. I can cut much more accurately with a full size 26" hand saw than I can a dozuki. : )
 
#7 ·
I try to avoid using a hand saw for cross cutting because i suck at it. The chop saw or the new sled I made for the table saw works so much more efficiently . And I too bought one of those cheap pull saws from the local stick/tool/particleboard peddler and why is it that they don't sell replacement blade? Are they indestructable? And I use mine just to cut dowels off flush. That in itself was worth the $12.00 I spent on it. Besides it was on a gift certificate that I got for Christmas. Christmas 2005 lasted almost a year, wonder what Christmas 2006 is going to do?
 
#8 ·
Dave - Use a Guide block for hand cutting - clamp it in place and use your left hand (presuming right-handedness) to hold the blade flush to it. I did this recently to cut wall studs at an angle, along a staircase to change the full wall into an exposed kneewall w/rail and spindles, with great success. Can't take a wall to the chop saw.
If you go off course, back up and start cutting again, can't correct otherwise. Not sure why, but I have a much easier time with my pull saw, than I've ever had with any western style saw.

Obi - Those cheaper saw blades are replaceable, (prob need to order from manufacturer - Fortunately a smaller (non-chain) hardware store near me carries blades) because the metal is hardened and not resharpenable. But unless you abuse it,(blindly cut into old walls, hitting nails, plaster and Lord knows what else - as I do on occassion) they do last a good long time.
 
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