Wenzloff Backsaw advise

Rob, if it is filed for rip cut, it will only be good for with the grain sawing. For making the crosscuts for the shoulders on tenons, you are going to want a crosscut saw. A rip saw, even with no set, is not going to do a good job crosscutting. Still going to be an unacceptable amount of tear out which could ruin fine joinery.

Get both a rip and crosscut and you can get the tenon saw if you have a need for cutting longer tenons.

-- Mike

for tenon cheeks you should use a rip saw… and for shoulders use a cross cut saw (carcass saw (which is smaller than tenon saw) is common).
Wenzloff saws are very good as are the Lie Nielsen, Bad Axe, Adria and other premium saws- which size saw you should get depends on the scale of your work. for most smaller sized work dovetail (rip) and carcass (crosscut) saws are adequate and somewhat easier to control than a bigger tenon saw in smaller projects.
Look at the Bad Axe website- it has some great information to help you decide.

I think I am going to go with two small tennon saws one rip and one xcut they are 14 long and 3 inch depth under back I’m going to get them files 12 tpi most of my work is in 3/4 stock but that size leaves me room to make some bigger peaces

be sure to check out the new back saws at Lee Valley- they can be bought with either rip or xcut teeth and are a bargain

Hi Rob. Just my 2 cents. If you are getting two 14” tenon/sash saws 12tpi/13ppi then I would definitely go with 3.5” under spine instead of just 3”. Unless the vendor doesn’t offer it of course. With a 3.5” plate, x 14” x 0.025” you have really covered a lot of joinery options. If you had wanted a 12” carcass or small tenon saw then I would agree 3” under spine. Then skip the 14” and jump to a 16” x 4” rip tenon later if needed. Either a 0.025” plate or a 0.032” plate. But with a 14” that has the 3.5” under spine you could later skip the 16” and go with a big boy at 18” x 4.5” or 5” under spine x 0.032” plate. For the big projects like Rubos, etc. A smaller 12” x 2.5” under spine carcass saw is quite handy to have around as well. Well ok more like a nickles worth. Best of luck to you. Ron

-- BontzSawWorks@empowering.com

Just my $.02, but have you looked at Ron’s saws? I can tell you that they are fantastic saws.

-- Dave, Colonie, NY