sjk Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 The best wife in the world has been bringing up the topic of Bad Axe saws lately, and slyly trying to get my opinions on which saw would be best, handle choice, etc. My birthday is in a few months. I figure I better firm up my opinions in a hurry! I can figure out the material choices, but the type of saw and filing are still open questions. I currently have the Veritas dovetail and crosscut saws (http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=64007&cat=1,42884,68511&ap=1). I also have some EBay backsaws that I’ve rehabbed as I’ve learned to sharpen. They’re ok, “warranted superior”, straight and track well even after my sharpening :). One’s rip, the other is crosscut. They have about 2 1/2 inches from teeth to spine. I build furniture and small projects, with the occasional DIY project thrown in. I don’t timberframe. I was a mostly power tool woodworker, but in the last few years have been incorporating more hand tools. I'm probably 70/30 split right now. What Bad Axe would you add to that mix? Would you replace one of the current saws or add to my capabilities by filling a hole? (For example a longer crosscut saw or a, uh, “taller” tenon saw) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Call them and speak to Mark H. He is a great guy, and will be able to help you out based on your needs. I have two of them, and they are fantastic. 16" Tenon and a stiletto dovetail saw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Hey Mel, I am just curious. I know you do a lot of hand tool work and know how to sharpen, but with a saw of the quality that Bad Axe makes do you still sharpen it yourself or do you send it back to them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 I haven't done enough with these to warrant a sharpening. I'd probably send the big one back because I don't know how to sharpen the voodoo that is hybrid filing... I'll sharpen the dovetail saw myself. Mark does have a class that I am trying to find time to attend on sharpening. It's a crappy excuse, but it's a very long drive to his shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldog Posted April 5, 2016 Report Share Posted April 5, 2016 This is my first post and I don't want to come off as a jerk, but I'd order something fast or something already made if you want to unwrap it on your birthday. I ordered one after doing some extensive research, and I think I made a good decision. I am still waiting for the saw to ship though, and it's been 9 weeks. I think quality is worth waiting for, and I'm not upset..but my girlfriend would be pissed if she had ordered it for my birthday and it didn't arrive on time. This is not a rant though, as I fully expect to buy more saws from Bad Axe in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumberninja Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 I was in a very similar situation when I got my first Bad Axe. I went with a hybrid filed 16 inch tenon. This saw, if I'm not mistaken, is referred to as the Jack plane of saws. It can obviously cut deep tenons, but it can be easily used as a carcass saw with your bench hooks. I eventually bought a dedicated carcass saw. Not because the tenon saw was bad, but because I got a saw problem lol. If the tenon saw seems too large for your current workflow, consider the hybrid tenon/dovetail saw as well. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanM Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 To me it sounds like you've got the smaller saws covered with the Veritas crosscut & dovetail and the (most likely Disston made) warranted superior saws. So what's left in my opinion would be a good Tenon saw. If you think you'll need it. Otherwise just get a Bad Axe to directly replace one of your existing saws. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjk Posted April 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Thanks for all the advice. I'm leaning towards the 16" tenon saw (filed rip, although from its name it should just be rip, thanks saw makers for adding choices to muddy up our conversations). I'm thinking my medium-long term Bad Axe purchases will be a stiletto (dovetail saw for those who don't know), a bayonet (their reinvention of the crosscut saw), and the aforementioned tenon saw. I'm not sure if my long term plans should include a big sash saw for crosscuts in thick stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumberninja Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 You can't go wrong with the tenon. Although I got the saw filed hybrid, when I have to resharpen I will file it dedicated rip. I got it hybrid filed because I wanted to use it as a general saw for the time being. If that interests you, keep the hybrid filing option in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sjk Posted June 28, 2016 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 The best wife in the world outdid herself. My birthday was over the weekend, and there was a box on my workbench. At this point, I discovered there was more than one saw in the box! She solved the dilemma of which saw to get by getting me multiple saws The first I unwrapped was a Bayonet crosscut saw (filed crosscut, 14 ppi). Followed by a Stiletto dovetail saw (rip filed, 15 ppi). And then the massive Beast tenon saw (hybrid filed, 11 ppi). They all have the Texas Honey Mesquite handles, and the black oxide sawback and nuts. They no longer offer the Texas Honey Mesquite - this order was one of their very last ones. I haven't done any big projects with them yet, but my initial test cuts were silky smooth and you can't help but smile while sawing 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 DANM... you weren't lying. Props to Mrs. SJK. She done good. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjk Posted June 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 3 minutes ago, Brendon_t said: DANM... you weren't lying. Props to Mrs. SJK. She done good. She is consistently the most awesome person on the planet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Coop Posted June 29, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 For my bd, my wife took me to Walgreens card dept. and had me stand off to one side while she picked out a card. When she found just the right one, she handed it to me. After I read it, she took it and put it back in the rack and said, happy birthday. Yep, I'd say you did darn good. Congrats! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted June 29, 2016 Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 Happy belated Birthday ! What an amazing birthday gift, lucky guy !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted June 29, 2016 Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 Nice set!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjk Posted June 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 1 hour ago, K Cooper said: For my bd, my wife took me to Walgreens card dept. and had me stand off to one side while she picked out a card. When she found just the right one, she handed it to me. After I read it, she took it and put it back in the rack and said, happy birthday. Yep, I'd say you did darn good. Congrats! LOL - looks like Mrs. Cooper knows how to handle ya 50 minutes ago, shaneymack said: Happy belated Birthday ! What an amazing birthday gift, lucky guy !! 31 minutes ago, Llama said: Nice set!!! Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown craftsman Posted June 29, 2016 Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 Nice birthday gift. Shes gonna have a hard time topping that one next year. Or on her birthday. I could see myself using that big tenon saw. Happy bday. Aj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjk Posted June 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 Thanks @Aj3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted June 29, 2016 Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 4 hours ago, sjk said: Thanks @Aj3 For next year, you should start looking at BCTW tools now! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted June 29, 2016 Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 The Mrs done good! Congrats and happy birthday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjk Posted June 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 10 hours ago, RichardA said: For next year, you should start looking at BCTW tools now! But I don't know how to play bass! 8 hours ago, TIODS said: The Mrs done good! Congrats and happy birthday! She did indeed And thanks for the birthday wishes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prov163 Posted June 29, 2016 Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 SJK, Wow! Awesome gift. I was going to complain that my wife would never do that, but then I remembered she did buy me a new Harley recently :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted June 29, 2016 Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 Wow nice gift!! You will love the saws I have one of their hybrid tenon saws and a small crosscut saw they both work well and look even better. FWIW my wife let me buy them for myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjk Posted June 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 2 hours ago, prov163 said: SJK, Wow! Awesome gift. I was going to complain that my wife would never do that, but then I remembered she did buy me a new Harley recently 2 hours ago, pkinneb said: Wow nice gift!! You will love the saws I have one of their hybrid tenon saws and a small crosscut saw they both work well and look even better. FWIW my wife let me buy them for myself Thanks guys - she's totally awesome. Sounds like you two made out pretty well too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 4 hours ago, sjk said: But I don't know how to play bass! She did indeed And thanks for the birthday wishes I must have had tee many martoonies... I don't understand the bass reference! BCTW.. is Bridge City Tool Works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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