Thread: Who is the best contemporary saw maker?????

Klaus & Pedder -Two Lawyers Toolworks

I don't think it's that simple to qualify. It's a bit like Benz/BMW/Audi/Jag/ etc. All damn fine cars - which one do you like the best? Well, the one that has the features that suit me best. (i.e blade length, handle hang yadda - it's all personal).

Other quality makers include:
Grammercy
Gramercy Tools
Lie-Nielsen
Lie-Nielsen Toolworks USA | Saws
Veritas
Veritas® Molded-Spine Saws - Lee Valley Tools - Woodworking Tools, Gardening Tools, Hardware Supplies
Pax
High quality Pax Saws made in Sheffield by Thomas Flinn & Co
A whole swag of Japanese alternatives:
Saws : Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan.
You can even make your own!

However, I find the best one use on the day is the sharp one!

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I don't think it's that simple to qualify. It's a bit like Benz/BMW/Audi/Jag/ etc. All damn fine cars - which one do you like the best?

I think that is the point. Jaguar were a damn fine car fifty years ago when they were making the E-Type and the Mark II, but then they let quality control slip. Remember the old quip that one should always buy two Jags - one to drive while the other was being fixed.

Stanley used to make fine quality tools at good prices, then they did a Jag. But Stanley still exist and all of their high quality competitors have long since disappeared.

We all love those saws from Big-chains where the steel is almost as hard as radiata, do we not??



Fair Winds

Graeme

That is exactly the point to discuss who is making what, how, innovating, quality and price. Why you like which one, and why it suits you. The idea was to create some debate & discussion.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I have been hiding away the last few days so have been spending some of my time in solitude researching saw making and saw makers. Which leads me to this question:

Who is the best contemporary saw maker?????

now that's a very philosophical question

what is the common understanding, at least among us, of "best" ?
do we even have to agree on what constitutes "best" ?
can we even agree on which attributes of a saw should be included when determing "best"
are we talking Western saws, Japanese saws, back saws, panel saws, cross cut saws, rip saws, dovetail saws, tree felling saws, etc ?

does the measure apply to a maker's entire range of saws or can "best" be applied to one particular saw within a maker's product range.

Then what is meant by contemporary ?
does the maker need to currently making saws, or just still living and breathing ? e.g. Pete Tarrant
if the maker is recently deceased are they still "contemporay" because some of their saws can still be purchased new?

I'm sure the perspectives go on ...

The Forum's own IanW is not too bad. I have my order in .

Regards
Paul

I have three LN's 10" progressive pitch dovetail, 14" tenon, 20" handsaw, I rate them highly. But I have a Bad Axe 18" Tenon that was made exactly as I asked for and is amazing. I also have a 12" Wenzloff that I love to use and is the one I usually reach for first. I think that Mark from Bad Axe gives you so many options in looks as well as tooth shape and other options it's great. He wanted to know what I cut, how I cut it and everything but the colour of my eyes. I got exactly the saw I specified. I would should sell off my LN's and swap over to more Bad Axes and look shyt hot. Which is best I don't know

I like my Makita drop saw

Backsaws began their resurgence in the 80s with the Independence Tools dovetail saw under Pete Taran and Patrick Leach (of SuperTools). The company was bought out by Lie-Nielsen, who have continued to manufacture it ever since.

Adria saws, under Eddie Sirotich in Canada, were the first real alternative. I think he started in the early or mid 90s.

On the other side of the Pond, Thomas Finn was busy building Garlick, and there was also Roberts & Lee, Crown and Pax. All still around.

There were a few guys making saws part time, such as Spehar and Leif Hanson, but I could argue that the next generation of custom sawmakers started around 2000 with my friend Mike Wenzloff. He was soon followed by Gramercy, Eccentric Toolworks, and Medallion Toolworks, another Canadian sawmaker. Of these, only Wenzloff and Gramercy remain.

Canada is again represented by Lee Valley and Rob Cosman.

The latest crop of sawmakers include Badaxe (Mark Harrell), Ron Bontz ..... Two Lawyers Toolworks (Klaus & Pedder) are no longer making saws owing to the allergies experienced by Klaus, although I am sure they will return at some stage.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Only joking about the Makita thing...

Honest question though -

I use one of those Japanese pull saws for all my dovetailing and tenons. I find that they cut straight and easily through endgrain Jarrah with a very thin kerf. Is an expensive saw really worth it or is it more
for show but not much better results?
In other words, I can appreciate how a well made tennon saw would be better than a cheap tennon saw, but is it better than a cheap Jap pull saw?

I treated myself to a set of the Veritas Dovetail and Crosscut saws here

I must say I'm beginning to see what the fuss is about. My previous use saws were hardware store sourced. These are magic in comparison, a pleasure to use. I do wonder what one of the 'revered' highend saws might feel like to use, might have to sneak into Claw's workshop and test his bespoke saw!

I've used a couple of Japanese saws and I do like them but the pull saw action is a little unnatural to me and I find myself bending the blade on the push

Oh and I do like my Husqvana

Lie Nielson and Bahco.

I picked up a set of the Lee Valley Dovetail and Carcass saws last year and they are fantastic. I've not used the LN or any of the higher end custom saws, but the LV saws really seem to be the best bang for the buck, based on all the feedback I've heard from others.