Thread: 14" LN Tenon Saws - My Experience

Woody - I expect you'll get replies advocating big, and replies advocating small. It's really just a matter of personal choice, & what you find comfortable. I don't like using tools any bigger than necessary for the job, & never have. For most of the work I do, a 250mm x 60mm blade is enough - it handles cuts up to 60mm or so wide very well. I have a 300mm x 75mm 12tpi (x-cut) that also gets a lot of use, and a similar-sized 10tpi rip that would be the next most-used. I do have larger saws, which I use for big jobs, but I go for the saw that I consider best fits the job in hand.

Someone has made a statement that the deeper the blade, the easier it is to align, & it's been picked up & repeated as gospel. It may be so, but the advantage is at best marginal, IMO. What makes the biggest difference is a properly-sharpened, appropriately-toothed blade, being used to your tools, and plenty of practice. I am happy to go head to head in a contest to follow a line with any of my saws, deep or shallow-bladed. You can cut perfectly good dovetails with a panel saw, if you are moderately skilled, but who wants to do that other than to prove a point? I'm MUCH more comfortable doing average dovetails with a nice little 200 or 250mm saw dedicated to the job.

So there's one opinion!

Cheers,

BozInOz said "HNT Gordon only supplies the smaller tenon saws and the other brands I would have to import."
Terry is happy to bring in the larger Tenon Saws if you are willing to wait until he orders his next order or pay a little more for the one off shipping. I even got him to supply Eddie with the following Ebony for my saws. (As a close match to some other tools I have)
That said I'm sure you are going to be happy taking the road you have. Wait until you start making them your self,...thanks RayG, IanW, BobL, DC et al. I can't just look at a tool any more as I need to know the details....Same thing happened when I learnt how to weld...I inspected almost every weld I walked pass and was inspired by some work and amazed by how poor some of it was.
Same with tools now...if only I had more time to develop more skills (later this year?)...one day at a time
all the best
Kevin

Ian
Many thanks for your opinion and I agree with what you have said. I must admit that the overall size of the 16 inch was a bit daunting to me (being a beginner).
What you said about a properly sharpened and appropiately toothed blade and plenty of practice made all the sense to me.
I believe I will be comfortable with the 14 inch Lie Nielsen Tenon Rip saw which should have all those features and I will supply plenty of Practice.
Cheers

Originally Posted by kevjed

..... I even got him to supply Eddie with the following Ebony for my saws. (As a close match to some other tools I have)

Strewth Kev - did you score the jackpot at the casino??

At first I thought they were your manufacture, & I thought, "well-done, me boy, your sawmaking skills are coming along just fine". Then I squinted a bit harder & saw what looks like 'Adria' engraved on the spine.

Anyway - a lovely set - very impressive - hope you have some appreciative heirs!

BTW - have you got any more of those cast-off Irwin blades still kicking about?
Cheers,

Originally Posted by kevjed

BozInOz said "HNT Gordon only supplies the smaller tenon saws and the other brands I would have to import."
Terry is happy to bring in the larger Tenon Saws if you are willing to wait until he orders his next order or pay a little more for the one off shipping. I even got him to supply Eddie with the following Ebony for my saws. (As a close match to some other tools I have)
That said I'm sure you are going to be happy taking the raod you have. Wait until you start making them your self,...thanks RayG, IanW, BobL, DC et al. I can't just look at a tool any more as I need to know the details....Same thing happened when I learnt how to weld...I inspected almost every weld I walked pass and was inspired by some work and amazed by how poor some of it was.
Same with tools now...if only I had more time to develop more skills (later this year?)...one day at a time
all the best
Kevin

Very nice! What size is the bigun'? While I'm asking questions, what sort of ebony too?

cheers,
B-D.

Thanks B-D.
the two Large Tenon Saws
Both cross-cut and rip filed blades have 11 teeth per inch (tpi).
Blade is 0.025" thick, kerf width is 0.033".
Blade is made of high quality spring steel hardened to RC52
Blade size (useful part) is 14"x4".

The Timber: Macassar Ebony
its not from the same tree as most of my other tools as we were not sure if the Canadian customs would let it through for Eddie to make the saws. Strangely enough both Terry Gordon and myself got a bit of a shock when they arrived as all 5 saws were to be from the same chunk of timber. Eddie has a thing for Dark Macassar so thought he was doing me a favour by making the Dovetail saw a little special. Needless to say he used the matching timber a month or so later and you can see the dovetail saw, with some other tools, in my avitar.
All the best
Kevin

Hi Ian.
No mate not the Casino....about ten years ago I got into building cars, Lotus 7 variations and a Lotus 23 replica. I sold the 7 when I lost my "drive"(sorry about the pun) about 4.5 years ago and along came my family .Funny thing is I had already decided that wood working was going to be my hobby I could do at home and not risk life and limb on the race track. Any how, in the last 4 years I've have purchased some lovely tools from the Aussie tool making icons. Will post a thread one day, once I have my H&S chisels that I ordered nearly two years ago. All funded by the sale of a little red car I built from scratch. (I sold it to the fellow that taught me about cars and machine shop practice. I hope to buy it back one day when my two children have grown up)
I plan to replicate these tools myself over the next 20 years so I decided to get some nice ones to start me on my journey.
By the way Ian, have cut teeth in about 6 or so more saws, 12tpi is much easier than 20 tpi, and will get round to completing them as my wife recovers and needs less of my time.
I've been off work for most of this year so I haven't collect this years throw away Irwins. I'll pop in next week and see what I can dig up. ( know I have a few stashed some where)
will pm next week
all the best
Kevin

Thanks Kevin,

I've one of Eddie's dovetail saws, and find it quite superb. I might just have a chat to Terry about one of the large tenon saws too!
cheers,
B-D.

Originally Posted by kevjed

Thanks B-D.
the two Large Tenon Saws
Both cross-cut and rip filed blades have 11 teeth per inch (tpi).
Blade is 0.025" thick, kerf width is 0.033".
Blade is made of high quality spring steel hardened to RC52
Blade size (useful part) is 14"x4".

The Timber: Macassar Ebony
its not from the same tree as most of my other tools as we were not sure if the Canadian customs would let it through for Eddie to make the saws. Strangely enough both Terry Gordon and myself got a bit of a shock when they arrived as all 5 saws were to be from the same chunk of timber. Eddie has a thing for Dark Macassar so thought he was doing me a favour by making the Dovetail saw a little special. Needless to say he used the matching timber a month or so later and you can see the dovetail saw, with some other tools, in my avitar.
All the best
Kevin