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10th November 2015, 11:45 PM #1Chainsaw carpenter
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Carcass saw to suit ogre sized hands
On my wish list for tools is a nice carcass saw, but having looked around the Canberra show the other day I have realised that my ogre sized hands means I do not fit the handles on the off the shelf items.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I had previously lusted over the Veritas saws with the composite backs, but when I finally got to put one in my hand the handle sticks into my palm and if I "point" my index finger along the side, I can only fit two fingers on the handle, leaving my little finger swinging in the breeze.
Is there somewhere I can buy a blade and back that I can make a handle for? I have a 30 yo Sandvik crosscut carpenters saw that I bought because it had a good sized handle. I figure I could model a handle off the Sandvik if I can find a kit in Australia.
Thoughts?
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11th November 2015, 01:13 AM #2
I have the same problem. I've used older Disston saws for years but given their increasing prices I started buying the so-called new generation custom or semi custom made saws several years ago. Unfortunately the majority of them had handles that were too small for comfort too so I bought another with a large sized handle that turned out to be a disappointment in several ways. Disappointment and frustration finally drove me to make my own. There are several custom makers in Australia that I'm sure would be willing to make what you want. RayG, who posts here, makes slotted saw backs.
Innovations are those useful things that, by dint of chance, manage to survive the stupidity and destructive tendencies inherent in human nature.
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11th November 2015, 01:29 AM #3Deceased
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11th November 2015, 06:35 AM #4
Thylacene
When you say a good size carcass saw, are you talking just about the handle? What length saw plate did you have in mind?
Regards
PaulBushmiller;
"Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"
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11th November 2015, 08:07 AM #5Chainsaw carpenter
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Paul,
My reference to "good size" was more in respect of the handle, I would think that a 12" length with 2" of "cut" would do the job.
Planemaker,
Using that site as a reference, my hands fall into the Extra Large category, measuring as per the picture there, my hands are 4 3/8".
It is a bitch when trying to buy gloves also, over the years I have found a couple of pair that are XXXL, but to just duck into the big green shed and buy gloves is a non-event.
Thanks for the info, I will track down the forum members that are doing the custom builds.
Regards
Taz
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11th November 2015, 08:41 AM #6
it's not that difficult to make your own handles
grab a saw and upscale the handle
here's a kit so you can make your own
Or commission Planemaker to make one for youLast edited by Sawdust Maker; 11th November 2015 at 08:42 AM. Reason: add commission
regards
Nick
veni, vidi, tornavi
Without wood it's just ...
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11th November 2015, 08:45 AM #7
Hi Thylacene, you could have your cake & eat it too - buy the Veritas saw you lust after, and make a new handle for it.
Those Veritas saws just cry out for custom-fitted handles, imo! I haven't checked an actual saw, but the stud that fixes the handle is most likely a standard 1/4" NC thread, same as on their planes, etc. It should be pretty straightforward to make yourself a new grip, & replace the existing stud with a length of all-thread cut to suit your new super-size handle. I suggest you make the grip a little wider &/or fatter, as well as longer, which will fill you hand more & feel more comfy. A bit of experimentation with scrap wood before you commit to a chunk of something expensive should soon sort it out.
Failing that, the collective here should be able to come up with something to fit you up, one way or another. I think I've still got a bit of saw plate left suitable for a saw the size of the Veritas carcase saw, so if you want to roll your own, maybe I could make up a kit for you (plate, slotted back & brass bolts).....
Cheers,IW
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11th November 2015, 09:09 AM #8
I was going to suggest looking at the mitre saws as they have a significantly bigger handle. However they come with a slightly thicker plate than the standard carcass/back saw and it may be deeper than you wish. That of course is easily rectifiable too, but you get to the stage where the alterations are too much.
However, back to the mitre saw, if the handle is big enough, cut it to any length you want. In fact I was looking at a saw a while back, which was probably originally 4" under the back (the smallest size in mitre saws), but with sharpening was down to about 3:" It was something like that I had in mind. In fact if you were prepared to make up a new handle, you can get two saws for the price of one. Cut a 26" saw in two.
I have done that in the past. One thing I should mention is that you have a choice of teeth at 11ppi .
Regards
PaulLast edited by Bushmiller; 11th November 2015 at 09:12 AM. Reason: More info
Bushmiller;
"Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"
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11th November 2015, 11:51 AM #9Deceased
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From a design perspective; its difficult to change the grip size without incrementally changing the rest of the handle. It just looks odd. Far better to focus on up sizing the full handle. For a grip length of 4 3/8, restricting the depth of usable plate to only 2 inches wouldn't be easy.. To try and keep the heel of the handle at say 1/2" above the tooth line, your left with 3 primary choices, increase the depth of plate, increase the hang of the handle, or a mix of both options. IMO
Stewie;
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11th November 2015, 07:34 PM #10
Good point, Stewie. I was going to mention that & forgot. However, the drawings on the Blackburn tools page do take that into consideration, and blend the lower cheek into the return nicely.
The grip doesn't have to accommodate the full width of the palm, Stewie, unless you insist on wrapping all 4 fingers around it! My own palm is 90mm wide, and a 'standard' grip fits me with room to spare, so I'd calculate it would require roughly 15mm added to the length of a 'medium' grip,' to fit Thylacene's 110mm paw.
It would still come to a noticeably larger part, so you would need to consider how the handle is attached if you want clearance on a smaller saw. I would re-draw it & drop the cheeks a bit, in that case, rather than simply following Isaac's template.
Cheers,IW
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11th November 2015, 08:45 PM #11Deceased
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The grip doesn't have to accommodate the full width of the palm,
Hi Ian. Maybe a poor choice of wording on my behalf. I was referring to the palm measurement. I base the inner grip length on a traditional 3 finger wrap with the index finger extended. The outer grip length is where the palm measurement becomes important. 4 3/8" converted to metric does match your measurement of 110mm. (109mm)
I would re-draw it & drop the cheeks a bit, in that case;
We have some difference in the way we approach our saw handle work. All good.
regards Stewie;
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11th November 2015, 08:47 PM #12
The instruction leaflet that comes with the Veritas saws has a sketch showing all the critical dimensions needed to make your own handles.
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12th November 2015, 01:32 AM #13Deceased
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12th November 2015, 08:05 AM #14
Well there you go - LV almost encourage you to make a new handle!
It would take a bit of fiddling to match the curve neatly, and dig out a nicely matching hole for the boss. You could spend a day making a router jig to do it, or simply drill a series of overlapping holes with a Forstner bit & clean up with a chisel. You've got a bit less to hold onto when shaping, compared with a 'regular' handle; might be a good idea to screw it to a chunk of wood temporarily to give you something to hold or grip in vise. I think I'd still substitute a new, longer stud if the grip was any longer, or else the nut is going to be buried rather deeply.
Looks like you have a project for Christmas day, Thylacene......
Cheers,IW
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12th November 2015, 08:14 AM #15
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