Thread: New Saw Handle

Wow, looks crazy (good) different to the run of the mill, I like thin fine lines.

That's a one man saw.
Cheers,
Jim

Well Stewie, its different. Good on you for using your artistic design flair to create something a little different. I tend to like the more traditional 3 finger grip myself as I find it allows me to give more precise alignment input to the saw plate than with a four finger grip. That said, if you can drive the thing then who cares what I think. Good on you.
Happy saw month
Kevin

Thanks Claw Hama.

Originally Posted by jimbur

That's a one man saw.
Cheers,
Jim

Yes Jim. Thats correct.

Originally Posted by kevjed

Well Stewie, its different. Good on you for using your artistic design flair to create something a little different. I tend to like the more traditional 3 finger grip myself as I find it allows me to give more precise alignment input to the saw plate than with a four finger grip. That said, if you can drive the thing then who cares what I think. Good on you.
Happy saw month
Kevin

Hi Kevin. Good way to find out whether your right or wrong. Grab a hold of a standard crosscut saw and grip it with 3 fingers; index finger pointing out, and see if you cut more precisely that way.

Stewie.

I like the look of your handle.
Its not a matter of right or wrong here. I have stated my preference is for the more traditional handle with the three finger grip. This is based on using modern saws that are built for the four finger grip with both three and four fingers. The extended index finger helps me steer the saw with a little more control.
I've since made a few handles in the more traditional mould and managed to fit them to my hand and at this stage of my journey I'm happy with the the progess.
Four fingered saw handle grip dosen't work for me. If it works for you then you have made a saw handle that fits and works for you. Thats the beauty of the roll you own approach to tools. You get to try out lots of different variables along the way and come up with a range of solutions. Some will be more effectice and or efficent than others.
Enjoy the process.
Kevin

Beautiful work Stewie.
I am a bit of a traditionalist as well, and a lifetime of three fingered sawing is a habit that I simply cannot change now that I am in my dotage.
However, I admire good craftsmanship, and your handle looks superb. I can tell just by looking at it that I could not use it, but you didn't make it for me, you made it for yourself.
I hope it feels good in your hand. It really is a lovely piece of work.

SG

PS If you are going to discard the first handle, I have a little backsaw blade that it would fit.
Cheers

Hi PM. That's certainly a handle with style!

As Kevin says, the object of the exercise is to make tools that suit ourselves, so if it works for you and is aesthetically pleasing as well, then you are well ahead in the game. I've just been killing a bit of time during the 4 days we were marooned by floodwaters by remaking a set of chisel handles. I might put them up in a new thread, later, so as not to hijack this one.

I'm an old conservative when it comes to saw handles, so I put my effort into making the traditional styles fit in my hand the way I like them to. And without starting a raging debate on the merits of 3, 4 or any number of finger grips, I too am a very definite 3-finger gripper, with the pointer aimed along the side. I do the same with planes. Much as I like my Lee Valley low-angle smoother, I hated that crude & clumsy rear tote thing that came with it. Even after modifying the tote to be more like a "conventional" one, my right index finger just doesn't know where to go, and after several years of use, it still feels awkward wrapping all fingers around the tote.

I am quite certain that one's grip preference is just a learned habit, and I don't think it would be possible (or worthwhile!) to prove one grip or the other is superior - it's just the way we were 'brought up'. Even with full-size panel saws, I usually use a four-finger grip for the grunt work, but automatically switch to a 3-finger grip whenever any precision is called for...

Anyway - full marks for treading a different path, PM.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by kevjed

I like the look of your handle.
Its not a matter of right or wrong here. I have stated my preference is for the more traditional handle with the three finger grip. This is based on using modern saws that are built for the four finger grip with both three and four fingers. The extended index finger helps me steer the saw with a little more control.
I've since made a few handles in the more traditional mould and managed to fit them to my hand and at this stage of my journey I'm happy with the the progess.
Four fingered saw handle grip dosen't work for me. If it works for you then you have made a saw handle that fits and works for you. Thats the beauty of the roll you own approach to tools. You get to try out lots of different variables along the way and come up with a range of solutions. Some will be more effectice and or efficent than others.
Enjoy the process.
Kevin

Hi Kevin. I understand your point of view.

Stewie.

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

Beautiful work Stewie.
I am a bit of a traditionalist as well, and a lifetime of three fingered sawing is a habit that I simply cannot change now that I am in my dotage.
However, I admire good craftsmanship, and your handle looks superb. I can tell just by looking at it that I could not use it, but you didn't make it for me, you made it for yourself.
I hope it feels good in your hand. It really is a lovely piece of work.

SG

PS If you are going to discard the first handle, I have a little backsaw blade that it would fit.
Cheers

Will keep that in mind.

Stewie.

Originally Posted by IanW

Hi PM. That's certainly a handle with style!

As Kevin says, the object of the exercise is to make tools that suit ourselves, so if it works for you and is aesthetically pleasing as well, then you are well ahead in the game. I've just been killing a bit of time during the 4 days we were marooned by floodwaters by remaking a set of chisel handles. I might put them up in a new thread, later, so as not to hijack this one.

I'm an old conservative when it comes to saw handles, so I put my effort into making the traditional styles fit in my hand the way I like them to. And without starting a raging debate on the merits of 3, 4 or any number of finger grips, I too am a very definite 3-finger gripper, with the pointer aimed along the side. I do the same with planes. Much as I like my Lee Valley low-angle smoother, I hated that crude & clumsy rear tote thing that came with it. Even after modifying the tote to be more like a "conventional" one, my right index finger just doesn't know where to go, and after several years of use, it still feels awkward wrapping all fingers around the tote.

I am quite certain that one's grip preference is just a learned habit, and I don't think it would be possible (or worthwhile!) to prove one grip or the other is superior - it's just the way we were 'brought up'. Even with full-size panel saws, I usually use a four-finger grip for the grunt work, but automatically switch to a 3-finger grip whenever any precision is called for...

Anyway - full marks for treading a different path, PM.

Cheers,

Thanks for the feedback Ian. I totally agree. Its not only what fits the hand; its what your used to that makes up the perfect handle. I think if all backsaws were made with 4 finger grips then we would have adapted to suit. Then someone decides to make a 3 finger backsaw grip and we all scratch our heads and say that will definately not work for me. Its what your used to.

Stewie.