bad axe saws

[Noho12C]

Hello,

im considering to buy a bad axe 12" Hybrid Dovetail/Small Tenon Saw. Does anyone of you own a saw from them and is happy/unhappy with it ?

Also, any issue to expect with the customs ? (i guess there is a 20% import fees)

Thanks !
Chris.

 

[sunnybob]

You pay duty on the shipping as well as the item price when buying from outside the EU.
I used to work on double the dollar price with a £ sign in front before stuff arrived at my house.

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

Workshop heaven have them in stock, better than all the hassle importing.

Although I like good tools and would never put people off buying the best and enjoying them, I don think I'd spend £215 on one, though. I'm sure they are fine tools, though.

Mike.

 

[custard]

Their "hybrid" pattern is interesting. It's similar to the method taught at the Barnsley Workshop, basically a rip pattern with a bit of fleam and a slightly relaxed rake. In fact if you sharpen your rip saw by hand then unless you're jigged up to the eyeballs you'll probably end up with something pretty similar. Just the natural errors that hand sharpening introduces tends to take you in this direction. And for anything finer than about 10 tpi that makes for a great all round cabinet maker's saw.

Once you go below about 8 tpi, or work with wet wood, things are different, but with backsaws there's not all that much benefit from separate rip and cross cut saws, so with this kind of slightly sloppy rip tooth pattern you're good to go. Mind you, there are equally good backsaws at less than half that price, so you could choose to have both a cross cut and a rip pattern plus change as well, and nice as I'm sure it is it won't improve your dovetails one jot, only practise can do that!

 

[Noho12C]

thanks for your feed backs, much appreciated !

ok, import fees seem pretty massive... I will have a look at workshop heaven and classic hand tools.

Agree, quite pricey, but i have a limited set of tools and want to keep it minimalist. I plan to have this one as my main saw, in addition to my DT and xcut saw (veritas) i already have.

 

[Noho12C]

thanks custard, just saw your message.

Seems that their hybrid is quite similar to Paul Sellers sharpening method. (need to cross check that). And yes, as you said, considering the tpi (13/14), it will be used both as a rip and xcut.

My dovetails are really good actually ! Did a tool chest ( C Schwartz), so after about 60/70 dovetails, you start to have a good idea of how to do it ) - suprised myself lately with half-blind DT : did a really good job the first time, and found it quite easy to do. longer but much easier than it looks...

However, struggling at the moment with tenons. Still need some practice..

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

Classic hand tools have them also, but a fair bit dearer!

I must say, I have both cross and rip tenon saws in 12 inch long brass backed and didn't pay that much for the pair. I did rehandle, though. 2 saws take longer to dull than one! And despite it not being a real issue, there are subtle differences to rip and cross cutting saws that I like.

Mike.

 

[AndyT]

If you want to buy one really well made backsaw, there's a local option well worth considering - Skelton saws.

Shane makes the whole saw, using what he has learned from close study of high end historical examples. I'm sure he would be willing to make whatever tooth pattern you want.

http://skeltonsaws.co.uk

 

[deema]

At the price level your at, I too would suggest Skelton saws. A handle made to fit your hand, and a beautifully hand made saw from the U.K.

 

[Noho12C]

havent been thinking to skelton saws, but thanks for the idea. The 12"carcass would be a good match (in rip). Need to think a bit about it...

 

[Noho12C]

Hello again,

was checking a bit the different options. Skelton looks nice but is much more expensive !

Also, was checking at Flinn Garlick, and was wondering about their Pax 1776 line. Anyone have experience with it ? I recalled reading some bad reviews about some of the Flinn Garlick range, but can remember which was good and which was bad...

 

[woodbrains]

Hello again,

was checking a bit the different options. Skelton looks nice but is much more expensive !

Also, was checking at Flinn Garlick, and was wondering about their Pax 1776 line. Anyone have experience with it ? I recalled reading some bad reviews about some of the Flinn Garlick range, but can remember which was good and which was bad...

Hello,

I don't think Pax 1776 do a saw equivalent to what you are looking at in the Bad Axe range, but they are fine saws all the same. You will probably want to reshape the handles, though, of Nicholson there is plenty of wood to do so. I have a 10 inch dovetail in rip cut and it is a good as any.

Similarly, Lie Nielsen are good saws, with nicer handles, and not as expensive as Bad Axe. It is a taste thing, but I like the look better, too.

Mike.

 

[Noho12C]

Lie Nielsen are nice but the tenon saw is def too big for me. I bought a year ago their tenon saw (16") and have barely used it since then. So Im looking for a replacement... There might be soon a LN tenon saw for sale on the forum soon

 

[John15]

I have a Pax 1776 20tpi dovetail and a 13tpi tenon saw, and find them very enjoyable to use. I also have a Veritas at 1/3rd the price which is also very nice to use. At my level I find it's a hard choice to make.

John

 

[Bodgers]

Hello,

im considering to buy a bad axe 12" Hybrid Dovetail/Small Tenon Saw. Does anyone of you own a saw from them and is happy/unhappy with it ?

Also, any issue to expect with the customs ? (i guess there is a 20% import fees)

Thanks !
Chris.

Just to say, have you considered buying more local? No affiliation (other than than seeing at woodwork shows) but have you considered Skelton Saws? They are based here in the UK (not far from me in Scarborough) and they have some super handmade tenon saws...

http://skeltonsaws.co.uk/

 

[Noho12C]

Had a look at Skelton saws, and yep, I really like their carcass saw. But the price if huge !! I was actually thinking to "downgrade" a bit and go for a pax 1776. Prob not as good, but after all Im just a hobbyist...
I think I need to still think a bit about it...

 

[Bodgers]

If you compare their dovetail saw to the Badaxe one, by the time you factor in delivery and duty + VAT the price will be very similar. If not cheaper on the Skeleton saw.

Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk

 

[Noho12C]

yes, i calculated quickly the total cost for import and it would be around 300 gbp, so i kinda gave up this option. But workshopheaven has it in stock for 215 £.
i spent a bit of time today on skelton's website, and really like not only the saw (both dimensions and design) but also the craftmanship.

As a hobbyist, a pax 1776 would be way enough, but to be honest i really like the idea of having kinda a unique saw, the one to reach for. The saw that is Your saw, and that you keep for a lifetime. Getting sentimental maybe...

 

[Noho12C]

So, i finally ordered the Pax 1776. Made locally and price is easier to justify for a hobbyist. Planning to do a shaker style side table this week end, so it will be put to the test !