Philly
Established Member
Veritas Dovetail Saw
Hi Folks
While at the WIA show last week, Veritas were displaying a new saw. It was rather a shock when I first saw it – a rather unconventional saw! Rob Lee was kind enough to give me one as a gift (maybe to make up for giving me a sneak look at another new tool-see separate review!) and I thought I’d share my thoughts in a little review.
The saw is rather different to any other I have ever seen – yes, I’ve seen saws with plastic handles but never a plastic spine. The spine is made from stainless steel powder, glass fibre and resin – the back is actually moulded onto the saw blade and handle mounting bolt. The handle is a conventional Bubinga handle.
So the first impression is quite something – most people I spoke to at the show hated the look of the thing. Luckily, a bench was available with some scrap wood to take test cuts – and that’s where the story changes. The saw cuts very, very nicely. The handle is very comfortable and natural and the saw is well balanced. I looked forward to testing the saw properly back at the workshop.
As a comparison I am using my trusty Lie-Nielsen dovetail saw. I have owned (and used) this for a good few years and feel comfortable with it. First test cuts were taken in some 12mm thick black walnut. The Veritas saw started easily, cut fast and tracked straight. Very impressive. I took the same cuts using my L-N. The Veritas cut a little faster (the Veritas is 14tpi, the L-N 15, so no surprise why.) The L-N made a slightly coarser cut – there was a slightly ragged edge visible. And when viewing the cuts from the rear this is all the more evident.
I then repeated these cuts on some 19mm thick black walnut. I was impressed with the way the Veritas cut – it seemed to track truer than my L-N. May be time to stone a little more set off my L-N…..
Once you spend some time using the Veritas saw the look doesn’t seem to jar as much. After a week I now look at the saw and think “If Batman used a dovetail saw it would be this one!” . The saw is very comfortable to hold and the balance is just right. It also cuts very well and is seriously sharp.
This saw is priced at $65 in the US – I’m not sure what the UK price will be, but this is a small amount of cash for a saw that performs as well as any I’ve tried. And I’ve used (and own) saws by all the main manufacturers. Rob Lee told me he is producing this saw not to compete with the high end saws (Like Adria, Lie-Nielsen and Wenzloff) but to offer a similar quality product at a rock bottom price for woodworkers who can’t afford the premium saws.
All I can say is this – he has succeeded. And if you can get your head around the look of the saw (it does grow on you over time, honest!) you might just of found the handsaw bargain of the century.
Cheers
Philly
Hi Folks
While at the WIA show last week, Veritas were displaying a new saw. It was rather a shock when I first saw it – a rather unconventional saw! Rob Lee was kind enough to give me one as a gift (maybe to make up for giving me a sneak look at another new tool-see separate review!) and I thought I’d share my thoughts in a little review.
The saw is rather different to any other I have ever seen – yes, I’ve seen saws with plastic handles but never a plastic spine. The spine is made from stainless steel powder, glass fibre and resin – the back is actually moulded onto the saw blade and handle mounting bolt. The handle is a conventional Bubinga handle.
So the first impression is quite something – most people I spoke to at the show hated the look of the thing. Luckily, a bench was available with some scrap wood to take test cuts – and that’s where the story changes. The saw cuts very, very nicely. The handle is very comfortable and natural and the saw is well balanced. I looked forward to testing the saw properly back at the workshop.
As a comparison I am using my trusty Lie-Nielsen dovetail saw. I have owned (and used) this for a good few years and feel comfortable with it. First test cuts were taken in some 12mm thick black walnut. The Veritas saw started easily, cut fast and tracked straight. Very impressive. I took the same cuts using my L-N. The Veritas cut a little faster (the Veritas is 14tpi, the L-N 15, so no surprise why.) The L-N made a slightly coarser cut – there was a slightly ragged edge visible. And when viewing the cuts from the rear this is all the more evident.
I then repeated these cuts on some 19mm thick black walnut. I was impressed with the way the Veritas cut – it seemed to track truer than my L-N. May be time to stone a little more set off my L-N…..
Once you spend some time using the Veritas saw the look doesn’t seem to jar as much. After a week I now look at the saw and think “If Batman used a dovetail saw it would be this one!” . The saw is very comfortable to hold and the balance is just right. It also cuts very well and is seriously sharp.
This saw is priced at $65 in the US – I’m not sure what the UK price will be, but this is a small amount of cash for a saw that performs as well as any I’ve tried. And I’ve used (and own) saws by all the main manufacturers. Rob Lee told me he is producing this saw not to compete with the high end saws (Like Adria, Lie-Nielsen and Wenzloff) but to offer a similar quality product at a rock bottom price for woodworkers who can’t afford the premium saws.
All I can say is this – he has succeeded. And if you can get your head around the look of the saw (it does grow on you over time, honest!) you might just of found the handsaw bargain of the century.
Cheers
Philly
