Musings

My Dovetail Saw Gets A Little Brother

Recently I was corresponding with Derek Olson about his latest adventures in woodworking, and mentioned in passing my need/desire for a petite dovetail saw. I have a standard Bad Axe dovetail saw but given the scale of most of my work I wanted one that had a thinner and narrower plate, with much finer teeth. The BA saw that I had was simply too aggressive for the work I often undertake which includes finer cuts in thinner stock, so I was spending more psychic energy on holding the saw back than I was concentrating on the cuts being executed.  I’d made a small dovetail saw myself but was ot satisfied with that one either, but I will keep on trying.

Next thing I know I’m getting an email from Mark Harrell of Bad Axe, informing me that Derek had passed along my off-hand comments and indicating that he would be delighted to make me such a saw. I bit on the hook.

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After extensive correspondence and a long phone conversation discussing my need/desire, he emailed me a summary of what we thought I wanted. One of the reasons for the lengthy phone call was that he was picking my brain about the saws and sawing techniques Roubo wrote about, and I was delighted to share my thoughts about that.  It was nothing “insider,” I would gladly provide the same thoughts to any saw makers who asked (and I have).

 

I gave him the go-ahead on my dovetail saw and soon thereafter a package arrived at the post office. I opened it up and it was precisely what I had wanted, a baby brother to my other saw, and took a short minute to try it out on a piece of scrap wood. Magnificent. Just the right feel, just the right kerf, just the right cut.

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Mark indicated his pleasure at me pushing him into territory he would not have otherwise gone. The plate was too thin for his taste, and the teeth too fine. I think the spacing is 17 tpi and the plate thickness is .015 or so.  Still the challenge of providing what I sought was precisely the kind of problem solving that keeps folks like Mark and his crew fueled up. But it is perfect for my needs.

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There is one flaw to the tool, however, and it is a serious one I will have to learn to deal with. It cuts so precisely and easily that I will not be able to blame any poor workmanship on the tool. It will be all mine.

Curse you, Bad Axe Toolworks.