Lie Nielsen vs Bad Axe

[bdiemer]

I received some gift certificates and I'm going to purchase a new pistol grip dovetail saw. Both the Lie Nielsen and Bad Axe  saws are within the realm of the certificates. Is there any reason I would want to spend almost double on the Bad Axe. It should be said I never drop my hand tools and the money I save on the Lie Nielsen I could purchase an  Auriou Rasp. Accuracy is my main concern.                                                                                                Happy New Year  Barry

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Gramercy instead

 

[bdiemer]

Gramercy instead

I'm a Brooklyn boy, I love Gramercy but the gift certificate is for elsewhere.

 

[Steve-Rice]

For years I cut my dovetails with a Lie-Nielsen dovetail saw. I eventually tried a Japanese pull style dovetail saw and totally fell in love.  The thin blade and pull stroke make the cut so much faster and more accurate.  Totally changed the way I work.  If you're buying a saw specifically for hand cut dovetails, you owe it to yourself to try a Japanese style saw. Check it out.

 

[canadamike]

Some years ago I took a course with Rob Cosman, he was the CDN rep for Lie Nielsen, so I bought the LN saws. I also have a BadAxe saw and a couple others. After I finished a stint at Inside Passage, I now prefer to use japanese saws. But I will say, its better to spend time making things instead of obsessing over the tools. It's all about building up your skills. You'll figure out what works best for you over time. The LN saw is an excellent saw, as are the others. Some models have a varied tooth pattern that helps with starting the cut. But pick up a low cost japanese saw just for fun, and give it a try. Lee Valley has some good choices.

Happy New Year.

 

[woodguy7]

I have 2 Veritas dovetail saws, one rip & one crosscut.  I also have a LN "thin plate" saw.  I can get very good results from all 3 but the LN is truly a work of art.  I have never used a Bad Axe saw but after owning the LN i do not think there is a need to spend double on a saw (unless your a collector).

Order the LN & get making sawdust, you won't regret it.

 

[Steve-Rice]

I don't mean to be critical, but you would not use a cross cut saw for cutting dovetails, as all your cutting will be with the grain. All dovetail saws should have a rip tooth design, even though cutting tails is slightly at an angle to the grain.

 

[waho6o9]

I don't mean to be critical, but you would not use a cross cut saw for cutting dovetails, as all your cutting will be with the grain. All dovetail saws should have a rip tooth design, even though cutting tails is slightly at an angle to the grain.

Thank you for clarifying that Steve as I always wondered which saw to use.

Japanese saws get my vote as well.  I have a couple from Lee Valley that I like too.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[woodguy7]

Why would you not cut dovetails with the Veritas cross cut pattern dovetail saw ?  Have you ever tried ?  I have & had some really nice results.  Sometimes i think people get too hung up on having the "right" tool.  Use what you have & give it a bash !
I have an old Stanley no 4 smoothing plane that i have tuned up & fitted with a Hock blade & cap iron & it cuts as well as any Lie  Nielson i own (& i have a few)

 

[RussellS]

When cutting dovetails with a handsaw, you would use a rip saw for almost all cuts.  You are cutting from the end grain into the length of the wood.  The only cross cutting in dovetails is the short outside edges of the tails where you would crosscut from the outside edge of the wood to the bottom inside corner of the tail.  These may be half inch long crosscuts.  One on each side.  Two on each end of the board.

 

[woodguy7]

So your trying to say it can't be done ?  Im afraid i dissagree

 

[mavrick1903]

It's not that it can't be done. Simply that the tooth profile was established for a specific purpose. It will be better at one than the other. Of course it can be done. But cross cut saws excel at crosscutting. Rip saws excel at ripping. All but the outer shoulder cuts are effectively rip cuts.

All that said, most of the Japanese dovetail saws are filed crosscut, not rip.

 

[tiralie]

Sometimes i think people get too hung up on having the "right" tool.  Use what you have & give it a bash !

Agreed you just do it. But to be fair (stunning I say this I know) it's difficult to know what the the expected results and experience should be unless someone shows you and/or you experience it for yourself.
Starting with the right tool and then using the wrong one or vise versa for me, is only gained from experience or in failing.
Tim

 

[mouppe]

If you only have one saw, file it cross-cut and make do. But you'd be making life unnecessarily difficult if you stick with just one saw longer-term.

Dovetail saws can get away with having thinner plates and less set than cross-cut saws because they are usually cutting less than one inch or so.

 

[Wonderwino]

Lie Nielsen has "Hand Tool Events" fairly regularly around the country.  Many of these are held in shops or woodworking schools and you can try before you buy their tools.  At bigger shows, like Woodworking in America (September 2016 in Cincinnati, OH), the other manufacturers will likely be there.  All let you try the tools they have before you buy.  If you're not in a hurry, this might be the best path to a decision that's right for you.

I have Bad Axe saws and they are awesome!  Mark Harrell custom makes them to order.  I have also used the Lie Nielsen and Veritas saws at shows and they are functionally equivalent in skilled hands.  The Bad Axe lets you choose the handle and back material, which the others do not.  You can also choose the grind you want for the blade, so they are a true custom saw.  Mark is great to talk to and can help you make an appropriate choice, based on how you plan to use the saw.

 

[WoodChuckWoods]

I have a Cosman, Nielson, and a Bontz. The Cosman is an amazing saw I love it hands down the best cutting saw I've owned. The Nielson is a great cutting saw also. The Bontz on the other hand is a great cutting saw but the look is also a work of art, easily the best looking saws around imo.[attachimg=1]

 

[dltflt]

I just picked up a Glen Drake Toolworks saw set. They have a unique saw design. The first and last part of the blade have no teeth, the teeth are variable. Check it out at glendraketoolworks.com.

 

[rustym]

A different route!  I read that Highland Hardware in Atlanta Ga. is now selling David Barron dovetail saw guides and also the Japanese saw that he uses to cut dovetails with.  Watch his videos on youtube.  I have a 1-7 guide and a couple of the dovetail saws and they are fantastic, especially in thin sided drawers.  Check them out.

Rusty