Comments on: The Last Sheffield Sawmaker

By: robertwf

robertwf — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:52:20 +0000

I have ordered two saws a dovetail saw and a tenon saw. I have no doubt they will be perfect

By: Allan D

Allan D — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:15:52 +0000

My kids gave me a Pax rip saw and a Pax Panel saw a few years ago that they purchased from Lee Valley. I have a very big hand so I do not have a problem with the fit but I do not like the sharp edges. I may sand them down but then I loose the finish which is part of the good looks of the saw. I would consider buying the new style of handle. Maybe I have to learn to make alterations to all hand tools to fit me and not worry about aesthetics.

By: thomasflinn

thomasflinn — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:44:42 +0000

Hello,
Thanks for reading the article and thanks to David for writing this article.

Reference the comments on the handles, we have recently actually re-shaped all our top end saw handles and now these are much more comfortable to hold. New batches are all now made in this way as we realised we could improve on the comfort aspect a lot more. But as you will also appreciate, it’s difficult making a saw handle that will fit and feel comfortable in every single person’s hand size and preference.

I hope you enjoy the article and will support our fine, English made saws.
Katie

By: Jonas Jensen

Jonas Jensen — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:55:03 +0000

I have a Pax dovetail saw,and it is a great saw, but I agree with Mitchell, that the handle is a bit of a disappointment when it is straight out of the box. When you pay a premium price, the handle should have been softened a little more using sandpaper or something similar.
But I have softened it myself and I am very pleased with the saw. It is also nice to support a manufacturer that is not based in China.
Brgds
Jonas

By: Mitchell

Mitchell — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:51:35 +0000

Great article. When the eBlast arrived this morning, my eye caught the image used with the posting on this article, and as soon as I saw it I clicked the link.

I have this thing about saw handles made during the last 80 years or so. I am no saw expert, but I think you can tell how old a saw is based on the smoothness of the handle. The older it is, the rounder the edges.

Lee Valley sells the Pax line and I have often checked them out when at one of their stores. I do think the quality quite high, but their handles are…well…not very inviting. Their transitions on the hand-hold display just too strong of angle for me. The raw saw handles displayed in the photo in the eBlast, and again repeated in the article, appear to have softer transitions, but I couldn’t find them in Flinn’s online store.

Were they special order handles?

Peace