How many saws do you need?

[Cheshirechappie]

Simple question - maybe not such a simple answer, since the type of work you do will dictate what you need. However, assuming you don't have machinery or power handtools, what should a well-equipped woodworker aim to aquire to cover all likely sawing chores?

As a suggested first stab, I'd suggest the following;

Two hardpoint saws - one panel and one backsaw (for 'manky' jobs and any timber that might have nails in it).
Two 'posh' longsaws - one crosscut, one rip (panel length and toothsize for furniture work, handsaw length and toothsize if your work tends to joinery size)
Three 'posh' backsaws - one small rip-filed for dovetail work and tiny tenons, one 12" or so cross-filed for general bench work, one larger deeper plated rip-filed for tenon work (say 14" for cabinetmaking, 16" or so for joinery).
One coping saw and a packet of decent blades.
Sawfiles, sawset, jointing file and sawvice (the latter home-made)

If needed, you could add a bowsaw, a keyhole saw and a tiny gent's saw. perhaps even a compass saw.

I reckon you could tackle pretty much anything with those.

Your thoughts, everyone?

 

[marcros]

This article is interesting. http://www.renaissancewoodworker.com/op ... -saw-nest/

I would have thought an additional rip saw because you would need something different if ripping 4" stock to ripping less than 1". Possibly a bowsaw too.

 

[MIGNAL]

That's 12 different saws that you mention. Should be enough!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Chainsaw, bandsaw, jigsaw, coping saw, hacksaw and jewellers saw. Oh, and a throwaway hardpoint. Seven.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Mignal - indeed; probably a lifetime's collection for most craftsmen. It did occur to me that a timber-framer may bias their kit to a smaller number of larger saws, whilst a luthier would have more need of piercing and fret saws than large tenon saws, for example.

Marcros - a fair point, though frequency of use does come into it. If you rip 4" hardwood once every five years, you could do it with the rip panel; it would be a slow job, but it would save buying a saw for one job.

The link is interesting. I'll confess that one reason for posing the question is reading comments on several North American forums and blogs, in which posters made reference to having ten or twelve longsaws, and as many backsaws. One chap said he'd equipped himself with three 26" crosscut saws, filed for different woods. Whilst I have absolutely no problem with people collecting saws if that's what they want to do, it did slightly give the impression that all these saws were necessary if you wanted to work wood. Apparently it saves time to have a whole nest of saws set up for minutely different duties; rip saw for thick softwood, ripsaw for thin softwood, ripsaw for thick hardwood, ripsaw for thin hardwood, ripsaw for green wood, etc. I'm inclined to the view that the time saved making cuts would be more than offset by the time taken fettling saws and making tills for them. It isn't necessary to have them all, just fun - one saw filed rip would do the lot, except perhaps the green wood. Anything else is nice, but not necessary.

Phil - I'll grant you coping, hack, jewellers and hardpoint - the others aren't handsaws; unless you use the chainsaw without starting the engine!

 

[marcros]

I do wonder also if it vary a on the source of the saws. If you can pick them up at car boot sales/yard sales or even eBay and the only real cost is labour in sharpening and setting than you wouldn't mind having lots and giving some a run out for the sake if it. If you are buying new then you would be more efficient in the "collection".

And of course, some people just like to have tools for the joy of owning and using them.

 

[Bod]

1 more than you've got!

Bod

 

[MIGNAL]

Oh dear. I've just had a quick count and I stopped when it got to 20 (there are quite a few more, including a veneer saw that hasn't been previously mentioned). Then there are 5 Japanese saws that are seeing more use. I guess I'm well over 30 of the silly things.
For some reason I have 5 different jewellers saws, although I only ever use one of them. I also counted 8 Dovetail/Gents saws, where 2 or 3 would certainly suffice. It's probably time to thin the herd.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

CC - I was going by the heading, not your your first actual question. I wasn't being entirely truthful either, as I have seven or eight very nice handsaws. :lol:

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Marcros - yes, there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking pleasure and pride in owning, using and caring for nice tools.

Bod - indeed, isn't that just life! You think you have all the bases covered, and the next job that crops up.....

Mignal - well, yes; I have to confess to having one or two (cough) saws more than I really need. I think they breed prolifically in captivity.

Phil - absolutely no requirement to take it all too seriously! What a dull thread that would be!

 

[lanemaux]

While I do have about 10 or 12 muscle powered saws , I really use 3, coping,dovetail and most often an Irwin ryoba-alike. Most of what I need is rough and ready stuff and if that is more than 3 pcs. I use my power options as those are probably some sort of framing job. That being said , when it is fun and relaxation , it's a hand saw job and out comes the surprisingly accurate and fun to use ryoba pull type saw. At the risk of sounding cliche , there is just something very Zen about that saw. In fact if I don't keep on the ball sometimes I oversaw items just because I zone out a bit. Rips straight and true , turn over and crosscuts quickly and very cleanly . For a laugh one day I even cut a set of dovetails and was very pleasantly surprised by the performance and narrow kerf.

 

[arnoldmason8]

I use a 20" hand saw with approx 10points/inch which I use for cutting thin sheet materials / plywood. (I do not have bandsaw).
Arnold

 

[Droogs]

I have 22" panel saw at 10 tpi set as a rip, a 20" crosscut at 8 tpi, a 12" back saw set as a rip at 14 tpi, a coping saw, a veneer saw and a hack saw. Don't have any powered saws of any kind

 

[RossJarvis]

I think I've about 20 of various sorts. I tend to mainly use a Japanese ripsaw and cross convex saw as these cover a lot of eventualities, plus they break down to a small size and can be transported easily by motorbike.

 

[heimlaga]

I use theese hand powered saws:
-A bow saw with hard point blade for crosscutting when reusing concrete mould wood on site.
-Two ordinary cheap hand saws for ordinary job site carpentry. I need two as I do not always have time to resharpen immidiately after hitting a nail..... and I am too frugal to use hardpoint saws and throw them away.
- Coarse crosscut 28 inch handsaw. Used for log building and timberframing type jobs.
- Coarse rip 26 inch handsaw. For occasional heavy ripping in the shop.
- Medium crosscut 26 inch handsaw. For joinery in the shop where my job site saws would not cut clean enough.
- Fine 22 inch rip panel saw. Used where the tennon saw blade is too shallow or short.
- Fine 24 inch crosscut saw. Used where the tennon saw blade is too shallow and sometimes for cutting plywood in places where no splintery edges are allowed.
- Rip tennon saw
- Crosscut tennon saw
- Keyhole saw
- Flush cut gent's saw.
- Coping saw

I do a vide variety of woodworking and theese saws cover it all. If I did more fine cabinetmaking I think I would further need a small fine rip backsaw and a veneer saw.