Saw handle - can this be easily changed?

[Glynne]

I bought a LN cross cut saw off the forum a couple of months ago but didn't realise the handle wasn't the normal "handsaw" one.

I'm really pleased with the saw and the way it slices through some very hardwood, but I can't get on with the handle as it magnifies my already limited ability to saw accurately.
Ideally I would like to replace it with a handle similar to my dovetail saw.

The question is really how difficult / simple this might be, whether people think it worthwhile and has anyone had any experience of doing it?

I've had a quick Google and most of the searches have thrown up replacing / modifying handles rather than installing a new type. I have found domed saw nuts on Matthew's site along with some handle templates (Workshop Heaven) and I should be able to get the saw drilled accurately (son is a precision engineer) but I'd really welcome views before I decide.

Thanks in advance.

Glynne

 

[bugbear]

Given the remarkable way LN tools hold their value, I would swap it via eBay.

BugBear

 

[Jacob]

Not easy, not likely to be wildly successful. I'd just sell it and buy the one you want. Or get used to it - which is the simplest option and shouldn't be difficult!

 

[Cheshirechappie]

If you are absolutely determined, there's no particular reason I can think of that would make the job impossible. Not easy - drilling hardened spring steel is not the easiest of tasks (sandwich between two pieces of mild steel, use a carbide or cobalt HSS bit, drill with slow speed and high feed pressure, use lots of cutting oil and take particular care with steady feed as the drill breaks through would be my approach, not that I've ever tried it), but not impossible.

A couple of things might be worth checking first. Gent's type saws often have thinner spines than conventionally handled saws. That may not kill the job, but it would leave you with a rather lightweight dovetail saw. The LN gent's saw will have a fair secondhand value, so it may be worth selling and seeing what you can replace it with for the money - that approach will save a lot of work!

 

[AndyT]

You could ask LN for their advice - their reputation for after sales service is excellent. They will also know if the saw plate is the wrong shape for it to be possible.

 

[marcros]

I might be interested in buying it- I have the rip version and whilst not wild about the handle myself the rip one works very well.

 

[Scouse]

I think you would be better off selling it on and replacing it with what you need. I sold two of them a while back, the rip and crosscut variants, just because they weren't getting used and they fetched not far off what I paid for them; Lie Nielsen don't make the straight handle saw any more, so there may be a collectors premium.

In any case, from what I remember the plate was thinner than the regular DT saw and the spine much thinner, both of which I would suggest would compromise the strength, quality and user satisfaction after a major change that hasn't been designed in at the factory. You would also kill any residual value should you decide to sell the saw further on down the line

 

[Glynne]

Thanks for the replies guys - I suspected I was being a bit ambitious / optimistic so I'll take your advice and sell the saw as I'll not use it as much as a saw with a pistol grip handle and it is a shame to have such a good saw just gathering dust when someone could be using it.
As I said I bought it off the forum in March and it really does cut well, but not always where I want it to and I have enough techniques to improve upon without adding another!

As Macros expressed a possible interest up front, I'll PM him with some details and if he isn't interested I'll post in the For Sale board.

Thanks again.

Glynne