Hello All:
I have a new Spear & Jackson brass back tenon saw (Model B23-9550B, 305 mm/12", 15 ppi). It seems to X-cut & rip fine. But when cutting at an angle (e.g. regular & rising dovetails), I have major problems - it won't follow my scribed line without binding, or trying to find a new line (which, I think is the grain). So finally, I sighted down the blade, only to discover a wave, about 2/3 of the way from the heel, towards the toe. I removed the handle, put it on a flat bench top (completely cleaned), and tried to bang out the wave with a hammer with a hard rubber end. Of course this did nothing. Then I tried banging it out starting at the heel and moving towards the toe. This put another two waves in the saw. So I hit the saw at the main wave, and the other two waves disappeared, leaving the original wave.
I am afraid of putting the saw in a machinist's vise and trying to straighten it for fear of creating a kink. If I take the saw and bend the blade by hand, it is as straight as an arrow. But, when I release it, it reverts to its former way (i.e. a bow 2/3 of the way down).
Incidently, research shows that it was made in China.
By the way, and I know this comment doesn't apply to my immediate problem, my Disson D8 26" rip saw - no skew (don't know how old it is because the etching is gone, but has the wheat engraving on the handle), is as straight as an arrow.
I can't afford another tenon saw - perhaps a quality panel saw, or Gent's saw might be in order.
Any suggestions please.
Thanks for your considerations for a new woodworker.