I have a few good vintage rip and crosscut saws from Mr. Allen and am now looking for a carcass saw to add. Any recommendations on a carcass saw? What information should one consider when getting one.
I have a few good vintage rip and crosscut saws from Mr. Allen and am now looking for a carcass saw to add. Any recommendations on a carcass saw? What information should one consider when getting one.
I too need to learn about these. I just have new stuff but . . . really . . . that would be my first choice for another woodworking tool. Not that I need one but I would really enjoy using a vintage back saw.
Sharpening is Facetating.Good enough is good enoughButBetter is Better.
Sorry Rich, but I wasnt sure if you're looking for an old saw or a new one?
I'm shopping for one, too. Right now I'm leaning towards the LN saw, maybe the tapered variety.
I have both LN carcass saws, rip and crosscut. They are great saws. I also have a Disston 4 crosscut made in the middle of last century that I use more and more. It is really a sweet saw.
Ive been eyeballing a kit that Grammercy Tools sells for about $140. It's gotten favorable comments here and elsewhere.
I'm very very happy with my Veritas carcass saws
Traditionally terminology. Carcass Saws were used for x grain work only. That was its primary difference to other backsaws.
Last edited by Stewie Simpson; 03-17-2015 at 2:41 AM.
Veritas is a good deal and works well. Gramercy one looks better, but cuts maybe a little better, but is 2x cost. Old saws seem to have gotten expensive on ebay.
I usually favor my tiny Veritas dovetail crosscut saw for quick cuts, just feels right.
Something around 16" long, with at least 3 1/2" of plate depth.
That large, a steel back is better - brass that long is heavy.
If you're looking for vintage, Disston made lots in this size
as companions to small wooden miter boxes.
FWIW - If I'm cutting something large enough to need that much saw,
a fine tooth panel saw is plenty, easier to handle and less expensive.
Most of my 'final' sawing to get close on joinery is done with a smaller 10" backsaw, filed rip.
I can't even tell you how many TPI - the teeth are so small.
I would suggest that the larger Backsaws are nice additions, but not essential to most kits.
Not to hijack the thread here, but I am looking for a good general purpose joinery saw. Should I be looking at a 'carcass', 'crosscut' or 'tenon' style saw?
I have the pair of Veritas carcass saws in crosscut and rip. So far those are my only backsaws and I've used them for all the joinery on my projects thusfar. I can see maybe adding the 14tpi dovetail saw in the future for tiny boxes and drawers. I don't see much need for the tenon saw, as bigger tenons can be done with a rip panel saw.
I'm no expert, so take this for what it cost you
How you work has some bearing on what you need. I'm a hybrid woodworker, so that affects what I use most. If you religiously mark crosscuts with a knife, it's pretty easy to work with 1 saw filed for rip. A 12-16 TPI carcass size rip saw works well enough for tenons, dovetails, shoulders and crosscutting to length.
That said, I use my carcass (x-cut) more than any other saw. I have a dedicated dovetail saw that is nice for it's small size and a tenon (rip) saw that doesn't get much use. I mostly rough out my tenons on the table saw and finish with a router plane, so I don't need a tenon saw often.
If I wanted to saw tenons by hand, I'd probably want a rip saw with a somewhat coarser tooth pattern. 11-12 TPI, maybe?
-- Dan Rode
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle