Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)
>Hi Chris

My advise to you is to be patient and persevere with the LN.

I went through a similar experience to yourself in that the push of the LN felt awkward to manage (compared to the pull of the dozuki) and hard to start (compared to other Western dovetail saws I own). For about a year, perhaps year-and-a-half, I would pick it up, give it a whirl, then go back to either a Z-saw dozuki (always my choice for fine, must-not-fail cuts) or a easier-to-use backsaw. Gradually I found the LN easier and more reliable. Now I reach for it first.

What changed was basically two things (my interpretation). Firstly, I changed the angle of attack at which I held the saw. Tilting it upward made it less aggressive. Secondly, as the teeth became a little more worn, they no longer caught on the wood fibres.

All the above aside, I do not advise refiling the LN teeth to dozuki style - even if it were physically possible. This is simply because of ergonomics. I find that cutting on the pull is facilitated by a straight handle, such as the Japanese style or Gent saw style (of course, these comments are not applicable if this is the saw you own). Similarly, it is easier to push a Western saw with a vertical grip, which adds more forward power. Horses for courses.

If you really don't like the LN, then sell it on eBay. It is simpliy amzing that the resell value they command there.

Regards from Perth

Derek