Freud Dovetail Saw

Re: Freud Dovetail Saw

David Barnett

>Bob, I got one of these when I was starting out a few years ago. I still have it, although it lives without its original handle, and has half the teeth in its recent incarnation as a sometimes dado/housing saw for small stuff. It sports a hefty brass back - lotsa weight - but comes with too many stamped crosscut teeth with too much set for a blade that measures .025" thick. The beech handle gained somewhat by rasping off the harsh edges, but the saw nuts came loose the first winter and never really tightened enough to keep the handle from annoyingly slipping up and down.

If I knew then what I know now I'd never have bought that saw, and the only reason it's still around is for the steel should I ever need a really thick scraper. I can always use the brass for something, too. Oh... and mine came with a nice hanging hole.

I now have an IT (original) DT saw and a couple Disston #4s (one cross, one rip) that see me through almost everything.

I don't mean to sound terribly disparaging of that little saw, but it just never came close to performing so usefully as a few inexpensive garage-sale Disstons and the not-cheap-but-worth-every-penny IT. Anyhow, that's my experience and my opinion.

Re: Freud Dovetail Saw

Scott Post

>If you want a western style dovetail saw (as opposed to a Japanese saw) you really have two options: buy a dirt cheap one and sharpen it or buy a higher end one like the LN or Adria that's ready to use. The middle ground (like the Freud) is occupied by saws that won't cut any better than a $10 saw and the handles will need reworked for comfort. I've tried the Freud and the one Garrett Wade sells and they won't cut worth a darn until properly sharpened.

Fine Woodworking had an article on revamping a cheap dovetail saw a few years ago. Basically you just need to pound out the set in the teeth and file it sharp. You could also send a $10 saw to Tom Law and have it come back cutting every bit as good as a $100+ saw like the Lie Nielsen. Your total cost after shipping and sharpening charges would put it in the range of the Freud.

Re: Freud Dovetail Saw

Bob Dodge

>Thanks, guys, I happened to see that saw, yesterday, when I was in Montreal, and didn't buy it, as I prefer the grip on the Lie-Nielsen. I'd imagine the cutting action would be much better, with the 14 tpi rip set of the L-N. The grain , of the beech handle on the Freud , had me a bit nervous,too. Looked kinda frail at it's narrowest point. I havn't seen an Adria yet, as no one carries them locally, that I'm aware of, but I have a few contacts to check out. If anyone here, knows of contacts for this saw, in the Montreal/Ottawa area, I'd appreciate the info. Thanks again, Bob

Re: Freud Dovetail Saw *LINK*

Jack from Maine

>Contact them through their website. I e-mailed Eddie Sirotic(the maker)directly and got a quick response.---Jack


http://www.adriatools.com/

Re: Freud Dovetail Saw

Tom Colligan, Peoria

>I met a Freud rep. at a small woodworking show here in Pekin, Illinois a few years ago and he told me that Crown makes their hand saws. {IMHO any sawmaker that does not attempt making a quality handle isn't making a quality saw.}