Zona saw?

Re: Zona saw?

Todd Stock

>- An older small back saw (Disston, Adkins, etc. - I'm certain someone will chime in with other names)- this is a great bet if you're near some place where older tools can be found, or don't mind working E-Bay. The Damascus, MD annual PATINA auction/show is coming up on Mar 12 - great place to find good saws that will tune up to be as good (or better to listen to some here) as the highest end new stuff. Might look for similar shows in your area. Maybe $20-$40 plus sharpening.

- A gent's saw or other 'dovetail' saw will work if you knock the excessive set out of the blade (most of these have 2-4 times the set required). A bit of stone work will get most of these big box saws - or the nice little gent's saw from LV - back to a sensible amount of set for dovetailing. $18-$25

- A lower priced dozuki (although I personally have grown to dislike them, there are those that will not use anything else, and have the dovetails to prove it). $20-$40

For an evening of reading, just search the archives on 'dovetail saws'.

perfect

Clay C in Miami

>I think for (way) under $50, for the purpose you intend (to try handcut DTs out) it's ideal. Easy to keep in line, and you can put the blade in however it suits you (cut on either the push or pull stroke). They are recommended by some mighty fine woodworking teachers, and I still prefer the Zona to my Adria on softer woods.

If you decide you like cutting DTs then you can decide what you want as a long-term replacement (if anything! I like my Zona much I bought and oiled a few packs of replacement blades just in case they became unavailable down the road.)

Clay

replacement blades

glh

>Clay,

Where did you find the replacement blades? The Zona I have doesn't use replacements.

Gary

More Zona Info

Todd Stock

>The Zonas are a family of saws - there are even those that cut on the pull. Many of the blades can be replaced when dull (not often), becuase anything much over 15 TPI appears to be the limit of eyesight/patience.

The models I use in the shop are:

35-500 Universal - Good GP saw with 32 TPI (I prefer 10-15 TPI these days, but the 32 TPI cuts slow enough to give you some feel on how the cut is tracking)

350 Woodcraft Saw - This is a larger saw that is tougher to find (try Tower Hobbies). 14 TPI, and about 8" of blade. Still under $8, but def requires a few passes down each side with a stone to reduce the set a bit.

The Universal is my first choice - it's easy to start, does an adequate job in softwoods, and has lots of other uses around the shop. The Woodcraft saw is more of a Gent's saw, but is still bargain priced compared to just about anything else.

Just as a sanity check, the late Cecil Pierce used a hacksaw for cutting dovetails, and then trimmed to the line. Just about anything will will work, including a bow saw, frame saw, a rip-sharpened $3 flea market backsaw, etc.

The best thing about starting cheap is that you will actually have a basis for your follow-on saw buying.

Re: More Zona Info

glh

>Thanks, the one I have is more like the Universal. It cuts on the push stroke and has a bunch of teeth, a lot more than 15. It was an instructor supplied saw that I got when I took a week long class in hand tools a few years ago.

The blade is dull now. I've used it to cut everything from oak to poplar to plywood to mdf. MDF is not good for the blade. The blade is not replaceable, but at $10 or so for the saw, I guess doesn't make much sense to do replacement blades.

I will probably get another, perhaps the Woodcraft, for my grandson. He's nearly 5 and wants to saw something. The Woodcraft might be easier since it cuts on the pull stroke. I'm not sure what his mother and grandmother will think of this though.