u/RatsUnderTheStars

Scored this for 5 bucks at the Habitat For Humanity Re-Store. I went in to get and old file for a project and to pick up the huge box of Fine Woodworking magazines that's been sitting there for a year. Sadly, someone got that last week for ten bucks, and I couldn't find a file, but I'm happy with this! It'll go in my dutch tool chest with my hand old woodworking tools, it works great and just needed a little cleaning up.

Any body else out there using these?

E: looks like autoincorrect done me dirty on the title

As I've grown as a woodworker over the last couple years, I found myself needing something more than the little Gent's Saw I bought to learn with. I still use it frequently for smaller cuts, and it definitely should be in every beginner's kit, but cutting larger joints with it is a real chore. So for my birthday last year I decided that I should treat myself to a couple joinery saws to grow into.

Woodworking has always been an affordable hobby or me and I have other, more expensive hobbies, like having a kid and a house, so I went in search of budget options. I wasn't really satisfied with much of what's affordable out there, but the nice stuff was out of my budget. I found SawKits.com and didn't see many reviews or info for their saws, but they seemed like a good option for the quality saws I was after. I could get a couple saws for what one good dovetail saw costs, and have all the fun and satisfaction of making them myself!

I decided to get the 9" taper plate dovetail saw and the 12" carcase saw for $136, then if I liked these I would get the 16" tenon saw later to complete the set. To be clear, these are not the cheapest options, but seemed to be the cheapest way to get what I wanted. I am in no way affiliated with the company, and I paid full price for them. I'm just a customer who wants to help others by providing feedback.

The kits include just the metal parts, so I headed over to Goby walnut and found a nice walnut board with some figuring and a distinct, swirling grain pattern to make the handles out of. For about 25 bucks I got enough to make 3 saw handles with leftover for other tool handles in the future. A couple handle templates are included, but I opted for some pistol grip patterns from Blackburn tools. I used these to drill and cut the handles, then got to work shaping with a Shinto saw rasp, files, sandpaper, chisels, and a card scraper. I used all hand tools for this part, with a handful of evenings in the shop I was able to turn out two nice feeling handles. There are plenty of videos on YouTube for how to do this, it's not difficult per se, but it does take some time and care and shouldn't be rushed. Once they felt good I finished them with BLO and shellac.

On to the saws themselves. The saw plates need to be seated into the brass backs. After trimming the brass and rounding off the front I tried CA glue. That set up too quickly and I wasn't able to seat the saw completely, and had to heat the brass to remove it. After cleaning up that mess I mixed up a little 5 minute epoxy and used that. Just a tiny bit along the saw plate, you don't want gobs of this stuff leaking out! The back of the saw plate can be trimmed to fit inside the handle with normal metal shears no problem. Then came drilling the holes through the saw plate. This stuff DOES NOT drill well! I recommend getting a 1/4" punch for this, or get a disposable drill bit because you will ruin it. Maybe even a dremel and grinding attachment.

These come with traditional split nuts so you will need a driver for these. I fashioned one with brass and walnut, but it's a bit rough and I'll probably replace it next time I need to take these nuts off. The wrong shape can scratch and mar the nuts so be sure you have something that fits well.

The teeth are punched but not sharpened or set. I bought a cheap set and modified it to fit the small teeth, set them, then gently tapped the set back out. Richard McGuire recommends no set on small saws and I find they're definitely easier to use like this. I sharpened them for a rip cut, a bit less aggressive in the first inch for starting cuts, and I was done!

Now that I've had time to use them, I really do like them. A lot! I reach for the carcase saw for just about everything, unless I need a full size panel saw, and the dovetail saw is really wonderful to use for smaller stuff. I definitely recommend these, assuming you can make the handles and do the minor assembly of the saws. Setting and sharpening saws is a skill you should develop anyway if you use western saws, so this is a good opportunity to learn. The big chore is really the handle making, but most woodworkers should be able to do that with minimal tools. I feel that now I've got a couple great saws that I won't outgrow, I can use these for as long as I'm interested in making sawdust and then maybe my kid can take over after that. I'll be going back for the 16" tenon saw soon, I'm excited to build that and complete the traditional set of 3 saws.

I hope this long-winded report helps someone who might be on the fence about SawKits. I think they're a great, affordable way to get high quality saws and any issues you might have with them are going to be from assembly, handle making, set/sharpening, and not from the kit itself. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll answer what I can.